Mike Shanahan insists Kirk Cousins is 'right' quarterback for the Vikings

Mike Shanahan coached Kirk Cousins when he was a young quarterback with the Washington Redskins, so Shanahan knows a little something about the Vikings' signal-caller.

Shanahan firmly believes that Cousins, with new assistant Gary Kubiak helping him, will prove to be the right quarterback for the Vikings, despite a middling first season in Minnesota.

“Both guys are very easy to work with, both are extremely bright, have great work ethics and I think both will work together perfectly,” Shanahan said, via Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. “You have the right (quarterback) there. Not everybody can see that, but hopefully when they get him a supporting cast, people will see that.”

Cousins threw for 4,298 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, but the Vikings offense didn’t move as freely as many expected. It even led to the late-season firing of their offensive coordinator. Cousins can clearly put up the numbers, but he has to do more in terms of helping his team win.