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Billick: Kirk Cousins is the 'definition of a backup'

By Conor Orr
Around The NFL Writer
Nov. 29, 2015 at 12:19 p.m

Count Brian Billick among those who Don't like that.

On GameDay First, the former Ravens head coach and current NFL Network analyst said Washington doesn't exactly have franchise quarterback material on hands with Kirk Cousins.

"He's a touchdown-for-interception guy, that's the definition of a backup," Billick said. "You need to make a quarterback that can make plays outside of the design of the offense ... Kirk Cousins is just a good solid guy and unfortunately for Washington, they're going to need a lot more."

Billick's point was that if coach Jay Gruden decides to live and die with Cousins instead of digging in and mending his relationship with and confidence of Robert Griffin III, it would be a reason for Washington to get rid of him if the record doesn't reflect progress.

However, Washington could very well knock off the Giants on Sunday in Landover, Maryland. In ugly weather, a budding offensive line and a heavy dose of mammoth rookie Matt Jones could move the team into a tie for first place. Cousins doesn't need to be exceptional in moments like these. He just needs to be good enough.

Billick isn't wrong. If Cousins could take over games every week, he would have been drafted right around the same time Robert Griffin III was. That being said, he has had some dominant performances in 2015 so far and Gruden is no dunce. Cousins is only 27 and has plenty of time to develop.

Since Cousins has 1 TD pass and 1 TD rush and the skins are leading the Giants 17-0, just not sure how much faith I'd put in Billick's opinion.

Nice of you not to point out that I posted this in the WRONG place! LOL

IMO the QB is not the issue with our team. McCown or Johnny can get the job done if he gets his head screwed on properly.

Here is what I see as out biggest issues
0. Coaching

1. WR #1
2. DE
3. RB
4. WR #2
5. DT
6. OLB
7. ILB
8. OLB
9. SS
10. FB
11. G
12. Blocking TE
13. Inside corner
14. Kick Returner
15. Quarterback

There is no real QB in this draft.
At best I see a bunch of bust backups that will be the next Colt McCoy.

Hilarious.

We have one QB is 72 and can't stay on the field and the "QB of the future" is a person that cannot be trusted and can't get on the field because of it.

But QB is not the problem.

that's correct. the lack of talent in skill positions keeps the QB from doing his job.

McCown has a 95.2 QBR 11 TD's and 4 INTS for 1900 yards with a 65% completion.

Manziel 60% completion 933 yards 5 TD's and 4 INT's with a 78% QBR.

these stats alone are better than anything we have had at the QB spot since Tim Couch/Holcomb.

So are our skill positions good or not? Because according to your logic our skill position players need upgrading, but the QBs are also playing well.

Relying on McCown and/or Manziel for anything beyond this season is asinine.

Our QB's are playing well despite the lack of talent we have at WR's and RB/FB.

Manziel threw three quality TD's passes in a row and our receiving core couldn't catch one of them.

Ok. What about the fact that Manziel is an idiot and a liar and McCown is 72?

McCown will reach 82 before Manziel quits lying.

gotta coach em up. the talent is above what is coming out of the draft.

we are lacking majorly at the skill positions and there is some quality talent at those positions.

linkage

I'd hate to be team in need of QB in 2016 NFL Draft
By Daniel Jeremiah and Lance Zierlein
Published: Dec. 3, 2015 at 09:34 a.m.
Updated: Dec. 3, 2015 at 06:07 p.m.
999+ Likes | 120 Comments

The scoop: "I'd hate to be a team in need of a quarterback. The best two in this draft might end up being from Memphis and North Dakota State and that ought to scare the (expletive) out of you. It takes some courage to turn that card in." -- NFC scout

The skinny: Any time a general manager takes a quarterback early in the first round, he's putting his job on the line, no matter where the player comes from. It might be a lot easier to pull the trigger on a QB from a marquee program who has played on a big stage before, but certainly this scout knows that there are plenty of examples of QBs from top programs that were picked early and went bust (JaMarcus Russell, anyone?). We've seen QBs from small schools come off the board early and go on to great success (Ben Roethlisberger, Phil Simms, Terry Bradshaw).

