PA sounds the alarm on Cousins

Well another year and another OC isn't going to help IMO.  Perhaps we need to look at the offense as part of the issue for his slow start last year and now this preseason.  Not saying Kirk doesn't have issues when the game plan starts slow, but PA is the mouthpiece of the Vikings, so he is saying what the Vikings brass wants said.

Expectations are about as high as they can get. I don't particularly find it comical that he rewatched his every throw, but an indication that he wants to improve. Table is set for him. This D won't be giving up 30+ a game. 

I am not going to have high expectations because even though there is a talented roster, there are so many things that need to fall into place for Cousins. We'll see if we are celebrating in January or pissed off before then. 

I will refrain from commenting...

Shill deluxe and oral diahrrea master Paul Allen is worried?  OMG, somebody pull the franchise fire alarm, STAT!   

Shrug, seems to me that the offense has always struggled in preseason during the zimmer years...  Lots of turnover in the OC position and QB's during that time period.  Yes, Cousins needs to play well in early games, a given.  All we can do as fans is hope for the best and don't be too surprised if the results are something less...  :p

I imagine our offense following a story arc like it did last
year, struggling early then putting it together for the last 2/3s of the season,
seems like the most likely scenario to me. 
I don’t really put this on Cousins anymore than I already put stuff on
Cousins, but more on the coaching staff. 
I think Zimmer is probably all in on fixing his defense and our rookie
OC still has a bunch to learn about being an OC. I know it’s his dad and he’s a
phone call away, but I would feel a little bit better if they retained Kubiak
the Elder as an advisor and he could be on site for some number of hours a week
as needed.  I think there’s just going to
be a bunch of things he’s going to have to learn the hard way since we don’t
really have coaching mentors on the offensive side of the ball.

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

@"pattersaur" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

This part is conjecture by the writer of the piece but it’s a fair worry based on PA’s comments, plus the narrative and the results of Kirk’s entire career.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

@"pattersaur" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

This part is conjecture by the writer of the piece but it’s a fair worry based on PA’s comments, plus the narrative and the results of Kirk’s entire career.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

@"medaille" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

This part is conjecture by the writer of the piece but it’s a fair worry based on PA’s comments, plus the narrative and the results of Kirk’s entire career.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

I think Cousins is way more on the hot seat than Zimmer or
Spielman, unless Zimmer loses the team in a spectacular fashion.

If we turn in another mediocre season and someone needs to
be sacrificed to appease the public, the most likely scenario is to get rid of
Cousins almost regardless of cost and put in Mond.  You probably eat some of the cost and then
trade him.  Like we’ll pay 20 you get him
for the remaining 20ish or something.

That said, I don’t really think that’s how this all plays
out.  I think Zimmer and Spielman are not
on the hot seat at all.  If Cousins doesn’t
lift the team, you just don’t resign him and make him play out his last season,
and then you can move on or not after 2022.

@"pattersaur" said:

@"medaille" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

This part is conjecture by the writer of the piece but it’s a fair worry based on PA’s comments, plus the narrative and the results of Kirk’s entire career.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

I think Cousins is way more on the hot seat than Zimmer or
Spielman, unless Zimmer loses the team in a spectacular fashion.

If we turn in another mediocre season and someone needs to
be sacrificed to appease the public, the most likely scenario is to get rid of
Cousins almost regardless of cost and put in Mond.  You probably eat some of the cost and then
trade him.  Like we’ll pay 20 you get him
for the remaining 20ish or something.

That said, I don’t really think that’s how this all plays
out.  I think Zimmer and Spielman are not
on the hot seat at all.  If Cousins doesn’t
lift the team, you just don’t resign him and make him play out his last season,
and then you can move on or not after 2022.

I agree with this until the last part. If Kirk stinks this year AND they can’t trade him AND they plan to start him again next year anyways, then every single head in the front office and on coaching staff should roll. 

