ASHBURN, Virginia -- When Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins was mic’d up in 2015, he had an exchange with offensive coordinator Sean McVay on the sidelines after a touchdown pass to DeSean Jackson. It was part of a new, more aggressive approach by both McVay the playcaller and Cousins.
“Look at what putting our foot on the gas pedal the whole time has done,” Cousins said.
But McVay admitted he was still learning and Cousins acknowledged some of that stemmed from the fact he was new to the full-time job. Cousins was mic’d up again Sunday and showed that he’s still learning to balance going for the kill and protecting a lead.
He said to quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell on the bench: “Sometimes I get in a weird place when you get a lead like this where you start playing conservative and not to lose. It’s smart to do that, but it also hinders your ability to just go play.”
Perhaps that’s why, after the 49ers tied the game at 17 – after trailing 17-0 -- the offense started rolling again. Sunday, the Redskins’ first two possessions of the third quarter resulted in a punt (after five plays and a total of eight yards gained) and a fumble on the first play. After that: a 72-yard drive for a field goal and a 79-yard series for a touchdown.
There is that fine line, and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares going forward. Some of that also goes back to play-calling or even, perhaps, players getting relaxed. Or just making mistakes (like fumbling).
Anyway, it was a revealing moment and that’s what’s good about having players mic’d up -- especially a quarterback such as Cousins.
We also saw him taking pictures with his newborn son, Cooper, on the field before the game and saying, while warming up, that it was his son’s first game so they needed to win.
Here’s what else stood out:
More demanding: When Cousins was mic’d up in the past, you would not hear him chastise teammates or get on them for loafing. That’s what he did in the second half, as other players were huddling up. He yelled to others: “Why are you walking!? Why are you walking!?” It’s hard to tell who, but tight end Vernon Davis was one of the ones nearing the huddle.
I flashed back to the 2014 training camp practices vs. the Patriots when quarterback Tom Brady barked at receiver Brandon LaFell to hurry to the huddle. Brady did it with a different-level of intensity. At the time, it stood out because I hadn’t seen a Redskins quarterback do that in a long time. It was a “whoa” moment. Few have Brady’s fire, but it was interesting to see him implore teammates to hustle up.
Hail to the money maker💰 @KirkCousins8 @Redskins #HTTR
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) October 18, 2017
Catch up on #InsideTheNFL: https://t.co/0EGS4i1YZA pic.twitter.com/7ruWktX5DK
It also came after an exchange with O’Connell on the sidelines. Cousins told him: “We’ve got to get some mojo going when we get out there. That’s my biggest concern right now, that we’re too lethargic.”
The quarterbacks control the tempo more than anyone on the field.
Teaching points: But this also was a classic Cousins’ exchange. After looking at pictures of his touchdown pass to Samaje Perine, while sitting next to Colt McCoy, Cousins saw that the running back nearly knocked the ball from his hands on the play-fake.
“Look at how closed he is on this exchange,” Cousins said to McCoy, talking about how wide his arms were – or weren’t – on the fake.
Then Cousins found Perine, seated on the bench.
“Yeah, on that, yeah, you almost knocked the ball out of my hands,” Cousins said, while demonstrating the pocket he wanted from him. “Good, wide pocket. Don’t have it tight. Have it good and wide.”
As Cousins turns to leave, he stops and turns back. He clearly wanted to make sure and finish the lesson on the right note.
“Way to run that down and go get it. It helps when I can lead you upfield,” Cousins told him.
Proper credit: The offensive line -- and the protection in general -- has done a terrific job since the season opener vs. Philadelphia. In the opener, Cousins threw under duress 14 times, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Since that game, he’s thrown under duress a combined 20 times. That gives him time to scan the field, which was one reason he found Josh Doctson on a skinny post for a touchdown.
On multiple occasions vs. San Francisco, Cousins shouted out: “Good pocket! Hey, great pocket! Hey, that was you guys! I took forever. I took forever. Nice job!”
Cousins did get hit a few times and on one he was drilled from the side as he released a pass. But for the most part he’s throwing from good pockets, which helps accentuate two strengths: His ability to read defenses and help lead receivers into yards after the catch.
Protecting the investment: Cousins said after the game that left tackle Trent Williams told him to protect his shoulder by sliding instead of lowering it on that 18-yard run. But thanks to Cousins being mic’d up we also heard the exchange. Yes, players understand the business side very well.
“Hey slide. What are you doing drooping your shoulder?” Williams said to him.
“I wasn’t quite sure where the first down was,” Cousins replied.
“You ran like 20 yards,” Williams said.
“Sometimes when you slide, they still pop you. You get in a vulnerable spot,” Cousins told him.
“That shoulder’s worth about 200 million right now. You don’t want to put that out there,” Williams reminded him.
“I love it,” center Spencer Long said.
“I love it. I just get nervous,” Williams said.
Interesting exchange: Because it’s the 49ers … and because that’s a long-rumored next stop for Cousins, it was interesting to hear his postgame conversation with San Francisco rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard.
“Hey, you did a hell of a job, man,” Cousins told him. “You really played your butt off. Hey, go get some wins ... use this year to grow and develop. It’s a valuable time. Happy for you.”
Of course, if Beathard does grow and develop at a rapid pace, perhaps it would alter the 49ers’ quarterback plans. Or they could be teammates next season, putting Beathard in a spot where Cousins once was: hoping for his opportunity.