He is still not playing his best football. You could tell by his comments and his body language after that game that he expects more from himself. Cook knows that if MSU wants to achieve the goals they have set, he needs to be a Heisman candidate QB, not simply an above average one.
Jim mentioned Kings not running his route deep enough on the one INT, but Cook had tunnel vision on that play and threw into an area where Kings was surrounded by 3 Ducks. The play immediately before that Cook went deep down the middle to the Oregon safety playing centerfield. That ball should have been intercepted. Cook himself mentioned the pass to Shelton as one he wanted back too.
Herbie pointed out an instance or two when Cook was not using proper footwork and I think Cooks knows this.
One amazing thing about Cook is that it seems like for every pass that is below-average, he seems to come back and make an Aaron Rogers level throw.
I do think MSU can do a few things that could help Cook be more effecitve and efficient.
MSU's entire passing attack pretty much went through Kings/Burbridge with occasion pass to TE. They really need that 3rd WR to set up and be a factor. For example, last year besides Lippett MSU had Mumphrey, Kings and even Burbridge as viable options. The year before it was Fowler, Lippett,, Kings, Mumphrey.
Right now MSU is not getting a lot of production from Troup. We have heard about his speed and you would love to see him play well after all he has been through. Shelton is another player who I think MSU has to wonder about his role with this offense. While Shelton does have great speed and is a threat on jet sweeps,. as a wide receiver you have to wonder if he is a better option than Arnett or Madaris. He has 24 career grabs and I would say most are simply bubble screens.. One way or another MSU needs a 3rd WR who will catch 30 passes for 450-yartds.
With all that being said, I think sometimes coaches sometimes forget about certain plays or schemes that may have worked. For example, MSU will throw that occasions WR screen, but they have not set much up for running back or even fullback coming out of the backfield. They also have not used the tight end in that capacity in the past (Linthicum). Oregon had a few nice passes to Freeman and they used the TE screen to pick up that key 4th down.
All in all I think Cook has the talent to take MSU to the national title and he knows that that he can play better. With that said, MSU can fine tune some things to make the offense and Cook more productive. Their is a reason why guys like Kevin Hogan and Jake Ruddock are not mentioned in same breath as Cook. Through two games we have yet to see it though, and maybe that is a good thing
Jim mentioned Kings not running his route deep enough on the one INT, but Cook had tunnel vision on that play and threw into an area where Kings was surrounded by 3 Ducks. The play immediately before that Cook went deep down the middle to the Oregon safety playing centerfield. That ball should have been intercepted. Cook himself mentioned the pass to Shelton as one he wanted back too.
Herbie pointed out an instance or two when Cook was not using proper footwork and I think Cooks knows this.
One amazing thing about Cook is that it seems like for every pass that is below-average, he seems to come back and make an Aaron Rogers level throw.
I do think MSU can do a few things that could help Cook be more effecitve and efficient.
MSU's entire passing attack pretty much went through Kings/Burbridge with occasion pass to TE. They really need that 3rd WR to set up and be a factor. For example, last year besides Lippett MSU had Mumphrey, Kings and even Burbridge as viable options. The year before it was Fowler, Lippett,, Kings, Mumphrey.
Right now MSU is not getting a lot of production from Troup. We have heard about his speed and you would love to see him play well after all he has been through. Shelton is another player who I think MSU has to wonder about his role with this offense. While Shelton does have great speed and is a threat on jet sweeps,. as a wide receiver you have to wonder if he is a better option than Arnett or Madaris. He has 24 career grabs and I would say most are simply bubble screens.. One way or another MSU needs a 3rd WR who will catch 30 passes for 450-yartds.
With all that being said, I think sometimes coaches sometimes forget about certain plays or schemes that may have worked. For example, MSU will throw that occasions WR screen, but they have not set much up for running back or even fullback coming out of the backfield. They also have not used the tight end in that capacity in the past (Linthicum). Oregon had a few nice passes to Freeman and they used the TE screen to pick up that key 4th down.
All in all I think Cook has the talent to take MSU to the national title and he knows that that he can play better. With that said, MSU can fine tune some things to make the offense and Cook more productive. Their is a reason why guys like Kevin Hogan and Jake Ruddock are not mentioned in same breath as Cook. Through two games we have yet to see it though, and maybe that is a good thing
