Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

After the first three days of OTAs, NFL teams are all about managing expectations. The hot-shot rookie wideout may not look that good once pads and looming safeties itching to tackle are added to the mix, while new offensive lineman struggling early are still getting used to the cadence, chemistry and playbook of a new team.

But pads or not, three days in with his new team or three hundred, it’s hard to stand at Jared Cook’s locker and gaze upon all 6-foot-5, 254 pounds of his Pro Bowl physique, which could challenge several defensive linemen in his new locker room, and not think of the endless possibilities he and Brees could conjure up this season.

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“I’d read a lot of good things about him before he got here, but he’s certainly impressed us these first couple of days,” Brees said Thursday after the culmination of the team’s first three-day OTA. “He’s got a great feel for the game, and I think he’s going to fit very well in our offense.

“He’s got great length, so he’s got a big catch radius. You feel confident with those 50-50 balls. You feel like there’s a lot of places where you can throw if where he can get it and the other guy can’t. Anytime you have a target like that, you feel like that’s a good matchup.”

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Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

My money says that he can. It was obvious that Drew needed another safety valve last year. Well, we got him!

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Last year my favorite acquisition at the time was Demario Davis. I truly felt he would have the most impact of any incoming player. I was not disappointed at all. Jared Cook is the 2019 version of Davis, as far as I am concerned. I fully expect him to be a true difference maker, as was Davis, and help in a very material way in winning another Lombardi.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Cook had better be a weapon, not just same safety valve...

After all he cost us two.............Ohhhhh!

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

If he has the size, speed, range and hands of Jimmy G AND can block, as well that's just lagniappe.

Consider that his pre-draft combine numbers we equal to or better than Watson's and Graham's except for the vertical jump where he was 6" better. This means he is probably the best tight end Brees' has had as a Saint. I have a feeling that Cook is going to be a major factor in the O.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Jared consistently produced in a dysfunctional offense with Oakland. Unique player that can line up in multiple spots.

Now he's playing for a legit SB contender. He'll do well in this offense with Brees.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Brees has a long history of making the average good and the good great. Expect more of the same...

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

The miraculous catch he made in Green Bay against Dallas comes to mind.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Nobody would cover Kamara because he would have to be on the bench with those previous five players on the field. You can only have five offensive players other than the five linemen and the QB.

;)

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Lots of pressure on one man that didn't have much to say about what was given up for him or how he will be utilized...

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Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Jared Cook vs their Strong Safety ...

Take your eye off Cook for a split second ... substantial gain and/or TD.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Everything really depends on Brees at 40 years old. With how bad his production numbers tanked at the end of last year, it's a legit concern.

I know QBs are playing longer now, but there comes a time when the decline hits. Peyton Manning looked unstoppable until late in the 2014 season when his decline began. Remember Brett Favre in 2009? Legit MVP contender and then fell off a cliff the next year. Manning and Favre both posted their career worst seasons in their final year. One of them was just lucky to be playing on a team with a historic defense.

Even Brady wasn't really all that great last year. The Pats change their offense often depending on what their skilled strengths are. With an aged Brady and lack of deep threat receivers, they went back to running the ball heavily and Sony Michel became their offensive MVP. The Pats looked like their 2001-2004 selves last year with Brady doing mostly game managing.

It's been the high football IQ as to why Brees, Brady and even Manning were all able to play so long and put up amazing seasons when they should've been declining.

I think Payton has been anticipated this in advance and has been working to adjust our offense since 2017. There has been progress made to adjust into a new style of offense that don't rely on Brees to throw it 40 times a game.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

That wasn't true last year when they couldn't get on the same page and Drew wasn't connecting with the receivers. He can make good players look great but even he can't polish a turd and make it shine. Not that these guys are turds but they played like crap last year.

Hopefully, this year everyone is on the same page.

Re: Can Jared Cook return Saints' tight end production to former glory? It's early, but team has high hopes
 

Bump ...

Cook has been as good as advertised. Some writers even used the term "dominant" at practice.