Operation: Rattle Kirk Cousins
September 7th, 2023
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins.
Joe will learn pretty damn quick if the Bucs have discovered an edge rush or not.
With the season-opener at Minneapolis on Sunday, the Bucs will face 1 p.m. Kirk Cousins, the Vikings’ quarterback; 1 p.m. Cousins is damn good and a bunch better than 4 p.m. Cousins, who is significantly better than 8 p.m. Cousins, who is downright miserable.
Cousins has a ton of weapons with arguably the best receiver in the game Justin Jefferson (though Ja’Marr Chase might disagree). And arguably the best tight end in the game, T. J. Hockenson (though Travis Kelce might disagree).
And then there is first-round draft pick Jordan Addison. He tore sh!t up at USC with Caleb Williams throwing to him.
With those kinds of weapons, probably the best way to defend Cousins is to get after him with a pass rush. Cousins isn’t exactly fleet of foot.
So yesterday Joe asked YaYa Diaby what the film told him about Cousins.
“I feel like for us, we have to keep attacking him,” Diaby said. “Don’t let him get comfortable. When he gets comfortable, that’s when he makes his right throws.
“So we have to get him out of his comfort zone.”
That’s not all that easy. One of Cousins’ best traits might be how he can stay in the pocket and absorb defenders beating the sh!t out of him.
No quarterback in the NFL took more hits than Cousins in 2022, yet he finished fifth in the NFL in touchdowns thrown (35).
So yeah, getting after Cousins might help. But the way he doesn’t get rattled easily, it seems the best way to stop Cousins is the old-fashioned tried and true sack.
Make Cousins eat turf until he squeals “Skol!”
September 7th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Diaby should sack him and get up and yell “YOU LIKE THIS?!”
September 7th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Hmm. Where are we hoping to get a pass rush from?
Only have Shaq, and I doubt hes back to form.
Guess we’ll see if any of our recent draft picks are gonna have an impact.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
“You like that?!”
-Lovie Smith blew a 21-0 halftime lead in the nations capital. That was a truly awful experience.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
I heard Jefferson isnt playing and Kelce might be out too. That should help.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Scratch the above comment, i got mixed up with what i heard on the radio
September 7th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
A strong rush up the middle is the best way to rattle a QB. After all the shortest distance between two points yada yada yada. This is where the soon to be healthy Kancey and the soon to be upgraded Hall come in. We will need them all to get to Cousins.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
JTS is the answer, or so I have been told……
September 7th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
More pressure the better. Need Sacks though.
Cousins ranked 14th last year against pressure a little ahead of Brady.
Good sign is Carr ranked 24th and might be an advantage in the near future.
Another name farther down the list gives me concern but I’ll chock it off
to ‘Bad Coaching’ as the excuse that seems to be the ‘”Go To” lately.
Bring the Heat.
September 7th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
This game should be a good test if the Bucs can compete against playoff teams.
September 7th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Time for the youngsters to become men!!
September 7th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
This sounds like we are Super Bowles Bound.
September 7th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Blitz early and often. Put the pressure on, get turnovers. Yes the Vikings will score, but winning the turnover battle will secure the win.
September 8th, 2023 at 4:37 am
Start fast and play Physical on both sides and we can win this game. Shaq gets 3 sacks. Defense holds on to 2 INTs and Gholston forces a fumble.
Go Bucs!