Luft’s Locker Room

Posts Tagged ‘Ryan Cook’

Some of the better updates from yesterday came from Access Vikings Day 1 notes and quotes

Percy Harvin is sounding special, very special, Rookie of the Year special, and it is being reported that he is being used all over the offense. Unless that is just subterfuge to make other teams think that Brad Childress is opening up the offense, it means just that. Frankly, I’m a little shocked.

Then today for Day 2 we even here that the Vikings have been seen using the the Wildcat.

You know I like following the big round bellies on the offense line, so yesterday’s update was pleasing.

The first-team offensive line to start drills included Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, Steve Hutchinson at left guard, John Sullivan at center, Ryan Cook at right guard and Phil Loadholt at right tackle. Loadholt, who is listed at 6-8, 343 pounds and is definitely bigger than McKinnie (6-8, 335 pounds), was used on just about every possible unit (first, second and third team) at right tackle.

I like that they are getting Loadholt the majority of right tackle snaps. I find it interesting that with Anthony Herrera working his way back from shoulder surgery, that the brain trust feels the best option is to move Ryan Cook into his spot (yet another position he has never played). I think this good for my boy and he will definitely be versed in center, RT and RG play now. I just wonder if he is a little too big to play guard, but I remember back when linemen were smaller and 6′4″ and 270 pounds was huge. It is also looking like there will be no battle for center, John Sullivan is the man.

What are your impressions?

The greatest needs for the Vikings fall in two areas.  Strengthen the offensive line and improve the quarterback play.  The draft nears and we ask, will the Vikings address the issues or just white wash over them with spin and hype over draft choices brought in as part of a sustainment effort?  Are they looking years ahead, and only selecting backups to go behind an established “win now” team, or are they looking for a player to make a difference from day one?  We look forward to the discussions here and at Vikings Valhalla as the picks roll in.

On the offensive line, an aging but serviceable former Pro Bowler Matt Birk was let go not because of slightly declining play but because he disagreed with Brad Childress and he did it publicly.  I doubt that Ryan Cook will be moved over center, John Sullivan, the 2008 6th round draft choice from Notre Dame will be given the first shot at the job.  He is built more like a center whereas Ryan is built like a tackle.  I won’t rule out Cook making the move over, but unless the Vikings select someone in round one to compete for and win the right tackle job (and they passed on good players in free agency), I thinks he keeps it.  Even though he had never played the position, he did beat other tackles, some who had even started like Artis Hicks and Marcus Johnson for the job.  There is also Drew Radovich who spent last year on IR, who had prior to his injury earned the number 2 slot behind Cook as a rookie.

Ryan Cook along with Tarvaris Jackson were hand selected by Brad Childress in the 2006 draft.  Coach Childress fancies himself a builder of quarterbacks and offenses.  He will stick by his men unless they are soundly beat in head to head competition.  Tarvaris now has Sage Rosenfels to give the public appearance of a battle for the starting job.  I suspect a tackle draftee will be the same for Ryan Cook, but barring injury or a clearly obvious better play, they both with keep their starting jobs because not to, would mean that Brad Childress isn’t the offensive and talent guru that he wants Zygi Wilf to think he is.

The draft is heavy in tackle talent this year, which is a good thing.  The bad thing is it looks virtually all of it will be selected long before the Vikings and their number 22 pick reach to put a name on a card.

Eben Britton, Andre Smith, may be available especially since the Philadelphia Eagles consummated a trade with the Buffalo Bills for Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.  But will the Vikings stick with their best player available philosophy and go in a different direction?

Viking shortages come in many flavors.  First is at center with Matt Birk heading eastward and out of Brad Childress’ dog house.  Sullivan is the only person listed as a center on the roster.  Ryan Cook could move over or even Anthony Herrera as center but they both have jobs already on the weaker right side.  I fully expect the Vikings to select in a later round a center-guard type, a guy who can play both positions and backup at both spots if the need arises.  Guard is another position that there presently isn’t a whole lot of depth with just 3 on the roster and 2 of them starting, Herrera and Steve Hutchinson.  If Herrera must move to center, right guard will need filled. If Cook moves over, right tackle will need filled plus the time to gel that all offensive lines seem to require.

