How Will New Pressures and New Faces Affect Kirk Cousins
Ever since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, quarterback Kirk Cousins has entered each season with question marks surrounding his team. In 2013, the question was what role would Cousins play on a team that gave up so much to grab a quarterback in the same draft at number two? In 2014, the question was whether Cousins keep the Redskins competitive if Robert Griffin III went down with another knee injury? The 2015 season saw Cousins first take over as starting quarterback and everyone wondered if he had the skills to make it as a starter in the NFL, and in 2016 everyone asked can he do it again?
The start of the 2017 NFL season is just around the corner and once again Cousins is surrounded by adversity, yet for the first time few question his abilities as a starting caliber NFL quarterback. Now everyone wonders if Cousins is good enough to carry a team, riddled with flaws, to the playoffs and possibly a Super Bowl. It is also worth pondering if Cousins will return to the Redskins after this season or go somewhere else in search of a mega-deal. Every year Cousins has faced the criticisms about himself, and has come out on top. This season Cousins faces more adversity then ever as a quarterback, and once again has the chance to prove he is a star in this league.
The most important change Cousins must face this season will be carrying on without his top-two wide receivers over the past two seasons. Washington failed to re-sign both Pierre Garcon and Desean Jackson during free agency season, both of which had 1000 yard seasons playing with Cousins in 2016.
Some might view Jackson as the receiver Cousins will miss the most, after all he cost’s significantly more then Garcon and commanded more attention from defenses. Garcon has played a much more important role in Cousins young career however, as he served as Cousins security blanket. Garcon played in all 32 regular season games with Cousins in his only two seasons as a full time starter, and received over 110 targets in both seasons. With tight end Jordan Reed missing several games a year due to various injuries, wide receiver Jamison Crowder just entering the league and Jackson’s lack of a versatile game, Garcon has been the go to guy for Cousins when he needed someone the most.
Jackson (5’10’’) and Garcon(6’0’’) have been replaced by Terrell Pryor (6’4’’) and Josh Doctson(6’4”). The staggering difference in height should benefit Cousins on jump balls that has never truly been part of Cousins game. Cousins often relied on precise route running from his receivers and timely throws to find success. With Pryor being an ex-quarterback still learning the receiver position and Doctson coming off an injury that ended his rookie campaign, it is wise to assume Cousins will not be able to trust them to get wide open every time. He must adapt to his receiver’s athleticism and trust that they are going to come down with the ball if he is to find success this season.
With the Redskins ex-offensive coordinator Sean McVay accepting a job as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, Head coach Jay Gruden will take over play calling duties for the first time with Cousins as a full time starter. Gruden was once a successful offensive coordinator himself in Cincinnati and called plays for the Redskins his first year as head coach in 2014. Unfortunately the Redskins went four and twelve that year and ranked 26th in the league in scoring. It is true a lot of the Redskins offensive struggles that year can be blamed in the QB nightmare they faced, but there is a reason Sean McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history. He was an extremely talented coordinator who had an excellent relationship with Cousins and all the players on the team. Gruden and Cousins must build a game calling chemistry fast if they want to continue the successes that McVay left behind.
Cousins has proven himself over two seasons’ as a solid NFL quarterback, but playing on a one-year deal means just that, only one year is guaranteed. If Cousins were to suffer a major injury, or have a horrific year his NFL career could be over. Nothing is certain in this league, just ask Colin Kapernick who in 2012 and 2013 led the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship games. Just four seasons later Kapernick isn’t even on a training camp roster. Cousins has proven himself capable of handling himself under pressure, but at some point it would be nice for him to have some security. It’s hard to get comfortable with a team if you know you can’t afford to make to many mistakes.
The Washington Redskins and Kirk Cousins will be under a microscope in the highly competitive NFC East this year. If they somehow manage to come out as winners it will have been because of Cousin’s ability to adapt and handle pressure. Maybe then they will finally pay him.
