Kirk Cousins is taking the vast majority of the blame for the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. And it isn’t as a result of he is but to be all the best way again from his Achilles harm, he stated.
Cousins stated Thursday that his proper Achilles, which he tore in Week 8 of final season, feels “good” and his struggles Sunday had nothing to do along with his well being. Cousins had simply 19 passing yards within the second half, the bottom second-half complete of his profession. The 13-year veteran stated it was extra about not having performed shortly than it was an harm subject.
“I really feel like I can transfer and push as I usually would,” Cousins stated.
Cousins, 36, was 16-of-26 passing for 155 yards with one landing and two interceptions towards the Steelers. He was sacked twice and pressured typically by a protection led by T.J. Watt.
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It wasn’t simply the numbers that made some consider Cousins was nonetheless injured. The Falcons ran the vast majority of their offense out of the pistol set, which Cousins has by no means completed greater than 10 occasions in a single sport. Cousins was beneath middle for just one play and the group did not run a single play-action go, which has been Cousins’ bread and butter.
Analysts surmised that the pistol was a solution to masks Cousins’ lack of mobility, which has not seemed to be a problem in follow all summer season. Not so, Cousins stated. The pistol was simply one thing the Falcons and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson needed to implement. Cousins stated his sq. stance within the pistol, much like Peyton Manning’s, was what he utilized in 2012 with Washington when he was backing up Robert Griffin III.
“We began with pistol again in April,” Cousins stated of the Falcons. “That was an enormous elementary philosophy, speaking with our offensive line coach, speaking with our coaches about what we wish to do schematically.”
Cousins stated Atlanta coach Raheem Morris stated the evening earlier than the sport that if the offense performed “clear and crisp” and prevented errors, the Falcons would win. Cousins agreed. As an alternative, he threw two interceptions, the group fumbled on a nasty snap that ricocheted off tight finish Ross Dwelley in movement, and there have been a number of key penalties.
“I bought to play higher, I bought to function higher and I used to be most likely on the middle of it not being clear and crisp,” Cousins stated. “So, that annoyed me deeply, as a result of I can place such an significance on that, in operating the operation clear and crisp. And that is what must be higher Monday.”
The Falcons go on the highway towards the Philadelphia Eagles for “Monday Night time Soccer” in Week 2. Robinson stated the group’s offensive system will proceed to evolve based mostly on matchups. He stated he takes “full accountability” for the offense not clicking towards Pittsburgh.
“Definitely not involved with Kirk’s mobility in any respect,” Robinson stated. “A number of the run sport and the way we set it up, we’ll change these issues week to week. We’re by no means married to at least one factor or the opposite. These issues will ever be evolving, based mostly on the sport plan of that week. However definitely just like the pistol. We did it a ton with the Rams final 12 months, and it is one thing that provides you a fantastic versatility throughout the board, so we’ll proceed to seek out these spots to combine it in.”