ES: Exclusive one-on-one interview with Kirk Cousins

[themurf]

(photo by Brian Murphy)

For my money, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has one of the toughest gigs imaginable.

For starters, his lifelong dream of playing professional football doesn't exactly go according to plan when he get drafted by a quarterback-starved franchise that was still celebrating landing Robert Griffin III.

So while so many of his peers in this talented rookie class are setting records, he spent much of his inaugural campaign sitting next to Rex Grossman on the sidelines while the most electrifying player in the NFL today took the league by storm.

When Griffin got injured and Cousins finally had the opportunity to show he too could be effective at this level, the entire offense had to be switched up because his skill set is so vastly different from RGIII's. Just when his teammates began to settle in and get used to running the pistol, everything reverts back to a more traditional offense run by a far less mobile rookie.

And yet, you never hear Cousins complain or feel sorry for himself. You don't hear his agent making remarks about demanding to be traded or anything like that. Instead, the 24-year-old just quietly goes about his business and handles himself with absolute class and professionalism.

Sure, he wants to play, but he knows this is Griffin's team, so for as long as he's in Washington he's going to be the best teammate and backup quarterback he can be.

Before the season ended, I had the chance to sit down with Cousins for a one-on-one interview with the Michigan State standout to learn more about the young man who might very well be the starting quarterback for the Redskins when the 2013 season begins. Here's how our conversation went:

What's the biggest thing you've learned from head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan during your first season in Washington?

"Well, when I first got out here, I read Mike's book that he had written back in the late 90's called "Think Like A Champion" and really got a feel for who he is as a person, the way he operates while running his teams," Cousins said. "I think the first thing I picked up was just preparation and just, the way he's won and the way he's risen to where he is from where he was back when he was my age was because of his preparation. He out-prepares you, he out-works you and I feel like for me to rise to that level of success as a player, I'm going to need to do the same thing.

"It just takes work and it's not going to happen overnight," he continued. "But if you keep staying after practice and you keep staying after to watch extra film and you keep working on fundamentals and you keep being critical of yourself when you watch the film -- continually asking yourself 'What can I do better? What can I do better?' -- eventually you're going to break through and it's going to happen. But it's not going to happen overnight, so I'm staying patient and doing exactly what they tell me to do while also fully trusting them that what they're telling me to do is going to bring me success."

For my money, the biggest moment of the 2012 season was when you were thrust into action at the end of the Baltimore Ravens game. Your team is down by eight points with less than a minute to play and you've been standing on the sideline in a parka for the last three hours. I don't think people truly understand how tough it is to sit there on the bench for an entire game and then have to magically turn it on with no real time to think about it and with so much on the line. Sure, you only completed two passes, but they were two pretty huge passes ...

"You said it well," Cousins said. "I feel like whether it was the public, the media, the fanbase or even my own coaches when I came to the facility the next day, they were just so complementary and so positive in saying what a great job you did. I said to my quarterback coach, 'I only threw two passes. It wasn't like I went 22 for 22. I went two for two, so what's the big deal?' And they weren't big-time throws in the sense that they were 30 yards down the field or anything like that, and he said, 'Kirk, you have no idea how difficult it is to do what you did in terms of the setting and the pressure. Most guys would freak out and have a hard time. You'd be surprised how hard that is to do for some guys in that moment.'"

"Looking back, yeah, we kind of pulled a rabbit out of a hat on that one," he continued. "When you start 3-6 and have a chance to win the division you're probably going to have those kind of games along the way. No doubt that looked like a game we were going to lose and we were able to win. But like I said, I just went in, did what I was coached to do, tried to simplify my thought process and it led to good results."

You were drafted by the unlikeliest of teams and relegated to the sidelines for most of your rookie season, so how gratifying was it to get your first NFL start in Cleveland?

"Because of my role here as a backup, my opportunity -- my window to show what I can do -- is small," Cousins said. "And so, an opportunity like the one I had in Cleveland is so important because I don't know when my next chance to play an entire game will be. I don't know if I'll ever get another chance to play an entire game, so I knew all about the sense of urgency and the importance that week in terms of my preparation and how I played on Sunday. To walk away from that game feeling good about my performance and feeling good about how our team did and to put us in a position to win the division, was extremely gratifying.

