10-22-2019, 12:37 PM
Kirk Cousins isn’t different but things have vastly improved around himOne year ago, the New York Jets — of all teams — discovered the blueprint to slow down the Minnesota Vikings passing game.
It’s easy to forget that prior to Week 7 in 2018 Kirk Cousins was one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. He had the league’s third best completion percentage, averaged over 300 yards per game, totaled 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions and managed a 102.7 quarterback rating (ninth in the NFL).
In a forgettable victory in the Meadowlands over the Jets, Cousins had a fine statistical day going 25-for-40 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Nothing to write home about. But the Vikings went just 2-for-15 on third down, in part because defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles began double teaming Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
Over the final 10 games, Cousins’ yards per attempt sunk to 6.9, ranking him just behind Ryan Tannehill and just ahead of Blaine Gabbert.
Aside from Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph, the Vikings simply did not have other options outside of their two star receivers. They also could not protect Cousins, who was pressured on 38.9% of drop backs, fifth most in the league.
The Vikings struggled to run the ball effectively with Dalvin Cook shelved by a hamstring injury at times and playing on a “pitch count” other times. The snowball effect of a poor offensive line was the Vikings finding themselves in third-and-long, failing to sustain drives and falling behind in games. They were forced to throw more and couldn’t use play-action passes.
During the offseason the Vikings made an effort to fix the issues around their $84 million quarterback. While Cousins had plenty of chances to overcome the problems on offense, especially in a Week 17 win-and-in contest in which the Bears sat starters late in the game, the team’s brass acknowledged that significant changes need to be made around him...
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...round-him/
It’s easy to forget that prior to Week 7 in 2018 Kirk Cousins was one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. He had the league’s third best completion percentage, averaged over 300 yards per game, totaled 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions and managed a 102.7 quarterback rating (ninth in the NFL).
In a forgettable victory in the Meadowlands over the Jets, Cousins had a fine statistical day going 25-for-40 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Nothing to write home about. But the Vikings went just 2-for-15 on third down, in part because defensive-minded head coach Todd Bowles began double teaming Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
Over the final 10 games, Cousins’ yards per attempt sunk to 6.9, ranking him just behind Ryan Tannehill and just ahead of Blaine Gabbert.
Aside from Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph, the Vikings simply did not have other options outside of their two star receivers. They also could not protect Cousins, who was pressured on 38.9% of drop backs, fifth most in the league.
The Vikings struggled to run the ball effectively with Dalvin Cook shelved by a hamstring injury at times and playing on a “pitch count” other times. The snowball effect of a poor offensive line was the Vikings finding themselves in third-and-long, failing to sustain drives and falling behind in games. They were forced to throw more and couldn’t use play-action passes.
During the offseason the Vikings made an effort to fix the issues around their $84 million quarterback. While Cousins had plenty of chances to overcome the problems on offense, especially in a Week 17 win-and-in contest in which the Bears sat starters late in the game, the team’s brass acknowledged that significant changes need to be made around him...
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...round-him/
