Mike Shanahan: Kirk Cousins is special, if you don’t think so then you don’t watch him in practice very often.

[Patriot Killa]

Sounds like a shot to the former GM and new GM.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/sports/football/jets/mike-shanahan-qb-kirk-cousins-special-player-article-1.3786196

Mike Shanahan believes that it might be time to visit your local optometrist if you don’t think that Kirk Cousins is the real deal.

Less than two weeks after former Washington general manager Scot McLoughlin said that he didn’t think the veteran quarterback was “special,” the coach who discovered Cousins made it crystal clear that the best is yet to come from the signal caller.

There’s no question in my mind that he’s a special player,” Shanahan told the Daily News on Monday. “If you don’t think he’s a special player, that means you don’t watch him practice very often. You take a look at some of the games he’s played in. He hasn’t played with a good defense that’s been in the upper half of the league, I don’t think, since he’s been there. You can’t always do it by yourself. You got to have an offense and a defense for a quarterback to be really successful… especially when you get in the playoffs. But I guarantee you he’s a special guy.”

Shanahan, frankly, is right. Washington has had a subpar defense in Cousins’ three seasons as the full-time starter. The raw numbers: Washington has finished 28th, 28th and 21st in total defense and 17th, 19th and 27th in points allowed.

“He’s a good player,” McCloughan recently told a Denver radio station about Cousins. “Is he special? I don’t see special. But also, we were still building a roster around him to make him special…. He’s talented. Talent is good at quarterback in the NFL. He’s won games. I know his record overall is not over .500. I know he has not won a playoff game. But he’s competitive. He works his tail off. He’s so methodical. Every day he has planned out. He's always in the building; he’s always watching tape; he’s always talking to coaches; he was talking to me. From the standpoint of the tangibles, they’re excellent. You just need to have some talent around him because you don’t want him to be throwing the ball 35 to 40 times to win the game. You want to have a running game, have a good defense, good (special) teams, and then let him do what he does.”

Cousins, who’s 24-24-1 as the full-time starter, will hit the open market unless Washington slaps the franchise tag on him for a third consecutive season. A third franchise tag, however, would cost $34 million, prompting some quarterback-needy teams like the Jets to wonder about landing the plug-and-play quarterback.

Shanahan’s imprint seemingly will be all over the 2018 Jets with former pupil Jeremy Bates in line to take over the offense. It makes perfect sense for the Jets to go all-in for Cousins in free agency.

“I think Kirk Cousins could be successful in any offense that he ran,” Shanahan said. “Those quarterbacks are hard to find. But everybody needs playmakers around them. I think that’s what everybody else’s job is… to get those coaches the best supporting cast. But it starts with the quarterback. When you have a guy like Kirk Cousins on your team — and you can get a supporting cast for him — he’ll play well.”

The Jets will have about $100 million salary cap space, so money shouldn’t be an issue. Cousins, who has 82 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions with a 67 percent completion rate in three seasons as the full-time starter, has thrived in the Shanahan offense before, so it stands to reason that he’d be an ideal fit for Bates.

What kind of quarterback would Shanahan, who drafted Cousins in the fourth round in 2012, choose if he had a clean slate like Bates does right now?

“Number one: You want a guy that’s a natural leader,” Shanahan said. “A guy that football’s very important to. He’s got to have it. He’s got to really live it like some of these really good coaches. Usually if you’re talking about a quarterback that’s dropping back, he’s got to be able to go through the process very quickly. If they can’t, they’re not very consistent. You'd like to have somebody that can make every throw — and it doesn’t have to be overly powerful — but they’re able to make every throw.”

Shanahan, of course, has had success with different styles of quarterbacks from Steve Young to John Elway to Jake Plummer to Robert Griffin III. The key, the two-time Super Bowl winning head coach said, is to tailor a scheme around your personnel.

Regardless of who your quarterback is,” Shanahan said, “you got to take a look at what their attributes are and try to implement those in some of the things that you do even though it might not showcase all of his talents. You just got to be able to run a number of different things to hopefully help him in critical times.”

Shanahan doesn’t have a shadow of a doubt that Cousins, who will turn 30 this summer, will be a difference maker for years to come.