"It was that top of the world type of feeling, and now the focus is to not start to pat myself on the back because I was so hungry when I came in as a fourth-round pick and so motivated in the preseason to show what I can do," he continued. "Even after the Baltimore game, I was so motivated to show what I can do as a starter, and then you have that moment of success and it's human nature to sit back and relax. Now, my focus moving forward is to not pat myself on the back and to not get comfortable, to keep that chip on my shoulder that I've had since I was 17 and to just keep working and keep trying to get better. I think if I maintain that mentality, when the next chance comes whether it's next season or whatever, I'll be ready."

After everything that's happened to you and this team over the last two months of the regular season, how tough was the abrupt ending in the playoffs?

"It was obviously difficult, but there's only one team happy at the end of the season," Cousins said. "You're going to have 31 teams that feel like this at some point. It was a great year to win seven in a row and pull ourselves out from where we were in November. We have a lot to be proud of, but certainly, remembering this feeling during the offseason I think will strengthen the team and bring us together when we go into the preparation in the spring and help us going into next season to have a better year."

Once again you were thrown into a game during the fourth quarter with heightened stakes. Unfortunately, this game didn't have the same ending as the Ravens come-from-behind victory though ...

"Yeah, it was a tough situation to get thrown into, but that's the life of a backup quarterback," he said. "I tried to do the best I could and I could have done some things better, but things just didn't fall our way. I'll be able to watch the film and learn from it though and ever if I was feeling good and patting myself on the back after the Cleveland game, now going into the offseason I'll have a little bit more of that edge to me and feel like I've once again got something to prove after what I didn't get done against the Seahawks."

[SWFLSkins]

Cousins is such the exception in a self serving society where the norm would be to think of oneself and not the team first. He trusts that if he does the right thing his turn will come. Such an awesome guy, Hail Kirk.

[Diss]

Nice interview that makes me feel more confident about him being our starter for awhile next season. If he'd been given the whole second half in the Seattle game, who knows what could have happened.

[Toe Jam]

I love this kid and his work ethic. He's going places in this league.

[Koolblue13]

I was and am so glad we drafted him. KC1!

[Rocky21]

Nice work Murf.

Good intro and appropriate questions asked as usual.

[SonOfWashington]

I feel no sadness over not getting to see Griffin play in my only NFL game attended this year. Captain Kirk is as cool as the other side of the pillow, and it showed in Cleveland. With that game and the one against Baltimore, he saved our season in my book.

[ComManDersFan57]

Great interview! Captain Kirk is the man. If RGII can't come back at the beginning of the season, I'm glad we'll have Kirk. The OB situation in Washington has taken a turn in the right direction.

[Brant]

It is fantastic to have two talented, high-character quarterbacks on this team. What another class act. I can't say enough about how Grossman has also handled the situation.

Thank you for posting that article.

[LetThePointsSoar]

The PERFECT choice for interview, Murf. Very nice work as always, love the insight.

[TSO]

I have to say the greatest thing that Mike Shanahan has brought back to the team is the culture of TEAM. When Gibbs came back, he was everything we always knew about being a Skin but I think a lot of the players didn't really relate to that. The one thing Mike has done, along with Bruce Allen, is foster an environment where guys really want to play WITH and FOR each other. It starts with true accountability and proof that you can come up through the ranks with hard work and dedication. We forget how awful things were under Zorn with Zorn showing the complete inability to have accountability in the locker room. Haynesworth could say what he wanted as well as Portis, and Randle El could storm into his office and demand his punt return duties back. In 2010, Mike proved the opposite with guys like Lichtensteiger, Montgomery, Torain, Keiland Williams, Banks, Grossman and others who won jobs over veteran starters during practice. Every year he's shown the same can happen, and so guys like Alfred Morris come in believing they really do have a chance and give it their all.

I hope this isn't lost on anyone. It needs to be remembered. Kirk Cousins is an embodiment of this culture as well. It's so refreshing.

[RWJ]

Nice interview that makes me feel more confident about him being our starter for awhile next season. If he'd been given the whole second half in the Seattle game, who knows what could have happened.

Thought about this many times. I BELIEVE if Cousins was put in the 2nd half this team would have been playing Atlanta this past weekend.

[SkinsGuy]

Thought about this many times. I BELIEVE if Cousins was put in the 2nd half this team would have been playing Atlanta this past weekend.

No, I don't believe that. Cousins was coming in cold after sitting on the bench for a month and had to run RG3's offense (not the one they designed for him in Cleveland). The game was lost when RG3 got hurt. I do firmly believe that if RG3 had not gotten hurt, the Redskins would be facing the 49ers this Sunday.

Seattle wasn't stopping him and the offense. The way the Falcons played Sunday, I don't think they would've either.

