Captain Clutch!

Cousins threw for 307 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 115.7 passer rating rating. The Vikings QB now has 16 career games with at least 300 yds passing, 3 TD passes and a rating of 115+, surpassing Drew Brees & and Aaron Rodgers (15 each) for the most such games by a QB in his first 9 seasons

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) November 30, 2020

He has been playing well lately and has done a better iob of taking care of the ball. He kept the passing attack moving without Thielen and Smith and he has cut down on the dumb interceptions, though the fumbles are still a problem. The hard part with Cousins is a lack of consistency, he can be your best friend and lead a clutch game winning drive or your worst enemy and implode with turnovers. He’s done enough to quiet a lot of people wanting him gone, but I still think we should draft a development QB and maybe even take one early if one of the top QBs falls to us.

You can tell the coaching staff doesn't trust him to throw (or the O line) early in the game.  THEN when we fall behind substantially, they expect him to come back and win the game, which is a tall order, knowing that EVERYONE knows you're throwing. 

Honestly Cousins gets way more $hit than he deserves IMO.  I honestly think our coaching handcuffs our QB's.
Mix it up a little. TE's, screens, Play-action, slants, and chuck that sucker deep once in a while & keep defenses honest. 
You don't give Mario Andretti the keys to a Ferrari, and tell him to drive in LA bumper to bumper traffic during rush hour.

Just my opinion.

Need to get Cleveland back

In a different universe with a decent team, Cousins could have been viewed in a better light and more weight would be given to his accomplishments. He's not perfect, but he's an accurate passer that will stand in the pocket and make plays. Underrated arm. The media has decided to slam Cousins over the course of his career instead of highlighting things like what Vikergirl posted. When you are in the company of Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers in some category you are doing something very right. 

Wonder if not having his top target on the field, let's him look at the field more.

To me, I think Cousins is good enough to win us a SB with most of the other pieces in place.  But all the other pieces are not nearly in place.  The Defense is a shell of itself from being Top 5ish for most of Zimmer stint.  ST are horrible but just like the defense we are in rebuild mode with a lot of youth.  Coaching is another area that I am convinced is not good enough in clutch games more so then Cousins.  Just when our Offense is clicking the other phases of the game fell/fall apart.

If we limp into a playoff scenario it will be because of Cousins and the offense.  Not that I think we will.

Cousins is so close to being a Top QB instead of a fringe Top 10 IMO.  If he just had a better pocket presence and a little more athleticism to move around in the pocket he would be a Top QB - IMO.  But those are not learnable skills especially 9 years in.  He seems to scramble right into pass pressure or fall back into the pocket instead of stepping up on many occasions.  With better pass protection he can overcome those limitations and win the big one, again my opinion.  

@"StickyBun" said: Need to get Cleveland back

@"Vanguard83" said: You can tell the coaching staff doesn't trust him to throw (or the O line) early in the game.  THEN when we fall behind substantially, they expect him to come back and win the game, which is a tall order, knowing that EVERYONE knows you're throwing. 

Honestly Cousins gets way more $hit than he deserves IMO.  I honestly think our coaching handcuffs our QB's.
Mix it up a little. TE's, screens, Play-action, slants, and chuck that sucker deep once in a while & keep defenses honest. 
You don't give Mario Andretti the keys to a Ferrari, and tell him to drive in LA bumper to bumper traffic during rush hour.

Just my opinion.

He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

But do we now look at extending him? I know, one really good year and a whole bunch of league-average seasons, but it's possible that Kubiak and Rico's scheme might be a better fit for him than what he's been in before. 

@"PurpleCrush" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

But do we now look at extending him? I know, one really good year and a whole bunch of league-average seasons, but it's possible that Kubiak and Rico's scheme might be a better fit for him than what he's been in before. 

Maybe that would help with cap relief for next season, too?

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

But do we now look at extending him? I know, one really good year and a whole bunch of league-average seasons, but it's possible that Kubiak and Rico's scheme might be a better fit for him than what he's been in before. 

Maybe that would help with cap relief for next season, too?

he already redid his deal this year to stay here,  I dont know that he would be willing to take the hair cut 2 years in a row,  especially since he is playing so well,  he may want to test FA and see what his value really is.   There wasnt a big market for him this year by the time the team pushed him,  and a lot of teams will be dealing with cap issues and making FA a lot more talent laden this year,  certainly should be a buyers market for those with money to spend.  He is 32 and playing very well,  he could easily see an offer that would pay him an average over 3 years what he is scheduled to make in 1 year with the Vikes.   how bad does he want to stay in Minny?

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

But do we now look at extending him? I know, one really good year and a whole bunch of league-average seasons, but it's possible that Kubiak and Rico's scheme might be a better fit for him than what he's been in before. 

Maybe that would help with cap relief for next season, too?

he already redid his deal this year to stay here,  I dont know that he would be willing to take the hair cut 2 years in a row,  especially since he is playing so well,  he may want to test FA and see what his value really is.   There wasnt a big market for him this year by the time the team pushed him,  and a lot of teams will be dealing with cap issues and making FA a lot more talent laden this year,  certainly should be a buyers market for those with money to spend.  He is 32 and playing very well,  he could easily see an offer that would pay him an average over 3 years what he is scheduled to make in 1 year with the Vikes.   how bad does he want to stay in Minny?

Cousins throws the ball as good as any quarterback in the NFL.  His issue is pocket awareness (which he has been better at) and getting lost when the read isnt there.  

One thing i've noticed over the last couple of weeks is that Cousins is escaping the pocket more and actually running.  He ran a good bit with Washington but kind of just stopped doing it here.  

I want Cleveland back and i want Brett Jones at LG.

But again, Cousins has as good of physical tools as any QB in the NFL not named Mahomes. 

@"StickyBun" said: Need to get Cleveland back

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Need to get Cleveland back

I believe it was Jones that was blown-up by the DT on the hit to KC, Fumble, Score play...

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: He played a helluva game. He played a helluva game last week, too. He seems to be improving how he plays under pressure. Makes me wonder--and I've always wondered this--what could he do with the kind of time some other QBs get. We really need Cleveland back...and maybe even find a way to keep Reiff. 

Reiff is having his best year.  We have him signed through 2021.  

But do we now look at extending him? I know, one really good year and a whole bunch of league-average seasons, but it's possible that Kubiak and Rico's scheme might be a better fit for him than what he's been in before. 

Maybe that would help with cap relief for next season, too?

he already redid his deal this year to stay here,  I dont know that he would be willing to take the hair cut 2 years in a row,  especially since he is playing so well,  he may want to test FA and see what his value really is.   There wasnt a big market for him this year by the time the team pushed him,  and a lot of teams will be dealing with cap issues and making FA a lot more talent laden this year,  certainly should be a buyers market for those with money to spend.  He is 32 and playing very well,  he could easily see an offer that would pay him an average over 3 years what he is scheduled to make in 1 year with the Vikes.   how bad does he want to stay in Minny?

Maybe part of the reason he took the haircut is because of the system.