- Joined
- Jan 14, 2013
- Messages
- 29,932
I know a lot of people wonder why I like Connor Cook. These two plays offer good examples for why I think Cook is a first round talent:
View: https://gfycat.com/GreatAridBullmastiff
In this play, you see a 5 step drop where Cook starts out looking to the right side of the field. This is to hold the single high safety on the right hash. He then brings his eyes and body to the left, steps into his throw, and delivers the ball as his receiver is making his break. He leads his WR into a small window he created by holding the safety with his eyes during his drop. He delivers the ball absolutely perfectly so it's an easy catch by the WR and the defender cannot make a play on the ball. This play shows every attribute you look for in a great QB. He knows what the defense is doing pre-snap, uses his eyes to manipulate the coverage, throws with precise timing and anticipation, and delivers a perfect ball.
View: https://gfycat.com/SerenePiercingBluebottlejellyfish
What I like about this play so much is you see Nebraska bring a blitz and Michigan State's OL not pick it up well. The pocket around Cook is collapsing and if he doesn't step up, he's going to be sacked. But the problem is that his right guard has also been beat and the pocket is collapsing from the inside as well. Cook skillfully steps up in the pocket while getting skinny to avoid the DL that beat the RG, quickly resets, and delivers an accurate ball to the open WR in the hole in the zone to convert a 2nd and 24. The most impressive part of all this, he keeps his eyes up and looking down-field the entire time. This play shows off his poise under pressure, pocket movement/presence, and improved footwork.
And I know I only promised you two plays but I want to give you a third:
View: https://gfycat.com/PessimisticEmbellishedHawk
On this play, you see Cook run a play-action with a two man route combination. The crossing route by Burbridge and the post by the other WR. Nebraska has the post bracketed with the defender over the top and the player that missed the tackle on Burbridge after the catch underneath. Cook sells the play-action well enough to freeze the blitzing CB long enough for him to have time to allow Burbridge to clear the LB and give him a window. Cook stands tall knowing the CB is coming unblocked, he takes a hit, and delivers an accurate ball to Burbridge in the window. Here you see Cook's poise under pressure, understanding of coverages, and precise timing.
I understand that Cook is streaky. I understand that great QBs are consistent and Cook isn't. I recognize this will likely keep him from being a great NFL QB. At the same time, I also recognize that Cook has several attributes that project success at the next level. He may only be a Cutler level QB or he might become an Eli level QB. Regardless, Cook can improve. A lot of people fail to recognize the progression in his game. If you look at him in 2014, his footwork was a consistent problem. It definitely progressed in 2015. There are still issues that need polishing but he was far more consistent with it than he was in 2014. That tells me that he's working at it. If he continues to work at it and clean up his lower body mechanics, you should see a far more accurate QB. He's actually a good thrower when he's sound with his mechanics.
All of these plays were from one game, there are many plays like this from many other games. Cook has some bad film out there but the good thing about his offense is you got to see him do a lot of things he'll be asked to do in the NFL. And he can do those things well.
View: https://gfycat.com/GreatAridBullmastiff
In this play, you see a 5 step drop where Cook starts out looking to the right side of the field. This is to hold the single high safety on the right hash. He then brings his eyes and body to the left, steps into his throw, and delivers the ball as his receiver is making his break. He leads his WR into a small window he created by holding the safety with his eyes during his drop. He delivers the ball absolutely perfectly so it's an easy catch by the WR and the defender cannot make a play on the ball. This play shows every attribute you look for in a great QB. He knows what the defense is doing pre-snap, uses his eyes to manipulate the coverage, throws with precise timing and anticipation, and delivers a perfect ball.
View: https://gfycat.com/SerenePiercingBluebottlejellyfish
What I like about this play so much is you see Nebraska bring a blitz and Michigan State's OL not pick it up well. The pocket around Cook is collapsing and if he doesn't step up, he's going to be sacked. But the problem is that his right guard has also been beat and the pocket is collapsing from the inside as well. Cook skillfully steps up in the pocket while getting skinny to avoid the DL that beat the RG, quickly resets, and delivers an accurate ball to the open WR in the hole in the zone to convert a 2nd and 24. The most impressive part of all this, he keeps his eyes up and looking down-field the entire time. This play shows off his poise under pressure, pocket movement/presence, and improved footwork.
And I know I only promised you two plays but I want to give you a third:
View: https://gfycat.com/PessimisticEmbellishedHawk
On this play, you see Cook run a play-action with a two man route combination. The crossing route by Burbridge and the post by the other WR. Nebraska has the post bracketed with the defender over the top and the player that missed the tackle on Burbridge after the catch underneath. Cook sells the play-action well enough to freeze the blitzing CB long enough for him to have time to allow Burbridge to clear the LB and give him a window. Cook stands tall knowing the CB is coming unblocked, he takes a hit, and delivers an accurate ball to Burbridge in the window. Here you see Cook's poise under pressure, understanding of coverages, and precise timing.
I understand that Cook is streaky. I understand that great QBs are consistent and Cook isn't. I recognize this will likely keep him from being a great NFL QB. At the same time, I also recognize that Cook has several attributes that project success at the next level. He may only be a Cutler level QB or he might become an Eli level QB. Regardless, Cook can improve. A lot of people fail to recognize the progression in his game. If you look at him in 2014, his footwork was a consistent problem. It definitely progressed in 2015. There are still issues that need polishing but he was far more consistent with it than he was in 2014. That tells me that he's working at it. If he continues to work at it and clean up his lower body mechanics, you should see a far more accurate QB. He's actually a good thrower when he's sound with his mechanics.
All of these plays were from one game, there are many plays like this from many other games. Cook has some bad film out there but the good thing about his offense is you got to see him do a lot of things he'll be asked to do in the NFL. And he can do those things well.
