Kirk Cousins bought his swagger again

Should you’re as chronically on-line as me, you’ll know the TikTok development of somebody saying “Me at my son’s X celebration throwing absolute piss missiles within the yard (I’m hammered and assume I’m insert QB right here)”.

Effectively, the easiest way to explain Kirk Cousins evening final evening was that we’ll make TikToks about this particular efficiency quickly. Cousins was on hearth from the second he stepped on the sector, going 42/58 for 509 yards and 4 TDs because the Falcons got here again to upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in extra time. On an evening the place Falcons legend Matt Ryan was honored at halftime, Cousins broke the one recreation passing report Ryan set in 2016. Cousins evening was so spectacular by nearly all superior stats as effectively. His whole EPA of twenty-two.4 was the very best whole EPA a QB has amassed in opposition to a Todd Bowles-coached Tampa Bay protection EVER.

It was unimaginable quarterbacking, whereas additionally showcasing the expansion that Cousins has made and remains to be making at age 36.

In a whole lot of methods, this recreation jogged my memory a whole lot of the instances Matthew Stafford confronted a Bowles-led protection as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Each are getting old pocket passers, who in the end didn’t really want the motion related to play motion or too many RPOs in opposition to this protection. Of Cousins’ 58 dropbacks, solely 5 used play motion. In that 2021 recreation Stafford performed, solely 4 of these dropbacks had play motion. Atlanta’s present offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, was the assistant QBs coach throughout Stafford’s bonanza, and he known as the sport like he had a man of Stafford’s caliber again there.

It was evident early on that the Bucs would attempt to warmth up and hit Cousins utilizing each simulated pressures and creeper pressures. Simulated pressures are when the protection reveals the blitz after which might drop individuals from the road of scrimmage, whereas creepers appear to be any regular play after which they convey the warmth. Nonetheless, Tampa got here into this recreation hurting. All-world security Antione Winfield Jr didn’t play on this recreation, together with go rusher Calijah Kancey and protection linebacker SirVocea Dennis. All this comes up the backbone of the protection, the place Cousins and Atlanta hunted for the ENTIRE GAME.

This was the primary offensive play of the sport for Atlanta. Tampa brings a simulated strain the place they’ve 5 individuals on the line of scrimmage, however drop LB Lavonte David and produce each slot defenders. Cousins is unfazed by this, as a result of his solutions are already in-built. Blitz will get picked up and Cousins hits TE Kyle Pitts working down the seam in opposition to David.

Now, the seams and the backbone of the protection have been big on this recreation, as a result of Atlanta attacked these second stage defenders with numerous motions and high-low ideas. This places that beneath defender (a LB, nickel or dropping EDGE) in a bind as a result of they need to make a cut up second choice to remove the deep route or quit YAC on the shorter route. This was a staple with the Stafford Rams, one thing Robinson delivered to Atlanta. He additionally introduced WR Drake London inside to the slot, the place now you may play matchup ball and isolate him on these poorer defenders. London painted a masterpiece from the slot on Thursday, going for eight of his 12 catches for 117 yards and a landing from the slot. London is lined up as the within receiver to the best, and Tampa once more runs a creeper strain the place EDGE Yaya Diaby is dropping into the hook lane. Nonetheless, there’s not a lot that may idiot Kirk Cousins protection smart. He appears to be like Diaby off and hits London on a dig that strikes the chains. These dig routes are vital, put a pin in that.

London’s landing was an ideal instance of utilizing movement to create favorable conditions and matchups for Atlanta’s stars. Quick movement by WR Darnell Mooney on the snap will get London remoted on rookie nickel defender Tykee Smith, and that’s a matchup London wins a massive majority of the time. Atlanta gave London all the selection routes Cooper Kupp ran in LA, and on Thursday he was cooking with them. Take a look at all of the area London is given, particularly with the working again releasing to the best.

This play comes off the identical formation and the identical movement, however completely different design. Tampa brings David on a blitz and drops DE Anthony Nelson, however Nelson has no shot of getting out to London on this dig to make this throw tough. Once more, the quick movement by Mooney provides London extra room to work and Cousins fires a strike.

This play got here later within the recreation, nevertheless it reveals how assured Cousins is in these pure dropback conditions and the way a lot his recreation has grown. Watch Cousins go to work right here on backup LB KJ Britt. Atlanta is in a 3×1 formation with London because the slot, and get London engaged on a dig once more with TE Kyle Pitts vacating area for him with an out route. Return movement by WR Ray-Ray McCloud confirms zone protection, and have a look at Cousins pump faux to no one and get Britt leaning earlier than he zips in a London in-breaker. As Kirk has gotten older, his recreation has truly gotten stronger, and on Thursday he confirmed off what he and this offense might be within the dropback recreation.

Finally, Tampa bought bored with being hit over the pinnacle with dig routes by Atlanta. In an effort to insulate their injured linebacker group, Tampa adjusted to having higher protection guys taking part in the position of the center working in Tampa 2 or having their safeties set off onerous on any in-breakers Atlanta would throw. Kirk’s second TD of the sport was an unimaginable throw the place he beat Tampa on the previous. Zyon McCollum is within the slot on this one, however he’s going to show into the center runner in Tampa 2. Atlanta is working Dagger, which asks the within receiver to run a go route for the love of the sport and a Dig coming behind it. The go route is meant to filter the lane, however hardly ever is thrown. Besides for those who’re Kirk Cousins. McCollum turns his head and Kirk rips a landing to Mooney, who makes an unimaginable seize. Watch the anticipation, and when Kirk releases this ball. High tier QBing at its’ best.

Now, Tampa has security Jordan Whitehead hammering onerous on each dig route. He nearly picked off a dig to finish the primary half, have a look at how flat-footed he’s! He barely drops into his quarter of the sector.

To open the second half, Atlanta performed off that tendency, and threw it proper the place Whitehead was imagined to be. London is as soon as once more within the slot, and so they punish Whitehead for being flat footed. London runs proper previous him and Cousins places it on the again shoulder. You’ll discover a development right here: movement opening up London for extra slot utilization. Intentional movement to win area and leverage was a staple of the Rams offense, and Robinson introduced that to Atlanta with him.

That is the Falcons dropback recreation at its’ greatest, and it’s led by a assured and on hearth Kirk Cousins. You play a harmful recreation with how unstable Cousins might be as a passer, however at his age he can function this model of passing recreation. Cousins manipulating beneath defenders with out the usage of play motion, whereas additionally standing in and firing strikes below strain is precisely what Falcons followers wished this season—an grownup at QB. With Robinson giving him the Stafford weight-reduction plan of passes, there’s solely hope that this offense can get even higher, which is thrilling for Atlanta’s hopes this season. The protection nonetheless has query marks, but when the offense can feast on Cousins-to-London within the slot and get just a few bangers from Kirk, they’ll go far.