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Sports mobileBengals' new center Cook has ‘it’
Former practice squad player will take over for the departed Ghiaciuc as the anchor of the Bengals’ offensive line.
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What the Bengals want and need, Kyle Cook has.
The second-year center from Michigan State has taken advantage of his opportunity and seized the starting job, replacing Eric Ghiaciuc, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent on April 30.
“Kyle’s got the ‘it’ factor,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. “The guys follow his direction and that’s what we’re looking for. You have to take charge. That’s one of the requirements of the job.
“You have to make the right calls. You have to synthesize complex things in a hurry and be right. He’s got the brains. He just understands it. He may be one of the smartest guys we’ve had.”
Cook signed as an undrafted college free agent with the Minnesota Vikings, who released him on Sept. 1, 2007. Four days later, the Bengals signed him to their practice squad.
He made the 53-man roster in 2008 and played in five games on special teams. But he landed on injured reserve when he dislocated a toe during a freak collision during pregame warm-ups at Dallas on Oct. 5.
Cook used his time wisely — waiting, watching, studying and learning while rehabilitating.
“That was tough,” he said. “But you’ve got to use it as a learning experience. If you sit back and put it on cruise control for the rest of the year, you’re going to be a step behind.
“Even when I was hurt, I was still sitting in the back of the room paying attention, watching film, seeing what works against these guys and what doesn’t work against these guys. You get to see everything that goes on. You learn the right things and you also learn the wrong things.”
The Bengals yielded 51 sacks in 2008. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started 12 games in place of injured Carson Palmer, went down 38 times. Ghiaciuc, who started all 16 games at center, was partially responsible. Both are gone — Fitzpatrick to Buffalo, Ghiaciuc to K.C.
Alexander hasn’t tweaked the line. He blew it up and started over with Cook in the middle, flanked by guards Nate Livings and Bobbie Williams, and tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith.
“I see a lot of great communication, starting with the center, which is key,” Williams said. “Not taking anything away from the last guy (Ghiaciuc), but Kyle Cook is doing an awesome job out there. He’s a good clean-up guy. Guys are out there talking. That’s the main thing, communicating. We’ll just let our ability do the rest.”
Cook has come a long way in three seasons. From practice squad to injured reserve to opening-day starter on Sept. 13 against the visiting Denver Broncos if he stays healthy.
“Since the beginning, it’s taken a lot of hard work to get where I’m at,” Cook said. “It feels good right now. The guys are communicating. We’re talking well. We’re getting the calls across the line, which is basic fundamentals — where it all starts.
“But it’s not set in stone. I’ve got to understand what my goal is, what our team goal is, and know that every day I’ve got to come to work.”
The Kyle Cook File
Position: Center.
Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 306.
Age: 25.
Birthday: July 25, 1983
Hometown: Macomb, Mich.
College: Michigan State.
NFL games/starts: 5/0.
Quote: “Kyle’s done a good job of taking control of the offensive line. He makes the calls, makes ’em very assertively and gets us organized. That’s what the center does. We’ve been very pleased with him.” — offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski
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