However, I feel that with him getting all the reps, and with the offense geared toward him, Cousins can more than handle being the starting QB and lead us to victories if for some reason Dr. Andrews is wrong and RG3 can't start the 2013 season. He won't be as electrifying as RG3, but if the so-called "experts" think that with Cousins at the helm, the Redskins will be back in the NFC East cellar, they will be in for a shock.

[RWJ]

No, I don't believe that. Cousins was coming in cold after sitting on the bench for a month and had to run RG3's offense (not the one they designed for him in Cleveland). The game was lost when RG3 got hurt. I do firmly believe that if RG3 had not gotten hurt, the Redskins would be facing the 49ers this Sunday.

Seattle wasn't stopping him and the offense. The way the Falcons played Sunday, I don't think they would've either.

However, I feel that with him getting all the reps, and with the offense geared toward him, Cousins can more than handle being the starting QB and lead us to victories if for some reason Dr. Andrews is wrong and RG3 can't start the 2013 season. He won't be as electrifying as RG3, but if the so-called "experts" think that with Cousins at the helm, the Redskins will be back in the NFC East cellar, they will be in for a shock.

We agree to disagree, then. A healthy Cousins versus a more so-injured RG3 which I believe occurred just before he threw the 2nd TD pass in the Seattle game gave us a chance to win the wildcard game. IMO, we should have removed RG3 from the game at the latest after 1/2 time and took our chances with Cousins. I don't know if Cousins could have beat Atlanta but I believe we could have made it to that game.

Now, a healthy RG3 and I agree we very well could have been facing San Francisco this weekend. It's water over the dam though, right?

[pjfootballer]

He won't be as electrifying as RG3, but if the so-called "experts" think that with Cousins at the helm, the Redskins will be back in the NFC East cellar, they will be in for a shock.

It will be interesting to see if the "experts" believe this team is on the rise and will consistantly compete in the NFC East or if they pick us back in the cellar because if one "fluke" season.

[P()rter]

No, I don't believe that. Cousins was coming in cold after sitting on the bench for a month and had to run RG3's offense (not the one they designed for him in Cleveland). The game was lost when RG3 got hurt. I do firmly believe that if RG3 had not gotten hurt, the Redskins would be facing the 49ers this Sunday.

Seattle wasn't stopping him and the offense. The way the Falcons played Sunday, I don't think they would've either.

However, I feel that with him getting all the reps, and with the offense geared toward him, Cousins can more than handle being the starting QB and lead us to victories if for some reason Dr. Andrews is wrong and RG3 can't start the 2013 season. He won't be as electrifying as RG3, but if the so-called "experts" think that with Cousins at the helm, the Redskins will be back in the NFC East cellar, they will be in for a shock.

We would have won that game with Kirk no doubt. Kirk could have taken us to the NFC championship. I am still amazed at the doubters over Kirk's ability. He came in with 4 minutes left and the receivers dropped almost every pass he threw. I cannot wait for attitudes to change when Kirk takes over the 1st part of the season and dominates. Then the next threads will be RG3's trade value. RG3 is going to have injury problems his entire career, and if Kirk can get the job done RG3 is out. I was all about RG3 starting out the season but after the injuries....i am over it.:dallasuck

---------- Post added January-16th-2013 at 09:49 AM ----------

Thought about this many times. I BELIEVE if Cousins was put in the 2nd half this team would have been playing Atlanta this past weekend.

Agree 100%. We would be playing the Niners this weekend. Cousins is much better than he is being given credit for. This was on RG3 mind when he didn't pull himself out of the game. I believe he is threatened by Cousins, and other threads not on Redskins are saying the same thing. At least we know Cousins will get his chance to start at least 4 games, and start a huge controversy over QB's in DC........!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

[MartinC]

It will be interesting to see if the "experts" believe this team is on the rise and will consistantly compete in the NFC East or if they pick us back in the cellar because if one "fluke" season.

I agree that going to be interesting. I think the majority will use RGIIIs injury and the uncertainty about his availability to pick us below the Giants and maybe Cowboys in the NFC East.

I hope thats what they do - then Shanny can stick some copies of the predictions on the lockers as added motivation. Not that I think the team next year will need motivation - they had a taste this year and they will want to move forwards not backwards on what they achieved this year.

[P()rter]

I agree that going to be interesting. I think the majority will use RGIIIs injury and the uncertainty about his availability to pick us below the Giants and maybe Cowboys in the NFC East.

