NashvilleNinja Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 There's been talk in the media recently, and locally here on Titans Report, that the Titans will be looking toward possibly locking up Jared Cook to a contract extention. And now that Aaron Hernandez has gotten a lucrative contract extention everyone is anticipating Cook will get big payday.There's been talk in the media recently, and locally here on Titans Report, that the Titans will be looking toward possibly locking up Jared Cook to a contract extention. And now that Aaron Hernandez has gotten a lucrative contract extention everyone is anticipating Cook will get big payday. But should Cook's payday be an Aaron Hernandez-type payday? Is he worth $40M? Is he worth even half that? The Titans have already paid Craig Stevens a contract that's worth half what Hernandez got and he is currently at the top of the Titans' depth chart. Who the more valuable tight end is for the Titans is certainly debatable, but in a more pass-oriented scheme a 6-5, 240 lb pass catching tight end who runs a 4.49 in the 40 is a highly coveted asset. Cook is obviously valuable to the Titans' future plans for the offense, and for the tight end position specifically. But there are questions about Cook's reliability, Cook's 'breakout' year notwithstanding. It's great when he's turning a single reception into an 80 yard gain, but what about all of those dropped balls inbetween? I took a look back at the 2011 season and this is what I saw: 80 targets, 49 catches, 759 yds, 3 TD. People make a big deal out of the yardage total, but the bulk of those yards came in 7 games, games in which he had 50 or more yards, as you can see below: Week 1 @ Jaguars - 2 tgts, 1 catch, 7 yds, 0 TD Week 2 vs. Ravens - 3 tgts, 2 catches, 37 yds, 0 TD Week 3 vs. Broncos - 2 tgts, 2 catches, 12 yds, 0 TD Week 4 @ Browns - 6 tgts, 2 catches, 93 yds, 1 TD Week 5 @ Steelers - 8 tgts, 4 catches, 59 yds, 0 TD Week 6 BYE Week 7 vs. Texans - 2 tgts, 2 catches, 34 yds, 0 TD Week 8 vs. Colts - 2 tgts, 2 catches, 40 yds, 0 TD Week 9 vs. Bengals - 8 tgts, 5 catches, 72 yds, 0 TD Week 10 @ Panthers - 3 tgts, 1 catch, 18 yds, 0 TD Week 11 @ Falcons - 9 tgts, 5 catches, 51 yds, 0 TD Week 12 vs Bucs - 7 tgts, 3 catches, 38 yds, 0 TD Week 13 @ Bills - 1 tgt, 0 catches, 0 yds, 0 TD Week 14 vs. Saints - 1 tgt, 0 catches, 0 yds, 0 TD Week 15 @ Colts - 11 tgts, 9 catches, 103 yds, 0 TD Week 16 vs. Jags - 8 tgts, 8 catches, 169 yds, 1 TD Week 17 @ Texans - 7 tgts, 4 tgts, 63 yds, 0 TD People look at the games against the Colts and Jags in weeks 15 and 16. Those were big performances, but I see all of those dropped passes in the other games and I wonder how much more Cook could have/would have done had he been more consistent catching the ball. Granted, these are just numbers without much context of the individual games, but a 60% catch rate isn't an incidental number. I think it speaks to a larger problem of consistency from Cook. By comparison, let's look at Aaron Hernandez's numbers since I in the thread about his contract extension that Cook is worth about half of what Hernandez got. Week 1 @ Dolphins - 10 tgts, 7 catches, 103 yds, 1 TD Week 2 vs. Chargers - 8 tgts, 7 catches, 62 yds, 1 TD Week 3 @ Bills - DNP Week 4 @ Raiders - DNP Week 5 vs. Jets - 9 tgts, 5 catches, 56 yds, 0 TD Week 6 vs. Cowboys - 14 tgts, 8 catches, 68 yds, 1 TD Week 7 BYE Week 8 @ Steelers - 4 tgts, 2 catches, 9 yds, 1 TD Week 9 vs. Giants - 5 tgts, 4 catches, 35 yds, 1 TD Week 10 @ Jets - 5 tgts, 4 catches, 41 yds, 0 TD Week 11 vs. Chiefs - 7 tgts, 4 catches, 44 yds, 0 TD Week 12 @ Eagles - 7 tgts, 6 catches, 62 yds, 0 TD Week 13 vs. Colts - 9 tgts, 7 catches, 43 yds, 0 TD Week 14 @ Redkins - 7 tgts, 5 catches, 84 yds, Week 15 @ Broncos - 11 tgts, 9 catches, 129 yds, 1 TD Week 16 Dolphins - 6 tgts, 4 catches, 36 yds, 0 TD Week 17 Bills - 11 tgts, 7 catches, 138 yds, 1 TD 113 targets, 79 receptions, 910 yds, 7 TD Hernandez was targeted roughly 30 more times than Cook and had 30 more receptions than him. He caught 70% of the passes he was thrown, roughly 8% more than Cook. That may not seem like much until you look at the large volume of passes thrown Hernandez' way. In 10 out of the 14 games he played in he was targeted at least 7 times or more. But what strikes me about that is how many games he had where he went 7 out of 8, 5 out of 7, or 7 out of 9. You have to grant the fact that he had Tom Brady throwing him the ball and in the Patriots offense that's just how it goes. But if Hernandez wasn't hacking it Tom wouldn't have continued to throw him the ball, especially considering the other people Brady had to throw to (Gronk, Welker, etc.). So in looking at both their numbers, all things considered, is Cook really worth Hernandez type money? Is he worth even half that kind of money? Maybe he is. Maybe Jake Locker will be a revelation to his game in 2012, but Cook needs be more consistent than he was. If he wants even half of what Hernandez got he'll have to be. Photo by San Diego Shooter. Photo used under Creative Commons license. Click here to view the article imemtitan, pat, Cyrus, and 1 other 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TitansWycheck89 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I had both Aaron Hernandez and Cook on my fantasy team last year. I dumped Cook some scrub. Hernandez helped me reach the finals. He was a beast. No need to put down numbers, just watch the two. The difference is night and day with them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLocker10 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 He's not worth what Hernandez got But he is worth a long term contract Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pragidealist Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Cook is likely to get a lot more looks with Locker. His speed is a stretch the field type and not quick, timed routes which suited MH better. I think we will probably see good things from him this