Over/under: Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins' numbers in 2016

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article_body => "Now that the contractual matters are settled, at least until January, it’s time to see what Kirk Cousins can do in his second season as the Redskins’ starting quarterback. He has a very good group of receivers to target and the offense likely will be pass oriented but he will face a tougher schedule and a mountain of pressure to get the Redskins back to the playoffs while also attempting to set himself up for a big payday down the road. Will he go over or under his 2015 performances in key statistical areas? Redskins Insiders Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir get out the crystal ball and give their analysis.<\/p>\nCompletion percentage: 69.8<\/strong><\/p>\nTandler:<\/strong> This is not normally one of the key stats that undergoes a lot of scrutiny. But Cousins had the seventh-best single season completion percentage of all time last year and accuracy is his main calling card. I think he’ll be on the money again but I don’t see him <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/leaders\/pass_cmp_perc_single_season.htm\" target=\"_blank\">joining the likes of Baugh, Montana, Brees and Young<\/a> as 70-percent passers just yet. Under<\/strong><\/p>\nEl-Bashir: <\/strong>I have said time and again that I think Cousins is primed for a strong season. That said, eight games will come against opponents that were 12th or better in pass defense a year ago. So asking Cousins to lead all QBs in completion percentage for a second straight season sounds like a stretch. Still, I can totally see a more confident and polished Cousins finishing in the 65-percent range, if not a little better. Under   <\/strong><\/p>\nYards passing: 4,166<\/strong><\/p>\nTandler: <\/strong>I don’t think this is particularly hard. Cousins will improve slightly on his average of 7.7 yards per attempt and he will throw it more. Add 40 attempts and make it 7.9 per attempt and he’s at 4,600 yards. Over<\/strong><\/p>\nEl-Bashir: <\/strong>As I’ve said, the Redskins’ roster appears to be geared toward a pass heavy offense this season. To me, selecting Josh Doctson in the first round ended any doubt about that. I’m expecting Cousins’ attempts to increase to 600 or so (from 543) and, as a result, for the yards to pile up a bit higher. I think 4,300 - 4,500 sounds about right. Last season, that would have put him in the top-7 (as opposed to 10th). Over<\/strong><\/p>\nPassing touchdowns: 29<\/strong><\/p>\nTandler: <\/strong>If he passes for more yards will he automatically have more touchdowns passing? There are other factors involved such as field position and overall red zone efficiency. But it would be surprising if he isn’t at least in the low thirties in TD passes. Over<\/strong><\/p>\nEl-Bashir: <\/strong>Last season, Cousins’ chilly start hurt him in this category. In fact, he didn’t throw multiple touchdowns in a game until Week 7 against the Bucs. I don't see that happening again (assuming, of course, touchdown-machine Jordan Reed stays healthy). In my mind, 32 sounds about right. Over<\/strong><\/p>\nRushing touchdowns: 5<\/strong><\/p>\nTandler:<\/strong> The fact that Cousins led the team in rushing TD’s last year is more a testament to the futility of the Redskins’ rushing game last year than it is to Cousins being a good option in goal to go situations. He’ll scramble in for a few but Matt Jones should carry the load near the goal line. Under<\/strong><\/p>\nEl-Bashir <\/strong>One of my favorite plays of the entire 2015 season was Cousins knifing 13-yards through the Bills’ defense on a third-and-long for a touchdown that put the Redskins ahead 14-0. Buffalo was so baffled it made me chuckle. But let's be real about this: Cousins is not rushing for five scores (or finishing just behind Cam Newton and Jameis Winston) in rushing TDs again this season. Two or three touchdowns? Feasible. Under<\/strong><\/p>\n"
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Now that the contractual matters are settled, at least until January, it’s time to see what Kirk Cousins can do in his second season as the Redskins’ starting quarterback. He has a very good group of receivers to target and the offense likely will be pass oriented but he will face a tougher schedule and a mountain of pressure to get the Redskins back to the playoffs while also attempting to set himself up for a big payday down the road. Will he go over or under his 2015 performances in key statistical areas? Redskins Insiders Rich Tandler and Tarik El-Bashir get out the crystal ball and give their analysis.

Completion percentage: 69.8

Tandler: This is not normally one of the key stats that undergoes a lot of scrutiny. But Cousins had the seventh-best single season completion percentage of all time last year and accuracy is his main calling card. I think he’ll be on the money again but I don’t see him joining the likes of Baugh, Montana, Brees and Young as 70-percent passers just yet. Under

El-Bashir: I have said time and again that I think Cousins is primed for a strong season. That said, eight games will come against opponents that were 12th or better in pass defense a year ago. So asking Cousins to lead all QBs in completion percentage for a second straight season sounds like a stretch. Still, I can totally see a more confident and polished Cousins finishing in the 65-percent range, if not a little better. Under

Yards passing: 4,166

Tandler: I don’t think this is particularly hard. Cousins will improve slightly on his average of 7.7 yards per attempt and he will throw it more. Add 40 attempts and make it 7.9 per attempt and he’s at 4,600 yards. Over

El-Bashir: As I’ve said, the Redskins’ roster appears to be geared toward a pass heavy offense this season. To me, selecting Josh Doctson in the first round ended any doubt about that. I’m expecting Cousins’ attempts to increase to 600 or so (from 543) and, as a result, for the yards to pile up a bit higher. I think 4,300 - 4,500 sounds about right. Last season, that would have put him in the top-7 (as opposed to 10th). Over

Passing touchdowns: 29

Tandler: If he passes for more yards will he automatically have more touchdowns passing? There are other factors involved such as field position and overall red zone efficiency. But it would be surprising if he isn’t at least in the low thirties in TD passes. Over

El-Bashir: Last season, Cousins’ chilly start hurt him in this category. In fact, he didn’t throw multiple touchdowns in a game until Week 7 against the Bucs. I don't see that happening again (assuming, of course, touchdown-machine Jordan Reed stays healthy). In my mind, 32 sounds about right. Over

Rushing touchdowns: 5

Tandler: The fact that Cousins led the team in rushing TD’s last year is more a testament to the futility of the Redskins’ rushing game last year than it is to Cousins being a good option in goal to go situations. He’ll scramble in for a few but Matt Jones should carry the load near the goal line. Under

El-Bashir One of my favorite plays of the entire 2015 season was Cousins knifing 13-yards through the Bills’ defense on a third-and-long for a touchdown that put the Redskins ahead 14-0. Buffalo was so baffled it made me chuckle. But let's be real about this: Cousins is not rushing for five scores (or finishing just behind Cam Newton and Jameis Winston) in rushing TDs again this season. Two or three touchdowns? Feasible. Under