Ryan Cook

[AbeBeta]

First, I think Cook has been decent. He's a good pickup.

However, I want to float the idea that Cook may be a source of many of our false starts (without actually picking up one for himself) and potentially some of the awful line performances. The idea comes from this.

First, I read that Smith mentions that his game 1 false starts came from working with a new center and not being in sync with the snap counts.

Second, Cook was a highly regarded C coming out of college. He was the 2nd overall pick at that position. Yet, he's rarely played C in the NFL. He's the rare player who moved from C to tackle. It is bizarre that someone drafted at C would make that move.

So what I'm wondering here is if he's got some basic flaws in his game that screw the line up. To me, the most obvious part would be that the guys on the line can't trust him to snap on the right count -- this causes false starts on the tackles and might make the guards a split second slow out of their stances.

Just a hypothesis, but I'd like to know what others think

 

[Numbers921]

The OLs in Dallas had trouble with false starts long before Ryan Cook.

 

[jobberone]

It's possible. Witten has been doing it for years. They did say C was some of the issue. Maybe it's part of the problem.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Did you see Cook getting blown back on his butt twice at the end of the game. (the victory formation plays) That second one was embarrassing.

 

[Idgit]

It's reasonable to think the new C has something to do with the problem.

Not sure what the issue is, but three weeks into it, and playing at home, it's not ok that they haven't gotten it sorted out.

 

[Idgit]

Did you see Cook getting blown back on his butt twice at the end of the game. (the victory formation plays) That second one was embarrassing.

I don't think it's embarrassing, per sec. When they're whole team is there, jamming your gaps, and they know what play you're going to run, and you have to snap the ball before you can get into position to defend, they're going to get the jump on you. As long as Romo's able to kneel down and run the time off the clock, he did his job.

It does look pretty bad, though.

 

[AdamJT13]

I'm pretty sure that one of the "false starts" in the first quarter was because Cook did not snap the ball on time. When that happens, one of the tackles always gets blamed, but it's actually the center's fault.

 

[AbeBeta]

It's possible. Witten has been doing it for years. They did say C was some of the issue. Maybe it's part of the problem.

TE is a tough spot for us this year. Hanna clearly is not going to contribute in the blocking game. Witten is hobbled and Phillips isn't a great blocker. We are in a tough spot b/c Witten is the best blocker of the bunch -- and he's not nearly as good as he used to be.

Too bad the deal with Kellen Davis didn't work out - he'd help a bunch right now

 

[jobberone]

TE is a tough spot for us this year. Hanna clearly is not going to contribute in the blocking game. Witten is hobbled and Phillips isn't a great blocker. We are in a tough spot b/c Witten is the best blocker of the bunch -- and he's not nearly as good as he used to be.

Too bad the deal with Kellen Davis didn't work out - he'd help a bunch right now

Yeah, it's not easy to improve the roster a lot during the season. You'll get a good player rarely better at the end of TC but that's not the norm. You're pretty much going to have to ride the horse that brung ya.

 

[burmafrd]

First, I think Cook has been decent. He's a good pickup.

However, I want to float the idea that Cook may be a source of many of our false starts (without actually picking up one for himself) and potentially some of the awful line performances. The idea comes from this.

First, I read that Smith mentions that his game 1 false starts came from working with a new center and not being in sync with the snap counts.

Second, Cook was a highly regarded C coming out of college. He was the 2nd overall pick at that position. Yet, he's rarely played C in the NFL. He's the rare player who moved from C to tackle. It is bizarre that someone drafted at C would make that move.

So what I'm wondering here is if he's got some basic flaws in his game that screw the line up. To me, the most obvious part would be that the guys on the line can't trust him to snap on the right count -- this causes false starts on the tackles and might make the guards a split second slow out of their stances.

Just a hypothesis, but I'd like to know what others think

the vikings thought he could play tackle and moved him there almost immediately his rookie year.

More likely they thought they had found for a bargain price a tackle and kept at it for almost 3 years.

More likely he has not been given a chance to really play the position he might be best suited to up tillnow

 

[dogberry]

Didn't the league put in place a rule to protect centers on plays involving a kick? Should that rule apply to the victory formation?

 

[ElGatoGrande]

the vikings thought he could play tackle and moved him there almost immediately his rookie year.

More likely they thought they had found for a bargain price a tackle and kept at it for almost 3 years.

More likely he has not been given a chance to really play the position he might be best suited to up tillnow

This would be great if true,,, maybe after a little time with the team and Callahan we will have a solution at center.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Cook's play at C is average at best, but that's good considering he's the backup C.

Although many here will disagree, Costa is still the starter and the better option at C.

Costa can't come back soon enough, because when he does, we can plug him back in at C and perhaps see if Cook can take over for Doug Free at RT.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I'm pretty sure that one of the "false starts" in the first quarter was because Cook did not snap the ball on time. When that happens, one of the tackles always gets blamed, but it's actually the center's fault.

Definitely. I think I remember the one you're referencing, because the entire line moved except Cook, which is a pretty good indication that it was his fault for not snapping the ball.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

First, I think Cook has been decent. He's a good pickup.

However, I want to float the idea that Cook may be a source of many of our false starts (without actually picking up one for himself) and potentially some of the awful line performances. The idea comes from this.

First, I read that Smith mentions that his game 1 false starts came from working with a new center and not being in sync with the snap counts.

Second, Cook was a highly regarded C coming out of college. He was the 2nd overall pick at that position. Yet, he's rarely played C in the NFL. He's the rare player who moved from C to tackle. It is bizarre that someone drafted at C would make that move.

So what I'm wondering here is if he's got some basic flaws in his game that screw the line up. To me, the most obvious part would be that the guys on the line can't trust him to snap on the right count -- this causes false starts on the tackles and might make the guards a split second slow out of their stances.

Just a hypothesis, but I'd like to know what others think

Cook played Tackle, Guard and Center at UNM. He had excellent feet when he was at UNM. The reason he played Center was because he was the only one who could. Had UNM been able to land a decent Center, I am confident that Cook would have played another position. He's pretty smart and able to pick up stuff quickly. I really wanted him coming out of UNM.

 

[speedkilz88]

Garrett has already said that it's a cadence issue which means it's Cook not getting the snap off when he's suppose to and screwing the rest of the OLs timing.

 

[AbeBeta]

Didn't the league put in place a rule to protect centers on plays involving a kick? Should that rule apply to the victory formation?

It is certainly something the league might look at.

But ultimately, I think it comes down to asking "how is this play different than any other offensive snap" -- the fact is, it is not. There is no rule that the D has to concede those last few plays to run out the clock. Nor should there be.

 

[speedkilz88]

Didn't the league put in place a rule to protect centers on plays involving a kick? Should that rule apply to the victory formation?

All the commissioner needs to do is call Schiano and tell him to cut it out. He can always use the conduct detrimental to the league rule. Because at some point someone is going to get hurt.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

All the commissioner needs to do is call Schiano and tell him to cut it out. He can always use the conduct detrimental to the league rule. Because at some point someone is going to get hurt.

I think all that really needs to happen is that a few teams send a guy out and the Bucs get lit up for 6 a couple of times. That would solve it IMO.

 

[BigWillie]

Did you see Cook getting blown back on his butt twice at the end of the game. (the victory formation plays) That second one was embarrassing.

It's embarrassing that Cook didn't even snap the ball and was hit by two Bucs players who jumped the snap, BIG TIME? There was a reason that Garrett was ticked, and flags were flying in from everywhere on that last play.