I hope thats what they do - then Shanny can stick some copies of the predictions on the lockers as added motivation. Not that I think the team next year will need motivation - they had a taste this year and they will want to move forwards not backwards on what they achieved this year.

Thats a good idea on the lockers! They all had a taste of victory, and more impressive they did it with many injuries and a poorly ranked D.

[pjfootballer]

We would have won that game with Kirk no doubt. Kirk could have taken us to the NFC championship. I am still amazed at the doubters over Kirk's ability. He came in with 4 minutes left and the receivers dropped almost every pass he threw. I cannot wait for attitudes to change when Kirk takes over the 1st part of the season and dominates. Then the next threads will be RG3's trade value. RG3 is going to have injury problems his entire career, and if Kirk can get the job done RG3 is out. I was all about RG3 starting out the season but after the injuries....i am over it.:dallasuck

---------- Post added January-16th-2013 at 09:49 AM ----------

Agree 100%. We would be playing the Niners this weekend. Cousins is much better than he is being given credit for. This was on RG3 mind when he didn't pull himself out of the game. I believe he is threatened by Cousins, and other threads not on Redskins are saying the same thing. At least we know Cousins will get his chance to start at least 4 games, and start a huge controversy over QB's in DC........!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!![COLOR="Gold"]

Why on earth would you want a QB controversy? I want a clear cut leader at QB. We've played musical chairs before and that doesn't work. A highlighted the last line in your post. With the way this was written, it is sounding more and more like you aren't even a Redskin fan. I have no way to prove this, but this line sounds fishy to me.

[P()rter]

Why on earth would you want a QB controversy? I want a clear cut leader at QB. We've played musical chairs before and that doesn't work. A highlighted the last line in your post. With the way this was written, it is sounding more and more like you aren't even a Redskin fan. I have no way to prove this, but this line sounds fishy to me.

We already have a QB controversy? We have a injured QB we gave the farm away on with a 2nd ACL injury and don't kid yourself thinking he will come back the same... Having another option as starter is a good thing. Not a Redskins Fan....LOL. Being a Redskins fan for 20+ years I cannot wait to see what Kirk can do. The QB controversy you spoke of before was mediocre back up QB's acting like starters, not 2 guys who wanna be starters.

---------- Post added January-16th-2013 at 10:08 AM ----------

Why on earth would you want a QB controversy? I want a clear cut leader at QB. We've played musical chairs before and that doesn't work. A highlighted the last line in your post. With the way this was written, it is sounding more and more like you aren't even a Redskin fan. I have no way to prove this, but this line sounds fishy to me.

I am also interested to see how RG3 will handle having competition. Right now he talks highly about being our Franchise QB and the Starter of this team... His last interview after the game was a young arrogant kid who needed to grow up.

[pjfootballer]

We already have a QB controversy? We have a injured QB we gave the farm away on with a 2nd ACL injury and don't kid yourself thinking he will come back the same... Having another option as starter is a good thing. Not a Redskins Fan....LOL. Being a Redskins fan for 20+ years I cannot wait to see what Kirk can do. The QB controversy you spoke of before was mediocre back up QB's acting like starters, not 2 guys who wanna be starters.

1) Only his doctor knows how he will respond, so saying he won't come back the same is just as bad as me saying he'll come back even better. Neither you or I know that as we did not operate on his knee. Plus, it's only been 2 weeks since the surgery. I think we'll get a better idea in a few months where he's at.

2) I don't disagree that having another option is bad. That is why they drafted him. I know Kirk can do the job, but let's not kid ourselves in thinking that a guy picked in the 4th round is anything near what the talent level is of the 2nd pick overall. If Kirk was so good, he would have beat out Griffin in preseason. Shanahan plays the guy who wins the battle.

3) Like I said, I'm not saying you aren't a Redskin fan, but that isn't something I'd expect a Redskin fan to say. I'm just no sure what your motivation is for wanting to "see what Kirk can do," unless you are his agent, brother or best friend.

4) If Griffin is not 100%, I don't want him playing. I'd be fine with Kirk starting the season, but when all is said and done, I want Griffin to be the starting QB. He's a natural leader with talent and you do not get voted as a team Captain in the middle of the season by your own teamates for not being a great player, especially as a rookie.

[P()rter]

1) Only his doctor knows how he will respond, so saying he won't come back the same is just as bad as me saying he'll come back even better. Neither you or I know that as we did not operate on his knee. Plus, it's only been 2 weeks since the surgery. I think we'll get a better idea in a few months where he's at.

