Connor Cook

[58crash]

Connor Cook's NFL outlook? Polarizing QB has wide draft range

Looks like a real possibility ? Anyone watch many of his games ? I do like that he is a Winner ...

 

[MileHigh64]

The two knocks that I keep hearing about Cook is slow velocity (50 mph-slowest at the combine) and not being voted as a team captain last year (leadership?). Outside of that, I didn't watch any of his games.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Cook fits our offense well. Loved him his SOPH and JR year, not so much his SR year granted he was injured. We have talked about him a lot in here thus far, but I would think he would be a QB we would be interested in. A lot of talk about his character, (no off field issues) just some comparing him to a Jay Cutler like horses ass, I don't think he is that bad. He doesn't pout like Cutler. Team captain thing does concern me a bit though when you are a 2.5 year starter and your JR year you could have declared, come back as a SR and you don't get voted team captain as a SR QB is a bit surprising.

 

[MileHigh64]

Cook fits our offense well. Loved him his SOPH and JR year, not so much his SR year granted he was injured. We have talked about him a lot in here thus far, but I would think he would be a QB we would be interested in. A lot of talk about his character, (no off field issues) just some comparing him to a Jay Cutler like horses ass, I don't think he is that bad. He doesn't pout like Cutler. Team captain thing does concern me a bit though when you are a 2.5 year starter and your JR year you could have declared, come back as a SR and you don't get voted team captain as a SR QB is a bit surprising.

Agreed DC. I also wonder if his arm velocity is more related to his shoulder injury. From what I understand, he's still not completely healthy.

 

[Broncos6482]

Not a fan, I hope the Broncos don't draft him.

 

[megalodon30]

Only problem w/Cook is that Michigan St. doesn't have the greatest track record of producing starting caliber NFL QBs. Hoyer, Stanton, even Cousins looks like an average QB more fit for a backup role. Granted, the jury's still out on Kirk.

Could Cook break that trend? Maybe, but I'm very leery about taking a QB from a school that produces average QBs when our current best option is one of the most average QBs in the NFL. Having 2 average QBs does not equal 1 good QB.

 

[SpiritOf77]

I can't speak for his attitude or why he wasn't voted team captain, but to my eye, Cook looks like a natural out there on the field - confident and in control, and not overly mechanical and rehearsed ...

I like him as a prospect

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Connor Cook's NFL outlook? Polarizing QB has wide draft range

Looks like a real possibility ? Anyone watch many of his games ? I do like that he is a Winner ...

IMO, he's not ready to start any time soon, but the biggest downer I've heard is his teammates didn't think he was worthy of being a team captain...normally you blow that sort of thing off...as a QB, might want to dig a little deeper.

 

[cdumler7]

I have watched about 8 of his games over the past 2 years. Of all the QB's in this draft I would rank him only behind Goff in Pro Ready throws shown on the field. Cook is one of those guys that will throw a pass right between 3 defenders perfectly only where his WR can catch the pass. I mean watching QB's so far I have only seen 2 guys that made me go "Wow!" and Cook is one of those. At the same time the very next drive he might get a little too ahead of himself and try once again to throw into triple coverage and have it picked off. He has a ton of confidence in himself and his abilities...Maybe too much.

Honestly I would say that my comparison is that of Jay Cutler. All the mechanics and arm ability you could want. Doesn't have a rocket arm but much more than what he threw at the combine. I don't think his shoulder is 100% yet. Again though the boneheaded plays will leave you shaking your head sometimes. If Kubiak can coach that out of him some and limit his opportunities for the big mistakes then I think it might be possible that Cook is our Starting QB this year. To me he is the 2nd most pro ready guy in this draft with Goff. All others I think definitely need a year before they should think about starting. Cook though I think would do at least average as a Rookie and well that might be all we need.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Only problem w/Cook is that Michigan St. doesn't have the greatest track record of producing starting caliber NFL QBs. Hoyer, Stanton, even Cousins looks like an average QB more fit for a backup role. Granted, the jury's still out on Kirk.

Could Cook break that trend? Maybe, but I'm very leery about taking a QB from a school that produces average QBs when our current best option is one of the most average QBs in the NFL. Having 2 average QBs does not equal 1 good QB.

To be fair. Not many teams have a great track record of producing great QB's though. I mean Hoyer was undrafted and exceeded his draft slot, Drew Stanton could probably start on a few teams in this league but has never gotten the chance. Cousins has some inconsistent issues and isn't a Pro bowler or anything, but for the NFL and how down the QB position is right now he isn't by any means a bad QB in the NFL. He is pretty decent.

 

[cdumler7]

To be fair. Not many teams have a great track record of producing great QB's though. I mean Hoyer was undrafted and exceeded his draft slot, Drew Stanton could probably start on a few teams in this league but has never gotten the chance. Cousins has some inconsistent issues and isn't a Pro bowler or anything, but for the NFL and how down the QB position is right now he isn't by any means a bad QB in the NFL. He is pretty decent.

Yeah not sure there is a QB U out there. I mean USC and Florida State have probably produced the most guys that have made NFL rosters but that doesn't mean they have been good players in the NFL. Stanford probably has some of the biggest names but then again most of their success was more than 25 years ago with Jim Plunkett and John Elway.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Right on Carl,

I mean look at a few of the FSU QB's EJ Manuel, Christian Ponder.

