After a very strong game versus the St. Louis Rams in Week 2, Kirk Cousins and the Redskins faced the New York Giants in Week 3. The Giants featured the 25th ranked DVOA defense according to Football Outsiders going into this game. Even though this would appear to be an advantageous match-up for the Redskins, the Giants historically have played the Redskins competitively winning 16 of the last 21 games since 2005. In this breakdown, we will take a look at how well Cousins performed in this game.

Stats
Kirk Cousins - 30/49 for 316 yards, 6.4 ypa, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 1 sack for 11 yards

Going through the game tape from last Thursday, the major theme throughout the game was Cousins’ inaccuracy to open players as seen in Plays 1 through 3 below.

Play 1 - 3rd and 1 at WSH 39, (Q2-14:24) (Shotgun) K.Cousins pass deep right to A.Roberts to NYG 43 for 18 yards (L.Collins).

Wide receiver #12 Roberts from the shotgun trips left runs a drive route across the field underneath the Giants’ Cover 1 defense. After the snap, there is a defensive miscommunication and the Giants don’t cover him. Cousins delivers the ball behind Roberts who still is able to catch the ball. Unfortunatley, this forces Roberts to slow down negating possible yards-after-the-catch.

This play resulted in 18 yards, a very good gain on 3rd and 1, but could have easily turned into a much larger gain and possibly a touchdown depending on the angle the deep safety would have taken to tackle Roberts if this ball was placed correctly in-stide. Cousins needs to place this ball an additional 5-10 feet closer to the sideline allowing Roberts the opportunity to break free on the clear mistake by the Giants.

Three plays later the Redskins run a flood concept or a “three-level” read to the right side of the field. Garcon takes the deep read running a go-route, Ryan Grant runs a deep out taking the middle read, and Andre Roberts takes the short read running a flat route after the motion.

Cousins reads the play perfectly reading it high-to-low seeing that Garcon is covered and that Grant is the appropriate target. Again, Cousins throws the ball inaccurately placing the ball too far outside not allowing Grant to catch it on the sideline for a 20 yard gain.

Finally on the same drive and just two plays later from Play 2, Reed runs a sluggo from the left outside burning rookie 2nd round free safety #21 Landon Collins to the endzone. This should have been a touchdown if Cousins can place the ball over Collins’ head. Instead, he places the ball inaccurately behind the receiver. This allows Collins to recover and break up the pass. Cousins has to place this ball 5 yards into the endzone and allow Reed the opportunity to pull it in for a score.

This is the THIRD big gain opportunity on this drive that would have greatly helped the Redskins, but instead they had to settle for a 44 yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins.

The Redskins are in shotgun twins bunch left and have “11”-personnel in the game with three wide receivers, one running back, and one tight end in the formation.

On the left side of the field, Garcon runs a seam-route up the sideline while Roberts takes an inside release and runs an out-route underneath Garcon. Tight end #86 Jordan Reed runs a drag route underneath the linebackers. For this play to work, the Redskins are hoping that there is a miscommunication between the cornerbacks on which has responsibility over each receiver on the initial “switch”. If that doesn’t work, the Redskins are hoping that Roberts can break free underneath Garcon’s seam-route.

Garcon is covered so Cousins moves on to Roberts who creates separation, but cornerback #20 Prince Amukamara has his body turned towards Cousins watching to see if Cousins is going to release the ball. Cousins sees this and holds onto the ball. After checking to see if Reed, Cousins’ third read is covered, he moves on to the right side of the field. Good so far.

Cousins moves on to his 4th and 5th reads on the right side of the field and sees Grant breaking free on the in-route due to his defender slipping in coverage, but Cousins hesitates with the ball and doesn’t fire it.

Cousins decides to hold on to the ball and gets chased out of the pocket where he throws the ball up the field and out-of-bounds. He NEEDS to release the ball to Grant here. If he did this 3rd and 12 would have been completed allowing the Redskins to continue their drive. Poor execution by Cousins forcing a punt.

On the next page we will take a look at Cousins’ two interceptions, and his touchdown pass.