Zimmer: Cousins Can 'Continue to Ascend' with Continuity, Protection

[Viktor]

Start with the scheme, which will be led by Vikings Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, who was given that title in January after being an offensive advisor and having his fingerprints on the offense in 2019.


The similar scheme will be a breath of continuity in Minnesota, where the Vikings haven't used the same offensive system for two straight seasons since 2014-2015.


And it will help Cousins, who will be in the same system for a second consecutive season for the first time in five seasons as a starter.


Cousins had what was perhaps his best NFL season in 2019, as he completed 307 of 444 passes (69.1 percent) for 3,603 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games. His career-high passer rating of 107.4 ranked fourth in the NFL.


Zimmer expects his quarterback to be even better going forward, which includes continuing to play fast, make the correct reads and get the ball out of his hands.


"Well, the first thing is, I think part of the deal is keeping the scheme the same, OK, so now he can go all in," Zimmer said. "Kubiak's an unbelievable coach. He does a great job with that.


"But keeping the continuity of the scheme [Cousins has] to learn … the same as you'd probably tell him, two years ago, he had to change protection, get all through different things, then come back to the other side, change it again, check to this and check to that," Zimmer added. "Now he's just playing football, and to me, that was a big factor in how he did. I don't see him taking a step back. I see him continuing to ascend."