Mike Zimmer takes a jab at Kirk Cousins
doubledragon
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is making headlines with his latest jab at Kirk Cousins.
Vikings: Mike Zimmer’s latest quote on Kirk Cousins is hilariously cringe
Mike Zimmer Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins watched film for the first time together this week. Then the head coach dropped a cringe line.
It’s painfully obvious Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Kirk Cousins aren’t exactly best buds.
They’re watching tape together now, though, which isn’t the worst thing in the world for Minnesota’s offense.
You could ask the question why it took until the Wednesday before the start of their fourth season together for that to happen.
You could ask even more questions about how Zimmer chose to answer a question about Cousins wanting more autonomy on offense.
“I think he does, yeah. I think he’s got opinions on a lot of things, yeah,” Zimmer said.
Zimmer’s comments sound a lot like a father nodding along to a kid’s ideas, knowing their suggestion are never going to happen. The only thing missing was a “bless your heart.”
Cousins may want autonomy, but Zimmer doesn’t sound like he’s rushing to give it to him.
The Vikings are in an interesting spot. They’re coming off a 7-9 season and clearly need to be more competitive in 2021 if the coach or quarterback wants to extend their future with Minnesota. Cousins is under contract until 2022, but his relationship with Zimmer is a continual talking point.
Zimmer has made it to the playoffs three times in seven years but hasn’t followed any of those campaigns up with similar success. If the pattern holds, he’ll make the playoffs this year.
Comments
A couple of weeks ago, Mike Zimmer took a swipe at Kirk Cousins about his check downs.
Mike Zimmer wants the passing offense to push the ball downfield more. “If you’re going to throw 5-yard check downs, it’s going to take 20 of them.”
Kirk Cousins is AWFUL. End of discussion
Highly overrated, hasn't done squat to live up to the hype.
He's certainly not "AWFUL" End of discussion. ;-)
What hype? He's an accurate passer with a very good arm, who has never been good at avoiding the rush. We knew it in Minnesota before we got him.
You seem to have a LOT of time on your hands, why not look into the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation from 2010/11-2017 and get back to me with your insight on what should have been done.
While your at it, check out some game video of the blocking the Vikings O-Line did for him in obvious passing downs, Mahomes would be about the only QB who could have had any success with defensive lineman in the backfield unblocked on MANY occasions. Cousins is certainly NO Mahomes!
I didn't like the spending of all that money on one guy when the Vikings got him, and thought Keenum was good enough as long as we used the money saved by improving other areas of the team, primarily Offensive line. I was wrong, Keenum has not been good enough to be a starter.
The only young quarterbacks currently better than him (other than Russell Wilson, nobody thought he was any good) were all gone by the time the Vikings could draft them.
No QB is going to have much of a chance with pathetic pass blocking, the Minnesota Guards often didn't even make contact with the defensive player!
Perk, you are a very knowledgeable football fan. I can't for the life of me understand why you say he's "AWFUL".
He's been a starting QB for 6 seasons and been top 10 in passing completion % every year, and top 10 in both passer rating and Yards per Attempt 5 times.
His "RATE" over those years averages 101, that's not awful.
If the Vikings new wave of "can't miss" o-line draft picks can actually block, you will be eating your words my friend!
I'm sorry, but for the money he is making, he's going to have to get his team deep in the playoffs before I can believe he is an elite quarterback. He torches a lot of bad teams to get good numbers, but when he plays good teams, he's not that great.
Maybe I was exaggerating with the awful in caps, sorry lol.. I just can’t stand the guy, remember a couple years ago he openly apologized to Diggs and Thielen because he wasn’t throwing to them? The guy cannot be counted on to step up and get his team into the playoffs, you guys were doing better with Keenum and he was much less expensive
Kirk Cousins cap hit for 2021 and 2022 is $66M which is 17% of the Vikings cap hit. I’d say it’s time to show he’s worth $35M a year. If it’s Zimmer than if it doesn’t work this year they better find someone that can make it work. 2019 they team had 2 elite receivers and Dalvin Cook. Last year they had 2 elite receivers and Dalvin Cook. You can’t keep blaming the OL.
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
I wouldn't say 'awful' - last year with limited pass protection he had 4,265 yards 35 TDs 13 Ints and was not injured. I'd say Cam Newton last year was awful. Kirk was decent considering of his limited pass protection.
Cam Newton wasn’t “Awful” he was “HORRENDOUS” 😂😂😂
I see you completely ignored my suggestions (probably so you could post some great pictures of cats wearing sunglasses).
Prescott, Wentz, Goff and Ryan are all making 30 Million or so a year, Cousins has a better rating than any of them. I guess you don't have to be "elite" to make a lot of money.
