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
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.
YOU LIKE THAT?!
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.
YOU LIKE THAT?!
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