Please Give Us More Jared Cook

by Jimmy on Dec 8, 2011 9:07 AM CST in Tennessee Titans Commentary

When Chris Palmer took over as offensive coordinator, Jared Cook was one of the first things he talked about. After Matt Hasselbeck watched his first Tennessee Titans practice, he commented on much of a physical freak Jared Cook was. So the question has to be asked; What has happened since then to make Cook a non-factor in the offense?

I don't know what the answer is, but it needs to change this week. Nate Washington said yesterday that even if he plays he won't be 100%. Mike Munchak said after practice that means we will see more Marc Mariani and Donnie Avery.

Nothing against those guys, but the extra reps/targets/plays should go to Jared Cook. He has the ability to make a lot more game changing plays than those guys do. When Kenny Britt was healthy, we saw Palmer call plays that were designed just to get the ball in Britt's hands and see what he can do with it. Why wouldn't they do the same thing for Jared Cook?

The Titans are probably going to have to score more points in this game than they have in any game all season. That means they are going to need some big plays, and they aren't getting them from Lavelle Hawkins, Mariani or Avery. Get the ball to Cook and see what he can do.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Cook is a beast but we are not using him

When the ball is thrown in his direction, he typically catches it and he has made some real circus catches. When locker came in he fed cook the ball and it worked really well. he made the big fourth down catch. Hasselback does not even look in his direction it seems and a lot of time his routes that he has to run do not look too imaginative. He has a tremendous skill set and they need to take advantage of it. Pinning the hopes of the offense on Marc Mariani or Donnie Avery is a recipe not just for defeat but for disaster. Why is Cook not trageted big time in the Red Zone….dude is 6’5"…put it up there and let him make a play…

by dragak1981 on Dec 8, 2011 9:18 AM CST reply actions

I think its Hass not trusting Cook

Most of hasselbeck’s throws are based on timing. We see it time and time again, he will throw the ball were its meant to be, on time, even when the receiver isnt there. He doesn’t let things progress. Not a bad thing, just what a veteran qb does.

Cook doesn’t seem to fit this timing mold. When Locker came in he looked less worried about the perfect route timing and made plays with his feet allowing the plays to progress. Thats just how I saw it. I think we will see more cook next year with Locker.

by E-Locker on Dec 8, 2011 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

Honestly,

after watching all of the games, it seems that Cook doesn’t run great routes. He is extremely slow on his breaks, and gets no seperation from his defender. He’s great at seam routes and climbing the ladder to catch the ball. He also has great hands and is a physical beast, but until he understands the route combinations, and can make the proper cuts to get seperation, he will never get the looks that we all want him to have.

"Munchak was just asked why we went for it instead of kicking the field goal: ’ I don’t want to be the same 3 point team we used to be.’"....WE WIN

by DuelDukes on Dec 8, 2011 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

This is interesting;

Mike Munchak said after practice that means we will see more Marc Mariani and Donnie Avery.

Why would he say this and not say we’ll be trying to get Cook and/or our other playmakers the ball more?
I really want to know what Cook has/or hasn’t done to have an increased roll in the offense… ?

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
Calling a site admin a ‘fuhrer’ gets you banned without warning.
The Saint of MCM

by StPrattrick on Dec 8, 2011 9:18 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

could it be something with hasselbeck?

by dragak1981 on Dec 8, 2011 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

Progression, he is following the plays that are being called for him.

He tries to get the ball out as fast as possible, if Cook isn’t in the 1st-2nd progression… there hasn’t been a lot time to look to the 3rd and 4th targets.

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
Calling a site admin a ‘fuhrer’ gets you banned without warning.
The Saint of MCM

by StPrattrick on Dec 8, 2011 9:37 AM CST up reply actions

I think it has more to do with him just stating the obvious....WR - A (Washington) is out ......

so WR – C, and D (Mariani and Avery) will take his place.

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
You called a writer a ‘douchebag.’ Sorry, gotta ban you for that comment.

by bullrider73 on Dec 8, 2011 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

it could be the packages...

on the weekly “snap reports” Cook is (mostly) only in for passing plays. Him not being a good blocker limits his opportunities since he has to be taken out so that CJ can work towards 1k.

2010 MCM Pick'em League Champion

by oilertitan on Dec 8, 2011 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

Cook does have the second most receiving yards on the team behind Nate

He hasn’t been a non factor but he does need to get more targets in the red zone

by shawneriksmith on Dec 8, 2011 9:33 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Re: Red Zone

Theoretically, I agree.

But, if it ain’t broke….

by SuperHorn on Dec 8, 2011 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

... don't call the repairman, he's too expensive

fix it yourself!

Best sig ever, reason 1, reason 2, reason 3

by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Dec 8, 2011 10:35 AM CST up reply actions

Side note: Things are a little busy this morning.

The regularly scheduled Film Session will either be up this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

by SuperHorn on Dec 8, 2011 9:41 AM CST reply actions

... priorities...

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
Calling a site admin a ‘fuhrer’ gets you banned without warning.
The Saint of MCM

by StPrattrick on Dec 8, 2011 9:51 AM CST up reply actions

its ag

Best sig ever, reason 1, reason 2, reason 3

by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Dec 8, 2011 10:35 AM CST up reply actions

At what point does this start to fall on Jared Cook?

Because it seems to me we’ve been begging the coaching staff to use him more, and Hass to target him more. But this is two coaching staffs now, and two different OCs that have not used him frequently. That makes me believe Cook is not taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him. We used to chock it up to Dinger’s strict standards, but its clearly not that. And Hasselbeck, despite missing Cook twice last game, has demonstrated that if you are open, he’ll hit you with the ball. Look at the many chances Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins have had this year for proof of that.