No one here, there, or anywhere thinks Cousins is an "Elite" quarterback. What he is, is a damn good pocket passer if given a pocket.
The Vikings needed a good Quarterback who would stay on the field and they got the best one available. He hasn't missed a game since he was signed. Maybe if they had anyone on the offensive line who was a solid NFL player (other than LT Brian O'Neil and the now departed Riley Reiff), Kirk would be able to engineer a playoff run. Hard to complete passes while getting your teeth smashed down your throat.
If you had bothered to look, you would have seen that after Brett Favre retired, the Vikings used 3 first round picks for QBs, Ponder, Bridgewater and Bradford. They never got more than 2 years out of any of them. No one trades their #1 guy very often, so free agency is the best option. Cousins actually turned down more money to play here.
In case you haven't noticed QBs ALL make a LOT of money and giving any player big money doesn't determine how many games he will win.
I have watched every snap played by Cousins sine he got here. Yes, I used to get frustrated when he would appear to curl up and take a sack, then I noticed he rarely got any time to set up and throw, especially in passing situations.
Hard to throw the ball downfield when you are on your back.
I loved Keenum from the first time I saw him in a pre season game, I would have kept him and built around him, but it looks like he might have been a one hit wonder!?!?!?!?
When was the last time the Vikings had a good offensive line?
2009? Certainly not after that.
Get off your Vikings high horse Joe, he can't win the big games, from 2012-2020 his record is 7-35 against teams that finished the season with a winning record, that's pathetic. He's overrated period.
That's funny.
How many teams pay their QBs 20% of the cap? Almost all of them, I'll bet. 15 0f the 18 highest paid players are QB's. And yet the guy who now plays in Tampa seems to be the only one winning Super Bowls? There are 7 QBs making more than Kirk and only 3 have won the SB.
Why else other than a horrible offensive line would they under-perform with all those good "skill position" guys?
They have actually been pretty good at running the ball, but these zone blocking lineman can't pass block AT ALL. They also have a problem in short yardage situations, they are just not strong enough to push the defensive players back.
The Tackles have been good at pass protecting. Reiff was very good and O'Neil is a great RT. If you watched the Vikings, you would know the pressure on Cousins comes from the center of the line and since he is strictly a pocket passer, there's no pocket for him to throw from. When he gets a little time, he's been VERY good.
The problem is that when you start playing the really good teams, or in passing situations, bad guard/center play has absolutely been their downfall. It's obvious if you watch, I'm sure you don't, you simply look at his paycheck and say he isn't worth it. That's lazy.
Cousins isn't dropping back on third down and long plays, he's sprinting back from the line with a defensive tackle right on his heels. Even Mahomes couldn't win with no pass protection in the SB! I guess, as the highest paid player in the history of the game, using your reasoning, he should win every game?
It was a shot at the offensive line, not Cousins.
@JoeBanzai I was merely stating Kirk is paid like any other superstar in the sport. Isn’t it time for him to shoulder the burden, take hold and just do it? I know you as a fan are waiting.
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
>
Oh gee, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I needed the resident Shecky Green's permission to root for the team I grew up watching. Most likely since before you were even born.
I suppose I should just erect a shrine to Tom Brady and then I'll be just fine.
It's a TEAM sport, Kirk's TEAMS are 7-35 against those teams...........not him.
I haven't seen many QB's over the years win games without offensive line help.
Tarkenton could do it, he had a great defense and still never won the big game.
Mahomes is amazing at avoiding the rush, but if anyone here was watching, even he couldn't overcome poor pass protection in the SB.
Big Ben is a good example of a guy who wasn't very mobile, but could avoid the rush and complete passes, but there's not many like him to be found. He had a pretty good defense in his three SB appearances #1, #1 and #3.
Funny thing, I appear to be the only person here to see Tom Brady ever lose a game. Usually it was because he didn't have time to get the ball out. Good offensive lines year after year.
Until Kirk Cousins gets anything resembling even above average pass blocking, I'll withhold my judgement on him being over rated.
You cant throw the ball before the receiver is open and you can't do it while sacked. I watch all the Vikings games and YES I have been waiting a LONG time. Makes 2009's memories even more painful. :-(
Cousins does not appear to be in the very top tier of QBs, I don't dispute that. He's certainly above average and I still think if he got a reasonable amount of time to throw, he would be much more highly regarded.
His main flaw is that he seems to sometimes "freeze up" when a defender is near him and he doesn't like to "throw the ball away" when there's no one open, leading to some interceptions. It's no secret he's a pocket passer, he needs a pocket.
