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Alabama’s defense makes NFL prospect Connor Cook look average
By Chris Wright
Published:
The NFL gunslinger came out throwing.
The NFL-like defense stood strong.
Connor Cook’s best passing plays early against Alabama were those that drew pass interference calls.
The Michigan State quarterback, projected as a possible first-round NFL draft pick and the presumed X-factor in the Spartans’ upset bid in Thursday night’s Cotton Bowl national semifinal, missed on six of his first 10 attempts — the completions coming on short routes for short gains.
Welcome to SEC Football Connor Cook! #rolltide #cottonbowl https://t.co/vwCjbVcW2G
— Hannah Stephens (@TheUASignGirl) January 1, 2016
He appeared to get hot, completing five passes as Michigan State drove from its 25 to Alabama’s 12 before Cyrus Jones read Cook’s eyes and intercepted his pass at the 1 to preserve a first-half shutout.
A quick look at Alabama's defense in the first half: pic.twitter.com/1OA58J11d1
— CBS Sports College Football ? (@CBSSportsCFB) January 1, 2016
The second half brought about more of the same: a thoroughly dominant effort from Alabama’s secondary that negated the only apparent advantage Michigan State had.
That certainly was the narrative coming in: Cook, the strong-armed, NFL prospect would be enough to take on an Alabama back end that hadn’t faced many NFL prospects this season.
Wojo: Confident Connor Cook gives Spartans a chance https://t.co/b1rqBsL4Bo via @detroitnews
— Ken L. Harris, Ph.D. (@DrHarris1911) December 31, 2015
Alabama certainly talked him up, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart comparing Cook to Matt Ryan, a three-time Pro Bowl QB, and saying Cook was “by far” the best quarterback the Tide will have faced in 2015.
It never materialized.
Alabama made Cook look like it made most quarterbacks look: overmatched. It dominated the line of scrimmage, applying pressure with a straight-forward four-man front, while cutting off passing lanes.
Cook was 10 for 20 for a harmless 134 yards when Cyrus Jones returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 24-0 lead, effectively ending the competitive portion of the game.
His counterpart, meanwhile, the oft-maligned Jake Coker, looked like a three-time All-American, completely flipping the script on how most viewed the two quarterbacks.
Coker completed 24 of his first 29 passes for 280 yards and two TDs, the second of which was a 50-yard scoring strike to Calvin Ridley that stretched Alabama’s advantage to 31-0.
In the end, Michigan State needed Cook to play like Coker.
Who in the world saw that coming?
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
