Redskins QB Kirk Cousins may only be a deep breath away from turnaround
ASHBURN, Va. — Kirk Cousins spent last Sunday night at Redskins Park, watching the tape of a loss to the Dallas Cowboys that turned on his baffling end-zone interception hours before.
You have to like that quality in a 28-year-old quarterback who seized his opportunity a year ago after pushing Robert Griffin III aside in camp then led an unlikely NFC East title run. Cousins cares. He competes. He works his tail off and — unnamed sniping in the media notwithstanding — pretty much everyone in the building respects that.
At a certain point, though, when things have gone the way they have during Washington’s 0-2 start, you almost wonder if Cousins would benefit from spending one Sunday night chilling out, perhaps downing a cocktail or two and getting back to work Monday morning.
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The Kirk Cousins who enters this week’s critical road game against the 2-0 New York Giants with one TD pass, three interceptions and a 78.5 passer rating hasn’t looked like the guy whose superb finish last season forced the Redskins to use the $19.953 million franchise tag to keep him off the free-agent market.
On Thursday, Redskins coach Jay Gruden backed off his statement in a TV interview earlier in the week that Cousins needed to “relax”, saying he didn’t want anyone thinking his quarterback is in panic mode.
“He’s in a firestorm right now, I guess, on the outside world,” Gruden said. “But in here, he’s been consistent, we’ve been consistent, and he’s getting better and better.”
Still, others surely would be tempted to take the message directly to Cousins if they didn’t think telling him to calm down might have the opposite effect.
Cousins is a cerebral guy. He’s a pleaser. And right now, there are signs he’s overanalyzing and putting too much pressure on himself to be perfect, rather than just being himself and reacting on the field — a natural strength, even if it contributed to the turnovers that marked his early career.
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You can see it in Cousins’ inconsistent footwork. You can see it when he heaves a sure touchdown over Jamison Crowder’s head or forces that late, off-balance throw into the end zone with a three-point lead in the fourth quarter that Cowboys safety Barry Church picks off, leaving intended target Pierre Garcon hopping mad.
Playing on the tag is probably one factor, though it’s impossible to know how much a multiyear commitment from the Redskins would’ve impacted Cousins’ play. The sides were never close to a deal before July’s deadline anyway.
“I feel like I’m on a one-game deal, a one-day deal,” Cousins said. “I’ve got to prove it over and over and over, so if I had been on a contract that is lasting many more years, I would still feel like if I don’t play well this year, they’re going to look for someone else.”
That’s true, but it doesn’t indicate a lack of support from the organization. The fact is not many QBs get paid off one year of production. (Brock Osweiler getting paid by the Houston Texans off seven starts is an outlier, to say the least.) The Redskins know what Cousins was last season, particularly from Week 7 on as he found his groove.
He brought some levity to his media session this week, joking about his most memorable gaffe last season — inexplicably taking a knee, rather than spiking the ball late in the first half of the Redskins’ Week 16 win at Philadelphia — and saying he was unaware of a ProFootballTalk report of locker-room unrest until a reporter brought it up.
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Asked if he’s trying too hard, Cousins said: “There were games last year where I played really, really well, and I was trying pretty hard then, too.”
This is a more talented Redskins team than the one that went 9-7 a year ago. Pass protection has been excellent, and there’s depth of playmakers around Cousins, who showed last season he can perform the toughest job in sports at a pretty high level.
Cousins has done positive things in this young season, too — just not enough to outweigh the bad. If he makes a few easy throws last week, they might blow out the Cowboys. And the good news for the Redskins is they’ve seen Cousins make those throws before.
“He believes in himself, just like we do,” tight end Jordan Reed said. “We have all the confidence in the world in him.”
The best thing Cousins can do now is breathe, turn off his brain for a second every now and then and let his natural ability take over.
Tom's top 10
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. (2) New England Patriots: Don’t overlook OC Josh McDaniels’ role in Tom Brady-less 2-0 start.
2. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers: It’s very early, but Ben Roethlisberger may be on an MVP track.
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3. (5) Denver Broncos: With DeMarcus Ware hurt, opportunities abound for young edge players.
4. (6) Carolina Panthers: Fozzy Whittaker (4.8 yard per carry since ’14) can handle Jonathan Stewart’s load.
5. (1) Seattle Seahawks: The Rams are a bad matchup for them. But three points? That can’t happen.
6. (8) Arizona Cardinals: After blowing out Bucs, they get first look at post-Greg Roman Bills.
7. (10) Minnesota Vikings: Offense is depleted. But talented young D keeps getting better.
8. (4) Green Bay Packers: Jared Cook settling into offense could be important piece of puzzle.
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9. (7) Cincinnati Bengals: Sign of shift? Ken Zampese’s offense second in passing, 31st in rushing.
10. (NR) Houston Texans: Rookie receiver Will Fuller looks like complement DeAndre Hopkins needed.
Dropped out: Oakland Raiders (9).
Note: Does not factor in result of Thursday’s game.
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Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero
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