Quote: @StickyBun said:
I've mentioned this several times in the past: watch NFL Redzone and tell me that Kirk isn't playing as well as anyone most games. Most fans are way too close to the trees to see the forest.
For sure. The only thing that bothers me are the serial 3 and outs we see with Kirk at times. He has shown an improvement in overcoming adversity and deficits, and despite his personal statistics not being as good, is winning. He is certainly playing better and the defense is the primary area of concern.
Quote: @jargomcfargo said:
@ StickyBun said:
I've mentioned this several times in the past: watch NFL Redzone and tell me that Kirk isn't playing as well as anyone most games. Most fans are way too close to the trees to see the forest.
For sure. The only thing that bothers me are the serial 3 and outs we see with Kirk at times. He has shown an improvement in overcoming adversity and deficits, and despite his personal statistics not being as good, is winning. He is certainly playing better and the defense is the primary area of concern.
You really think Cousins is playing better because we're winning? I don't agree. I thought he was significantly better last season after 6 games than he has been this season. But that's really only because he was helming an offense he knew inside and out, and this year is dealing with a new offense he's not completely comfortable in....yet. I expect him and the whole offense to improve.
However, what really IS better, is the coaching. I think the coaching, the discipline, the situational stuff...all of that is why we're 5-1.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ jargomcfargo said:
@ StickyBun said:
I've mentioned this several times in the past: watch NFL Redzone and tell me that Kirk isn't playing as well as anyone most games. Most fans are way too close to the trees to see the forest.
For sure. The only thing that bothers me are the serial 3 and outs we see with Kirk at times. He has shown an improvement in overcoming adversity and deficits, and despite his personal statistics not being as good, is winning. He is certainly playing better and the defense is the primary area of concern.
You really think Cousins is playing better because we're winning? I don't agree. I thought he was significantly better last season after 6 games than he has been this season. But that's really only because he was helming an offense he knew inside and out, and this year is dealing with a new offense he's not completely comfortable in....yet. I expect him and the whole offense to improve.
However, what really IS better, is the coaching. I think the coaching, the discipline, the situational stuff...all of that is why we're 5-1.
^. Kirk was much better last year. I think right now his air yards/attempt is near the lowest of any starting QB in the league. I think most would have assumed with KO instead of Zim and a much improved O Line that we’d be airing it out more, not less. Hopefully this will all come with time. And we’re winning close games which does buy Kirk and the offense as a whole more time to get it together.
There’s too much talent on that side for them to not figure it out, I think.
I will say Arizona’s pass defense has been pretty good, despite their record being not great at 3-4. This game coming out of the bye will be a big test. I expect lots of Dalvin and Mattison but hope to see more passing success too.
EDIT- To add, I do agree QB play has been inconsistent league wide. Offense is way down, which is interesting. I personally do not think my ranking of Kirk has gone up or down much versus where I’d have put him going into the year. To me he looks like his usual self, but now trying to master a new scheme. Eh, maybe I’d boost him ahead of Stafford ha.
Pattersaur's Edit above really magnifies how special Allen and Mahomes are. They are by far the two most consistently great QB's in football right now. Every other QB, including Kirk, has been up and down or just down.
Quote: @1VikesFan said:
Pattersaur's Edit above really magnifies how special Allen and Mahomes are. They are by far the two most consistently great QB's in football right now. Every other QB, including Kirk, has been up and down or just down.
It does make you sort of rethink the 1st round QBs. Of the 24 QBs taken in the 1st round since 2016, only two, Allen and Mahomes, are sure-fire superstars. Some are close (Herbert, Burrow, Lamar). Some look sometimes good, sometimes bad (Murray, Tua, Mac Jones, Lawrence). The rest have just been mostly bad (Wilson, Fields, Lance, Love, Dimes, Haskins, Baker, Darnold, Rosen, Trubisky, Goff, Wentz, Lynch).
Even though I really like Will Levis in the draft, this just sorta reinforces my belief that maybe the best thing the Vikings can do is continue to build around Cousins.
MB---don't go soft in the head---we need the QB of the future on the roster soaking it in for a year or two. If we're in the position to strike roll that dice or we'll be at the mercy of luck later on.
Quote: @Akvike said:
MB---don't go soft in the head---we need the QB of the future on the roster soaking it in for a year or two. If we're in the position to strike roll that dice or we'll be at the mercy of luck later on.
I did say "maybe." So I can be convinced. Just depends on so many factors: How does Cousins finish the year? Where do the Vikings finish? What QBs are within striking distance?
Ideally, we could draft the QB and have him sit for a year or two. What we absolutely can't do is use Cousins as the piece that gets us in position. IOW, we can't trade him for a shot in the dark rookie. JMO.
Talent has never been an issue with Cousins, it has been more of his leadership and his ability to put the team on his back and will them to a victory. It has been great to see him more passionate and animated this year and hopefully he continues to build upon that.
Watching Mahomes yesterday, he is just at another level, same thing with Josh Allen, it is huge to have a QB who just transforms your team.
Cousins is streaky and when he is good he is very, very good and when he is bad he is horrid...
That said I think they could run with KC longer - but it'll be interesting to see what they do next year in the draft/FA and rationale. Still lots of football left this year so no telling how that'll play out.
They do need a #2 WR who can stretch the field, and the D needs some loving too - more than the offense imo.
Keep rolling with Kirk unless we can get a very good prospect. He’s top 1/3 of the league.
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