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QBR Meaningless November 5,
2022
Each measure of
the NFL's quarterback rating (QBR) system is nothing less than noise to distract
everyone from reality. There are numerous quarterbacks in the NFL that
have extremely high ratings but they are not winning games almost like an
inverse Lapper curve. Have too low a rating & your replaced whereas if
you have too high a rating you do not win games.
For much of his time in Minnesota, including his time in Washington, Kirk
Cousins has achieved significant positive quarterback ratings, which has served
his wallet well but any Viking fan on the planet could see his problem. In
other words, something was never right. Late in games, too often he would
await a defensive soft zone scheme which allowed him to pad his statistics when
the game was out of reach. When the game was in play he would consistently
miss out on opportunities including failing to record a 1st down or score after
a turnover. That was because Cousins focus was focuses on padding beneficial
stats, like completions & meaningless yards when the opportunities arose
where he's become pretty much a 500 quarterback that cannot win in prime
time. At least that was the story. Then at the end of the season,
you can look at all those lovely stats, to redirect from Cousins, then wonder
why that he just couldn't dominate against the NFL's elite teams. In other
words, to a man we all know every quarterback rating system ever adopted ...
less mine of course ... was less than meaningless & was completely disingenuous,
however that's how many quarterbacks get paid. The reality is that all
that matters are wins & losses and coaches get fired if they don't learn how
to win.
Up until yesterday, I firmly believed that Brett Favre greatest record was his
iron man status ... especially as a quarterback, but now I realize that I was
wrong. Actually, his most notable record is actually that set for
interceptions. Neither of these records may ever fall where if you think
about it anyone that starts throwing interceptions is soon to find the
bench. Which begs the question, how did Favre create such an impressive
career recording all those picks? It was because when Brett Favre stepped
on the field, his ass was so huge that the field tilted in his Favor (Mississippi-Louisiana
Speak ... Favre). Said another way, Brett Favre would forgo every positive
QBR stat to tilt the odds into his favor. They called it being a gun
slinger. The reality was that he refused it all in favor of taking
advantage of opportunities as slim as that opportunity might be ... but in most
cases it worked out.
Which brings us to Kevin O'Connell's present version of Kirk Cousins 2022.
Somehow Kirk Cousins showed his dilemma in that he pointed to his statistics
where he believed that he should be winning games only to Ponder out loud,
"Why are we losing these games?" Kevin probably just explained
it all to him where he could buy into reality. Sure you dumped off the
ball for a high percentage completion, padding an irrelevant statistic, only to
forgo your real opportunities. What wins game is potent risk assessments
not QBR ratings. You take the risk, you reap the rewards of winning games
that you previously would lose. It is that simple.
Now you can't compare Cousins past history as each year is different. In
other words, Fran Tarkenton wasn't joking when asked why he scrambled so much by
answering those questions with the statement, "What Pocket?"
Maybe what excited Kevin O'Connell so much was that 4/5ths of his offensive line
was settled only having to add rookie Ed Ingram to give Cousins the
stability that he needed to be able to risk access. Today, Kirk Cousins is
much different in that wisdom has entered the equation. He is trusting
O'Connell's concepts, with the time that he needs, and he's executing at a very
high level. When Cousins destroyed the completion percentage, and neither
Cousins or O'Connell realized it, it wreaked of absolute focus on a different
plane or level. They didn't give a lick about completions ... they were
focused on something very different ... risk accessing to take advantage of
opportunity. So what do I say, "Well done
Knuckleheads!"
So what's the result? Cousins QBR rating is now thrown into our face as
being substandard for the Pro Bowl but he's winning games ... as if a QBR rating
means something. Again, factor out that Philadelphia game where Cousins
was told that Jefferson couldn't be covered, where he would forgo opportunities
everywhere else, and you'd see Cousins growth. To be direct,
Cousins won't
make that mistake again. Since then, look at the list of all those players
that are scoring since that day including the scrambling Kirk Cousins himself
... & no, you don't have to run the ball unless they hand you that
proverbial CAN OF CORN.
What is so comical today is that commentators don't know what to make of this
Vikings team as Kirk Cousins was made to fit within the can as after all he's
been around since the time of Moses. Old dogs don't learn new tricks &
statistics mongers never change their spots. If you look at the Eagles
today, they act like they are sporting Randy Moss (as if he's never been taken
away from us) choosing to score over the top. Cousins is instead choosing
opportunities & is applying risk forgoing those statistics.
We all tend to do what we are instructed to do. Rookie quarterbacks are
not told to embrace interceptions but are instead presented with QBR
ratings. In other words, fear is driven in & Favre-like creativity is
polished off from the surface. Is it any wonder why Doug Flutie, Taylor
Heiniche, Kurt Warner proliferated in this league with a long list of non-#1
draft picks doing the same. What they realized is that they would never be
given an opportunity as there would always be someone with better skills where
they refused to forgo their risk assessment & making the most out of every
opportunity. Screw the QBR.
Is it any wonder why this fan base was so excited about Sloter ... but that was
before Cousins? See you all in Washington.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: November 6, 2022
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