As for the two QBs he's referring to, North Dakota State's Carson Wentz will get a chance to prove himself against tougher competition at the Reese's Senior Bowl in January. Memphis' Paxton Lynch is a junior and has not revealed his intentions for the 2016 NFL Draft. As an underclassman, he has until a Jan. 18 deadline to make a decision on early draft entry. Both QBs are impressive talents. Our colleague Gil Brandt sees plenty to like in Wentz's game, and we saw the qualities of a top QB prospect when we took an up-close look at Lynch last month.

The scoop: "I got into an argument with another scout about Ezekiel Elliott complaining after they lost to Michigan State. The other guy thought it showed selfishness and I just thought it showed his competitiveness. That Michigan game showed I was right. I think he will be a really safe pick. He's a stud." -- NFC area scout on the Ohio State RB


The skinny: Elliott questioned the coaching staff and its inability to get him more than 12 carries in a loss to Michigan State, which turned many off. Afterwards, he apologized and there were obviously no hard feelings as Elliott toted a season-high 30 carries for 214 yards a week later against Michigan. Elliott has announced his intention to enter the 2016 NFL draft and with his combination of size, play speed and tackle-breaking ability, he's a top talent among running backs in the college game.

* * *


The scoop: NFL evaluators are mixed on Penn State DE Carl Nassib. Some believe he is a Day 1 impact starter, while others feel his numbers far exceed his ability.

The skinny: Nassib, a senior, has been very impressive this season, and he's being recognized for his performance with postseason accolades. He has good burst and uses his length to separate from blocks. It's not hard to see why evaluators would be bullish on his NFL potential. He's risen from walk-on to star, and he leads the FBS with 15.5 sacks.

That's a good article. Thanks for posting, Saint.

I agree w/most of it. I haven't seen Wentz play, so can't comment on him. I like Lynch a lot, but his body of work is limited and he does play for a not-so-well-known school.

I think both Goff and Cook are missing things and really don't view them as top-tier QBs.

If the Browns go QB in 2016 I want Connor Cook.

Why, he comes out of a pro style set. I have seen the Browns try and try again to make spread QB's into pocket passers; Colt McCoy, Brandon Weeden, and Johnny Manziel.

Cook for three years has been coming to the LOS and making audibles, protection calls, and has proved to be a good game manager.

He has the size 6'4 220 lbs. Strong arm, much better athleticism than he has been given credit for. He is actually mobile just would rather use his arm than his legs. Very quick release on his throws. TD to INT ratio for this season 24 to 4 for his career 71-19.

Has won big games in his career that should ready him for the big stage of the NFL. Beat Ohio State when they were undefeated in the Big Ten Championship game in 2013, then beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl, Beat Baylor in 2014 Cotton Bowl in 2014. Today will play in his 2nd Big Ten Championship game.

If the Browns go QB in 2016 they need a stable/safe QB. Someone who has little chance to bust. This team cannot have another bust QB. Cook fits that bill the best with his track record.

Cook lacks accuracy at times and is missing the intangibles. I know he and Goff are rated as 1 or 2 by most people, but I think both have holes in their game and will more than likely be guys that stick around--but never flash--types of QBs.

I've read some scuttlebutt that Cook isn't a leader and may not be well liked by his teammates. Apparently he wasn't voted a team captain.

And I just saw a rumor that he isn't all that thrilled with the possibility of being drafted by Cleveland.

Can you blame him?

No, I don't.

I wouldn't want to go to Cleveland in any capacity...player, coach, anything.

Something else you've been saying lately that I also agree with. The future is bleak, very bleak.

A little more info regarding Cook not being elected captain ...



Dantonio names MSU captains: Calhoun, Allen, Harris

Joe Rexrode, Detroit Free Press
August 27, 2015

EAST LANSING – In one of his first acts as a Michigan State captain, Darien Harris explained why it easily could have been Connor Cook instead of him.

“Absolutely no doubt in my mind he could have been a captain,” Harris said of Cook after Thursday’s final practice of preseason camp, and after learning teammates had voted him, fifth-year senior defensive end Shilique Calhoun and fifth-year senior center Jack Allen the 2015 captains. “If we had four captains, he could have been the fourth captain. He’s on the leadership council, he’s a leader, he’s the leader of the offense. He commands the huddle. Being the linebacker and being that close to them when they huddle up, you can tell his presence. And people feed off of him. He’s incredibly competitive out there, he gets the guys in the right places. And he has a fantastic command on this offense and this team.”

