MSU QB Connor Cook has private workout scheduled with Cowboys

[romo2to]

 

[kazzd58]

noooooooo dallas just nooooooo.. but due diligence I guess

 

[Sydla]

If they want to try every QB out, fine by me. Just don't draft most of them. LOL.

 

[gimmesix]

I really don't understand the hatred for Cook. He's a player with the physical tools and a lot of upside. As a developmental prospect, I don't think he would be bad to draft.

 

[AKATheRake]

The kid can play despite what everyone thinks and Dallas is interested.

 

[Hardline]

In the 4th round Cook starts making good sense. I'll roll the dice on Cook at that point.

 

[RS12]

I really don't understand the hatred for Cook. He's a player with the physical tools and a lot of upside. As a developmental prospect, I don't think he would be bad to draft.

Its not hatred, most of us just dont want him. Do some research. Biggest issue I have is very few under 60% college passers have a successful pro career. So far egns insider has been pretty accurate.

 

[gimmesix]

Its not hatred, most of us just dont want him. Do some research. Biggest issue I have is very few under 60% college passers have a successful pro career. So far egns insider has been pretty accurate.

I have researched him and found that he has the arm strength to succeed, when he's on target he leads receivers well, etc. (These are my personal observations.)

The accuracy is definitely an issue, but considering he throws perfect passes at times, it could be fixable.

The things being said about his leadership, personality seem to be more based on hearsay or the feelings of a few instead of the whole.

This if from Bucky Brooks, and tells both sides of the story:

What I like
Cook is a classic dropback passer with intriguing physical tools and a winning pedigree. He leaves Michigan State as the winningest quarterback in school history, which is significant, considering the number of current NFL quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton) who have played for the Spartans. Cook is a rhythm passer capable of delivering strikes to every area of the field. He not only throws a tight-rope fastball with zip and velocity, but he also shows the ability to throw with touch, timing and anticipation. Cook's capacity to change ball speed and trajectory makes him an ideal fit for a quick-rhythm system that features a number of throws down the seams or between the hashes at intermediate range. In addition, he makes NFL throws to the boundary on "Okies" and comebacks. With Cook adept at making throws outside the numbers, opponents must defend the entire field, from sideline to sideline.

As a game manager, Cook scores high marks for his judgment and ball security. He finished his collegiate career with a 71:22 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a three-year starter for the Spartans. Although numbers can be deceiving, based on the style of play, the fact that Cook directed a pro-style offense that featured "big-boy throws" instead of lay-ups (bubble screens and quicks) speaks volumes about his ability to play winning football from the pocket. In the clutch, Cook has shown exceptional poise, having led the Spartans to six fourth-quarter comeback victories as a starter.

Overall, Cook's strong résumé will make him a hot commodity for teams looking for a "bus driver" with the requisite traits needed to lead them to the winner's circle.

Why the range?
For all of the positive traits Cook displays on the field, scouts question his accuracy and ball-placement skills. He never completed 60 percent of his passes in a season at MSU -- well below the standard for elite QB prospects. On tape, Cook routinely misfires intermediate and vertical throws that should be easy completions for a talented passer. He must make those throws at the next level to help his team sustain drives under his direction.

Questions also persist about Cook's personality and leadership skills, since he wasn't appointed a permanent team captain by his teammates at any point during his tenure. While Sparty cohorts have given Cook positive reviews as a leader since the end of last season, the lack of recognition as the team captain raises red flags in the scouting community. With additional reports regarding Cook's prickly personality and suspect people skills, scouts are delving deep into his character to see if he can handle the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback.




Where would he excel?
Cook is ideally suited to play for a team that already has a strong supporting cast in place. He has learned how to play winning football during his time at Michigan State -- and that experience would help him guide an NFL team to the winner's circle as a game manager early in his career (not necessarily as a rookie).

Teams like the Broncos, Cowboys and Bears would rank as ideal fits, based on their commitment to playing complementary football (strong running game and stingy defense). Cook understands how to play within those guidelines following a three-year run as the Spartans' starter under Mark Dantonio -- in East Lansing, he was expected to take care of the ball and act as a selective playmaker.

If placed in the right situation, Cook will not only win, but he could develop into an upper-echelon quarterback who steadies a franchise for years to come.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

 

[reddyuta]

Argh, ughhh, blah and hell no

 

[Sydla]

I really don't understand the hatred for Cook. He's a player with the physical tools and a lot of upside. As a developmental prospect, I don't think he would be bad to draft.

Well here's a few reasons why.

1) There's talk he's a 2nd round pick. That's way too high to take him IMO as a development guy.

2) He's never been a very accurate passer at MSU.

3) If you look at some of the biggest games MSU has played the last few years, they wons some of them despite the fact Cook was average to pathetic in those games, so the notion all he does is win big games is a bit of a misnomer.

4) The questions about him being a poor leader at MSU (granted this is mostly rumor type stuff) is a red flag as well.

 

[Longboysfan]

Maybe in the 3rd round - you never know.

 

[Nightman]

I liked him until the combine. He looked weak armed and not that athletic.

 

[RS12]

I have researched him and

Did your research come up with this from Walter football a day or two ago?


Players Who Interviewed Poorly:

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook

• Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook disappointed teams from an x's-and-o's perspective. They felt that with his years of starting experience in a pro-stylesystem, he would have done better, but he had bad recall on plays. He also didn't show good knowledge of coverage, and didn't ease the concerns about him as a teammate.

