Cousins signs with Raiders

[chucker]

I don't love this. I get it, but I don't love it.

[Raiders Baby]

Until we start winning games this type of needless debate/rhetoric around fringe players will be all this fanbase has. You can swap AOC with a dozen other names of fringe players with 10+page threads arguing over who's armchair analysis is best. I'm not immune to it either, it really is the most interesting thing about being a Raider fan at times.

I'm guilty too, heck, I bet you can even find some posts I have written about AOC himself if you wanted to waste your time combing thru my drivel

In a counterintuitive way, I guess that's even part of what makes this conversation feel so odd to me -- if you're on this board, you are at the very least interested in the Raiders beyond a casual level. I consider most of you guys thoughtful fans who evaluate the team on a process level, and beyond Sundays.

From a process point of view, Aidan was an OK draft pick. Sometimes, rhythm and timing players outperform their draft stock (see Purdy and Romo, or the more extreme cases of Warner and Brady). Those same guys can become decent backups if they don't become hidden-gem starters.

But part of that process is contract. Aidan is only worth a dice roll so long as his contract is low. Once it becomes the same as a backup, he should be compared to players at his salary. For Aidan, that comparison isn't favorable.

Basically any long term value for Aidan has already been replaced, or can be replaced. We don't need to get lucky with a Purdy/Romo because we are about to draft a guy we are hoping can be Manning. And we don't need to pay backup money to someone who might become a serviceable backup. We just paid Cousins to be a top end backup, and can get a developmental guy like that for much cheaper in a dozen different ways

[Willmark]

I believe we have all referenced how uncertain we are of the ability of some of our other young talent from last season and we laid much of the blame on management for their piss poor decisions on how to bring them along, and if this is true, should these things not be also considered as a factor in AOC's journey/development/failures?
And with very little preparation, the impossible situations AOC was often thrown into over the past 3 seasons did not help his confidence and development either. Coaching, play calling, little protection from the OL, poor running game, etc., surely played a role in his performance.

If he is released, which is certainly a possibility, it will be more about a relatively minute salary dump than his production as a 3rd stringer.

Not sure why you’re quoting me. I actually like AOC12. His issues have been since he came into the league and I don’t see that changing.

That said despite liking him as a player than does not mean we can’t point out his flaws.

[raidersince63]

Not sure why you’re quoting me. I actually like AOC12. His issues have been since he came into the league and I don’t see that changing.

That said despite liking him as a player than does not mean we can’t point out his flaws.

Actually, I quoted both you and Boknows81. And again, what I was pointing out is that some of his flaws may or may not be attributed to the revolving door of GMs, Coaches, OCs, etc., over the last 3 years. A starting QB should not have to deal with something like that, and certainly not QB3.

At this point, is he Ideal?...No, but that also is a reason why he's a 3rd stringer. I think the most likely scenarios are the Raiders will either flat out release him, or perhaps somehow redo his contract. (I believe they can do that after a player's 3rd year.)

[Willmark]

Actually, I quoted both you and Boknows81. And again, what I was pointing out is that some of his flaws may or may not be attributed to the revolving door of GMs, Coaches, OCs, etc., over the last 3 years. A starting QB should have to deal with something like that, and certainly not QB3.

At this point, is he Ideal?...No, but that also is a reason why he's a 3rd stringer. I think the most likely scenarios are the Raiders will either flat out release him, or perhaps somehow redo his contract. (I believe they can do that after a player's 3rd year.)

AOC is a great story, against all odds he made it to Purdue as a walk on, then to the NFL. There is no shame in that his ceiling is what it is.

If he could ever correct his processing time and speed it up he’d be very good. He’s got a good arm, height and a fairly high football IQ.

Problem about him? “ he knows all the answers to the test. He simply turns in his answers after the test is over.”

And at this stage it’s unlikely he suddenly gets it. I mean it’s possible just not probable.

[Attyla]

AOC is a great story, against all odds he made it to Purdue as a walk on, then to the NFL. There is no shame in that his ceiling is what it is.

If he could ever correct his processing time and speed it up he’d be very good. He’s got a good arm, height and a fairly high football IQ.

Problem about him? “ he knows all the answers to the test. He simply turns in his answers after the test is over.”

And at this stage it’s unlikely he suddenly gets it. I mean it’s possible just not probable.

He is really slow too, he would lose a foot race with one runner.