2) I don't disagree that having another option is bad. That is why they drafted him. I know Kirk can do the job, but let's not kid ourselves in thinking that a guy picked in the 4th round is anything near what the talent level is of the 2nd pick overall. If Kirk was so good, he would have beat out Griffin in preseason. Shanahan plays the guy who wins the battle.

3) Like I said, I'm not saying you aren't a Redskin fan, but that isn't something I'd expect a Redskin fan to say. I'm just no sure what your motivation is for wanting to "see what Kirk can do," unless you are his agent, brother or best friend. Go read Murph's interview with Kirk in the other thread. I'm sure it will help you understand where Kirk is coming from.

4) If Griffin is not 100%, I don't want him playing. I'd be fine with Kirk starting the season, but when all is said and done, I want Griffin to be the starting QB. He's a natural leader with talent and you do not get voted as a team Captain in the middle of the season by your own teamates for not being a great player, especially as a rookie.

1st and 2nd round QB's expected to do great things..rarely do. The Manning's being the exception, I have watched 1st and 2nd round pics year after year fail to live up to expectations. RG3 is no different in my book, and until he proves this I am not on the RG3 band wagon. This is his first year after all and it ended in surgery. Now everyone in the league is looking for the dual threat QB. This won't last in the NFL because of injuries. I am realistic and have watched the redskins high profile and high dollar decisions flop time after time. Its the 4th rounds QB's that no one expects much from that end up surprising in the NFL (T. Brady is a great example). I hope to eat my words next year I really do, but if Kirk does not get his shot it will be a mistake. I would hate that to come back and be that team that said "Man, we should have kept Kirk".

---------- Post added January-16th-2013 at 10:26 AM ----------

1st and 2nd round QB's expected to do great things..rarely do. The Manning's being the exception, I have watched 1st and 2nd round pics year after year fail to live up to expectations. RG3 is no different in my book, and until he proves this I am not on the RG3 band wagon. This is his first year after all and it ended in surgery. Now everyone in the league is looking for the dual threat QB. This won't last in the NFL because of injuries. I am realistic and have watched the redskins high profile and high dollar decisions flop time after time. Its the 4th rounds QB's that no one expects much from that end up surprising in the NFL (T. Brady is a great example). I hope to eat my words next year I really do, but if Kirk does not get his shot it will be a mistake. I would hate that to come back and be that team that said "Man, we should have kept Kirk".

Its not that RG3 beat out Kirk in the off-season, its they paid a lot of money for him and tailored the offense around him. Plus, the press would have eaten Shanahan alive. Don't forget Cousins did beat out an 8 year veteran and took his job. I know it was Grossman, but still he was a starter to.

---------- Post added January-16th-2013 at 10:30 AM ----------

One thing I have learned being a Skin's fan for so long is not to jump on the bandwagon with players. If I was to jump on the wagon for someone last year it would be Morris hands down.

[Fat Stupid Loser]

... His last interview after the game was a young arrogant kid who needed to grow up.

Have to admit that interview raised an eyebrow.

[Hitman21ST]

I love me some Cousins.

And should the rehab take longer than expected, I have no issue whatsoever with Cousins starting. Complete faith in him that he can and will lead us to wins while he is in there.

[MartinC]

1st and 2nd round QB's expected to do great things..rarely do. The Manning's being the exception, I have watched 1st and 2nd round pics year after year fail to live up to expectations. RG3 is no different in my book, and until he proves this I am not on the RG3 band wagon.

So you dont think that a Pro Bowl season with multiple rookie of the week awards, NFC offensive player of the week awards and franchise and league records for passing and rushing as a QB, leading us to our first Division title and hime playoff game in - well a while, is doing 'great things'? You would be right to say thats 1 year and lets see how he comes back after the injury but if you are saying that what we saw from RGIII last season 'failed to live up to expectations' I have to question what exactly your expectations were?

Its not that RG3 beat out Kirk in the off-season, its they paid a lot of money for him and tailored the offense around him. Plus, the press would have eaten Shanahan alive. Don't forget Cousins did beat out an 8 year veteran and took his job. I know it was Grossman, but still he was a starter to.

You dont really think Cousins beat RGIII out in preseason do you?

I'm delighted we have Kirk, he has a lot of promise and is a great insurance policy for RGIII and someone we should get a good return on in a couple of years in a trade. But once he is healthy this is RGIIIs team period - no controversy or question IMO.