 

[gimmesix]

Well here's a few reasons why.

1) There's talk he's a 2nd round pick. That's way too high to take him IMO as a development guy.

2) He's never been a very accurate passer at MSU.

3) If you look at some of the biggest games MSU has played the last few years, they wons some of them despite the fact Cook was average to pathetic in those games, so the notion all he does is win big games is a bit of a misnomer.

4) The questions about him being a poor leader at MSU (granted this is mostly rumor type stuff) is a red flag as well.

I would think the accuracy issues are a mechanics problem, considering he can throw tight spirals on a dime and lay a pass in. Mechanics can be fixed (Romo fixed his), but it takes a player seeing that they need to be fixed and being willing to change. I don't know if Cook is that kind of player.

Honestly, this is the only concern about him I care about. He's rated by most as a second-round prospect, so if we take him there I have no problem with that. He'll be a backup learning to be a leader from Romo, so whatever prickly personality he has can be adjusted over time. Playing big in big games also can be learned through his apprenticeship and experience.

 

[dogunwo]

Nooooooo!!!1!111!!!

 

[Bowdown27]

Maybe in the 3rd round - you never know.

I wouldn't be opposed to that but honestly I feel someone scoops him up on in the second

 

[gimmesix]

Did your research come up with this from Walter football a day or two ago?


Players Who Interviewed Poorly:

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook

• Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook disappointed teams from an x's-and-o's perspective. They felt that with his years of starting experience in a pro-stylesystem, he would have done better, but he had bad recall on plays. He also didn't show good knowledge of coverage, and didn't ease the concerns about him as a teammate.

Could be an issue or having several years to learn could work in his favor. If we were looking for an immediate starter, I'd be more concerned about things like this, which is among the reasons why Cook is not a first-round prospect.

I didn't see on film any reason to believe he didn't understand the offense his team was running or where to go with the ball, but if you want to throw out only reasons why Dallas shouldn't take him, we could do that with pretty much every prospect.

What I'm saying is he has the physical tools to be developed. It doesn't mean he will develop, but that can be said for most players picked outside of the top five (and possibly them as well). The draft is a puzzle where you look at where a player is and where you want him to go and try to figure out if it is possible for him to get there.

I'm not going to cry if Dallas thinks it can get him there.

 

[gimmesix]

Did your research come up with this from Walter football a day or two ago?


Players Who Interviewed Poorly:

Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook

• Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook disappointed teams from an x's-and-o's perspective. They felt that with his years of starting experience in a pro-stylesystem, he would have done better, but he had bad recall on plays. He also didn't show good knowledge of coverage, and didn't ease the concerns about him as a teammate.

Having said what I just said, I think this is a good reason for Dallas to bring him in for a workout. Mental makeup is very important to the QB position so the team needs to make sure if it's considering him that he has the mental makeup to develop.

 

[gimmesix]

Another profile of Cook:

Player Overview
After redshirting in 2011 and serving as a backup in 2012, Cook went 12-1 in 2013 and leaves Michigan State with a 34-4 record that includes a 23-2 mark in Big Ten play. He was 2-0 in the Big Ten championship game.
Cook, who turned 23 in January, might have been a top 20 pick if he declared early for the 2015 NFL Draft, but instead returned to East Lansing for his senior year and helped lead Michigan State into the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Cook declared his ailing shoulder "100 percent" but went 19 of 39 with 210 yards and two interceptions against Alabama on New Year's Eve.

Michigan State and Cook claim an MRI revealed the shoulder wouldn't require surgery. NFL teams will investigate intensively. He wore a sleeve against Alabama.

Cook passed on a Senior Bowl invitation to work out in San Diego with QB coach George Whitfield, focusing on Scouting Combine and pro day preparation.

Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Possesses ideal size for the next level with the build to take consistent punishment, including as a short-yardage rusher with his deceiving athleticism.
Cook scans the entire field and is a confident passer to all levels, showing touch, anticipation and toughness in the pocket. He has effortless arm strength when he steps into his throws with proper mechanics and torque through his hips to deliver the proper trajectory on downfield passes.

Mastered Michigan State's offense, firing quick passes underneath with the ability to thread the needle on deeper sideline throws. Has excellent experience, and his poise in key situations has improved throughout his career.

WEAKNESSES: Once moved from his original spot, he attempts to "arm" everything and abandon his base footwork, often content making throws with his weight falling away from his target. Cook isn't fully comfortable with a muddy pocket, which forces his eye level to wander and confuses his internal clock.

He will make a handful of high risk throws each game and is too willing to deliver into high traffic areas after staring down receivers.

Apologized for an awkward encounter with legendary Archie Griffin in accepting the game MVP award following Michigan State's victory in the Big Ten title game, but only after a social media backlash. It would seem minor, but Cook had already drawn mixed reviews from scouts due to his "different" personality, with some thinking it might be tough for him to acclimate himself in a NFL locker room. NFL teams will be doing a lot of background work on Cook to answer the questions they have, including why he wasn't voted a team captain.

IN OUR VIEW: Cook isn't without flaw, but he shows a number of reasons to be encouraged about his potential in the NFL. Cook has the physical traits ideally suited for the pro game with tape that shows off a number of NFL throws.

--Dane Brugler & Rob Rang (12/8/15)

 

[Direwolf63]

I sense a career backup, at best.

Accuracy issues. Football acumen issues. Leadership issues.

You want this guy to run your franchise?

No thanks.