There are 5 offensive tackles presently on the roster, with Cook position being the perceived need.  His play is nowhere near what the Vikings and their fans would like, so expect someone to at least give the appearance of competition.  If the Vikings select one in the first round we will see how serious they are about replacing Ryan.  The other implied benefit of getting a starter quality tackle is that if Bryant McKinnie ends up following off the lubed up no incident wagon, he’ll have to serve a full year suspension.  That starting caliber rookie tackle would sure be a bonus then, but fans don’t get your hopes too high, it still takes the young guys a little time to acclimate themselves to the league, the pace of play, the skill and speed of defensive ends and to gel with their linemates.

The defense is sound and will be led by EJ Henderson who is fully recovered from his separated toe injury.  He was on pace last year for his first Pro Bowl quality season when the injury pulled from field.  He along with Chad Greenway and Ben Leber will line up behind the best defensive line in the league.

The line however faces the possibilities of a missing Williams Wall.  Kevin and Pat will find out in June if their suspension for consuming diet pills will be held up, and if they must miss the first four games of the season.  If so, that leaves Jimmy Kennedy and Letroy Guion as the two remaining pure defensive tackles on the roster.   Yes, Brian Robison and some of the other defensive ends could slide in to relieve these big men, but they are only a situational stop gap [pun intended].  Plus, Pat isn’t the jolly youngster we all know and love, but is getting up there in years and unless Kennedy steps up his play more (a hopeful possibility), the Vikings need to grab an heir of parent if one such round bellied stud presents himself.

Sticking with the offense, another couple of spots that are low on the numbers are in the backfield.  There are currently only 3 runningbacks listed and working out at Winter Park.  There is the best one in the league, Adrian Peterson [Who just turned down the Madden cover.  I guess he didn't want to be a part of all of those coincidences.] , and then there is best #2 back in Chester Taylor.  That has to be the best 1-2 punch in the league.  Chester also gives the back office some trade options, should the need arise and Childress willing to go with AD all day or have young Albert Young move into the position.  I see the Vikings taking a running back between rounds 2 and 4.

The other low number is that we have only 1 fullback for the Childress KAO offense.  The coach likes to use the fullback as a battering ram for Peterson, and 1 isn’t enough for the depth chart even though we all know Garret Mills and Jeff Dugan could be moved back there if needed.  FB will be a later round acquisition or at least one of the undrafted free agent signings that come immediately after the draft.

So now we show a need for offensive tackles, guard, center and fullback, and a defensive tackle.  Let’s look at linebacker and defensive back next.

We have 7 linebackers total on the roster and we know the first 4 spots are assured.  Starters Ben Leber [weak side], E.J. Henderson [middle] and Chad Greenway [strong side], along with special teams’ ace and primary backup Heath Farwell.  Of the other 3, Erin Henderson has the best shot as a primary backup.  The Vikings very well may want to increase the quality of the pool of backups and look for someone that can make a mark on special teams.  If the opportunity presents itself, especially in the true best player available analogy, you just might see Rick Spielman and Scott Studwell call on one in an early round.  The linebacking corps is a rough and tumble bunch that have seen more than its fare share of injuries, and especially those effecting Vikings and their playoff aspirations and run, a good backer would be worth his weight in gold.

As for the defensive backs, the Vikings are set on their starts and remarkably have good numbers already on the roster.  They are presently carrying 8 cornerbacks and 5 safeties.  Antoine Winfield like Pat Williams is nearing the end of his career, but unless an obvious groom-able talent presents itself, I don’t see this as much of a need as others might think, especially when you look at it from a pure numbers angle.

