The Unclutch QB story: Kirk Cousins



What do I want in a QB? I will admit that I prefer someone who has performed in unfavorable situations BUT the most important thing to me as Ive stated so many times, is the ability to win a Superbowl. That takes clutch ability and its something that is not taught. Tom Brady has it, Wilson has it and I believe Teddy has it. Kirk Cousins however is not someone I believe who is clutch or wins games against top teams.

Having said that I wanted to chart what Kirk Cousins has accomplished in WAS in terms of wins vs .500 teams as well as statistics pre-Jay Gruden's scheme and during Gruden's tenure.
Here we go:

Starts Pre-Gruden but with Garcon



Year Teams Record Score Stats 4th Quarter score
2012 CLE 5-11 38-21 W 26-37
329y
2TD-1INT
24-14
2013 ATL 4-12 26-27 L 29-45
381y
3TD-2INT
20-24
2013 DAL 8-8 23-24 L 21-36
197y
1TD-1INT
20-14
2013 NYG 7-9 6-20 L 19-49
169y
0TD-2INT
6-17


As you can see Cousins was unable to perform against even average competition and when the score was within a TD he was 0-2 as a starter in his first 4 starts while having his worst starts versus the best competition.

Starts Post Gruden with Garcon and DJax 



Year Teams Record Score Stats 4th Quarter score
2014 PHI 10-6 34-37 L 30-48
427y
3TD-1INT
27-27
2014 NYG 6-10 14-45 L 19-33
257y
1TD-4INT
14-31
2014 SEA 12-4 17-27 L 21-36
283y
2TD-0INT
10-17
2014 ARI 11-5 20-30 L 24-38
354y
2TD-3INT
13-17
2014 TEN 2-14 19-17 W 10-16
139y
0TD-1INT
13-10

In Cousins' next five (5) starts he lost all starts versus the best competition and had one win versus the worst team he faced. At the end of the 3rd quarter of the games versus the Eagles and Cardinals he was either tied or behind by 4 points but lost both games. Against the Titans he was ahead by a FG and added two more FGs.

Starts since 2014




Year Teams Record Score Stats DVOA
Pass Rank
4th Quarter score
2015 MIA 6-10 10-17 L 21-31
196y
1TD2NT
29 10-7
2015 STL 7-9 24-10 W 23-27
203y
1TD0INT
8 17-10
2015 NYG 6-10 21-32 L 30-49
316y
1TD2INT
28 6-18
2015 PHI 7-9 23-20 W 31-46
290y

1TD0INT
14 16-13
2015 ATL 8-8 19-25 L 21-32
219y
1TD2INT
22 7-6
2015 NYJ 10-6 20-34 L 25-43
196y
1TD2INT
9 13-27
2015 TAM 6-10 31-30 W 33-40
317y
3TD0INT
26 21-24
2015 NWE 12-4 10-27 L 22-40
217y

TD1INT1
15 3-20
2015 NOR 7-9 47-14 W 20-25
324y
4TD0INT
32 37-14
2015 CAR 15-1 16-44 L 22-30
207y
1TD1INT
2 14-41
2015 NYG 6-10 20-14 W 20-29
302y
1TD0INT
28 17-0
2015 DAL 4-12 16-19 L 22-31
219y
1TD0INT
17 6-6
2015 CHI 6-10 24-21 W 24-31
300y
1TD1INT
23 21-21
2015 BUF 8-8 35-25 W 22-28
319y
4TD0INT
18 17-28
2015 PHI 7-9 38-24 W 31-46
365y
4TD0INT
14 30-17
2015 DAL 4-12 34-23 W 12-15
176y
3TD0INT
17 27-14


The Redskins were unable to beat any teams with a winning record in 2015

Kirk Cousins came back in the 4th quarter twice, first against a .500 team and a team with a losing record. He also lost against a .500 team and a team with a losing record after being up to begin the 4th quarter.

Split by DVOA of teams in the top 16 Cousins put up 66.4% accuracy on 38.7 attempts, 246 yards, 1.5 TD and .7 INT. However Cousins put up 72.3% accuracy on 31.1 attempts, 269 yards, 2 TD and .7 INT vs the bottom 16 teams in the DVOA metric.

