Are Redskins better off with Cousins?
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – Is the Redskins offense more efficient under Kirk Cousins than RGIII?
Many observers and Redskin fans have been calling for Cousins to get his chance to operate the offense in light of the continued struggles of RG III. They are getting their wish at the expense of any ankle injury to RG III and perhaps even more. Should Cousins perform well, it is going to be a major personnel and financial decision to make. Cousins would require a long-term contract with significant numbers if he plays well and leads the Redskins to a winning record. RG III may have little value in the open market and still has a sizable contract.
What reminds me most of this precarious situation for the Redskins occurred in New England when Drew Bledsoe went down to injury and little known Michigan student-athlete named Tom Brady took over under center. They ended up winning the Super Bowl, but few remember the heroic performance Bledsoe had in the AFC Championship game when Brady was injured. Bledsoe was rewarded with calling plays from the sidelines as Brady led the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
On almost any other team, this QB situation would have polarized the team and fan base, but the Patriots are by far the best managed NFL organization. By contrast, the Redskins, under owner Dan Snyder is a highly dysfunctional unit that has difficulty making even simple tasks without unnecessary media hype and attention. So, the QB controversy is born and it will evolve into anything but what occurred in the Drew Bledsoe era in new England.
The question that needs to be addressed now is can Cousins run this offense and lead the Redskins to the playoffs or at minimum an 8-8 record? I strongly believe that he can and has the personnel surrounding him to become an even stronger team in the second half of the season. TE Jordan Reed is a key part of that unit and needs to be healthy for the rest of the season, but the Redskins do have surprising depth at skill positions to offset the NFL injury bug.
During halftime of the Redskins’ 41-10 win over Jacksonville on Sunday, CBS studio analyst Tony Gonzalez pumped the brakes on the excitement about Cousins, who was lighting up the Jaguars in relief of an injured RG III. He went on to say too that confident is what RG III is lacking most and that he is just not trusting his knee and may be the reason he twisted the ankle. At any level of elite sports competition, confidence is an immeasurable asset that is seen in all players. The smallest big of doubt, is a weakness that is exploited at the NFL level. Cousins is playing with confidence and will make the most of his opportunity.
This opportunity begins in Philadelphia where I believe he will play very well again against a suspect Eagles defense. An upset win in Philadelphia or even a very close game will make it nearly impossible for management to put RG III back in as the starter. It is a 46-man team effort, but the QB position is by far the most important in the NFL. In my opinion, Cousins will get the job done in Philadelphia.
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