season. JLocker10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WG53 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Cook does not run in the 4.3s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cenj Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I'd say the contract talk is a matter of risk-reward: there's the chance of overpaying a player who doesn't reach full potential, or locking up longterm a playmaker at significantly lower-than-market value. The coaches have a sense of the type of players they feel comfortable signing. Guys who have the work ethic, smarts, and self-motivation to warrant long-term investment. McCourty was obviously one of these guys. Coaches seem to feel Cook is another. He'll get less than Hernandez I assume. Cook has all the tools, knows the offense, and is an important piece of the puzzle. I don't think anyone knows if he will be worth the contract because there is still some doubt among fans regarding his catching consistency and his ability to get open (despite his elite HWS numbers). He's looked smooth running routes this preseason and of course made that insanely athletic grab (but he also had a few drops). Anybody watched Jimmy Graham this preseason? Good lord, that dude is gonna be unstoppable this year. He's bulked up. The way he goes and gets the ball, regardless of where it is thrown, is just insane. You can tell his hand-eye coordination and catching ability is on another level -- like Fitzgerald. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bongo59 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hernandez has Tom Brady throwing. TN had a turd throwing to Cook. The thing that GM's pay for is Yds per catch.. Cook is outstanding. Cook can not help it if his QB's did not find him but when they did his production was far better than most TE's. If Cookie was on the Pats, GB, or NE he would be with Graham and Gronkokowski. He is that good. He just plays for a team who is inept on offense because of their scheme. Hopefully things change with Jake and I think they will........for a very certain reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Cook does not run in the 4.3s. Yeah, probably not anymore. But he probably still runs a low 4.4. Also, I forgot to include the links for where I got the stats for Cook and Hernandez: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/2011.htm http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2011.htm I just went to the boxscore for each game. PFR even has what section of the field each catch was caught in, which I thought was pretty cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WG53 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 He ran a 4.45 range coming out. He was never a 4.3 speed kinda guy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hernandez has Tom Brady throwing. TN had a turd throwing to Cook. The thing that GM's pay for is Yds per catch.. Cook is outstanding. Cook can not help it if his QB's did not find him but when they did his production was far better than most TE's. If Cookie was on the Pats, GB, or NE he would be with Graham and Gronkokowski. He is that good. He just plays for a team who is inept on offense because of their scheme. Hopefully things change with Jake and I think they will........for a very certain reason. Hernandez definitely has an advantage with Brady and like I said, Locker may be a revolution for Cook. Still, Hernandez had to "fight" with Gronkowski, Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and all the other receiving options Brady has. I think Jake will make everyone on the offense better. His arm and his legs will make it possible. I'm hoping that Cook does blow up defenses this year. I've been waiting for it to happen since we drafted him. Maybe this is the year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NashvilleNinja Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) He ran a 4.45 range coming out. He was never a 4.3 speed kinda guy. Really? I read somewhere he ran a 4.3... Edit: my mistake. http://aol.it/RVT9Xe Edited August 28, 2012 by NashvilleNinja Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bongo59 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Cook is poised for a breakout and getting him done is smart. Very smart. Cook could not open anything with the way they used him. They opened things up late and he went nuts. They need to go more wide and I think that it is coming because they have horses now. Edited August 28, 2012 by Bongo59 Strait_Shooter 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiscotitansfan Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I would love to see Cook breakout but at the end of every season he shows something and is always the NEXT great thing. We never have the great thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pragidealist Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hernandez has Tom Brady throwing. TN had a turd throwing to Cook. The thing that GM's pay for is Yds per catch.. Cook is outstanding. Cook can not help it if his QB's did not find him but when they did his production was far better than most TE's. If Cookie was on the Pats, GB, or NE he would be with Graham and Gronkokowski. He is that good. He just plays for a team who is inept on offense because of their scheme. Hopefully things change with Jake and I think they will........for a very certain reason. Sort of. He also has issues with catching in traffic. Thats not ideal for a TE. He does have value, but his star has not been held back by MH's arm strength alone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bongo59 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 He is a hybrid TE......he should not be running that crap. Look at Gates in his prime Sharpe and the now Graham and Gronk they are are used to stretch seems.......Cook is always running crossing routes.......that is poor design. Palmer has never had a TE who has done shit for reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.