“So many times people talk about these quarterbacks, (but) until they get a good defense, the chances of winning a lot of playoff games aren’t very good,” Shanahan said. “You have to have personnel. It doesn’t have to be great personnel, but it has to be good personnel… You got to put these guys in position at least to have a chance. That’s why it’s so important to have the whole team together with your GM, your owner, your head coach, your coordinators.”

The Jets need to all get on board with this truth: Kirk Cousins is the best solution to your biggest problem. 

 

 

[rangerous]

shanahan is right about what is needed from a qb.  just about all of the qb's in the nfl can throw the ball very well.  it's the decision making and leadership that separate the top tier from the rest.

i don't know enough to judge but if cousins demonstrated those abilities while with the redskins then the jets need to take a good hard look.  5 yrs, 30m per year with 3 seasons guaranteed? stafford got 5 years for 135m with 92 m guaranteed and he's sniffed the playoffs about as much as cousins.  do this and draft a qb in the mid rounds and they're set at the qb position while they can address other positions.  all without using their top 3 draft picks on a qb.

[Patriot Killa]

2 minutes ago, rangerous said:

shanahan is right about what is needed from a qb.  just about all of the qb's in the nfl can throw the ball very well.  it's the decision making and leadership that separate the top tier from the rest.

i don't know enough to judge but if cousins demonstrated those abilities while with the redskins then the jets need to take a good hard look.  5 yrs, 30m per year with 3 seasons guaranteed? stafford got 5 years for 135m with 92 m guaranteed and he's sniffed the playoffs about as much as cousins.  do this and draft a qb in the mid rounds and they're set at the qb position while they can address other positions.  all without using their top 3 draft picks on a qb.

Kyle Lauletta!!

[rangerous]

Just now, Patriot Killa said:

Kyle Lauletta!!

maybe.  he's supposed to be on bellichicken's radar.

[Patriot Killa]

1 minute ago, rangerous said:

maybe.  he's supposed to be on bellichicken's radar.

I would not doubt that. Best accuracy in the entire draft. That’s what Beli likes. Maybe we got lucky and he takes Luke Falk instead.(which I like Falk as well)

[jetspenguin]

21 minutes ago, Patriot Killa said:

Sounds like a shot to the former GM and new GM.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/sports/football/jets/mike-shanahan-qb-kirk-cousins-special-player-article-1.3786196

 You take a look at some of the games he’s played in. He hasn’t played with a good defense that’s been in the upper half of the league, I don’t think, since he’s been there. You can’t always do it by yourself. You got to have an offense and a defense for a quarterback to be really successful… especially when you get in the playoffs. 

Shanahan, frankly, is right. Washington has had a subpar defense in Cousins’ three seasons as the full-time starter. The raw numbers: Washington has finished 28th, 28th and 21st in total defense and 17th, 19th and 27th in points allowed.

Does this sound like he wants to come to the Jets? From all reports this guy is studying teams, doing his homework to find the best fit for himself. 

 

“Number one: You want a guy that’s a natural leader,” Shanahan said. “A guy that football’s very important to. He’s got to have it. He’s got to really live it like some of these really good coaches. Usually if you’re talking about a quarterback that’s dropping back, he’s got to be able to go through the process very quickly. If they can’t, they’re not very consistent. You'd like to have somebody that can make every throw — and it doesn’t have to be overly powerful — but they’re able to make every throw.”

Doesnt this sound more like he is talking about Mayfield?

 

 

Just my opinion............

[Patriot Killa]

1 minute ago, jetspenguin said:

Just my opinion............

First bolded point:

Very well may be a good selling point for us, Broncos are league wide known for good defense right now though too!

second bolded point:

i axtaully thought the same thing. He is the only prospect that fits the bill. Doubt he intentionally had Mayfield in mind, intentionally, when stating that. 

 

[bla bla bla]

I'm gonna call it now:

Broncos trade #5 for Cousins and #13

 

Redskins don't totally lose out, Kirk wants to go to the Broncos and the Redskins move up without giving up picks. We could still jump them though especially since they just lost their 3rd in the Smith trade.

[jetspenguin]

11 minutes ago, Patriot Killa said:

First bolded point:

Very well may be a good selling point for us, Broncos are league wide known for good defense right now though too!

second bolded point:

i axtaully thought the same thing. He is the only prospect that fits the bill. Doubt he intentionally had Mayfield in mind, intentionally, when stating that. 