2012: The year we clip the Hawk.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 8, 2011 11:43 AM CST reply actions

Whoops, *chalk not chock.

2012: The year we clip the Hawk.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 8, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you for eliminating the blind optimism Winnipeg Titan Fan...

This just in: “The Cookie Monster” is over-rated as hell…Around here anyways. I understand why everybody here on MCM hops on his jock, he’s a physical freak, and people so badly want him to live up to his potential… With the physical tools he has he should be a star, but he simply isn’t right now, and maybe never will be…. He’s in his 3rd year and he still can’t block in the running game, whether it’s technique or he’s just a pussy, HE CAN’T BLOCK.. He’s a liability when on the field during run plays… & he obviously doesn’t’ practice well enough for people to trust him, otherwise they would be installing plays throughout the week designed to get him the ball… Hasselbeck gets the ball to the guys that are open and to the guys he can trust to make the play, I don’t think C. Palmer or Hass trust him enough to make him a focal point like fans are clamoring for. At the end of the day, maybe Jared Cook is too small / not strong enough to play TE & too slow to play WR….

by Engelson71 on Dec 8, 2011 12:02 PM CST reply actions

You seem to have speak-from-your-rear-end syndrome. Allow me to try to cure it.

He’s in his 3rd year and he still can’t block in the running game, whether it’s technique or he’s just a pussy, HE CAN’T BLOCK.. He’s a liability when on the field during run plays

Plenty of people on MCM are aware of this, that’s why there have been calls to just make him a big-bodied wide receiver already. And the Titans are aware of this; Almost all of the plays Cook has been in on, in each game, have been where he runs receiving routes.

he obviously doesn’t’ practice well enough for people to trust him, otherwise they would be installing plays throughout the week designed to get him the ball

There are a plethora of other reasons, including the explanations of Hass’ progression and timing. So no, that isn’t the “obvious” reason why.

By the way, your whole post was extremely inflammatory. The only jock anybody on MCM is hopping on is COLIN MCCARTHY!!!!!

[disclaimer: this poster has no idea what the hell he's talking about.]

*has had two anti-Ruud posts deleted from MCM in the past month; they must've been too Ruud.

The Official MCM Idiot

by fanoftheunderdogs on Dec 8, 2011 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

I'm just calling it like I see it in regards to Ben Troupe, I mean Jared Cook, sorry...

So we used a 3rd round pick on a TE who can’t run block, & running the football is our bread & butter?… In fact, you’re saying he’s such a liability in the run game, you can’t even have him on the field? He’s so bad at what he was drafted to do we need to scramble and put him at another position? He can’t even get open consistently with LB’s covering him how is he supposed to separate from a corner? I’ll say it again…Jared Cook is too small / not strong enough to play TE (in this offense) & too slow to play WR (in any offense)… I hope I’m wrong but the evidence is piling up in my favor week in & week out when “The Cookie Monster” has next to no impact on the outcome of the game… In the meantime you can keep on hoping he turns into something he won’t ever be, productive…

by Engelson71 on Dec 8, 2011 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

too slow to play WR (in any offense)

Jared Cook ran the same 40 time that Kenny Britt did – 4.5 40….

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
Calling a site admin a ‘fuhrer’ gets you banned without warning.
The Saint of MCM

by StPrattrick on Dec 8, 2011 5:23 PM CST up reply actions

He's a workout warrior...

However there is a huge difference between running a straight line with spandex on in a controlled environment and running routes in an actual football game… When it comes to ‘football speed’, J. Cook isn’t anywhere near as fast as KB…

by Engelson71 on Dec 9, 2011 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

Only speculation

I get that much of it is a result of Hasselbeck. There have been a number of times where he has missed Jared Cook. Whether that’s a miscommunication or an inability to run routes well, I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s so much Cook’s freakish ability with his hands and yards after the catch, but more Hasselbeck and Cook not gelling together. I don’t think we have to get Cook the ball (thank you SuperHorn), but I would trust his hands much more than Mariani or Avery. When given the right play by Palmer, he’s shown he is fully capable of make the play. Time will tell…

"You play to win the game!"

by TitanNDCClothing on Dec 8, 2011 12:14 PM CST reply actions

And just a clarification

I’m not blaming Hasselbeck for Cook’s lack of success/targets. I think it’s more a result of Hass not trusting him (which is warranted). I just didn’t want it to be interpreted as Cook’s lack of success as Hass’s fault.

"You play to win the game!"

by TitanNDCClothing on Dec 8, 2011 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe the headline of the post should read

“Please give us more – comma – Jared Cook”. Not only is this two different OCs that haven’t gotten him involved, but he was the first guy Palmer talked about when he came on board. It seems obvious to me that he isn’t earning the bigger role we’d all like to see him play.

AJS

by CalTitan on Dec 8, 2011 12:17 PM CST reply actions

I really expected Cook to break out this year.

Coming into the season Palmer loved, and so did Hass. Now, while they could make an effort to get him the ball more, you have to think some of the reasons he doesn’t get the ball more fall on him. I wonder if his routes are bad, if he has trouble finding space in zones, if he’s still not great with the playbook, etc.

No matter who it’s on—him, Hass, or the coaching stuff—it needs to get fixed. He’s too talented to put up the kind of numbers he has.

"Do the Titans have a miracle left in them in what has been a magical season to this point? If they do, they need it now. Christie kicks it high and short. Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25; he dishes it back to Wycheck; he throws it across the field to Dyson. 30, 40, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5, endzone...touchdown, Titans! There are no flags on the field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!"

by TennesseeTyrants on Dec 8, 2011 12:21 PM CST reply actions