{"id":78589,"date":"2019-12-27T10:42:57","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T15:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=78589"},"modified":"2021-03-08T06:44:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T11:44:16","slug":"jared-cook-bringing-explosion-saints-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/12\/27\/jared-cook-bringing-explosion-saints-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"Jared Cook Bringing Explosion to New Orleans Saints Offense"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CookJa02.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared Cook<\/a><\/strong> is changing the way the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/saints\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Orleans Saints<\/a> play offense. Once a stud for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/raiders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oakland Raiders<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/titans\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tennessee Titans<\/a>, and the then St. Louis Rams, Cook has now taken his game to another level. Early in the season, Saints fans were tough on Cook, who had some bad drops and seemed to be out of sight and out of mind. But since Week 5, Cook has been on a tear, scoring eight touchdowns in the last nine games. Cook has this offense cooking at the right time, drawing comparisons to past Saints teams.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jared Cook&#39;s first four games with the Saints: 8 catches, 90 yards, 0 TDs<\/p>\n<p>Jared Cook&#39;s past 9 games with the Saints: 33 catches, 571 yards, 8 TDs<\/p>\n<p>&#8212; <\/p>\n<p>Not too shabby. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Scjcyle7JV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Scjcyle7JV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jeff_Nowak\/status\/1208847522099290112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 22, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Jared Cook Bringing Explosion to Saints Offense<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Owning the Seams<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Jared Cook and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BreeDr00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Drew Brees<\/a><\/strong> have been connecting on seam right touchdowns like the days of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GrahJi00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jimmy Graham<\/a><\/strong>. In fact, this is the first tight end since the Saints had Graham that has threatened the middle of the field with consistency. With <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/T\/ThomMi05.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Thomas<\/a><\/strong> breaking records and owning the outside, someone needs to occupy those safeties and linebackers and Cook is doing just that.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jared Cook&#39;s second TD featured three verticals vs. two deep 49ers (Cover-4 to that side, with Cook arriving via late motion.<\/p>\n<p>He and Michael Thomas twist release, Thomas draws S Ward\u2019s attention. Hill\u2019s fade outside holds CB Witherspoon. Cook\u2019s seam is wide open<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Saints?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Saints<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/49ers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#49ers<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WqadQWWUHc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/WqadQWWUHc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; David DeChant (@DavidDeChant) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DavidDeChant\/status\/1204119098658967552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Saints strikes again&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Jared Cook with his 2nd TD&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Saints?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Saints<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Titans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Titans<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NFL<\/a><br \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kzchZr6cEE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/kzchZr6cEE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; CJR Sports (@Sports_CJR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sports_CJR\/status\/1208847944381800448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 22, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Racking up YAC (Yards After Catch)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Jared Cook is making people miss in the open field and picking up chunk gains, averaging over 17 yards per catch in the last nine games. Whether it is down the seam, across the middle, or short dump off passes, Cook is making the most out of his catches and making defenses guard the entire field, and no keying in just Michael Thomas and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/K\/KamaAl00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alvin Kamara.<\/a><\/strong> Just take a look at Cook&#8217;s underrated speed on his 61-yard touchdown against the Titans Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsDGI\/status\/1208831172622483457<\/p>\n<p>But speed is not the only thing Cook has showcased this season. He has also shown the willingness to put his head down and fight for extra yards down the field, proving he is just as physical as he is a finesse player.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/daSportsTech\/status\/1208529026333044736<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Making the Tough Catch<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There is a reason Drew Brees is the most accurate quarterback in NFL history. He places the ball where only his man has a chance at the ball, and in the case of Jared Cook, Brees puts the ball in a prime position to come down with it. One perfect example of this is when Brees threw a jump ball to Cook against the<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/buccaneers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> a month a month ago. Brees puts it towards the back of the endzone and Cook goes up, and snatches it down. It shows how much trust has been built between Brees and Cook this season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I can\u2019t stop watching this play. Not only is it an exceptional catch from Jared Cook, but look at the footwork from Drew Brees. It\u2019s almost as if he\u2019s fading away while throwing it. Even at 40 he\u2019s still the most accurate QB in the NFL <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eETrTVFjvF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/eETrTVFjvF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RosvoglouReport\/status\/1196200964409167872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 17, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the season, Cooks made a similar touchdown catch when <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BridTe00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Teddy Bridgewater<\/a><\/strong> at the helm. Against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/jaguars\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, Cook was able to get past his defender, and the ball was a tad high but once again Cook times his jump well and high points the ball, and makes another difficult catch for a touchdown.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We\u2019ve got a TD in Jacksonville!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/teddyb_h2o?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@teddyb_h2o<\/a> places a perfect ball to Jared Cook for the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Saints?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Saints<\/a> score. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NOvsJAX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NOvsJAX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: CBS<br \/>\ud83d\udcf1: NFL app \/\/ Yahoo Sports app<br \/>Watch free on mobile:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xLc7ljuEnj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/xLc7ljuEnj<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r23wXIltth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/r23wXIltth<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1183463074939826176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Last Word on Jared Cook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Saints offense has put up 30 or more points in five of the last six games and Jared Cook is a big reason why. With him threatening defenses down the seam lately, the Saints have opened up a dimension of their offense that hasn&#8217;t been nearly effective since the departure of Jimmy Graham. The Saints offense will continue to thrive in the passing game should Cook&#8217;s hot streak continue.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"JtRRKTnVS5tzg9ZEu1w5ig\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1190095471\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'JtRRKTnVS5tzg9ZEu1w5ig',sig:'yA43aR-zv7i5uZafuGT84hdrhXxMySm0vzY0ktX1To4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1190095471',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a slow start, New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook has been bringing explosion to the Saints, who heavily rely on Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2954,"featured_media":78617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"1577404800","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"Jared Cook bringing explosion back to Saints offense.","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"500","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,28],"tags":[371,274,301,7334],"class_list":["post-78589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-saints","tag-drew-brees","tag-jared-cook","tag-michael-thomas","tag-new-orleans-saints-roster"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2954"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}