With Cousins, do the Vikings have the 3rd best QB in NFC North?

Who knows?

He is the best QB they could have for the Vikings this year IMO.

Rodgers and Stafford just happen to be true franchise guys. Very tough to overtake. But with this team, maybe Cousins can produce and provide results that are meaningful in big games and in the playoffs consistently. 

Cousins isn't as physically talented as those two, but hopefully his game will be elevated to where he's giving this team the extra it needs to get into a Superbowl.

I think with this supporting cast, he will jump into the top 5-ish QBs in terms of how fans and media think of him. He knows that. It's why he signed here. 

yes a clear but not distant 3rd.  He’s top 5 in the conference though

All I care about is the Vikings being at the top of the NFC North.  The team won the division while beating both GB and Detroit with Case and Teddy as their QBs, so I fully expect Cousins to be able to do the same.   Passing stats for yards and TDs don't mean squat, if the team won't win.

NFC North is going to be tough this year.  All three teams improving themselves.

Somebody needs to Tonya Hardding Erin and Stafford. 

@"Purplewhizz" said: NFC North is going to be tough this year.  All sixteen three teams improving themselves.

Fwiw, Casserly just stated that the Vikings s/b considered the favorites in the north, & for once I’ll have to agree w/ him!  B)

If you compare Staffords numbers to Cousins they are very similar although Stafford obviously has 4 more seasons. With Staffords numbers being first:  Passing Yards 4511-4392/season, TD's 28-27/season, Int's  14-13/season, completion % 63-67.  Obviously Stafford has a larger sample size but in his 3 years as a starter Cousins numbers are just as good as Staffords.

Well, yes he's third-best as it stands now.  Consider, though, that this would be true regardless which we signed. 

@"purplefaithful" said: Or might it turn into second best with this surround?

Was MS the best last year because he had the most yards.
Or because he had the most TDs??

Or was he 2nd because he had less wins
Or was he 2nd because he had 2nd best QBR
First we need to know what in your mind, makes a QB 1st-3rd

@"holmanjp" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Or might it turn into second best with this surround?

How are you determining the rankings???

Was MS the best last year because he had the most yards.
Or because he had the most TDs??

Or was he 2nd because he had less wins
Or was he 2nd because he had 2nd best QBR
First we need to know what in your mind, makes a QB 1st-3rd

Stats only matter if there are wins to go with them.  Jameis Winston is a stat machine, unfortunately his INTs are part of that stat sheet.  Bortles has put up huge stats in the past.  To me its the QB that is the most dependable, accurate, makes all the right throws at the right time and doesnt make mistakes.  A QB that in crunch time that can take over a game if other parts of team are having a bad game.  Stafford can somewhat do that but because of the Lions non existent run game they are one dimensional  and defenses can concentrate on stopping only the passing game.  Thats why Brees and Brady are so good.  They can beat you with no running game.  I think with Cousins, if Zimmer gets through to him that with the Vikings running game with Cook, he doesnt have to throw for 300 yards a game to win. But if the  running game is shut down, Cousins has shown he can bring a team back.  I he can limit the mistakes, control the game and make the right calls he will overtake Stafford as the # 2 guy in the NFC north.  Or maybe Zimmer says screw it lets see that big arm and lets air it out and Cousins has a huge year.

3rd is a given; even if we had acquired Tyrod Taylor he would be better than Mitchell Trubisky. Cousins makes the debate about 2nd place a good one.

Probably, but who cares. The defense in Minnesota makes up for the gap in QBs.

@"Purple Haze" said:

@"holmanjp" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Or might it turn into second best with this surround?

How are you determining the rankings???

Was MS the best last year because he had the most yards.
Or because he had the most TDs??

Or was he 2nd because he had less wins
Or was he 2nd because he had 2nd best QBR
First we need to know what in your mind, makes a QB 1st-3rd

Stats only matter if there are wins to go with them.  Jameis Winston is a stat machine, unfortunately his INTs are part of that stat sheet.  Bortles has put up huge stats in the past.  To me its the QB that is the most dependable, accurate, makes all the right throws at the right time and doesnt make mistakes.  A QB that in crunch time that can take over a game if other parts of team are having a bad game.  Stafford can somewhat do that but because of the Lions non existent run game they are one dimensional  and defenses can concentrate on stopping only the passing game.  Thats why Brees and Brady are so good.  They can beat you with no running game.  I think with Cousins, if Zimmer gets through to him that with the Vikings running game with Cook, he doesnt have to throw for 300 yards a game to win. But if the  running game is shut down, Cousins has shown he can bring a team back.  I he can limit the mistakes, control the game and make the right calls he will overtake Stafford as the # 2 guy in the NFC north.  Or maybe Zimmer says screw it lets see that big arm and lets air it out and Cousins has a huge year.

@"holmanjp" said:

@"Purple Haze" said:

@"holmanjp" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Or might it turn into second best with this surround?

How are you determining the rankings???

Was MS the best last year because he had the most yards.
Or because he had the most TDs??

Or was he 2nd because he had less wins
Or was he 2nd because he had 2nd best QBR
First we need to know what in your mind, makes a QB 1st-3rd

Stats only matter if there are wins to go with them.  Jameis Winston is a stat machine, unfortunately his INTs are part of that stat sheet.  Bortles has put up huge stats in the past.  To me its the QB that is the most dependable, accurate, makes all the right throws at the right time and doesnt make mistakes.  A QB that in crunch time that can take over a game if other parts of team are having a bad game.  Stafford can somewhat do that but because of the Lions non existent run game they are one dimensional  and defenses can concentrate on stopping only the passing game.  Thats why Brees and Brady are so good.  They can beat you with no running game.  I think with Cousins, if Zimmer gets through to him that with the Vikings running game with Cook, he doesnt have to throw for 300 yards a game to win. But if the  running game is shut down, Cousins has shown he can bring a team back.  I he can limit the mistakes, control the game and make the right calls he will overtake Stafford as the # 2 guy in the NFC north.  Or maybe Zimmer says screw it lets see that big arm and lets air it out and Cousins has a huge year.

I agree with the QBR.

That being said Case was #2 in the entire league last year. 13 wins in the 17 games he played in.

I see no reason with the weapons he has here, that he cant't be #1 in NFC North.

Who cares? I really dont. I just want a QB that we are comfortable can do the following:
- Get us TDs instead of field goals
- Get us down the field and end zone quickly when needed
- Put us in position to win a game
- Make the right reads most of the time with few mistakes 
- Is not a turnover machine

I think he’s on par with Stafford right now. They actually play similar and both are known for a pick here and there as they push the envelop. I love guys who compete hard and he fits that role well. Cousins has a strong arm. I think much better than most realize. He needs to work on a few things but arm strength isn’t it. 

From 2008 on the NFL has been measuring guys coming in. In that time 3 guys have hit 60mph. Kirk Cousins hit 59. That’s 4mph faster than Flacco by the way. He needs to keep working on his long ball. That can be tricky even with a big arm. Where his velocity is key is in the 1-20 yard range. He can buzz it right in there. For those comcerned at all, don’t be.