4 reasons why Atlanta Falcons need to ditch Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins had a tough game on Sunday in the 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The game highlighted the weaknesses in Cousins' play style.
Kirk Cousins was signed to a four-year 180 million contract to be a difference maker for a new era of the Atlanta Falcons under new coach Raheem Morris. Sunday night's performance was a stain on a new era. Cousins was meant to be the reason the Falcons won games but on Sunday his performance was squarely the reason they ended up on the losing side.
Kirk Cousins is also coming off an Achilles tear that has affected his overall game. As a traditional game manager, Cousins tried to play it safe and lean on his accuracy (62% on the night) but had an off game keeping the ball safe, throwing four interceptions. Here's a look at why Cousins should strictly serve as a bridge QB for the Falcons owing to some weaknesses:
Why Kirk Cousins is a bridge quarterback for Falcons
1] Immobility
Cousins was never mobile but coming off an Achilles tear, he has become a statue in the pocket. The 36-year-old quarterback requires a great offensive line that keeps pressure off him at all times.
Cousins cannot help his offensive line by escaping sacks with his legs, and if the pocket crumbles, he's a sitting duck behind the offensive line.
2] Lack of playmaking
These limitations affect the playbook and what the coach/coordinators can call. Dual-threat quarterbacks open up the playbook and expand what the coaching staff can call.
Kirk Cousins does the inverse, though, as rush plays and scrambling aren't his strengths. An example of that is the various run/pass options that mobile QBs can perform, a type of play where QBs fake the hand-off to the running back before keeping it themselves to make a run or pass play. Cousins is too immobile to try this type of play, limiting what playcallers can ask of their QB and limiting the entire offense.
The offense struggles due to the immobility of their starting QB. Cousins can't escape the pocket when it collapses or make plays on the run or rush for yardage. He can only be a playmaker with his arm from a clean pocket.
3] Turnover problem
Kirk Cousins' playstyle is that of a game manager. Ideally, he's supposed to safely and reliably move the ball up the field and put the Falcons in scoring position.
This season, Cousins has struggled to fulfil his role and safely move the ball upfield. He leads the league in interceptions (13), and his turnover problem takes the Falcons out of scoring position, giving the ball to the opponent.
This turnover problem coupled with the lack of rushing ability leaves the Falcons with a very limited quarterback who struggles to make plays off-script and is turnover-prone on-script.
4] There's a better quarterback waiting in the wings
The Atlanta Falcons have Michael Penix Jr</a> waiting to take over. The young QB isn't a burner but is mobile and plays in the mould of an aggressive gunslinger rather than a passive game manager.
Dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks are the future of the league while Kirk Cousins represents the past.
In the previous era of the NFL, the quarterback risked serious injury leaving the pocket due to the types of hits allowed at the time. This forced most quarterbacks to sit in the pocket and lean into their accuracy.
In today's NFL, those hits have largely been legislated out of the game. Fans want to see high-scoring games and the NFL has modified the game to fit this desire. Due to these rule changes the prototypical style of quarterback has changed to benefit gunslingers and wide receivers.
Kirk Cousins is the prototypical quarterback from yesteryear. A tall, poised and accurate game manager. In today's NFL, these types of players are suited to being backups rather than starters.
Cousins can make a career as a mentor and bridge quarterback for franchises looking for a stop-gap QB as their rookie (Michael Penix Jr) learns the ins and outs of the NFL. This is a respectable role that other game managers such as Alex Smith (with Patrick Mahomes) and Joe Flacco (with Anthony Richardson) have leaned into.