Chipping in with my tuppenth worth.
I'd give Capt Kirk a solid B+
It's been evident since day 1 of training camp (and before) that the team wants to put emphasis on strong O-Line play and the running game. I think when you looked at all three quarterbacks that it was a good choice. I mean RGIII had 2012 and it's hard to forget that year, McCoy had the Dallas game and Kirk showed flashes of being a really competent QB. But each had their issues, none looked like a solid star anymore for whatever reason. Watching what was going on around the league especially in our own division with Dallas it was clear we needed to go back to fundamental basics and build from the inside out. I like this direction I really do.
I always felt a little like Kirk just needed confidence. To know that the job was his and that there was no one looking over his shoulder. Last year I felt that all three QB's suffered from that. Gruden changed QB's like the weather and I never really got it. I always viewed last season as a rebuild, I was expecting only a few wins and I just thought that they should have settled on one QB and backed him to the hilt. I know there were injuries and things that derailed it a bit, but I always just felt that Gruden would change the QB at the drop of a hat if he thought one gave a better chance of winning. I felt it must be hard for any of the three to really get comfortable and grow in the role when they were all treated like that.
I like that Gruden has apparently committed to Cousins. I think it shows in Cousins growth.
Game 1 against the Dolphins he showed some really good stuff, but then there was the interception and then the third quarter meltdown. Kinda felt to me like the team started to panic and that they were in their own heads a bit like "Uh Oh here we go again! WE gotta stop the inevitable collapse!" The team started to look just unbalanced, penalties crept in, Tress Way punted that horrendously short hangtime punt because he was "Trying to flip the field". I just felt like if they had stayed calm and just gone about their business then we would have won that game.
Some of that is on the shoulders of Gruden, but I think some was on Cousins too. I feel like maybe he felt a little "Uh Oh, if I can't get this team going I'm gonna get yanked!!!" Maybe not that game, but in the future.
This week the man looked way way more composed. Like he was finally starting to think...."You know this is now my job... I think I'm safe here!"
Even when we had our third quarter wobble he just still looked composed and played through it. I was sitting at home having kittens thinking "Oh God here comes the collapse again!", but Kirk just went about his business, didn't seem to push things or try to make plays when they weren't there, seemed safe in the knowledge that a) The defense will stop the Rams and b) if we just do what we're doing we'll score again and everything will be good.
And we did. And it was.
I think the whole team now feels a little more confident. It's a good place to build from.
so anyhow.... Roundabout way of saying...
Kirk didn't set the word on fire with 400 plus yards and multiple touchdowns like he did against the Eagles a year ago. But I thought this was a really mature showing from him. Did what he had to do.
And in my head I can still see the fact that last year he DID go off against the Eagles for 427 yards and 3 TD's. Now if he can combine that output with Sundays composure and nail this long term...
Feeling pretty positive.
And even if he laid an egg in NY this week I just want to see him get a full season of starts and the backing of Gruden to REALLY let him settle in. With our O-Line and running game being the focal point of our offense, he doesn't need to be a superstar, just a good QB and I think he could be.
This week gave me a good feeling about that position for the first time since 2012.
(For the record... I'm a big RGIII fan and would have loved to see him get an extended period of time behind this line. Saying that though I really hope they DO NOT chop and change QB's all over again.)
Sorry.... feel I went on a bit there....