Cousins says Achilles 'good,' not limiting mobility

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 way in which again from his Achilles harm, he mentioned.

Cousins mentioned 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 mentioned it was extra about not having performed shortly than it was an harm challenge.

“I really feel like I can transfer and push as I usually would,” Cousins mentioned.

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 usually by a protection led by T.J. Watt.

It wasn’t simply the numbers that made some imagine 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 instances in a single recreation. Cousins was beneath middle for just one play and the staff did not run a single play-action go, which has been Cousins’ bread and butter.

Analysts surmised that the pistol was a technique to masks Cousins’ lack of mobility, which has not gave the impression to be a problem in follow all summer season. Not so, Cousins mentioned. The pistol was simply one thing the Falcons and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson wished to implement. Cousins mentioned 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 mentioned of the Falcons. “That was a giant elementary philosophy, speaking with our offensive line coach, speaking with our coaches about what we wish to do schematically.”

Cousins mentioned Atlanta coach Raheem Morris mentioned the evening earlier than the sport that if the offense performed “clear and crisp” and prevented errors, the Falcons would win. Cousins agreed. As a substitute, he threw two interceptions, the staff fumbled on a foul snap that ricocheted off tight finish Ross Dwelley in movement, and there have been a number of key penalties.

“I obtained to play higher, I obtained to function higher and I used to be most likely on the middle of it not being clear and crisp,” Cousins mentioned. “So, that pissed off me deeply, as a result of I can place such an significance on that, in working the operation clear and crisp. And that is what needs to be higher Monday.”

The Falcons go on the street towards the Philadelphia Eagles for “Monday Night time Soccer” in Week 2. Robinson mentioned the staff’s offensive system will proceed to evolve primarily based on matchups. He mentioned he takes “full accountability” for the offense not clicking towards Pittsburgh.

“Actually not involved with Kirk’s mobility in any respect,” Robinson mentioned. “A few of the run recreation 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, primarily based on the sport plan of that week. However definitely just like the pistol. We did it a ton with the Rams final yr, and it is one thing that provides you an incredible versatility throughout the board, so we’ll proceed to search out these spots to combine it in.”