2016 season



Year Teams Record Score Stats DVOA
Pass Rank
Start of
4th Quarter
score
2016 PIT 11-5 16-38 L 30-43
329y
0TDINT2
12 9-24
2016 DAL 13-3 23-27 L 28-46
364
1TD1INT
19 23-20
2016 NYG 11-5 29-27 W 21-35
296y
2TD0INT
4 23-24
2016 CLE 1-15 31-20 W 21-27
183y
3TD1INT
29 17-20
2016 BAL 8-8 16-10 W 29-41
260y
1TD1INT
10 16-10
2016 PHI 7-9 27-20 W 18-34
263y
2TD1INT
2 24-14
2016 DET 9-7 17-20 L 30-39
301y
1TD0INT
32 3-10
2016 CIN 6-9-1 27-27 T 38-56
458y
2TD1INT
14 17-20
2016 MIN 8-8 26-20 W 22-33
262y

2TD0INT
8 20-20
2016 GNB 10-6 42-24 W 21-30
375y
3TD0INT
23 22-10
2016 DAL 13-3 26-31 L 41-53
449y
3TD0INT
19 6-17
2016 ARI 7-8-1 23-31 L 21-37
271
1TD1INT
3 20-17
2016 PHI 7-9 27-22 W 14-21
234y
2TD1INT
2 21-13
2016 CAR 6-10 15-26 L 32-47
315y
0TD1INT
11 9-23
2016 CHI 3-13 41-21 W 18-29
270y
1TD0INT
17 31-14
2016 NYG 11-5 10-19 L 22-35
287y
1TD2INT
4 3-10

The Redskins were only able to beat two teams above .500. 

They lost to two teams when leading into the 4th quarter, a below .500 team and a playoff team. Kirk Cousins was able to lead a comeback in the 4th quarter vs one (1) above .500 team.

Split by DVOA of teams in the top 16 Cousins put up 64.7% accuracy on 38.2 attempts, 298 yards, 1.3 TD and 1 INT. However Cousins put up 71% accuracy on 28.7 attempts, 324 yards, 2 TD and .3 INT vs the bottom 16 teams in the DVOA metric.

2017 season



Year Teams Record Score Stats DVOA
Pass Rank
Start of
4th Quarter
score
2017 PHI 13-3 17-30 L 23-40
240y
1TD1INT
7 17-19
2017 LAR 11-5 27-20 W 18-27
179y
1TD0INT
3 20-17
2017 OAK 6-10 27-10 W 25-30
365y
3TD0INT
30 21-7
2017 KC 10-6 20-29 L 14-24
220y
2TD0INT
23 17-17
2017 SF 6-10 26-24 W 25-37
330y
2TD1INT
28 17-17
2017 PHI 13-3 24-34 L 30-40
303y
3TD1INT
7 17-24
2017 DAL 9-7 19-33 L 26-39
263y
1TD1INT
18 13-23
2017 SEA 9-7 17-14 W 21-31
247y
0TD0INT
13 9-2
2017 MIN 12-4 30-38 L 26-45
327y

1TD1INT
4 20-35
2017 NOR 11-5 31-34 L 22-32
322y
3TD0INT
5 24-13
2017 NYG 3-13 20-10 W 19-31
242y
2TD1INT
20 10-10
2017 DAL 9-7 14-38 L 26-37
251y
2TD2INT
18 7-17
2017 LAC 9-7 13-30 L 15-27
151y
1TD1INT
9 6-30
2017 ARI 8-8 20-15 W 18-26
196y
2TD0INT
11 17-12
2017 DEN 5-11 27-11 W 19-37
299y
3TD1INT
15 13-3
2017 NYG 3-13 10-18 L 20-37
158y
0TD3INT
20 10-15

The Redskins were able to beat two (2) teams over .500 in 2017

The Redskins lost one game to a playoff team entering the 4th quarter and split two games tied entering the 4th quarter. The one game won being against a sub .500 team which before signing Garrapolo was the 2nd or 3rd worst team in the NFL.

Split by DVOA of teams in the top 16 Cousins put up 64.6% accuracy on 33.5 attempts, 246 yards, 1.5 TD and .5 INT. However Cousins put up 64% accuracy on 34 attempts, 266 yards, 1.9 TD and 1.1 INT vs the bottom 16 teams in the DVOA metric.


Conclusion

After taking a look at all these facts I find it curious that Vikings fans and media personalities seem to want to put Kirk Cousins in a Vikings uniform. The premise is that we'll win more with a QB of Cousins' ability. What ability exactly is that? He's had a top 10 OL and two top 30 WR's before and did not truly succeed with that offense. Sure the defense has only recently (2016/2017) started to be good with Josh Norman and now the selection of Jonathan Allen in 2017. However if the team is built for your success and Cousins is being mentioned as an elite QB, shouldnt he be carrying his team to the playoffs like Aaron Rodgers? If you truly believe that this guy is good enough then his performance should back that assertion up, correct?

Its my opinion that Cousins should not be signed by the Vikings at anywhere near the $25M per year price necessary. We need to focus on the core and go with Teddy, a draft pick and Sloter or if Keenum can be had for a max of $15M per year, then Teddy, Keenum and Sloter.


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