[raidersince63]

AOC is a great story, against all odds he made it to Purdue as a walk on, then to the NFL. There is no shame in that his ceiling is what it is.

If he could ever correct his processing time and speed it up he’d be very good. He’s got a good arm, height and a fairly high football IQ.

Problem about him? “ he knows all the answers to the test. He simply turns in his answers after the test is over.”

And at this stage it’s unlikely he suddenly gets it. I mean it’s possible just not probable.

My only problem with him, and I don't know if it's something that can be taught or not, is that he is slow footed and thus cannot extend plays and his "pocket awareness" is lacking.

[mstrbass2000]

aoc doesnt fit the new offense...time to move on imo (slow processor, no awareness and stone feet)

[SkullCrusher]

I was wondering if Kubiak was going to be able to make Aiden look at minimum “serviceable”

McDouche is the only coach that has been able to do that so far.

[NoThanksSir]

I'm guilty too, heck, I bet you can even find some posts I have written about AOC himself if you wanted to waste your time combing thru my drivel

In a counterintuitive way, I guess that's even part of what makes this conversation feel so odd to me -- if you're on this board, you are at the very least interested in the Raiders beyond a casual level. I consider most of you guys thoughtful fans who evaluate the team on a process level, and beyond Sundays.

From a process point of view, Aidan was an OK draft pick. Sometimes, rhythm and timing players outperform their draft stock (see Purdy and Romo, or the more extreme cases of Warner and Brady). Those same guys can become decent backups if they don't become hidden-gem starters.

But part of that process is contract. Aidan is only worth a dice roll so long as his contract is low. Once it becomes the same as a backup, he should be compared to players at his salary. For Aidan, that comparison isn't favorable.

Basically any long term value for Aidan has already been replaced, or can be replaced. We don't need to get lucky with a Purdy/Romo because we are about to draft a guy we are hoping can be Manning. And we don't need to pay backup money to someone who might become a serviceable backup. We just paid Cousins to be a top end backup, and can get a developmental guy like that for much cheaper in a dozen different ways

Great post, I agree. Biggest thing holding back O'Connell's future in Vegas even as a backup is his salary. You also have to figure most teams don't have 3 active QB's on Sunday, so there really is not much of a reason to spend any kind of legitimate money on a 3rd stringer. Some practice squad arm will suffice if we're in the doomsday scenario of having to trot out Plan C.

[raidersince63]

You can get a late draft QB and save money. It's not like AOC has any experience in the Kubiak system.

You can also save that pick for another player for a much more important need/position other than a 3rd string QB....as far as the Kubiak system, at this point, who does have "experience"?

[NoThanksSir]

You can also save that pick for another player for a much more important need/position other than a 3rd string QB....as far as the Kubiak system, at this point, who does have "experience"?

I think the point is that we brought in Cousins for experience so O'Connell is pretty expendable since he's the worst QB of the three, no experience in the system, and overpaid. You only have 2 active QB's on sunday, so keeping a QB on the practice squad to the tune of $3.8 million is a bad proposition. That money can go towards a far more impactful player than anything you're getting with a 6th-7th round flyer on a developmental QB.

[BoKnows81]

You can also save that pick for another player for a much more important need/position other than a 3rd string QB....as far as the Kubiak system, at this point, who does have "experience"?

Cousins and Mendoza.

[RickRyb]

You can also save that pick for another player for a much more important need/position other than a 3rd string QB....as far as the Kubiak system, at this point, who does have "experience"?

Cousins

[raidersince63]

^^^

Maybe 2 players?...and the rest of the team?

One player has maybe seen the new playbook, and the other probably hasn't, and neither player has yet to take a snap as a Raider, not even in practice.

Yeah, 2 players out of 53. The "Kubiak system' is essentially an unknown at this point.

[BoKnows81]

^^^

Maybe 2 players?...and the rest of the team?

One player has maybe seen the new playbook, and the other probably hasn't, and neither player has yet to take a snap as a Raider, not even in practice.

Yeah, 2 players out of 53. The "Kubiak system' is essentially an unknown at this point.

Not 2 out of 53. Kubiak wont be running the defense. Regardless, the only two that really matter that need to know Kubiak's system are the QBs. And the top 2 already do. Mendoza is rhythm passer who can run play-action, operate on the move, and take advantage of defined reads. Seamless transition. And Kirk has played under Kubiak in Minnesota. Jeanty, the O line and the WRs will be fine. In fact, they should excel.