Griffin Out For Undetermined Time, It's Cousins Time

[Lotus]

Dalton is better than KC because he is more consistent. While Dalton may not amaze every week, he doesn't have Cousins' rollercoaster ride.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Dalton is better than KC because he is more consistent. While Dalton may not amaze every week, he doesn't have Cousins' rollercoaster ride.

What? Dalton had several multiple int games last year and crapped all over himself in the playoff game. He's had several roller coaster type games.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

What? Dalton had several multiple int games last year and crapped all over himself in the playoff game. He's had several roller coaster type games.

You're not understanding what I mean about roller coaster. Yes, Dalton has had some awful games, just like any QB, even Peyton Manning, has. But Dalton's record includes many capable showings with a few clunkers thrown in.

Cousins, on the other hand, runs extremely hot-and-cold, and this has been true since college. His clunker games are far more frequently mixed in. Just like Rex Grossman.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Lotus

You're not understanding what I mean about roller coaster. Yes, Dalton has had some awful games, just like any QB, even Peyton Manning, has. But Dalton's record includes many capable showings with a few clunkers thrown in.

Cousins, on the other hand, runs extremely hot-and-cold, and this has been true since college. His clunker games are far more frequently mixed in. Just like Rex Grossman.

There was a stretch last year where Dalton threw 8 picks in 3 games, one of which he threw for a paltry 90 yards, and this was his 3rd full year starting. Then the playoff game where he threw an additional 4 picks. Sounds pretty hot and cold to me. Yet he was rewarded with a huge contract. Dalton and KC are looking like the same guy if you ask me. The only difference is one has over 50 starts, the other has 6.

[Bucket]

You guys comparing KC to Beck and Rex is just ridiculous. The guy hasn't even played half of an NFL season yet lol.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Bucket

You guys comparing KC to Beck and Rex is just ridiculous. The guy hasn't even played half of an NFL season yet lol.

So then explain to me why Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Russell Wilson, RG3, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and so many others never had a clunker of a game like that in their rookie seasons?

Because I look at QBs like this: if you don't have a chance to be one of the best then you're not the answer.

Every QB in the league can carve up a defense if he's given time to throw and his receivers are capable of getting open. See Foles, Nick circa 2013, Grossman, Rex circa 2006, McCown, Josh circa 2013. What separates the championship-capable QBs from the rest is how they perform under pressure. Can they escape, can they elude, can they get rid of the ball quickly, do they make sound decisions under pressure?

Foles is being exposed behind that line. So is Cousins. See, Kirk Cousins is a guy that if you can protect him all season, he might be able to get you to the playoffs. But once there and you're facing better pass rushes, he won't get you past the first round because even the best line is going to give up some pressure. That's not the answer. I don't think handling pressure is something you get better at. QBs are either born with a knack for handling pressure or they weren't - it's a personality thing. Do you get frazzled and anxious or don't you. That's why we see some young QBs succeed and others do what Kirk did.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

So then explain to me why Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Russell Wilson, RG3, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and so many others never had a clunker of a game like that in their rookie seasons?

Because I look at QBs like this: if you don't have a chance to be one of the best then you're not the answer.

Every QB in the league can carve up a defense if he's given time to throw and his receivers are capable of getting open. See Foles, Nick circa 2013, Grossman, Rex circa 2006, McCown, Josh circa 2013. What separates the championship-capable QBs from the rest is how they perform under pressure. Can they escape, can they elude, can they get rid of the ball quickly, do they make sound decisions under pressure?

Foles is being exposed behind that line. So is Cousins. See, Kirk Cousins is a guy that if you can protect him all season, he might be able to get you to the playoffs. But once there and you're facing better pass rushes, he won't get you past the first round because even the best line is going to give up some pressure. That's not the answer. I don't think handling pressure is something you get better at. QBs are either born with a knack for handling pressure or they weren't - it's a personality thing. Do you get frazzled and anxious or don't you. That's why we see some young QBs succeed and others do what Kirk did.

Hmmm...Rivers keeps getting better and it is his 10th year. I think a lot of what you are saying is "crystal balling".


1. Philip Rivers, quarterback, San Diego. He just keeps getting better. Building on last year’s 5% improvement in completion percentage—stunning for a 10-year vet—Rivers came back after a one-point loss to unbeaten Arizona to strafe three straight foes, most impressivly leading the Chargers to 30 points in a Week 2 win over Seattle. The thing you notice about Rivers now is that his confidence isn’t getting him in trouble the way it did under Norv Turner—he’s forcing very few passes. He’s a 74.5% passer during the three-game streak, with no interceptions.

