If you look at the numbers, even still, Cousins is right at his usual pace in Minnesota.
If you watch last night, you saw the problem. It is the OC, it's plain as day. Reminded me of watching a game Haley called.
People will circle the one play where Cousins threw the ball backwards but there were key situations where the OC looked like a complete doofus.
The goaline sequence, when the Vikings were down 6-0 late in the game, was next level bad.
2nd and goal at the 2 - They go 4 wide....defense gives them a 5 in the box look and Flip doesn't have a check out of this play. Say what you want about Cousins but clearly this is a massive failure by a coach. There has to be a situational check here and it cannot be to run 4 receivers against 6 DB's with 12 yards of field to cover. Either way it's an indictment.......if you don't have a check, it's a black mark. If you see this look, you burn a TO given game / time / situation. Instead they run the play, which predictably is a big nothing burger. Initial read is doubled and the check down is shadowed by Wagner, who is in position to pick it off if thrown. Maybe Cousins hesitates on his 3rd read and could have rifled it between a defender but again, that design and call sucks.
3rd and goal at the 2 - 6+1 in the box with a strong safety flexed / rolled out in almost an OLB position. Again, Flip doesn't have a check out of this play and he doesn't ask for a TO. Defense is called to stuff this run play and you just have to get out of it. They have a weakside run called and a defensive player accounting for the edge. Ball is snapped, flexed backer reads run, secures the edge and forces Cook inside, line stunt flows weak and he's stuffed for no gain.
4th and goal at the 2 - 4 down lineman but they have the weak side nose shaded to the strong side of the center, as is Wagner. Thelein is in the left slot, so he's likely sticky enough to hold that weak side edge and the DB is giving a press look, not even peeking inside. Backside they have 3 on 2.....again, there is apparently no check in Flip's system because this is an inside draw / zone, walk in to the endzone look. They instead try to run what appears to be skinny posts against zone, which has no chance on a compressed field.
Seriously a 3 play sequence, potential to decide the game, where the OC called the exact opposite play he should have and had nothing in his system to get out of it and not enough awareness to call TO to save a down. Just stick that tape on his head coaching tombstone.