 

The first one would have been a good point if Rex was here but our offense hasnt ranked in the upper half since Bowles has been here I dont think...but then again if Rex was here then we couldnt sell him on the rest of the offense.......

nevermind, cant win for losing hahaha

[Warfish]

Quote

“If you don’t think he’s a special player, that means you don’t watch him practice very often. You take a look at some of the games he’s played in."

Well, hard to argue.  Yes, I watch him in games.  No, I don't watch him in practice, in the weight room, or at home in bed with his wife.

[jetspenguin]

4 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Well, hard to argue.  Yes, I watch him in games.  No, I don't watch him in practice, in the weight room, or at home in bed with his wife.

that wasnt you in the window?

[jetspenguin]

I brought my whole family

 

[Snell41]

I'm gonna call it now:
Broncos trade #5 for Cousins and #13
 
Redskins don't totally lose out, Kirk wants to go to the Broncos and the Redskins move up without giving up picks. We could still jump them though especially since they just lost their 3rd in the Smith trade.

Using this same logic I think CLE is going to trade us their 1st overall for our #6.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[bla bla bla]

Just now, Snell41 said:

Using this same logic I think CLE is going to trade us their 1st overall for our #6.

 

If we were trading them a franchise QB and prevented other teams from negotiating for him then yes. If Kirk wants to go to the Broncos that could be enough for Elway to pull the trigger. If Kirk wants to test Free Agency then it will not happen. This is only a situation if Kirk likes Denver and Denver doesn't want him to talk to us.

[Philc1]

Was a shot at the Redskins but he’s right.  Trade picks and give Alex Smith a huge extension?  Now I know what team will be at the bottom of the nfc East next 4 years

[New York Mick]

48 minutes ago, rangerous said:

maybe.  he's supposed to be on bellichicken's radar.

I figured Belly was going to retire after NFL ands them another SB and Brady retires. 

[Snell41]

If we were trading them a franchise QB and prevented other teams from negotiating for him then yes. If Kirk wants to go to the Broncos that could be enough for Elway to pull the trigger. If Kirk wants to test Free Agency then it will not happen. This is only a situation if Kirk likes Denver and Denver doesn't want him to talk to us.

Of course Kirk wants to test FA!! Even if Kirk loves DEN and is mind is made up FA allows him to maximize his value.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[Jack Straw]

I’m skeptical of any almost-30-year-old QB whose voice still cracks like a teenager going through puberty.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

[JetFaninMI]

Well its all moot on Cousins now. He will be a FA and will have the power to choose his next stop. I doubt the Skins trade him but anything is possible. The article I posted concerning whether or not he is "special" also said some very good things about the guy and wasn't all negative. I thought this was extremely telling on Cousins:

“I can promise you this,” McCloughan said via 104.3 The Fan and the Washington Post. “He has done his homework, probably too much, about each roster, who his receivers are, who his backs are, who his O-linemen are, who the coach is. Not just the head coach, but the coordinator, position coach, the system they run. I promise you he has notebook after notebook for each team. He is very, very intellectual about knowing what’s best for him. He understands he’s getting older, he’s been in the league a little bit. He wants to win. I know that. Personally, knowing him, it’s not about the money. It’s about the right fit, where he knows he has stability, he has good coaches, he has good players and he has a chance to be successful. I don’t blame him. He’s put himself in that situation with what he’s done the last three years.”    

This does show some insight into what Cousins may be looking for when it comes to signing with a team and IMO the Jets fall short on some of this criteria. I really think this is going to be a wild off-season and I bet that there is a team out there no one is talking about right now that ends up with Cousins.

[bla bla bla]

27 minutes ago, Snell41 said:

 

Of course Kirk wants to test FA!! Even if Kirk loves DEN and is mind is made up FA allows him to maximize his value.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

 

See that's where I sort of disagree. I think he would take a slightly lower deal to play for the Broncos than he would take here. If that's the case that means he wants to go to the Broncos, Elway may be tempted to prevent him from ever hearing our offer at the price of moving down 8 slots.

 

If Kirk is honest about testing Free Agency then I think we can present an offer that the Broncos can't match and they'd lose him. It's sort of a funky situations because we don't know much about which team Kirk would favor.