If making 30 Million a year and you don't win the SB means your "over rated" or "awful" then there's only about 3 QBs in the league that are any good; Brady, Wilson, Mahomes.
No I think the thought process is making the playoffs, just give the team a chance.
Here is a quick read on Cousins https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/kirk-cousins-primetime-stats-vikings/zpzut7fzi80n1fj11y1iqpr39
Bradford? Sam Bradford? He was drafted by the Rams. The Vikings have used two 1st rounders on quarterbacks since taking Culpepper in 1999 - Ponder and Bridgewater.
To this day it still surprises me how Culpepper just got derailed after such a great start. I thought he was going to be an elite QB for a long time
They traded a first round pick to acquire him.
Devastating knee injury.
His first year in Minnesota we missed the playoffs. Had we scored one more point in a tie against the Packers, Vikings make the playoffs.
He got us into the playoffs as a wild card and won a game in 2019.
In 2020 he performed even better (after a poor start) and scored 27 points or more in 11 of the 16 games.
I suppose it doesn't matter that the defense had gone from #5 in points allowed in 2019 to #29 in 2020?
Vikings will make the playoffs this year. Not because Cousins gives them a chance, but because the defense will be better.
It's pointless arguing with you Banzai, you're a hardcore Vikings fan and you'll fight to the death for Kirk Cousins. By the way, I don't like being compared to Shecky Greene, I much prefer Don Rickles, have a pleasant evening sir!
And by the way, Kirk Cousins sucks in primetime!
Shecky, Shecky, Shecky, you need to go back to posting your feeble attempts at humor.
Heck, they lost 6 games when scoring 26+ points. Hard to blame quarterback for that.
Kirk Cousins is not the kind of quarterback that can will his team to victory or put the team on his back, that's the difference between him and players like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and at times even Aaron Rodgers.
Analysis: Why Kirk Cousins is the worst kind of QB in the NFL?
Kirk Cousins' stats during the previous NFL season read as follows; 4,265 yards, 68% completion percentage, 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. These are impressive stats but they do not match the eye test. If you watched the Minnesota Vikings play last season, you experienced one of the most frustrating QB seasons in recent memory.
The harsh truth about Kirk Cousins:
Minnesota Vikings v Green Bay Packers
The Minnesota Vikings and Kirk Cousins lost their opening game to the Green Bay Packers in embarrassing fashion. The score at the end of the 3rd quarter was 29 - 10 and this game summed up Kirk Cousins completely as he was 19 for 25 (76%), threw for 259 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. One must ask how can your QB be so excellent and yet you are completely out of the game? No position in the NFL has a higher say over the proceedings of a game than the quarterback. It is here, where Kirk Cousins suffers, that he does not seem capable of bending games to his will.
The game was eye-opening because the gentleman wearing the No.12 on the other team is maybe the greatest-ever at influencing games. Aaron Rodgers ended the 1st quarter down 7 - 3, and in the very next quarter, Green Bay dropped 19 points. There was a safety on Kirk Cousins to open the quarter, Green Bay made a field goal and Rodgers threw two touchdowns to will his offense to life and the half ended 22 to 10. If Cousins was an elite quarterback, this was the moment to prove it, and Cousins was home to boot. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings scored 0 3rd quarter points as the game got away from them while in the 4th quarter in pure garbage time Kirk Cousins threw his only two touchdowns of the game and collected empty meaningless stats which add up to his impressive but meaningless passing stats.
So, what is up with Kirk Cousins?
Minnesota Vikings v Detroit Lions
Coach Mike Zimmer should’ve suspended those fully-guaranteed checks after such an abysmal performance at home. It was so frustrating that this is how the majority of Viking games went; Kirk Cousins being terrible for long stretches before ultimately cleaning up his stat line in garbage time.
Let’s compare him with Rodgers again to see the difference between a false image and an actual HOF QB. Cousins threw for 35 touchdowns last season, but 25 of his 35 TDs (71% of his TDs) came in the 2nd half, Rodgers in comparison threw for 48 touchdowns but 34 of those 48 (71% as well) came in the first half as well.
That’s the difference between a QB who can impose his will on proceedings and one who is a passenger. This is fine majority of QB’s are passengers only an elite few can takeover games by themselves but the problem is Cousins is being paid like he is one of those QB’s when he is clearly not. The Vikings have invested in Cousins to be a franchise QB and last season was the confirmation that they made a horrible mistake. Russell Wilson has had a bad o-line for numerous years but he always overcame it, Brady had no weapons during his last season at New England but they still won 12 games, Big Ben’s arm is completely shot but he still commands more fear than Kirk Cousins and that’s just absurd.
End of 3rd Quarter scores of all Minnesota Viking games:
Vikings 10 - 29 Packers.
