Connor Cook: Early 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jonah Tuls
Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) passes against the Baylor Bears during the first half in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NFL Draft just finished up so why wait? It may be a little early to give a scouting report on a player for the 2016 NFL Draft to most people, but for the NFL Mocks Crew, it’s never too early for draft season. With that being said, Connor Cook is my first scouting report of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Background
- Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year as Michigan State’s starting quarterback last year.
- 2014 Rose Bowl Offensive MVP
- Career Stats: 47 touchdowns & 15 interceptions, 58% completion percentage for 6032 yards.
- 2014 Season Stats: 24 touchdowns & 8 interceptions, 58% completion percentage for 3214 yards.
- No major injury history
Strengths
Accuracy
In a league where passing the football is a premium, accuracy from the quarterback position is critical to a team’s success. With that being said, Connor Cook is scary accurate as a draft prospect. He can make the throws with absolute precision at all levels on the field. Standing in the pocket, he is as accurate a quarterback can be at the collegiate level.
If Connor Cook has an ounce of protection from his offensive line, the refs might as well move the chains. Against both Nebraska and Ohio State last year, he fit some passes into windows that not even some starting quarterbacks in the NFL could throw into. Not only is he flawless in the short to intermediate routes, but he is just as good in throwing the deep ball. In the games I saw, he threw an absolute beauty of a deep ball.
Intangibles
The intangibles that Connor Cook possesses are unequivocally off the charts in the football community.
He is a tough, hard nosed kid who is not afraid of taking a big hit. He also plays with extraordinary amounts of poise and leadership in both the huddle and in the pocket. One of the more talked about traits of his game is the pro-style offense he plays in.
NFL teams will be ecstatic to know that the learning curve for their offense won’t be as hefty for Cook because of his experience under the traditional scheme.
Also, the Michigan State pedigree of quarterbacks in the NFL has grown exponentially lately with the likes of Drew Stanton, Brian Hoyer, Kirk Cousins, and even Nick Foles (before he transferred).
Physical Traits
Although Connor Cook does not possess the eye-popping physical traits of a Cam Newton type of quarterback, he has great height and weight for the position at 6’4, 225 lbs.
To go along with his size, he has enough arm strength to throw a precise deep ball as well as some extra velocity on the short to intermediate routes. Do not forget about this kid’s ability to evade defenders either. He is a quarterback that I like to call “sneaky athletic” because of the way he can pick up first downs the unconventional way.
I will say this about him too — he is harder to bring down to the ground than it looks because he plays much more physical than what you may think.
Weaknesses
Decision Making
Every young quarterback wants to do everything they can for their team, but when that player turns passion into turnovers, it can become a problem. Connor Cook only threw eight interceptions last year, but I could count at least three or four that were dropped in the Ohio State game. Not only is it the turnovers with fumbles and picks, but it also the decision of not throwing the ball away.
As a scout, not throwing away the ball really frustrates me because of their inability to just move on to the next play. However, he will learn in the NFL that he won’t be able to hold the ball too long or he will end up like David Carr and out of the league because of an unreal amount of sacks. His gunslinger mentality is admirable, but he will learn that in the NFL, possessions are a premium.
Outside the Pocket Accuracy
For some, improvisation is an art that is considered a main asset among quarterbacks. For Connor Cook however, it is probably one of his main weaknesses. As he gets inside pressure, he bails out of the pocket and makes a poor, uncatchable throw to the receiver. At this stage of his development, he is just not comfortable throwing the ball on the run or outside the pocket as I lost count of how many errant throws were made in these situations. Don’t believe me? Turn on the Nebraska tape and get back to me.
Handling Inside Pressure
In the games I watched on Connor Cook, it seemed like he made his worst decisions and throws when he was given inside pressure. Every single game that I took notes on him each had one particular phrase, “does not handle pressure well”. Cook just needs to slow the game down when this pressure arrives and simply not rush the decision making to light speed.
If I am a team drafting him, my offensive line better be pretty darn good, or Connor Cook will be a bit underwhelming early on in his career, unless he makes a big adjustment step in his senior season.
NFL Comparison
Dec 28, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
This may be a little rich for Connor Cook now, but he is a poor man’s Matt Ryan because of the tremendous precision he has on all levels of his throws as well as his gunslinger personality. However, I do think Cook can achieve Matt Ryan status if he can speed up and sharpen his decision making and reaction to inside pressure.
Overall Synopsis
Although he will most likely never develop into a top five quarterback in the NFL, he has the traits and tools to become a solid starter in the NFL with some Pro Bowl potential. His potential is similar to that of a Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer type, but it is still too early to possibly tell. If the 2016 NFL Draft was held August 1st, Connor Cook would certainly be one of the top quarterbacks taken and a surefire first round pick.