Speedy tight end offers a ‘matchup nightmare’
Matchup nightmare. That’s the highest compliment you can pay a pass catcher.
That’s what Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing said of tight end Jared Cook.
“He’s an impressive looking human being, isn’t he?” Downing asked rhetorically at the Raiders’ practice facility in Alameda on Tuesday.
“He’s a big, long guy, runs really well, stretches the field vertically inside. He’s a matchup nightmare for linebackers and most safeties. He really brings a sense in the passing game of a mismatch that we can count on week in and week out.”
The Raiders signed the eight-year veteran to a two-year, $10.6 million deal in March with the hopes of bolstering an already formidable attack. Last season, only 14 percent (580) of Oakland’s 4,051 receiving yards came from tight ends.
Though Cook hasn’t caught more than five touchdown passes in a season during his career, he has a reputation as a reliable receiver. Cook had 50-catch seasons in 2013 and 2014, and caught more than 40 passes in two other seasons. Last season, he was hampered by an ankle injury and mustered only 377 yards for the Packers, the thirdlowest total of his career.
Cook developed a better rapport with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs, posting the highest postseason totals in yards, receptions and touchdowns for a tight end. Against the Cowboys in the divisional round, he led Green Bay with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown, including a 36-yard grab that set up Mason Crosby’s winning field goal.
In Cook, the Raiders believe they have a player who will make life easier for quarterback Derek Carr and the wide receivers.
“With a guy like Jared that can stretch the field vertically like that,” Carr said, “it’s going to lead to more single coverage outside” for Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. “It’s going to lead to more one-on-ones for Seth (Roberts).
“The possibilities are endless when you add a guy at that position that has that much speed vertically. The things that you can do with him really put a lot of stress on the defense.”
Cook, 30, said his new and old quarterbacks share key traits: football knowledge and passing accuracy.
“They know the offense, and that’s really important for a quarterback, especially a young quarterback, to know the moving pieces of what’s going on around you,” Cook said. “I’ve played with older guys, and they don’t know how to have that right touch to get the ball to the position where the receiver needs it. And D.C. has that down.”
Carr was just as appreciative of Cook and their ability to mesh on the field.
“He just wants to do the route how I want it done,” Carr said. “‘Hey, how do you want me to do this? What angle did you want me to take on this?’
“It makes my job easy, especially since he’s really fast, so I can miss a little bit, and he’ll make it look right with his speed.”
Bottom line, Carr knew that Cook was the right fit when Cook visited the team in March.
“We sat there and watched film,” Carr said, “I talked to him about the different things he can do for us and help us. It didn’t feel like it was a recruiting thing. It felt more like we’re just getting ready for the season.”