Gruden again putting pressure on Cousins, time for Kirk to respond

by Jamual Forrest

November 3, 2017

Head coach Jay Gruden is miffed to an extent with the play of his quarterback Kirk Cousins to this point in the season. It is a period for Cousins where the bodies are dropping all around him, specifically the offensive line. Gruden understands the need for the most impactful player on the field, Cousins, to elevate his game is higher than usual. Cousins is content with his “limitations” and does not concern himself with the need to be more aggressive when passing the ball. The issue is that Gruden apparently comes off as a gambler and willing to take shots down the field, while Cousins is the polar opposite of Gruden, worrying that too many turnovers will land him back in the doghouse (i.e., 2014).

The Redskins are not out of the playoffs and control their destiny with match-ups against potential playoff-bound teams in Seattle, Minnesota, New Orleans, and Dallas in four out of the five upcoming weeks. The scheme is there, the plays are drawn up for shots to be taken, but leaving points on the field is part of a losing formula for a team this limited health-wise. On your typical day, when health is not a concern, Cousins is most effective with a good defense and a balanced offensive attack. That is what got the Redskins to a 2-2 start, where they were just a dropped touchdown away from potentially starting off 3-1 with a major upset on the road. With how the season has unfolded since the first four games, it is time for the Redskins to adapt.  It is time for Cousins to bear in mind what his head coach, and the media, is telling him. A loss is not always 100 percent on the quarterback, but you see what a quarterback is worth to a team when he is relied upon to do more.