Who is Kirk Cousins?

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by MTK

I'm firmly on Kirk's side now, I think we can definitely move forward with him as our QB.

Yeah I agree I was skeptical at first but he's cut down on the ints and he's making great throws. Imo he's a QB that can be our guy for the next 6-7 years.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Dude this all I can think of when i see your new user name

All im gonna say about Kirk is he is the established QB...for now. Pay him for a couple years and continue to build the team. We have no other choice at this point.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Allow me to cherry-pick my own stats. In the first 6 games of this year, Kirk threw 6 TD passes and 8 INT's. In the last 5 games, Kirk threw 10 TD's and 2 INT's. Only 3 of his 7 fumbles were lost. There's a trend for you to consider.

I agree. The trend statistically is showing improvement over time.
However one the biggest measure that is lost on a stat sheet is how the team has recently started to rallying around each other and KC.
After reading about the timing of the players-only meeting that Dashon Goldson called Saturday night and how a few other team leaders stepped up to talk about the effort they need to give on Sundays, and the things they can still accomplish this year.
Gone (at least for now) are the days of a divided locker room and players throwing each other under the bus, like was happening when RGIII was QB.
The attitude in the locker room has greatly improved and you can not see that on a stat sheet. A player/team has to want to give it his all for his team and teammates on the field on Sundays. That shit is contagious and can build and grow.
In the past during Snyder era, when our team has sucked it was 1) level of play/lack of talent and 2) shitty effort. You have to have both talent and effort.

[Hog1]

KC threw that ball 60 yards in the air and Djax still had to slow down and wait on it a little....Dude is F..n... Fast

[JoeRedskin]

Seven of Kirk's 10 TD's that came in his last five games came against NO (4) and TBay (3). Both excellent games on his part. Both at home. Each followed by a clunker (in part caused by the competition - NE & Carolina). His play yesterday was solid but not spectacular - a level, however, for which I have no complaints.

In his five away games, he has thrown 5 TD's and 8 INT's. This, too, is a trend. With that said, in his first three away games, he threw 1 TD/2 INT's each; in the last two (Carolina, NE), he threw 1 TD/ 1 INT. If he truly improves and reverses the ratio from the first away games, that would be significant. Also, KC's inconsistencies track with the teams. While I realize this is a chicken/egg thing (is KC dragging down team or vice versa), if the Kool-Aid KC Worshippers wish for converts, KC needs to win when the team is down. Right now, he doesn't (which, BTW, is not a horrible trait or one that marks him as a "Bad" QB - however, to me, it does demonstrate a limited ceiling).

Kirk will quell my doubts when:
(1) We have a three game win streak.
(2) KC wins an away game.

We play Dallas at home followed by Chicago at Soldier Stadium. If we win those two, I am officially a KC supporter (although it will take some time for me to completely stop thinking that the other shoe will drop).

Chicago will be a tough out, but it will be the kind of game in which a "good" QB must perform well. To me, that's the current "trend setting game" on my radar. They have the 49'er this week. Assuming they beat them, we will both be 6-6 for the game (We WILL beat the Cowboys - Period). Playoff implications will be on the line. Pressure will be high. To convince me Kirk has a higher ceiling than what he has historically shown, then "Good Kirk" (not even "Great Kirk") needs to show up in Chicago.

As to the absence of drama and the end of divisiveness, I absolutely agree that Kirk has brought that. He appears to be very well liked by the team. All of that is good. However, Rex Grossman was loved by his teammates on the Bears (and here apparently). He was a Jekyll/Hyde QB with serious limitations.

Right now KC looks a lot like Grossman to me. Can he prove he is not? Kaptain Kirk's Kool-Aid Drinkers say "YES!" The rest of say "Let's wait a bit first. After four years in the league, it's show me time." He has shown some, but, he has some serious hurdles to overcome for me to believe he is not "Just a guy."

And, again, I end by saying ... He is our best option this year and likely next. Further, he is better than many starting QB's currently out there.

[skinsfaninok]

I saw a stat earlier that said Only Tony Romo and Rivers have better comp % than Kirk.. If thats true (haven't had a chance to look) thats pretty damn good.

[BaltimoreSkins]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

I saw a stat earlier that said Only Tony Romo and Rivers have better comp % than Kirk.. If thats true (haven't had a chance to look) thats pretty damn good.

NFL Stats: by Player Category

Yes according to the stats he is right behind Rivers in second place for completion percentage. You might as well throw out Romo if you include him you might as well include Sam Koch

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Allow me to cherry-pick my own stats. In the first 6 games of this year, Kirk threw 6 TD passes and 8 INT's. In the last 5 games, Kirk threw 10 TD's and 2 INT's. Only 3 of his 7 fumbles were lost. There's a trend for you to consider.

Bam!

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

I saw a stat earlier that said Only Tony Romo and Rivers have better comp % than Kirk.. If thats true (haven't had a chance to look) thats pretty damn good.

All year his completion % has been fantastic. (But we dont talk about that around here...KC is just a stop gap. Shhhh).

