Correcting the Cousins Narrative

You won't change some fans' minds. Won't happen. Kirk is the reason the Vikings lose games in their eyes. There has been stat after stat after stat showing how well Cousins has played as a Viking. He's crazy accurate. Stands in the pocket. But he's not perfect, I guess that's his flaw.

@"Zanary" said: I think this author hits it pretty squarely.

https://vikingsterritory.com/2021/general-news/well-thats-dead-familiar-kirk-cousins-narrative-dies

"In the games Cousins is “off,” the Vikings are doomed. Totally doomed. The franchise needs him to be perfect, not the other way around. A case study is the 2017 Vikings. That team situated Case Keenum gloriously, thanks to a hellish defense. Minnesota does not do that anymore. It’s Cousins who must drag the Vikings to victory."

It's the same for the Vikings. "This is who the Vikings are." Well, no. This is who they were for that particular game.

The NFL is fluid and teams are constantly changing, evolving, getting hurt and getting healthy. It matters less who you play, but WHEN you play them. This was the most insightful thing Bud ever said. Funny thing is that I never really knew what he meant until a couple years ago. 

I dont know what else there is to discuss about KC that hasn't already been hashed-up before.

Yup the Olde Trapper was right on that one MB as well as his take on durability.  

Brady and Rogers have their off-games too, but they have enough REALLY GOOD ONEs to make a difference in that ebb and flow of a season. 

KC isn't in that echelon and never will be.

But he's in that next rung of QB's and unless Seattle trades us Russ Wilson next year? I dont see a clearly better option waiting out there. 

Kirk is having his best season as a
Viking and he's taking charge of the team more.  Maybe his confidence is
growing because of the weekly Zim meetings?  Not sure, but something has
helped him.  I do think he was "off" for some reason last
Sunday; maybe a lingering Packer win "hangover".  He had wide
open throws he missed on what could've won that game even though it was the
defense that really deserves the majority of blame for that loss.

However, when it's 4th down late in
the game, fans aren't always asking for perfection.  We just want to
believe our QB will keep calm and lead the team.  Yeah, he's not perfect,
but sometimes Kirk makes it so easy to see his flaws in huge moments. B)

Kirk Cousins is who he is. He has been playing beyond himself this year. His durability is amazing. He made the most of his opportunity. I bet he gets an extension.

Kirk is a good QB and you can win with him.  It comes down to one question to be great:

Does he rise above good when it counts most?  Seldom is the answer. 

@"Vikergirl" said: Kirk Cousins is who he is. He has been playing beyond himself this year. His durability is amazing. He made the most of his opportunity. I bet he gets an extension.

I still think Cousins biggest problem is reliable protection. I say "reliable" because even if he gets it on one play, if he didn't the play before, that will impact his confidence, his poise in the pocket, ultimately his consistency. 

Yes, there are QBs (like Rodgers) who don't need consistent, top-level protection, but Kirk does. That's his biggest flaw. But when he gets it, there are few better. Hell, his clean pocket stats actually argue there's no one better. 

@"Knucklehead" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: Kirk Cousins is who he is. He has been playing beyond himself this year. His durability is amazing. He made the most of his opportunity. I bet he gets an extension.

Based solely on his play, KC deserves an extension. But, the team can't just ignore the increasing cap ramifications of giving him one. At some point, they have to get off of this merry go round.

@"Bullazin" said: Kirk is a good QB and you can win with him.  It comes down to one question to be great:

Does he rise above good when it counts most?  Seldom is the answer. 

 Pretty much all the rest have their ups and downs. Kirk has basiclly willed this team to .500 with a shot at the end of each game to be batting 1.000. 
If we had even a sprinkle of the 2017 defense we’re the best in the NFC. Even a league average D would have us at what 3-4 losses max?

This team isnt winning because we dont have a shutdown corner (XR) and cant stop the run. 

My current feeling of this team and 7.5 years of Zimmer as HC and 3.5 years of Kirk at QB!

Same old story
Same old song and dance,  My friend

Fate comes a-knockin'
Doors start lockin'
Your old time connection
Change your direction
Ain't gonna change it
Can't rearrange it
Can't stand the pain
When it's all the same to you
My friend

Should we replace these lyrics for the Immigrant song lyrics :(

@"HappyViking" said: Kirk is having his best season as a Viking and he's taking charge of the team more.  Maybe his confidence is growing because of the weekly Zim meetings?  Not sure, but something has helped him.  I do think he was "off" for some reason last Sunday; maybe a lingering Packer win "hangover".  He had wide open throws he missed on what could've won that game even though it was the defense that really deserves the majority of blame for that loss.

However, when it's 4th down late in
the game, fans aren't always asking for perfection.  We just want to
believe our QB will keep calm and lead the team.  Yeah, he's not perfect,
but sometimes Kirk makes it so easy to see his flaws in huge moments. B)

@"MaroonBells" said: I still think Cousins biggest problem is reliable protection. I say "reliable" because even if he gets it on one play, if he didn't the play before, that will impact his confidence, his poise in the pocket, ultimately his consistency. 

