Jared Cook Cures Offensive Ails

The Green Bay Packers have a tight end, once again.  Sure, they have one every season by virtue of the roster and depth chart, but the Packers and their fans have become accustomed to big contributions from the tight end since the early 1990's.  General manager Ted Thompson signed Jared Cook during the offseason in hopes of giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers another weapon and that said weapon would also create more opportunities for the other weapons around him.  So far, it appears as though that may be exactly what Cook adds to this team.

Cook caught four passes for 54 yards against the San Francisco 49ers this past Friday and appears to have etched himself a key role in the offense.  We finally saw Rodgers under center for the first time this preseason and after two hand offs, he found Cook for his first completed pass, good for 19 yards.  Last year when Jordy Nelson went down, defenses realized they could hamper the Packers passing attack by picking on the receivers at the line and disrupting routes and timing.  Cook's presence at the very least means there's one more legitimate angle for defenses to account for.  What he appears to add is exactly what was missing last year and should help the Packers get back on track on offense in 2016.

Cook lined up off tackle and split out wide.  He's 6'5" and a not-so-great matchup for most defensive backs in the league.  We could see the return of the slant that has sorely been missed in Green Bay for years.  On top of that, Cook got busy in the run game, helping spring Eddie Lacy for his long 21-yard run.  A tight end who can block effectively, can get down field and is a favorite target in the passing game?  Yes, please.

Cook is the clear starter at tight end.  While he probably doesn't love giving up his preferred spot, Richard Rodgers can now be what he truly is: a complementary piece who can still get the tough short yards when needed.  Double tight end is back in Green Bay and is already looking to be a huge help to an offense that sputtered through 2015 without a marquis pass catcher.  It's too soon to deem Cook the savior, but from the very little that we've seen, he appears to be a big part of the Packers offensive game plan.  

Back to Cook's blocking ability, this will allow the Packers to line him up in various spots, including in the backfield, where we saw him a few times in San Francisco.  Formations and matchup's are what help win the chess match part of football and Cook is as useful as another knight or bishop.  Back when Mark Chmura roamed the middle of the field for the Packers offense, he wore #89 and was a key piece to winning Super Bowl XXXI.  Will Cook help history repeat itself?

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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts.  You can follow him on Twitter here

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Comments (19)

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NickPerry's picture

August 29, 2016 at 07:28 am

Cook has looked good and there's reasons to be excited about him, so far I haven't seen him drop a ball and he's NOT a horrible blocker, the 2 complaints about him when he got here to Green Bay.
I think the guy is motivated as hell to not only play with a QB like Rodgers, but also a team capable of winning. PERIOD. I mean it must blow to know you're going out there putting your body through what these players do and don't really have much of a chance to win.
Cook is in a position to not only get "Richer" at the end of the season, but he's also in a position to put some Jewelry on his finger and be a big part of achieving that.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 29, 2016 at 07:28 am

Has Richard Rodgers done anything this preseason? He lost all of that weight but he doesn't look any quicker to me. I think he might be the teams 4th best TE unfortunatley.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:25 am

One play the other night I thought Rodgers looked quicker. He just didn't have anywhere to go after he caught the ball.

I would say I think Perillo and Backman have had more opportunities then Rodgers, but at the same time, they made the most out of their opportunities.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 29, 2016 at 03:38 pm

RR has 1 reception for 8 yards. He was directly responsible for the failure of the two runs by Lacy wide right during the first series. RR can be the check-down safety valve receiver, and a threat in the red zone. He does look a little quicker. So does Sitton. Doesn't look like he improved his blocking, but we need a bigger sample size. I don't think Perillo is much better at blocking; Backman is worse than RR. I thought Perillo was better between the 20s last season, but I've still got RR as the #2 TE.

You got 5 dislikes for not being a homer, and some hyperbole, Jeremy.

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Since'61's picture

August 29, 2016 at 08:23 am

Cook has looked sharp and motivated. He is our starting TE and he should be. However, this is still the preseason. Let's give him this week off and hope that he continues to prove himself in the regular season before we get too carried away. However, I am getting excited that Cook is the resurrection of the TE position in Green Bay. Go Pack Go ! Thanks, Since '61

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TarynsEyes's picture

August 29, 2016 at 08:26 am

" Rodgers and his new Cook prepare to serve cold dishes to opponents. "

Since the actual grand opening is still a couple of weeks away, and while what is expected to be served seems still, a tad unworthy of the early reviews of the expectations, what the fans can expect can be either feast or famine for defenses coming to the table. There is no doubt that a menu of great variety is being installed but the servers still appear unable to handle the loaded trays to extents. Though the Cook in his first showing looked at ease in a sampling, his past performance in the shows that count, still may have a bucket of water hovering for a dousing. : )

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MarkinMadison's picture

August 29, 2016 at 08:30 am

R2 has caught one ball for eight yards. Cook eight, Perillo 7, and Backman has five. So yeah, Jeremy can make the argument. I don't agree with it, but he can make it.

I don't think we're seen everything Cook can do yet. When we get a few games in I think it would be fun to talk about who the most valuable off-season addition has been. Right now, I'd say the conversation would revolve around Cook, Martinez and Lowry, in that order.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:06 am

Yeah apparently it's unthinkable to make the argument though. I get 3 immediate down votes for saying it.

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Tundraboy's picture

August 29, 2016 at 08:47 am

Looks like TT did his homework. So far Cook has been everything we could ask for.

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ray nichkee's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:05 am

Here's to hoping all the complaints againts Cook were due to being on pedestrian offenses in the past. So far I'm liking the move so far. While I'm excited, this needs to carry over to the games that matter. Go Pack.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:10 am

Cook was a great signing by Thompson.

He gives the offense what it was lacking. A true presence at the TE position that can create mismatches and flexibility to do many things without limitations.
McCarthy really loves using the TE's in different ways. Having a TE with similar ability's of Finley really opens the offense up. A lot of the plays last year that went to Rodgers will go to Cook now, and we will see a huge difference in the results.

Rodgers will be a good complimentary TE, and will provide a good 2 TE set which has become sort of a forgotten formation in Green Bay the last few years.

I am looking forward to seeing our offense this year. Cook will make it better.

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lucky953's picture

August 30, 2016 at 10:50 pm

Well said!

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:15 am

He is who we thought he was.

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sheppercheeser's picture

August 29, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Love what I'm seeing in Cook so far. I hope that feeling continues!

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 29, 2016 at 03:45 pm

Cook is likely to be a great addition overall. He probably is just average at blocking, and that reputation for drops is probably well earned. In future, teams will game plan to stop him unless Nelson shows his old form and some WR other than Cobb contributes. I imagine, however, that MM is dusting off all the plays that he put in his book for Finley. Note that Cook split wide several times.

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chaka's picture

August 29, 2016 at 09:08 pm

TT/Packers should reach out to former TE Colt Lyerla. These two in double TE formations would be unstoppable.

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TKWorldWide's picture

August 30, 2016 at 10:20 am

Unless law enforcement is nearby, in which case you are only half right.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

August 31, 2016 at 02:16 pm

I'm happy about Cook. I think he'll add that extra dimension for the Pack. I don't think the Packers can make it to the Super Ball without a very good tight end and I never saw Richard as the solution. Contrary to some opinion, I think he can block. As excited as some of us are about Cook, it seems that Cook is as excited to be with the Packers. Excitement leads to motivation.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

August 31, 2016 at 02:17 pm

What I mean is that Cook can block, not so Richard.

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