Kirk Cousins pick 4.7

[sportscurmudgeon]

I would like to take this discussion in a slightly different direction.

First of all, I liked Kirk Cousins as a QB at Mich State. I thought he would go earlier in the draft than the 4th round. So, that is sort of a "value pick" for the Skins.

Second, there are more than a few examples of recent NFL teams who have needed a competent back-up Qb to make it thru the season. QBs get injured; RG3 is a mobile QB so he is likely to be hit more often than some other QBs; ergo... Cousins may not be a competent back-up by the first week of October in 2012, but if the Skins are looking for a back-up to take the field that early, there are far bigger problems facing this team.

From a "football perspective", I like the pick.

Here is my concern.

The Redskins now have two young QBs both of whom have always been "the man" on their teams. Cousins knows - - because the Shanahans have told him - - that he is going to be the backup and RG3 knows - - because the Shanahans have told him - - that he will be the franchise QB. That's fine and dandy - - unless - -

RG3 obviously struggles with the offense and Cousins has to come into a game in the 3rd or 4th quarter because RG3 is just not playing well.

I don't care about the fan reaction in the circumstance; what I would fear would be the way the Shanahans will deal with the two young QBs in that circumstance. Remember how deftly and smoothly they handled benching Donovan McNabb in Detroit. Remember how skillfully they pulled Rex for Beck last year - - asserting that Beck was the best QB to come out of college in his year - - only to have to go back to Rex in another smooth tranistion a few games later.

The coaches did not handle either situation well. And a few of the QB jugglings in Denver were not handled perfectly either...

My concern is that the Shanahans might - - I said MIGHT - - not be well-equipped to deal with an on-the-field problem of that nature.

Hopefully it will not come to that. If it does, hopefully the Shanahans will handle it just a tad better than they did the McNabb/Grossman fandango.