USC Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez.

Truth is, it is very hard to find a good QB, let alone a great QB in the NFL nowadays.

I think a lot of teams are going to start to go to the trend of drafting and focusing on Defense.

So many teams have been burnt on reaching on QB's that never develop. I think we are going to see a bit of a new trend in the NFL on building teams too not because the QB isn't important because it obviously is, but because it is so hard to find.

 

[cdumler7]

Right on Carl,

I mean look at a few of the FSU QB's EJ Manuel, Christian Ponder.

USC Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley, Mark Sanchez.

Truth is, it is very hard to find a good QB, let alone a great QB in the NFL nowadays.

I think a lot of teams are going to start to go to the trend of drafting and focusing on Defense.

So many teams have been burnt on reaching on QB's that never develop. I think we are going to see a bit of a new trend in the NFL on building teams too not because the QB isn't important because it obviously is, but because it is so hard to find.

I actually agree. I saw somebody comment the other day that the NFL could go the way of analytics and decide it is better to draft a QB every 4-5 years and just spend the cap building an incredible team around them. I mean look at the Super Bowl. Rarely have the top paid QB's actually won the Super Bowl and then that huge group of teams overpaying QB's rarely make the playoffs but once every 5 or so years. So I could see more just go that way of just wanting to not pay the QB position and taking a chance that they can build a great team around a very cheap QB.

 

[Malibu]

The two knocks that I keep hearing about Cook is slow velocity (50 mph-slowest at the combine) and not being voted as a team captain last year (leadership?). Outside of that, I didn't watch any of his games.

Can't be any slower then Manning.

 

[Manimal Sighting]

I actually agree. I saw somebody comment the other day that the NFL could go the way of analytics and decide it is better to draft a QB every 4-5 years and just spend the cap building an incredible team around them. I mean look at the Super Bowl. Rarely have the top paid QB's actually won the Super Bowl and then that huge group of teams overpaying QB's rarely make the playoffs but once every 5 or so years. So I could see more just go that way of just wanting to not pay the QB position and taking a chance that they can build a great team around a very cheap QB.

Its so weird that you would say this because I randomly had this thought just today

 

[Rockinkuwait]

I actually agree. I saw somebody comment the other day that the NFL could go the way of analytics and decide it is better to draft a QB every 4-5 years and just spend the cap building an incredible team around them. I mean look at the Super Bowl. Rarely have the top paid QB's actually won the Super Bowl and then that huge group of teams overpaying QB's rarely make the playoffs but once every 5 or so years. So I could see more just go that way of just wanting to not pay the QB position and taking a chance that they can build a great team around a very cheap QB.

I think the problem is that when you get to the playoffs, you've already eliminated the bad QB's. So you have good QB's that aren't yet hitting the cap heavily on teams that can put talent around them, and good QB's that are costing a lot and maybe have lesser teams around them.

The problem with the new QB every 4-5 years is how often they bust... That plan only works if you do well at drafting all the time. And I think even someone "skilled" at finding QB's is still going to be wrong a lot of the time. It sounds nice if you are hitting, but Miami, Tenn, Oakland, Cleveland and Jacksonville have been doing just that plan there.

What happens when you are picking your next QB and Bradford is off the board and you are picking between Tebow, Claussen, McCoy, or Kafka? Is that ok to send Rodgers packing? That just cost you your job.

The year before Stafford was out in the first pick and you had Sanchez, Freeman, White and McGee. The year after Cam went #1 you had Locker, Gabbert, Ponder as your top options. If you miss once or twice, there goes your job security. You send Big Ben packing instead of paying him and get Brian Brohm in the draft... Every 4 years you are taking a 50/50 at best shot you'll get a QB. Look at the teams that consistently win and consistently get to the playoffs and win, and there's a good QB there almost every time.

I also think 1 good QB can cover up a LOT of sin. You have to hit almost everything to build a winning team around a crap QB. You hit that QB, you can miss on some FA's and draft picks and still contend.

Just my thoughts there.

 

[cdumler7]

I just watched a few more of his games. I honestly can see Elway pulling the trigger on this kid if his shoulder is healed up. He is the one QB in this draft that played a lot of his time under Center. So you don't have to train him up on just how to take 3-5-7 step drops. He is also the one guy that wasn't just a 1-read QB. He actually went through progressions and did well with it. He is more athletic than you would think. He loves the deep ball.

Yes he has his negatives about his game and they are some major red flags. If there is a guy though that I think could come in year one and surprise people it would be this kid.

 

[CEH]

I've heard rumblings he has a drinking problem.

 

[cdumler7]

I've heard rumblings he has a drinking problem.

Haven't heard those yet. I do know Dan Patrick interviewed him in his dorm room and opened his fridge and asked where the beer was to which Connor Cook talked about how he and the team had goals to accomplish this year and beer wasn't going to get them there.

 

[megalodon30]

What happens when you are picking your next QB and Bradford is off the board and you are picking between Tebow, Claussen, McCoy, or Kafka?

Obviously, you take the only guy on that list that's actually made the playoffs.