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So I watched a video breakdown analysis of Kirk Cousins by Kurt Warner last week. He said he believes in Kirk, but went on to show play after play where Kirk took the safe check down over open receivers down field. ( something I have seen in the past and truly believe led to Diggs working his way out of Minnesota).
Today Warner said the Vikings had no dominating wins this year, like championship teams usually have.
Unfortunately I agree with him. But, Cousins connected on a lot of long passes last year, so we know he is capable.
Cousins can't carry a team, but he has a pretty darn good team around him now. Hockenson should help open things up a little, but the key is Ingram providing better protection the way I see it.
They have a clear path to the playoffs, but the defense has to continue to improve. I'm impressed with the defensive changes after the bye though. It gives me hope. They were instrumental in the win last week.
Very important to take care of business on the road this weekend and not get ahead of themselves.
There are a lot of doubters and Vikings haters among the talking heads on TV. It would pleasure me greatly to see Cousins and the Vikings prove them wrong, aka stick it in their a**.
What say you?
Cousins is what he is at 34. He had the same look on Monday at philly that he always has in those situations.
Beat Buffalo and dallas then i will be convinced that Kirk can make a playoff run.
If there's one nagging criticism that holds some water, its that Kirk is conservative. But he's improved in that area, IMO. He'll throw a few passes sporadically that a WRer must go get, but overwhelmingly he will not throw guys open. He waits for the WRer to get open generally. But he also is very accurate and won't shy away from a tough throw like he did on the Osborn TD.
Cousins has enough game winning drives where the criticism should have diminished greatly, but the talking heads are what they are. I'd love for Kirk to shove it up a few vocal critics asses, but that's up to him. I don't think there are Viking 'haters' in the media, just that they haven't bought in yet to this team.
No doubt Kirk isn't having his best season. But I think that is largely due to the new offense. Over the last five years, Cousins has been one of the most frequent and accurate deep passers in the NFL. But it's going to take him some time to get there in this new offense.
Sadly, the uncertainty and tentativeness that comes with learning on the fly is forcing him to do things that fit previous false narratives.
Coming into the season I thought this was a 8 or 9 win season for the Vikes. I do think they've earned their record, but they aren't a "great" team still, IMO. I think Miami was the only win against a team above .500 and Philly manhandled us pretty easily on both sides of the ball.Hopefully they win again in Washington like they should, but the Bills and Cowpies will be real tests. Going at least 2-1 in the next 3 would be sweet, but playing well and improving each week is probably just as important even if they go 1-2 or 0-3.I think winning in December is what you want so your team is playing their best heading into the playoffs.
#2 seed in the conference in October, I'm enjoying the view. Least for now...
Haven't been on this level of the penthouse for a while.
Not expecting a Lombardi this year, hopefully the back 1/2 of season is a fun one. Schedule sure gets tougher.
I think Cousins has greatly improved this season in terms of his leadership, his energy, his audibles at the line, pre snap reads and movement in the pocket. He went into that familiar shell that we have seen so many times in prime time and he has not been the only one who has crumbled in big games for this team over the years, so I don't see any reason why there would not be those who do not think the team is for real, it is a legit take. Hopefully, they truly have turned the corner. The games against Buffalo and Dallas are going to be a big part of the narrative of the team before they go into the post season.
I would have moved on from Kirk this season (if trade partner?) with the regime change that I wanted 3 years ago. I am in the camp that does not think he rises to the occasion and can win a few playoff games in a row. He is a Top 10 QB every year in stats but he is a lifelong .500 W/L record. I don't see a false narrative about Kirk at all he has earned the accolades and criticism accordingly.
I try not to post this perspective too often as to not beat a dead horse with my viewpoint.
It's funny, when you look at the w/l record overall and Kirk this year isn't having great stats but we are 6-1. The only stat that matters. As a veteran QB I expect him to pick up on this offense faster and the addition of Hock is perfect for his game. Kirk needs a dump off outlet when he panics and can't move in the pocket, so this is a huge help. Of course, I am cheering for Kirk to prove me wrong this second half of the season and into the playoffs. If he flops it looks like we are stuck with him another year with his current contract dead cap of 49 million.
Fingers crossed that I wrong being a doubting Thomas 
Hey, if this team goes on to make noise, more power to them. I've been a life long Viking fan and have had the ball taken from Charlie Brown way to many times to get super excited. But 6-1 is fantastic. I literally have zero expectations of this team and went into the season with that attitude with a rookie head coach/all new schemes/almost all position coaches.
Cousins not throwing the deep ball this year is play calling/coaching. He's been consistently able to have a great deep ball in years past, so I've got to think this is more coaching then Cousins at this point.
If the D gels like its seeming to do lately then maybe we've got a shot. Thats miles better then we've been for several years.
I’m shifted in my thinking.
I don’t think Cousins is an elite QB.
I don’t think he’ll ever be an elite QB.
I feel like he’s always had a few shit the bed games a season, and that it’s
hard to trust him to make a deep playoff run, but I think that can be mitigated
by surrounding him with talent and by having an offensive coach that can work
within his limitations and I was skeptical that we would get a HC that wouldn’t
ask too much of him, but I think KOC is doing well. I think Cousins more than a lot of QBs needs
to have a very firm understanding of the offense and he needs to play within
the design of the offense. If you start asking
him to make heroic backyard football plays once everything has broken down, you
are in for trouble. I think it’s important
that the coach has plays that counter everything a defense is going to try and do
against the offense, because it’s important that Cousins be well versed in the
answers, because he’s not an ad-libber.
I think it’s also important to make sure he’s in a well talented
offense. The more talent you have, the
more he can move through his progression and find someone who’s open, and the
less you’re going to hit the problem of the play lasting too long and the QB
being required to make something happen.
I think having an offensive minded HC is huge, because it allows the QB
to very concretely develop an understanding of the offense over multiple years
and while we’re still seeing Cousins learning this offense, there should be
less of a curve in following years.
I still am a firm believer that you should always be
developing QBs, and always be looking for that elite guy, and I’m not a fan of getting
rid of your good QB first in the hope of getting a great QB later. You can always trade the second good QB for
more picks.
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