This is Kirk's chance. Maybe his last REAL chance to prove all of his detractors wrong. That all of those top accuracy stats and clean pocket ratings bode very well for a QB with an improved line, top 5 weapons and a rebuilt defense.

With no Davis and Darrishaw? 

@"Mattyman" said: This is Kirk's chance. Maybe his last REAL chance to prove all of his detractors wrong. That all of those top accuracy stats and clean pocket ratings bode very well for a QB with an improved line, top 5 weapons and a rebuilt defense.

With no Davis and Darrishaw? 

Who have been the complimentary pieces in assessing Cousins' play so far? Cook? Theilen? Jefferson? "Fans" looking for a reason to preemptively blame a failed season on a QB that is perennially top 12 is quite Minnesotan.

@"Mattyman" said: This is Kirk's chance. Maybe his last REAL chance to prove all of his detractors wrong. That all of those top accuracy stats and clean pocket ratings bode very well for a QB with an improved line, top 5 weapons and a rebuilt defense.

With no Davis and Darrishaw? 

@"pattersaur" said:

@"medaille" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: When you add in the COVID situation, a rookie draft pick, and the increased pressure of a way better roster ready to win now, I can’t imagine Kirk’s head is exactly where it needs to be. But he better get it there soon.

This part is conjecture by the writer of the piece but it’s a fair worry based on PA’s comments, plus the narrative and the results of Kirk’s entire career.

I posted in a thread yesterday that I think Zim’s seat is hot, but “Rick is safe regardless”. Maybe I should amend that: If for whatever reason Kirk is downright awful this season (something I do NOT expect) and makes himself untradable, the albatross extension Rick gave him is going to be hard to justify come March 2022 when casual fans realize, “wait… Kirk’s here for another guaranteed year?! For HOW much?!”

Let’s hope none of that comes to pass or I’m gonna need a bigger beer budget. 

I think Cousins is way more on the hot seat than Zimmer or
Spielman, unless Zimmer loses the team in a spectacular fashion.

If we turn in another mediocre season and someone needs to
be sacrificed to appease the public, the most likely scenario is to get rid of
Cousins almost regardless of cost and put in Mond.  You probably eat some of the cost and then
trade him.  Like we’ll pay 20 you get him
for the remaining 20ish or something.

That said, I don’t really think that’s how this all plays
out.  I think Zimmer and Spielman are not
on the hot seat at all.  If Cousins doesn’t
lift the team, you just don’t resign him and make him play out his last season,
and then you can move on or not after 2022.

I agree with this until the last part. If Kirk stinks this year AND they can’t trade him AND they plan to start him again next year anyways, then every single head in the front office and on coaching staff should roll. 

I’m more concerned about the coaching staff being prepared for the season. It’s the coaches job to have the team prepared each week and it seemed to be a rough start in that regard last year. The team as a whole didn’t play well, but they also seemed really disjointed and not working together. In my opinion, that’s the coaches. 
I’m concerned how Cousins has been doing this off season. This fight over the jab is stupid and a big distraction. Add other players to that. 
In my opinion, Minnesota fans in general are a bizarre bunch. After years without a franchise QB, we finally have one. He’s a good player. Our team as a whole has had huge holes the past couple of years. The offensive line hasn’t been good in I don’t even remember how long. Most importantly, our defense has been terrible, with too much youth, and again back to coaching, poor game planning. 
I love Zimmer, but I think he has some major weaknesses as a head coach. It appears to me, he has a way of messing with players that affects their play negatively. Perhaps that’s the entrenched defense minded coach not being able to necessarily relate to other areas - like kickers for instance lol. 
Lastly when it comes to Cousins, I think our fans have a tendency to gloss over major team deficiencies and blame the QB. It’s not rational, it’s emotional. The QB has no control over a porous defense. He has little control over a guy like Dozier (nearly always bottom of the league) being put in as a starter for some insane reason. All he can do is his job. Complete passes with accuracy, protect the football, and put points on the board. I have a hard time slamming Cousins when he’s pretty good in those areas. 