The Vikings have 6 picks, and being the numbers game that it is, not just with defensive backs but with receivers on the other side of the ball, the totals and need level go against a high level pick.  Yes, more play makers are always welcome on both sides of the ball, but with Sagevaris Jacksonfels [as a buddy of mine calls him] going to be the quarterback, the best thing for him [them] is going to be a beefy front line to protect him [them] and pave the way for AD to run all day.  So I see the Vikes needing a C, G, OT, DT, and  LB the most with the quarterback position apparently in stone, and then throw in a RB and FB and WR and or CB that can add to special teams and you quickly see the numbers won’t quite match up.   You win football games from the line of scrimmage Chilly, but of course you already knew that, you guru you.

Hicks Now Right and Cook Can Only Look

In an effort to shake things up a little, Brad Childress notified this year’s under-performer of the week, Ryan Cook, that he has been demoted to the bench. After starting at right tackle in 29 consecutive games, Cook was relieved of his starting duties and Artis Hicks was named the new starting right tackle.

Artis played left tackle for the suspended Bryant McKinnie and did a respectable job against four outstanding defensive ends. Did that had a lot to do with Hicks getting the nod?

“It sure doesn’t hurt the decision at all,” Childress said. “I mentioned before he’s a natural left-handed guy, but he’s got the ability to swing all the way along that line.”

Being left-handed means that his usual or natural position on the line is on the left side. That is the side he is most comfortable with and moves naturally. If you remember last year, he was replaced at right guard by Anthony Herrera for poor performance himself. Let us all hope that tackle has much better results.

Cook and Hicks were each asked about the move.

“I kind of saw it (coming),” he said. “Obviously, I’m not very happy with the decision, but that’s the decision they made. I’m here to support Artis in all his endeavors and the team, as well.”

“It’s all for the betterment of the offense. Cook’s a great player,” Hicks replied. “Don’t take nothing away from Cook. We all go through times where we’re not playing as good as we like. I had kind of known from my own personal opinion of how I played (in the Green Bay and Tampa Bay) games. I made technical mistakes that I shouldn’t be making.”

As being one of the few Ryan Cook fans in the Vikings blogosphere because he’s a hometown boy, I have taken a lot a grief over his play and given some. For all of those I may have come on a little strong or over the top, my apologies. I did my analysis last year and he was just barely below average compared to other starting right tackles , but this year, and especially the last two games has played worse than that. Demotion is deserved.

All we need now is Cedric Griffin benched (which was a possibility prior to Gordon’s gruesome injury), and the whole 2006 second round of Ryan Cook, Cedric Griffin and Tarvaris Jackson could be standing behind Brad Childress and cheering the team together. Some advice, “Watch your back Cedric.”

Artis Hicks needs to view this as his chance to cement a starting position and we all hope play on the right side of the line improves. First test is the Jags and rookie Quenton Groves. A nice start and help with a win will be a step in the right, and first place direction.

In the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the armistice was signed to end the War to End All Wars.  We all know that the wars did not end and in every generation since, Americans have fought on foreign soil to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today.  There are continuing threats today to the American way of life, the American dream and more importantly to our liberties.  Today we honor those that have and currently serve in our defense.  We hold special spot in our hearts for all, but give up an extra prayer for those that have given the ultimate price in this endeavor.  God bless these Americans and their families, be with them and give them strength.

As a vet myself, I wanted to let you know that those thoughts of encouragement, prayers, and well wishes during deployments meant the world to me and the great folks I served with.  Special thanks goes to the extended family back home that helped looking after my loved ones while I was gone.  It was greatly appreciated.

When I deployed to the Gulf for the first war, I remember well another tie that bound us to Americans back home.  As we prepared to defend Saudi Arabia and liberate Kuwait, we tracked and when we were lucky, watched NFL football.  It was tie to life and friends back home.  It was an emotional release for fans that cheered from the other side of the world, no matter who won.  It was also a way to show our colors and talk a little smack, but mostly it was a welcome break and a bit of home.