But the absence of Cook, a fifth-year senior and third-year starting quarterback for the No. 5 Spartans, and the presence of Harris, a linebacker hoping to break out as a player in his fifth season, were the news items of the day.

It was zero surprise Calhoun was voted a captain for the second straight year – even though he said “I didn’t even expect myself to be picked” – or that Allen, an All-America performer and fiery vocal presence, got the nod.

Many would have expected Cook to be one of the three, though. He is on MSU’s “eagle council” of 12 leaders, the pool from which MSU players vote for the three captains.

A year ago, Cook was not one of the 12 players on the council and not eligible to be chosen. MSU uses a fourth captain for each game, many chosen from that council but not exclusively from the council.

“Connor Cook is our quarterback, he drives the car,” MSU coach Mark Dantonio said. “I don’t think there is any question about that. As he goes we go, and it’s unfortunate you can’t vote more people in, but I’ve always tried to say we’re gonna keep three because I want that fourth guy to rotate. Because I want all of our guys to get that opportunity to walk out there on the field at midfield and be a part of that process. But he is definitely a leader on this team.”

And as the outside world now knows, so is Harris. He was admittedly surprised and emotional Thursday when told of the vote, excited to call his parents back in Silver Spring, Md.

His father, Alan, is a former Virginia Tech running back and an athletic trainer, and his mother, Lisa, is an attorney for the U.S. Department of Education. Harris has been a prominent voice in the locker room for years and is hoping to earn All-Big Ten recognition in his second season as a starter.

Asked if strong play in camp helped his case, Harris said: “It could be. I feel like I’ve had a good camp, probably my best since I’ve been here. But I just tried to lead starting in spring ball, throughout the entire summer. Being first in all the drills and workouts, being the most vocal, getting one more rep in the workouts. Anything I could do to establish myself as a leader.”

He said he texted teammates often to offer suggestions and tried to get closer with some of the players he didn’t know as well in his first four seasons in the program. He emphasized that the other members of the council – Cook, Riley Bullough, Jack Conklin, Donavon Clark, Joel Heath, Paul Lang, Lawrence Thomas, AJ Troup and RJ Williamson – will be asked to lead just as much.

But Thursday was about Allen, whom Dantonio said epitomizes the “effort and toughness” MSU strives for as a program.

And it was about Calhoun, whom Dantonio called “a man of action.”

And it was about an unexpected outcome, to some.

“It’s less of a surprise to me,” Allen said of Harris. “He’s a great guy and he’s one of the hardest-working guys on the team. Every day in the weight room, he’s the guy staying after. After practice, he’s working extra.”

Lynch and Goff are very good QB's but coming from the spread scares the crap out of me. The adjustment to the Pro game will be tougher for them than Cook.

He is just as talented as those two but he comes from a Pro style offense where he is already making Pro style reads, adjustments, blocking schemes, etc...

This team cannot afford another project. And let's face it a spread Qb is a project in the NFL. They cannot miss again with a QB. If the Browns want stability it starts at the QB position. When you have a stable QB your coach will have more security. The GM draft best players available and improve the talent level. Then address holes on the team in free agency.

It starts with a stable QB. That is why Connor Cook is the best selection for the Browns in 2016.

Mariota, Newton, and even RGIII (to an extent) did fine. If a guy is talented, he will adjust.

If a team is scared to draft a spread QB, then they are just hamstringing their own team.

Cook is not as talented as Lynch and Goff. He is probably not as talented as Wentz. Cook's floor is about the same as those guys, but his ceiling isn't nearly as high.

Only Newton out of those 3 are good QB's. The other 2 are projects at best.

RGIII killed it his first season coming out of the speadiest of spread offenses. Mariota is far from a project he has played very well this season when people said he would have a long transition to the NFL (he did this with the worst head coach in the NFL, Ken Whisenhunt, and Mike Mularkey).

Either way, my point still stands. Being scared of spread QBs is short-sighted and will only limit the talent pool.

The spread is a gimmick and does nor prepare QB's for the NFL.

So pro style QBs never fail?

Gimmicks don't last. The spread has been around for a decade (or more) and most college teams run it. Most NFL teams also incorporate huge portions of the spread offense into their teams as well.

Not at the rate of spread QB's.

Doesn't Dykes run almost the exact same system as Tedford? Aaron Rodgers turned out okay.