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by BaltimoreSkins

NFL Stats: by Player Category

Yes according to the stats he is right behind Rivers in second place for completion percentage. You might as well throw out Romo if you include him you might as well include Sam Koch

Pretty dang good. I'm starting to believe in kirk

[JoeRedskin]

Yes. Completion percentage is important. However, historically yards/pass attempt is a much more telling number. In that category, Kirk has been much less impressive (21st out of 32 - although he is ahead of Rodgers)

Passing yards per attempt is considered a basic, yet important statistic in football. Teams that win the passing yards per attempt battle almost always win, and players with a higher YPA are generally more successful. YPA includes the yardage in the air as well as the yards after catch provided by the receiver.

Passing yards per attempt is an important measure of quarterback value as to rank near the top of the leaderboard players must consistently produce completed passes with long yardage values and have a high completion percentage.

Player Passing Yards Per Attempt Statistics: 2015 NFL Season

Kirk completes a lot of short passes. It is how Gruden's scheme is designed. There were several deep shots designed for yesterday's game. Except for the one shot to Desean and the one to Roberts, I don't recall any other deep shots taken by him despite the several designed 7 step drops. Maybe the shot wasn't there and it was a good check down. Maybe he just doesn't pull the trigger. Dunno. Would love to see the All-22.

AGAIN - Still best option. Still likely best option for next year.
Not a hater, just not one of Kaptain Kirk's Kool-Aid Klub (yet).

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Yes. Completion percentage is important. However, historically yards/pass attempt is a much more telling number. In that category, Kirk has been much less impressive (21st out of 32 - although he is ahead of Rodgers)



Player Passing Yards Per Attempt Statistics: 2015 NFL Season

Kirk completes a lot of short passes. It is how Gruden's scheme is designed. There were several deep shots designed for yesterday's game. Except for the one shot to Desean and the one to Roberts, I don't recall any other deep shots taken by him despite the several designed 7 step drops. Maybe the shot wasn't there and it was a good check down. Maybe he just doesn't pull the trigger. Dunno. Would love to see the All-22.

AGAIN - Still best option. Still likely best option for next year.
Not a hater, just not one of Kaptain Kirk's Kool-Aid Klub (yet).

Yep, and with Djax in the lineup. Kirk is averaging 8.9 YPA. The best in the NFL.

It's a team game, like I said. You also can compare his Pass Per Attempt, which is better then Rogers, Rivers, Brady, Both Mannings.

So..... Yea

[JoeRedskin]

Yup. D. Jax is a game changer. KC benefits from that - a lot. (BTW - It's 8.46, not 8.9; 124 atts / 1,024 yds. Still would rank him 3rd out of 31). Without D. Jax, KC's yds/attempt plummets to 6.5. Beating out only Nick Foles and Luck and putting him 28th out of 31.

So ... yea

It is a team game, but the title of this thread is "Who is Kirk Cousins?" I would suggest that he is neither the 8.4 guy or the 6.5 guy, but that he is pretty much right in the middle of that - and, at 7.5, he would be in the 13th/14th out of 31 range.

AGAIN - Still best option. Still likely best option for next year.

[JoeRedskin]

To me, it's really interesting to look at his Rating over the last six games. Away, against very, very good defenses he tossed up some of his worst games. Then, followed them at home against lesser teams with some stellar games - including his two best ratings of the year.

@ Jets: 57.9 - worst of the year. [Jets' "Average Rating Against" = 81.6; 5th best in the NFL]
v. TBay: 124.7 - 2nd best of the year (You like that?)[ARA = 98.5; 23rd]
@ N.E.: 64.8 - 2nd worst of the year [ARA = 82.8; 9th]
v. New O.: 158.3 - best of the year (I like that!) [ARA = 115.9; 32nd]
@ Carolina: 89.4 - Right in the middle, sixth worst or sixth best; [ARA = 68.7; 1st]
v. Giants: 114.4 - fourth best. [ARA = 92.3; 18th]

2015 NFL Team Passing Stats - National Football League - ESPN

The real anomaly is the Carolina game where his rating was significantly higher than the average allowed by the Panthers - the best ARA defense in the NFL.

Like I said, interesting and all part of the picture. To me, it shows inconsistency. To Kirk's Kool-Aid Klub, I am sure it shows consistent improvement or, alternatively, nothing at all.

[JoeRedskin]

So ... based on past teams and performance, and comparing it to upcoming teams, looks to me like Kirk is due for at least three more good to very good games, one clunker and one toss-up.

v. Dallas - 16th best defensive ARA: KC should have a very good game at home.
@ Chicago - 19th: This is the toss-up. KC should have a good game, but it's an away game ...
v. Buffalo - 10th: This will be the test of the "Great Home Game" stretch. KC due for a clunker based on D ranking, but it's a home game ...
@ Phil - 20th: If they don't win the Chicago game, this will be the first away game victory.
@ Dallas - 16th: ... and this will be the 2nd (or 3rd). KC should close out the regular season strong.

More and more, I am looking at the Chicago game as the test of "Who is Kirk Cousins?"