Yes, there are QBs (like Rodgers) who don't need consistent, top-level protection, but Kirk does. That's his biggest flaw. But when he gets it, there are few better. Hell, his clean pocket stats actually argue there's no one better. 

@"greediron" said:

@"HappyViking" said: Kirk is having his best season as a Viking and he's taking charge of the team more.  Maybe his confidence is growing because of the weekly Zim meetings?  Not sure, but something has helped him.  I do think he was "off" for some reason last Sunday; maybe a lingering Packer win "hangover".  He had wide open throws he missed on what could've won that game even though it was the defense that really deserves the majority of blame for that loss.

However, when it's 4th down late in
the game, fans aren't always asking for perfection.  We just want to
believe our QB will keep calm and lead the team.  Yeah, he's not perfect,
but sometimes Kirk makes it so easy to see his flaws in huge moments. B)

Aikman, Elway and many others have done the same.  One big white ass looks like any other.

@"AGRforever" said:

@"Bullazin" said: Kirk is a good QB and you can win with him.  It comes down to one question to be great:

Does he rise above good when it counts most?  Seldom is the answer. 

He’s not Kaaron or Tom Shady but who is?  Hell, Kaaren and Tom arent themselves all the time.

 Pretty much all the rest have their ups and downs. Kirk has basiclly willed this team to .500 with a shot at the end of each game to be batting 1.000. 
If we had even a sprinkle of the 2017 defense we’re the best in the NFC. Even a league average D would have us at what 3-4 losses max?

This team isnt winning because we dont have a shutdown corner (XR) and cant stop the run. 

@"greediron" said:

@"HappyViking" said: Kirk is having his best season as a Viking and he's taking charge of the team more.  Maybe his confidence is growing because of the weekly Zim meetings?  Not sure, but something has helped him.  I do think he was "off" for some reason last Sunday; maybe a lingering Packer win "hangover".  He had wide open throws he missed on what could've won that game even though it was the defense that really deserves the majority of blame for that loss.

However, when it's 4th down late in
the game, fans aren't always asking for perfection.  We just want to
believe our QB will keep calm and lead the team.  Yeah, he's not perfect,
but sometimes Kirk makes it so easy to see his flaws in huge moments. B)

Aikman, Elway and many others have done the same.  One big white ass looks like any other.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"AGRforever" said:

@"Bullazin" said: Kirk is a good QB and you can win with him.  It comes down to one question to be great:

Does he rise above good when it counts most?  Seldom is the answer. 

He’s not Kaaron or Tom Shady but who is?  Hell, Kaaren and Tom arent themselves all the time.

 Pretty much all the rest have their ups and downs. Kirk has basiclly willed this team to .500 with a shot at the end of each game to be batting 1.000. 
If we had even a sprinkle of the 2017 defense we’re the best in the NFC. Even a league average D would have us at what 3-4 losses max?

This team isnt winning because we dont have a shutdown corner (XR) and cant stop the run. 

you can buy all those things when you arent paying a lower top third QB, money that often has him in the top 5 for contracts. ( depending on what year you look at.)  if he accepted that he isnt a top 5 guy,  settled for mid tier money,  the team around him would be good enough to provide better protection and still field a defense that can compete with anybody... and not have to be rolling dice on aging players or other risk factors.  there is snake bitten bad luck,  and then there is bad luck you make for yourself,  often the issues with our team is through choices they have made.

This season it depends on which half you’re talking about.
Numbers show Kirk Cousins is terrible in second half of games in 2021
First half of games in 2021:

• 16 touchdowns (2nd)
• 0 interceptions (1st)
• 71.0 percent completion rate (6th)
• 8.0 yards per attempt (3rd)
• 123.4 passer rating (2nd)

• 6 touchdowns (19th)
• 3 interceptions (16th)
• 64.3 percent completion rate (24th)
• 7.0 yards per attempt (26th)
• 88.2 passer rating (26th)

@"minny65" said: My current feeling of this team and 7.5 years of Zimmer as HC and 3.5 years of Kirk at QB!

Same old story
Same old song and dance,  My friend

Fate comes a-knockin'
Doors start lockin'
Your old time connection
Change your direction
Ain't gonna change it
Can't rearrange it
Can't stand the pain
When it's all the same to you
My friend

Should we replace these lyrics for the Immigrant song lyrics :(

@"Kentis" said: This season it depends on which half you’re talking about. Numbers show Kirk Cousins is terrible in second half of games in 2021

First half of games in 2021:

• 16 touchdowns (2nd)
• 0 interceptions (1st)
• 71.0 percent completion rate (6th)
• 8.0 yards per attempt (3rd)
• 123.4 passer rating (2nd)

Now take a look at how Cousins has performed during the second half of each matchup this year and where he compares to other signal-callers around the NFL. Spoiler alert, these numbers are not as impressive. Second half of games in 2021:

• 6 touchdowns (19th)
• 3 interceptions (16th)
• 64.3 percent completion rate (24th)
• 7.0 yards per attempt (26th)
• 88.2 passer rating (26th)

https://thevikingage.com/2021/12/01/numbers-kirk-cousins-terrible-second-half-minnesota-vikings/