Colts 18 - 3 Vikings.
Vikings 24 - 25 Titans.
Vikings 24 - 16 Texans.
Seahawks 21 - 19 Vikings.
Vikings 7 - 30 Falcons.
Packers 14 - 28 Vikings.
Vikings 27 - 10 Lions.
Bears 13 - 13 Vikings.
Vikings 14 - 16 Cowboys.
Vikings 10 - 21 Panthers.
Vikings 19 - 16 Jaguars.
Buccaneers 23 - 14 Vikings.
Vikings 20 - 27 Bears.
Saints 31 - 27 Vikings.
Lions 29 - 31 Vikings.
Two clear patterns emerge: First, Mike Zimmer's defense was disappointing and second the Vikings were usually down big or real close going into the 4th quarter. To be fair to Kirk Cousins, playing QB in the NFL is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. A QB must read, process and react all in about 2 to 5 seconds but Cousins must be held accountable for his disappointing play. Going into 4th quarters tied or slightly down places the game solely in your QB’s hand and Kirk Cousins has let Vikings fans down too many times for them to place any trust in him.
Kirk Cousins' stats suggest a trend
If you look at Kirk Cousins' stat line it shows an elite QB but the eye test shows a very different story. Kirk Cousins cannot inflict his will on games and thus cannot elevate what’s around him. Most fans would rather go 1 - 15 and draft a QB capable of influencing games than continue on with just an above-average QB who is a passenger. The Vikings have tied themselves to mediocrity and only have themselves to blame.
DD
Either you can't read, or you just don't have a basic grasp of understanding team sports, or both.
First of all, no one ever said Cousins was as good as Brady, Rogers etc.
Secondly, how is it Cousins' fault that the defense (who lost 9 starters for virtually the entire season) was giving up an average of 21 points through three quarters?
I have explained to you several times why the Vikings decision to go out to the free agent market (you're going to spend 30 Million now for sure) was the smartest move they could have made. I was against it at the time, but it turns out it was the best decision they could have made.
For the last time, there are several QBs who are WAY worse than Cousins making HUGE money, yet you continue to whine about how much he makes. The new wage for starting QBs is 30 Million, get used to it.
Now you want to compare Kirk to Rodgers and Wilson, who I have already said are better than him. Rogers, for all his weirdness is one of the all-time great QBs. Russell Wilson is a scrambler who doesn't need a pocket to throw from, completely different styles.
Here's your "clear pattern"; Vikings defense can't get off the field and gives up a TON of points, offense is forced to pass in the fourth quarter to try to catch up, offensive line is beyond pitiful and defensive players ignore Dalvin Cook and focus on rushing up the middle. The Vikings have the WORST center/guard combination in the NFL and not only is there no pocket, the damn pocket is inverted.
Cousins has no choice but to roll out or get sacked. Often he had NO SECONDS to throw as the defensive tackles were in the backfield immediately.
****"Most fans would rather go 1 - 15 and draft a QB capable of influencing games"****
Now I am beginning to understand your problem!
Here's a dose of reality I figured you were aware of;
__The fans don't get to decide to throw games and then get to pick a QB with the first pick in the draft. __
You come on here and wrongly RIP my teams QB and expect that no one is going to challenge you?
The fact is Cousins is NOT "Highly overrated, hasn't done squat to live up to the hype."
Go back to posting about things that have nothing to do with sports as you know very little on the subject.............Shecky
Oh shut up Joe, you've got a big mouth and you have to always resort to personal insults when someone tells you like it is, the fact is Cousins sucks, he'll never get a Super Bowl period, he'll never get past Brady, and Mahomes, and Rodgers, and quarterbacks that can put teams on their backs. Take it like a man Joe and stop crying like a little baby.
You LIKED that post Perk? I thought you had a little more integrity than that.
I’m just supporting Double D without getting involved. I got no problems with you joe. And hey If I had no integrity I’d lie and say I didn’t hit like but I respect you here, you know that. 🍻
You want to talk about integrity, what a joke, you couldn't debate your point of view respectfully, no, you had to start hurling personal insults at me and name calling, that seems to be a pattern with you around here. I'm done with this debate, I'm not wasting any more time on you.
Ok ok ok ok let’s take a break and let me broker a peace deal here. This place is small enough with not enough of us, so let’s all chill 🍻🍻
I've had my say, I'm good. 🖒🍻
tempest in a teapot
How come no one pointed out zimmer kinda sucks ?
I’m curious if Joe is still upset over this, haven’t seen him since nice 🕵🏻♀️
He probably is, I haven't seen him around either, I tried to debate with him like a normal person and he insisted on personal insults.
🙁