03-16-2018, 11:18 AM
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on Thursday talked about how John DeFilippo's experience watching Kurk Cousins from the opposite sideline helped the Vikings' decision making.
For the Vikings front office and coaching staff, there was a big benefit in how they were able to evaluate Kirk Cousins both on film and in person.
The Vikings faced Washington in each of the past two seasons and saw their new quarterback up close. In 2017, he completed 26 of 45 passes for 327 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game the visiting Vikings won 38-30. Cousins — whose lone interception wound up being a big play in that game, as the Vikings turned it into a touchdown late in the first half for a 28-17 lead — also ran for two touchdowns in that game.
In 2016 at U.S. Bank Stadium, Cousins outdueled Sam Bradford in a 26-20 victory that sent the Vikings to 5-4 on the season. Cousins finished 22-for-33 for 262 yards and two scores. Bradford threw for more yards but this time he was the one with the costly interception, while Cousins did not turn the ball over.
But perhaps as important as those matchups was the fact that newly hired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo saw Cousins the past two seasons with NFC East rival Philadelphia. The Redskins won both meetings in 2016 and the Eagles won both in 2017.
Cousins posted a 94.1 passer rating over those four contests. He combined to throw for 1,040 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talked Thursday about how DeFilippo’s experience helped the team’s decisionmaking.
“It did, some, he got to see him in person several times, as we did. We played him the last two years,” Zimmer said. “We did our due diligence and watched all of his games, watched all of his throws. We sat down and saw all of his strengths and where we feel like we can continue to get him better. We’re just very fortunate to have him.”
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-john-...477028533/
For the Vikings front office and coaching staff, there was a big benefit in how they were able to evaluate Kirk Cousins both on film and in person.
The Vikings faced Washington in each of the past two seasons and saw their new quarterback up close. In 2017, he completed 26 of 45 passes for 327 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game the visiting Vikings won 38-30. Cousins — whose lone interception wound up being a big play in that game, as the Vikings turned it into a touchdown late in the first half for a 28-17 lead — also ran for two touchdowns in that game.
In 2016 at U.S. Bank Stadium, Cousins outdueled Sam Bradford in a 26-20 victory that sent the Vikings to 5-4 on the season. Cousins finished 22-for-33 for 262 yards and two scores. Bradford threw for more yards but this time he was the one with the costly interception, while Cousins did not turn the ball over.
But perhaps as important as those matchups was the fact that newly hired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo saw Cousins the past two seasons with NFC East rival Philadelphia. The Redskins won both meetings in 2016 and the Eagles won both in 2017.
Cousins posted a 94.1 passer rating over those four contests. He combined to throw for 1,040 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talked Thursday about how DeFilippo’s experience helped the team’s decisionmaking.
“It did, some, he got to see him in person several times, as we did. We played him the last two years,” Zimmer said. “We did our due diligence and watched all of his games, watched all of his throws. We sat down and saw all of his strengths and where we feel like we can continue to get him better. We’re just very fortunate to have him.”
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-john-...477028533/
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