I still remember getting a Vikings t-shirt from my dad, and still have picture of the little 9” Christmas tree decorated with a Norseman and horns.  It was probably then that my Vikings fandom matured to point full commitment it is today.  I’m not alone and many service members feel the same way about football and their teams.

Most NFL teams that I saw this weekend had a special tribute to the military and vets everywhere.  You got to see folks in uniform near the sidelines in special areas.  The NFL has had a long history of supporting the troops every weekend at games and trips by players, coaches and flightline operations slowing cheerleaders, to the front lines for morale.  Only in America can a game children play come to mean so much more than wins and losses, but teamwork, power and home.

If you know or see a serviceman, veteran or a member of their family today, tell them thanks.

Now to some football and a little celebration of the Vikings beating the Packers for the first time since 2005.  In the 28-27 win, the Vikings running game seems to be getting stronger and stronger and will be the key to success in the last 7 games as the Vikings, Bears and Packers all battle to win the NFC North.

Adrian Peterson ran for 192 yards alone yesterday, more than the Packer’s offensive effort combined.  Most people think that the success should likely come running left behind the best guard in the league, Steve Hutchinson, but it wasn’t.  Running to the right and right over Pro Bowl DE Kampman, the Vikes had their biggest success Sunday.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN was nice enough to provide us with the numbers.

My boy (for those of you that don’t know, he went to the same high school and university I did so there’s a little ownership there) Ryan Cook, led the way. However, he reverted to form though a traditional false start and a face mask call (instead of holding), but other than that was a blocking machine.

Those numbers above are very similar to last year’s numbers and will have to continue for the Vikes to make the playoffs.

Part of running right also goes to Adrian Peterson himself. He seams adept at running in that direction. AD is demonstrating that he is getting stronger and stronger after every play and every game. This will bode well for the Vikings in the second half of the season, and there should be no rookie wall this time around.  The Vikings can only afford to lose two, maximum three games in the next seven, and Peterson and the push by the offensive line will be key.

Vikings fans enjoy the victory.  Americans, remember those that fought so that we football fans can enjoy all the victories and God bless America.

It has been an eventful week leading up to this battle between John Fox’s 2-0 Carolina Panthers and Brad Childress’ 0-2 Minnesota Vikings. In a move that reeks of desperation, and I’m talking like the smell down wind of a pig farm, coach Childress benched his hand picked quarterback for being tentative. He has announced that he will being going with the veteran Gus Frerotte for the rest of the season.

A potential problem with that decision is that Frerotte’s career numbers are worse than Jackson’s. He has only completed 54.2% of his passes thrown and last year threw for 7 touchdowns in three games, but almost doubled that total in interceptions with 12 over the same time period.

That leads to the first key need for the Vikings to win what may be the cliché must win game.

1. Gus Frerotte must at least complete 60% of his passes with more TDs than INTs.

That may not be as easy as it sounds for multiple reasons.

First, he will be throwing to a gimpy receiver corps. Bernard Berrian is still being hampered by turf toe, Sydney Rice may be out due to a sprained knee and Aundrae Allison is slowed by a bruised foot. That leaves veterans Bobby Wade, not known as a deep threat or Robert Ferguson retained for his down field blocking. Even though at 37, Gus has a strong arm and good deep ball, but due to lack of speed of the receivers and their ability to get separation, and that leads to the second problem.

Gus is known for his immobility, and with a power rush led by Julius Peppers against left tackle stand in Artis Hicks, plus Ryan Cook on the right, there may be not enough time for healthy receivers to get open.

2. The offensive line must limit sacks to 3 or less and give Gus time to throw.

The quarterback’s best friend is a good running game and the Vikings have one of the best. They ranked 1^st last year and are presently 4^th after two games this year. The only question here is will Adrian Peterson play and how effective will he be with a sore hamstring? Will Brad Childress push his star in desperation or sit him and let a very capable Chester Taylor handle the load? Maurice Hicks, coming off his own injured foot will be asked to be the #2 guy if AD can’t play.