Tedford was sort of a hybrid between a pro and spread. Dykes is pure spread.

The sample size is small, but my guess is that they would be pretty similar.

If a guy is an NFL QB, he will figure things out.

Tim Tebow, Vince Young, Terrell Pryor, Johnny Manziel, Colt McCoy, Brandon Weeden, Tim Couch, Andre Ware, the list goes on... Talent galore yes but did not learn the fundamentals of being an NFL QB in college.

I don't think coming from a spread offense significantly hampers a Qb as compared to the Qb that comes from a pro style offense. Pro defenses are so different and so much more advanced that college defenses that they are completely different entities.

What coming from a spread defense does is make an already difficult projection even more difficult to project.

What I like about both Lynch and Goff is that they have shown the ability to learn and develop. Both are significantly better that when they came in as freshman. I think Goff should stay in school. Another year of physical development would go a long way. I think Lynch should come out. He is physically mature enough to handle being in the NFL. An extra year learning in the pro game rather than continuing to learn the very different college game is a benefit to him. And with his HC leaving the only thing I can see from returning for his senior year is downside.

Cook - The best things he has going for him are his size and being a winner. Not a great arm but more than adequate. There are the leadership questions. I read the above article but don't know what to make of that. The biggest downside are questionable accuracy. And when I watch him, something just doesn't feel right. I know that is going to annoy some of you. To be honest, it annoys me too. I wish I could put my finger on it. In the Michigan game, Michigan had their top Cb covering MSU's top Wr. It seemed as if the MSU receiver couldn't get open but that Cook kept trying to force the ball in to him. Was he open and the ball thrown late so that he looked covered by the time the cameras got there? Could he not see that the Wr was covered? Did he read the defense and feel that his Wr would win a toss up? If so why didn't he realize that this wasn't working? That is the best I can come up with but it just feels like there is something more.

Wentz - I haven't seen him play.

Doughty - Recorded the 2nd half of the So Miss-WKU game. Will watch later.

Cardele Jones - Big kid with big arm. Needs a lot of development. Will be over drafted.

Hackenberg - Pfttt

Gunner kiel - Really?

Hogan - I see him as a solid career backup but cannot see him as an above average starter.

Kessler - I am torn on. I see some games and think wow this guy could be something special. Then I see another game and think, no way this guy gets taken in the 1st 2 rounds. Not sure what to make of him.

Jacoby Brissett - see Cody Kessler.

Dak Prescott - not impressed.

Travis Wilson - I see Brock Osweiler. Put him on the bench in the same system for 43-4 years and you might have something.

Anybody else even worth mentioning?

Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, Jeff George, Mark Sanchez, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, Cade McNown, Trent Dilker, David Carr. . .

What was your point?

Tebow - can't throw

Young - too stupid

Manziel - too interested in partying

McCoy hurt his arm in the last game of his college career. Never got that arm strength back and with already borderline arm strength he had little chance of succeeding.

Weeden - mentally unable to handle pressure situations in a game

Couch - got beat up early in his career and became gun shy.

Ware - cannon arm, absolutely no touch.

Pryor - saved for last. He is the only one that I can see who might have benefited from a different college experience. Though one could argue that had he been drafted by a better organization than the 2012 Raiders then he may have developed. But I will give you this one.

All I know is if the Browns keep trying to grab spread QB's and turn them into pocket passers this discussion will continue.

Teams that win Super Bowls and create dynasties do it with Pro style pocket passers. Sure the spread is exciting and it allows athletes to out athlete our teams and make dynamic plays but when the talent level is even (NFL) Pro Style always wins. No exceptions.

All spread QBs are mobile QBs? I think we found out the problem is, you don't know what a spread offense is.

The spread offense is a pro style system. It's just more advanced in the NFL.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foot...-offense-league

I've been watching the Wentz cut-ups on draftbreakdown.

I'm going to try to keep an eye on him at the Senior Bowl. I like what I've seen, but its hard to account for the level of competition.

I agree w/your take about Spread vs Pro Style QBs. Don't let them intimidate you.

I think Jester made a great comment:



That was pretty freaking awesome, Jester.

Day, I hear what you are saying and you could be right. I have watched Cook more than any of the top qbs and I always come away thinking that something is missing. That doesn't mean I am right..........it's just my take.

As much as most love the Ohio born stories for players, Cook seems like a natural being from Hinkley.

What....?