[Pcola]

1 hour ago, bla bla bla said:

I'm gonna call it now:

Broncos trade #5 for Cousins and #13

 

Redskins don't totally lose out, Kirk wants to go to the Broncos and the Redskins move up without giving up picks. We could still jump them though especially since they just lost their 3rd in the Smith trade.

I don’t think this is possible unless Denver can start negotiating with him prior to the trade.  And why would Cousins want to help Washington out? He could easily say, I’m not negotiating with anyone until I am a free agent.  It’s not like Denver can franchise him.  They would be on the hook for $34M for 1 yeR.

Denver will still be interested but they would have to compete with the Jets for his services.  

[Warfish]

26 minutes ago, JetFaninMI said:

Well its all moot on Cousins now. He will be a FA and will have the power to choose his next stop. I doubt the Skins trade him but anything is possible. The article I posted concerning whether or not he is "special" also said some very good things about the guy and wasn't all negative. I thought this was extremely telling on Cousins:

“I can promise you this,” McCloughan said via 104.3 The Fan and the Washington Post. “He has done his homework, probably too much, about each roster, who his receivers are, who his backs are, who his O-linemen are, who the coach is. Not just the head coach, but the coordinator, position coach, the system they run. I promise you he has notebook after notebook for each team. He is very, very intellectual about knowing what’s best for him. He understands he’s getting older, he’s been in the league a little bit. He wants to win. I know that. Personally, knowing him, it’s not about the money. It’s about the right fit, where he knows he has stability, he has good coaches, he has good players and he has a chance to be successful. I don’t blame him. He’s put himself in that situation with what he’s done the last three years.”    

This does show some insight into what Cousins may be looking for when it comes to signing with a team and IMO the Jets fall short on some of this criteria. I really think this is going to be a wild off-season and I bet that there is a team out there no one is talking about right now that ends up with Cousins.

If true, the Jets cannot land Cousins no matter what they pay him.

[bla bla bla]

7 minutes ago, Pcola said:

I don’t think this is possible unless Denver can start negotiating with him prior to the trade.  And why would Cousins want to help Washington out? He could easily say, I’m not negotiating with anyone until I am a free agent.  It’s not like Denver can franchise him.  They would be on the hook for $34M for 1 yeR.

Denver will still be interested but they would have to compete with the Jets for his services.  

I agree this is far more unlikely because Kirk holds all the chips, but Denver does have motive to make a trade happen. If Kirk wants to maximize his value then we won't have to worry about the Broncos out bidding us.

[dbatesman]

It’s rare for me not to have a ludicrously overcooked opinion on something, but I honestly can’t figure Cousins out. He was top 7 in DYAR/DVOA in 2015 and 2016, but [puts on hat reading I’M A BIG DUMB MEATBALL] why is he only 1 game over .500 in his three seasons as a full-time starter? Why has he only been to the playoffs once? Not his fault, you say. Bad offensive line. Shaky defense. Inconsistent receivers. Poor coaching. Ok. How are any of those things going to be better here than in Washington? And just like in Washington, wouldn’t Cousins’s contract make it practically impossible for us to fill those holes? Are these rhetorical questions getting annoying?

I certainly won’t be mad if we sign him, because he’d make us competitive at quarterback for the first time in forever, and it would insulate Maccagnan from flushing 6 on a guy who’s all but guaranteed to be terrible. But considering how weak we are at so many positions, I think I’d rather save the money and take the risk.

[Mecca]

Hey guys, so I have an agent friend. The same friend that told me Hack was a lock for us a week before the draft. He told me that the Jets are preparing a 180 million dollar contract with 100 guaranteed to Kirk.

[Warfish]

10 minutes ago, Mecca said:

Hey guys, so I have an agent friend. The same friend that told me Hack was a lock for us a week before the draft. He told me that the Jets are preparing a 180 million dollar contract with 100 guaranteed to Kirk.

Presumably for 5 years?  Or 6?

So 36 million a year avg. for 5, or $30 million a year for 6.  

Presuming not total B.S. of course.