3. Continued success in the running game and its use to set up the play action pass.

That brings me to offensive play calling. It has been truly offensive, unbalanced and as predictable as the sun will coming up in the east. Brad Childress has seemed to throw out over half his play book, either out of a perceived need to simplify things for Tarvaris Jackson or out of rigidity in sticking within his imaginary “kick ass offense” system that calls for running the same plays over and over, it has cost the Vikings production and arguably wins.

This is probably the biggest key to this game and the entire season. He feels Gus will give him the ability to open things up, we are assuming, and hope that is the case.

4. There is a diversified and more balanced game plan and play calling.

Defensively, the Panthers will try to take their two headed rushing attack of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart and try their luck against the unit that held all of the Indianapolis Colts to only 25 yards total rushing. Where the Panthers will most likely will aim Jake Delhomme’s at the returning Steve Smith.

The Panthers have the 18th ranked passing game in the first two weeks of the season, and with the return of Smith from his two game suspension paring against the 24^th ranked Vikings pass defense. There has been talk that instead of leaving Cedric Griffin on his side and matched up against Smith, and having a result like when Fred Smoot lined up against Smith two years ago, that Antoine Winfield will flip sides and have the sole responsibility to cover him. The problem is that Winfield hasn’t played on the left side since becoming a Viking.

5. Pass defense must be effective and not give up the big play. That include pressure and sacks from the front guys and good coverage from the guys in the back.

Special teams need improvement over last week. I’m hoping to see Vinny Ciurciu play with an “I’ll show you” chip on his shoulder for his former team.

6. Special teams coverage units need to keep returns under the 20/10 average for kick and punts along with allowing no TD returns.

If the Vikings achieve these keys to winning, then they can start their march to success. If not, there has only been 3 teams since 1990 to make the playoffs, 1992 San Diego Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions, and the 1998 Buffalo Bills. Starting 0-4 and you can almost forget it and start scouting the college players we want in the draft.

The Vikings should rally around their new quarterback; the defense will look to shut down another decent offense. Combine that with some good game management and the Vikes will pull out the “must” win.

Skol Vikings!

Judd Zulgad was answering some questions from fans, and one I found quite interesting.

Q. Any chance the Vikings are looking at Shane Olivea to help shore up the offensive line? – akvikesfan

A. The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat recently reported the San Francisco 49ers were told that Olivea has agreed to terms with a team and that he will sign the deal in June. No word on which club Olivea plans on joining. The right tackle started 57 of 60 career games with San Diego but was benched in 2007 and released after the season. The depth chart for the Vikings at right tackle at the latest OTA practice went like this: Ryan Cook, Marcus Johnson and rookie free agent Drew Radovich.

The embedded link takes you to a Josh Alper (the new guy) story over at PFT.  He has supposedly agreed to terms with some team, not the 49ers and obviously not the Chargers.  According to the report he is expected to sign in June.  June 1^st cuts anybody?  Being a free agent, any team with cap space should have been able to consummate a deal before now which means there is a team that doesn’t have cap space waiting for a June 1^st cut to spread the cap hit and get under to have room to sign Olivea.  This means most likely, the Vikings are not that team because they have had plenty of cap to do the deal. 

Let’s look at Olivea anyways:

He is 26 and from THE Ohio State, Height: 6-4 Weight: 312.  He started all those games his first 4 seasons before he was benched.  But why?  He had a back injury in 2007 and missed one game, but did have tightness in it after that and played.  Reports were that his play regressed over the last year and a half he played for Norv Turner and in the game against Baltimore he was benched. 

How can a player digress in that time when there was no major injury to show for it?  Was his play before an aberration?  Some team believes not, and at least wants him for depth if not to compete for a starting spot on the right side. 

Looking at his stats, his pass blocking stats in particular, his first three seasons in the league, Olivea allowed 4.5, 5 and 5.75 sacks in 16, 15 and 16 games started but had problems with false starts. In 2007, he allowed 3 sacks in the 10 games started. He didn’t record a single hold – charged with only 2 in his entire career – and was penalized for just 1 false start.