As of this April, aren't we locked in on owing Cousins 76 million over the next 2 years?    31 million this year and 45 million next year - guaranteed!!!  Meaning no salary cap saving if cut.  Only a Trade where someone would have to assume his guaranteed $$$$ - very unlikely.  

He is not going anywhere the next 2 years.

That said, I will go back to my pre-draft drum beat of getting one of the Top QB's in what looks to me as one of the best QB drafts in over a decade.  I made/make the argument that Cousins is now "sunk cost" and an organization should not just ignore the most important position because they "currently" have invested heavily at the position.  This draft was loaded with 5 first round QB's and we were high up in the draft at 14 then we usually have been.  So the "opportunity" to try and get one of the Top QB's was there.  The opportunity to draft a Top QB does not come along only when you need one in fact almost all organizations will reach because of the dire need like we did with Ponder and pretty much every other team has done.

Months before the draft, I liked Zach Wilson the best of this bunch and was hoping we could muster enough ammo to get into the 6-10 range.  But it was clear he was going in the Top few picks and I agreed with everyone else that I would not want to give up too much to get into the Top 5 -especially without a 2nd rounder this year.  I thought Fields was a TOP 5 pick every other draft but this one.  Mac Jones I was not as high on at all but again a loaded QB draft.  

I know we put out a feeler to Carolina at 8 and some rumors were for Fields but it was not a real offer and I think just a temp check by Spelly.  I also think our target was Slater.  That said we had the opportunity to move into the Giants spot for Fields/Mac like Chicago did.  I would not have been unhappy in the least if we moved up to 10 and grabbed Fields.  Unlike some analyst and fellow Longshippers I think Fields has a shot at being a franchise QB.  I think the one read thing was a hatchet job that many folks ran with and it caught fire.  Watch the Clemson game and every drop back - he goes to 2nd and 3rd's on more then half his drop backs.  (I know all the odds of drafting a QB and every other position but your scouting department should help in that regard and we have a veteran group)  

Anyway, I would have been fine with Fields.  But when we didn't move up I was very happy with the way Spelly worked the draft.  FWIW - I also loved Darrisaw as a prototypical LT while Slater and Sewell have the shorter arms that some indicated they might be better RT material.  Sewell is at RT for now while Slater is looking really good at LT for the Chargers.  We clearly wanted a Tackle and determined that AVT (jets) was a Guard.  

Now in hindsight of this horrible preseason with weirdo Kirk, Darrisaw, Wyatt, Mond - I would have really liked Fields on our bench pushing Cousins and waiting in the wings.

@"Havoc1649" said: I’m more concerned about the coaching staff being prepared for the season. It’s the coaches job to have the team prepared each week and it seemed to be a rough start in that regard last year. The team as a whole didn’t play well, but they also seemed really disjointed and not working together. In my opinion, that’s the coaches. 

I’m concerned how Cousins has been doing this off season. This fight over the jab is stupid and a big distraction. Add other players to that.  In my opinion, Minnesota fans in general are a bizarre bunch. After years without a franchise QB, we finally have one. He’s a good player. Our team as a whole has had huge holes the past couple of years. The offensive line hasn’t been good in I don’t even remember how long. Most importantly, our defense has been terrible, with too much youth, and again back to coaching, poor game planning.  I love Zimmer, but I think he has some major weaknesses as a head coach. It appears to me, he has a way of messing with players that affects their play negatively. Perhaps that’s the entrenched defense minded coach not being able to necessarily relate to other areas - like kickers for instance lol.  Lastly when it comes to Cousins, I think our fans have a tendency to gloss over major team deficiencies and blame the QB. It’s not rational, it’s emotional. The QB has no control over a porous defense. He has little control over a guy like Dozier (nearly always bottom of the league) being put in as a starter for some insane reason. All he can do is his job. Complete passes with accuracy, protect the football, and put points on the board. I have a hard time slamming Cousins when he’s pretty good in those areas.