[donofriose]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

So then explain to me why Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Russell Wilson, RG3, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and so many others never had a clunker of a game like that in their rookie seasons?

Because I look at QBs like this: if you don't have a chance to be one of the best then you're not the answer.

Every QB in the league can carve up a defense if he's given time to throw and his receivers are capable of getting open. See Foles, Nick circa 2013, Grossman, Rex circa 2006, McCown, Josh circa 2013. What separates the championship-capable QBs from the rest is how they perform under pressure. Can they escape, can they elude, can they get rid of the ball quickly, do they make sound decisions under pressure?

Foles is being exposed behind that line. So is Cousins. See, Kirk Cousins is a guy that if you can protect him all season, he might be able to get you to the playoffs. But once there and you're facing better pass rushes, he won't get you past the first round because even the best line is going to give up some pressure. That's not the answer. I don't think handling pressure is something you get better at. QBs are either born with a knack for handling pressure or they weren't - it's a personality thing. Do you get frazzled and anxious or don't you. That's why we see some young QBs succeed and others do what Kirk did.

Both of them didn't play their rookie season.

Manning's first three games were terrible, 8 ints 2 touchdowns. Andrew Luck's rookie season had stretches where he threw 5 interceptions and only 3 touchdown passes.

Give Kirk a chance.

[BaltimoreSkins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

There was a stretch last year where Dalton threw 8 picks in 3 games, one of which he threw for a paltry 90 yards, and this was his 3rd full year starting. Then the playoff game where he threw an additional 4 picks. Sounds pretty hot and cold to me. Yet he was rewarded with a huge contract. Dalton and KC are looking like the same guy if you ask me. The only difference is one has over 50 starts, the other has 6.

And one has been winning since he arrived in the NFL. I would agree with Lotus though. I have been far more impressed with Dalton than I have with KC

[Skinzman]

Originally Posted by BaltimoreSkins

And one has been winning since he arrived in the NFL. I would agree with Lotus though. I have been far more impressed with Dalton than I have with KC

Most of you in this argument are way to much into what the defense does for a team when grading a QB. Dalton has been OK, but they arent winning because Dalton puts the team on his back, they win because they actually have a really good defense. They have won games that Dalton went out of his way to lose, same with Seattle and Wilson.

The whole Rex argument is rather funny, since he was given one of those defenses once and went to a SB. Dilfer actually won one with one of those defenses. KC may be similar, but until we can allow our QB to play within a game plan and not go out there with the mentality that we have to score 50 points to win, then anyone we get to play back there will do the same thing. Go for 50 by taking chances and make a ton of mistakes.

Russell Wilson goes into a game knowing if he throws for 100 yards, they win. RG3 and Kirk go into a game knowing that even if they throw for 400 yards and 4 td's, there is still a decent chance we lose. It is so much easier to develop a young QB when that QB knows he doesnt have to win the game for the team. Less chances taken means less mistakes made. Our QB's have to be world beaters to win. Which should make more of you question the QB less and the rest of the team more.

Keep in mind, we had given up 27 points before Kirk threw his first int against the Giants. Kirk didnt play good, but who on the team did? We are never going to develop a QB properly until we upgrade our Off. Line and our entire defense.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Skinzman

The whole Rex argument is rather funny, since he was given one of those defenses once and went to a SB. Dilfer actually won one with one of those defenses. KC may be similar, but until we can allow our QB to play within a game plan and not go out there with the mentality that we have to score 50 points to win, then anyone we get to play back there will do the same thing. Go for 50 by taking chances and make a ton of mistakes.

So you want to count on building one of the best defenses of all time to win a super bowl? That's harder to do than it is to find a QB.

Dilfer won because of that dominant defense, and Rex was carried to the Super Bowl by a dominant defense. Neither of those teams have been able to duplicate that defensive performance since. The Ravens pulled off a return to the SB with a better QB (who got hot at the right time).

We get your point, you need a complete team. But it's so hard to put together a team dominant enough to carry an average QB.

Cousins is a valuable backup. We might even get someone to bite on a 2nd or 3rd rounder in a trade. We shouldn't kid ourselves that he'll be anything more.