His run stats show a different story though with his first 3 seasons, the Chargers were consistently top 10 rushing around right tackle. In 2007, they were among the league’s worst, 29^th.

Now compare that to Ryan Cook, and you see even more evidence that the Vikes are not the team about to make this deal.  The thought of depth would sure be nice though.  We will find out soon enough.

The draft is over and the rookies are getting ready to start their rounds of newcomer briefings to learn what it will be like to be part of the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings personnel office switches from scouting to contract writing and this is where Rob Brzezinski works his magic and gets our draft picks and rookie free agents signed. The Vikes drafted 5 players, the smallest draft class in their history, and as of sundown Sunday, and agreed to terms with another 16 rookie free agents, but in the bunch, not a single true offensive tackle.

Byant McKinnie is in the middle of legal actions for his part in a bar fight in Miami and almost assuredly looking at a suspension from the league for at least a couple of games, if not conviction and jail time. Ryan Cook played adequately in his first year as a starter but had problems handling speed rushers just like McKinnie on the left side, plus is listed as Matt Birk’s backup. Depth was thin at best and it looked like in this tackle heavy draft that selecting an OT would be a top priority. Well, it did not happen.

From coach Childress’ press conference Sunday afternoon comes this:

Q. How do you feel about the offensive tackle position, especially when you consider left tackle Bryant McKinnie’s offseason legal troubles?

A. I’m OK with it. We have Chase Johnson, [who] I believe will be a year better. You have Artis Hicks, who has that swing capability there, and Marcus Johnson. So none of that has changed. Nobody has left us in that regard there and I’d have to say that those five guys played all right last year.”

To me this indicates that he is quite comfortable with going with what we’ve got already on the books. I wonder if mentioning Chase Johnson first is a subliminal way of indicating his game plan replacement should [more like when] Bryant misses some playing time.

The biggest surprise to me was that we didn’t target an OT in the draft, or felt that there were none left worth drafting once the Vikings were back on the clock.

We picked up John Sullivan of Notre Dame, another smart center [which may indicate that Ryan Cook most likely will spend his career at right tackle] and that was it. Childress said, “And then the Sullivan kid, we talked to [Notre Dame coach] Charlie Weis today. I like some of the things that he brings to the table. He’s a tough guy, a very smart guy. He’s from Greenwich, Conn., originally. I like what he brings.”

Sullivan was gracious with his comments after being selected a Viking. “At this point, I’m with a team that I’m incredibly happy to be with,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with the result of how the draft went and looking at draft stock, up, down, it doesn’t matter to me at this point. I’m on a great team and I’m happy with my situation.”

He also said that he would play anywhere the team needed him when asked about the ability to play guard, but with Matt Birk completing the final year of his contract, Sullivan can be viewed as his replacement. He is very excited to learn from Birk, the man he will likely succeed. “I think that’s as great a situation as a young player can have,” Sullivan said. “Matt Birk is an incredible player. He’s someone that I have looked up to for a long time. When it comes to centers in the NFL, he is second to none.”

A bit of trivia over the selection: Sullivan is only the third center ever drafted by the Vikings – Matt Birk in 1998 and Mike Malano in 2000 were the other two.

Then if you look at “round 8”, the signings of the undrafted rookie free agents, the only lineman signed was Drew Radovich T/G of USC. Scout.com had Radovich listed as their #6 OG which makes me feel a little better, and guard is his natural position even though he was slid over to right tackle his senior year.

That makes just a center and a guard brought in leaving me to think that Childress is a whole lot more comfortable than me with our situation at tackle. Maybe he and the scouting department are hoping for some June cuts, or even last minute roster cuts in August, but that is a lot of ifs to plan for. I surely hope for the running game and pass protection that Childress is right, but in the mean time, I want to be the first to welcome the two “big bellies” on the offensive side of the ball.