Some Hog Heaven readers know that I am a Michigan State grad, and proudly so. Thus, I have admired Kirk Cousins’ play as quarterback for the MSU Spartans since 2009. I’m waiting for the Spartans Cousins to emerge for the Redskins.
We’ve seen glimpses, in Baltimore and Cleveland in 2012; He appeared briefly against Philadelphia last season. But, Redskins fans have yet to see the real Kirk.
Kirk Cousins, King of the Spartans
Spartans fans revere Cousins as the winningest quarterback in school history. NFL scouts were never as impressed. I never understood that until I watched replays of the 2012 Outback Bowl between the Spartans and the Georgia Bulldogs on the Big Ten Network.
Kirk threw three interceptions that day. Yet, we barely remember it because the Spartans’ won.
Kirk led the 10-play, 85-yard scoring drive to force overtime. That was classic Kirk. Efficient, rather than pretty, he always positioned the Spartans to win.
Cousins led the Spartans to a 28-12 record in the three seasons when he was the full time starter at quarterback. He was elected team captain in his sophomore year and never lost the position. His college TD to Int ratio was 66:30 over 45 games.
He came close to that standard against the Eagles last season. The Redskins were competitive, which came as a surprise. The game was a thriller. Kirk was driving the team to a late go-ahead touchdown when an untimely pick killed the opportunity.
That body language thing? We never saw his “issues” in East Lansing. Apparently, Mike Shanahan never saw them either. That’s merely what Jay Gruden said when he banished Cousins to outer Siberia for the season.
Whatever you call it, that was not coaching. The coaching staff had more to do with losing. There were too many other parts of the offense in a tailspin not to suspect that Gruden mishandled the thing.
No one in Ashburn took Cousins seriously as starter material. The Spartans always saw Cousins as the reason they would win.
Kirk starts against the Dolphins later today. Some Redskins fans, who have it in for Gruden for demoting RGIII, expect doom.
Good things expected, but no excuses
We should expect better. Cousins ceiling is in the vicinity of Andy Dalton and Alex Smith, steady starters for winning teams. That’s good enough for now.
All three Redskins quarterbacks may see action this year. But I look for the cool headed Cousins that I saw for three seasons at Spartans Stadium to show up at FedEx Field and to stay for a while.
Sparty on, Kirk. Prove ‘em wrong.
HAIL!
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