 

[chirorob]

2 hours ago, bla bla bla said:

I'm gonna call it now:

Broncos trade #5 for Cousins and #13

 

Redskins don't totally lose out, Kirk wants to go to the Broncos and the Redskins move up without giving up picks. We could still jump them though especially since they just lost their 3rd in the Smith trade.

He's a FA, there is no trade.

[chirorob]

8 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Presumably for 5 years?  Or 6?

So 36 million a year avg. for 5, or $30 million a year for 6.  

Presuming not total B.S. of course.

 

Have to be at least 6, maybe 7.

That'd be a touch over 25 a year with massive guarenteed.

[Warfish]

10 minutes ago, chirorob said:

Have to be at least 6, maybe 7.

That'd be a touch over 25 a year with massive guarenteed.

No chance it's seven, because no chance Cousins signs for under 30 million per season.  IMO, of course.

[Sonny Werblin]

I'm sorry but unless Cousins was fibbing when he said his priority is to win and he would take less money to be on a winner, he is not signing with the Jets. The only way he take the Jets offer is if the money outweighs the pain of playing behind a bad O-line without a RB who creates play action opportunities and does don demand an 8th player on D in the box, and with the WR depth chart looking like it will be Kearse, Onunwa, and your guess is as good as mine. No, you sign with the Jets for the money, a fact, based on the stated alleged offer package, which clearly does not escape the attention of the Jets front office.

[Warfish]

3 minutes ago, Sonny Werblin said:

I'm sorry but unless Cousins was fibbing when he said his priority is to win and he would take less money to be on a winner, he is not signing with the Jets. The only way he take the Jets offer is if the money outweighs the pain of playing behind a bad O-line without a RB who creates play action opportunities and does don demand an 8th player on D in the box, and with the WR depth chart looking like it will be Kearse, Onunwa, and your guess is as good as mine. No, you sign with the Jets for the money, a fact, based on the stated alleged offer package, which clearly does not escape the attention of the Jets front office.

Counter-Argument:

0. Bates hired as O-Co (Done, Verbally Supported by Cousins)

1. Jets Sign Cousins (30 mil year/6 years)

2. Jets Draft Barley (RB) at Pick #6

3. Jets sign BAP FA O-Lineman (or Two)

4. Jets Draft BAP O-Linemen in 2nd Round

5. Jets Draft BAP WR in 2nd Round

Now, would that not go a long way to building an offense Cousins could embrace perhaps?

[chirorob]

2 minutes ago, Warfish said:

Counter-Argument:

0. Bates hired as O-Co (Done, Verbally Supported by Cousins)

1. Jets Sign Cousins (30 mil year/6 years)

2. Jets Draft Barley (RB) at Pick #6

3. Jets sign BAP FA O-Lineman (or Two)

4. Jets Draft BAP O-Linemen in 2nd Round

5. Jets Draft BAP WR in 2nd Round

Now, would that not go a long way to building an offense Cousins could embrace perhaps?

Thing is, that is so doable.   Like, so realistic, and the effect on the offense would be amazing. 

Truly, no sarcasm.  After neglecting the offense for years, you could completely turn it around.  Get a real center, Winters not playing through an awful injury, improve one of the tackle spots.  

[Augustiniak]

Just now, chirorob said:

Thing is, that is so doable.   Like, so realistic, and the effect on the offense would be amazing. 

Truly, no sarcasm.  After neglecting the offense for years, you could completely turn it around.  Get a real center, Winters not playing through an awful injury, improve one of the tackle spots.  

i think there is a fighting chance that barkley is there at 6.  or i can easily see mccags taking nelson and going the safe route and building a wall in front of cousins.

[chirorob]

Just now, Augustiniak said:

i think there is a fighting chance that barkley is there at 6.  or i can easily see mccags taking nelson and going the safe route and building a wall in front of cousins.

An efficient QB with a stud  O Line isn't the worst thing in the world.  Then grab a RB with one of the 2nd rounders.

[C Mart]

Paul Pabst‏ @PaulPabst 

"We need Kirk...we'd like Kirk. Kirk could take us over the edge." - Von Miller on Kirk Cousins. Von said he has chatted with Cousins recently. @dpshow  

Andrew Perloff‏ @andrewperloff 

"Kirk could take us over the edge." - Von Miller on possibility of Kirk Cousins signing with Broncos @dpshow