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Kirk Cousins Full Transcript: 12/24

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013, Redskins QB Kirk Cousins addressed the media following practice at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.

. On his performance vs. Dallas:
"Similar to my thoughts after the Atlanta game, that there are probably two or three throws that you want to have back and you feel like if you even hit one of them it could be the difference in the game in a game that was that close. Unfortunately, I can't get them back but it's encouraging to think you're that close to playing at a level that's going to get your team a win, but I'm learning, I'm getting better, I'm putting those things away, and I'm trusting in the future that those are going to help me have success having gone through those experiences."
 
On what he feels he's shown in these two starts:
"I feel like I've improved. I've done some good things. I feel like there's a lot I can take from it and be encouraged about going into the offseason. Obviously, I want to still finish strong and show even more this week, but I think there's a lot to be feeling positive about and there are other things to be hard on yourself and go back and learn from. I think I'm in a good spot right now. Obviously we would have liked to have those be wins but we're two points away from being 2-0 in this three-game stretch and hopefully we can get a win this week."
 
On if he played more conservatively after committing three turnovers in Atlanta:
"I don't think so. I think I was still letting it rip and trying to go where my reads took me. It's important to cut down on turnovers. If you throw an interception in every game the entire season, you're going to lead the league in terms of having the lowest number of interceptions, only throwing 16, so you're going to turn the ball over here and there. That's part of playing fast and aggressive, but obviously you don't want to have the multi-turnover games and I'm going to cut down on those as I continue to play."
 
On why he has been able to avoid being sacked:
"I've always said that a quarterback is only as good as the guys around him and I feel like our offensive line has done an outstanding job of protecting me, not turning guys lose. If you look at me I'm not the kind of guy who's going to have escapability when somebody gets turned loose, so I'm at their mercy a little bit. They've done a great job. Then also [Offensive Coordinator] Kyle Shanahan has done a great job of play-calling to put me in a position to be successful where I'm able to get rid of the football and I'm able to find an outlet. It's on me to not take sacks and I think the guys around me have done a great job of putting me in a good position."
 
On how many of wide receiver Pierre Garçon's targets were part of the game plan compared to where his read took him:
"To be honest with you, I wasn't trying to get him the ball any more than I normally would be with any other receiver. I feel that our game plan is going to be to put our best players in a position to be successful, so Kyle is doing a good job of getting Pierre in a position to have success and I'm going where my reads are taking me. For whatever reason against Dallas, a lot of times that ended up being number 88, but there wasn't really a conscious effort. It's just the way it happened and the way that the play-calling and the formation alignments and the motions and the coverages dictated where the ball went."
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On if the uncertainty of the offseason makes the final game any more difficult to prepare for:
"There's a different feeling to this game than there was at the end of last season or earlier in this season because you don't know what that locker room is going to look like in April, and as a part of the NFL you understand that uncertainty and a lot of turnover is a part of playing in this league. So it's not surprising, but it is a part of this game and we understand that the locker room make look a little different in April or next August. I think we've enjoyed one another. We've had good chemistry despite the lack of wins. I think we all want to put together a final product in this last game that we can be proud of."
 
On Kyle Shanahan's best trait as a coordinator:
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"He does a very good job of in-game adjustments on game day. I think he does a very good job with the passing game and putting me as a quarterback in a position to be successful. He does a very good job with the receivers in splits and motions. I just have total faith and confidence in him to put me in a position to be successful and I feel like he's done that every time I've had a chance to play here as a part of the Redskins. He's the kind of guy that I think very highly of as an offensive coordinator, and if I get to play for Kyle or someone like Kyle at his level of a play-caller for the rest of my career, I'll be in very good shape. So I think the world of him and Coach [Mike] Shanahan, and I think, like I said, I'll be very successful if I get to play for a play-caller like them."
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