The Five: Jared Cook, Week 1 At Jacksonville
Score: 79
In his debut, Jared Cook did exactly what he was signed to do. He was a big body in the middle of the field for Aaron Rodgers and drew the attention of the secondary. His acting on a pass interference call late in the second quarter helped the Packers score before the half.
We breakdown The Five's scoring system here.
What Went Right
Cook drew a massive pass interference penalty on safety Johnathan Cyprien during the Packers’ touchdown drive at the end of the first half. It was an Oscar-worthy performance, as the replay showed Cook lean into Cyprien as the ball was arriving. Late in the third quarter, Cook caught his first pass as a Packer on a shallow screen route. Paired with Richard Rodgers, the two tight ends both performed well and pretty evenly shared the snaps.
What Went Wrong
Cook played 33 snaps compared to Rodgers’ 25 and saw only 3 targets. On Rodgers’ rushing touchdown, Cook failed to create separation from his defender, something the Packers lacked in 2015. It’s early, but Cook had a few opportunities to prove to be a steady red zone target and did not deliver. Much has been made about Aaron Rodgers’ comfort and trust with his receivers. From watching the routes Cook ran, Rodgers didn’t trust the tight end enough to throw into some tight windows and instead chose to throw the ball away.
Trending: Steady
There’s not much to be gleaned from Cook’s opening performance. His lone reception was a typical Jared Cook play. The Vikings presents a stiffer front seven for the Packers, and Cook’s blocking abilities will be tested.