Vikings: Cook crams extra hard for Kampman

As the Vikings prepare for their season opener Monday night in Green Bay, much of the focus has centered on Artis Hicks substituting for the suspended Bryant McKinnie at left tackle.

The reality is the toughest matchup for the Vikings line might be on the opposite side. That's where right tackle Ryan Cook will face Packers Pro Bowl left end Aaron Kampman. Cook is no stranger to the damage Kampman is capable of inflicting.

Cook was making only the second start of his rookie season two years ago when he went against Kampman in a late-season game at Lambeau Field. Kampman finished with three sacks, including two on bull rushes, and four hurries in a 9-7 victory. He completed that season second in the NFL with 15.5 sacks.

"He's just a big technique and effort guy," Cook said. "He plays all out on every play, and if you don't match that intensity he can definitely take advantage of certain situations and make plays."

Entering his second full season as the Vikings' starting right tackle, Cook is far from a finished product, but he is considered a much more complete player than the guy Kampman abused in December 2006.

In two games against Kampman last season, Cook gave up a sack and four hurries. Darrell Bevell, the Vikings offensive coordinator and former quarterbacks coach with the Packers, knows just how difficult Kampman can be for linemen to handle.

"I think the one thing he has to make sure that he does is he has to match Aaron Kampman's intensity," Bevell said of Cook. "That's the one thing that Aaron brings. He brings intensity. He brings tenacity. He brings effort. He finishes every play.

"He plays with great technique. He knows the opponent's weakness. So that's a big challenge for Ryan Cook to make sure he matches that intensity. He can't think that he is going to ease into a street fight. He is going to have a fight on his hands from the first play until the very last play."

Cook's biggest obstacles entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2006 was that he had played center during his college career at New Mexico and had no real experience at tackle. But at 6-6, 328 pounds he did not fit the body type to play center in the pros.

Cook spent last year learning on the job. He then devoted time this offseason to studying film with his position coaches to see where he could improve in his run and pass blocking.

The latter was a primary focus. Pat Morris, one of those coaches, said Cook also worked with the strength and conditioning staff on hand techniques.

"The big thing about that is it's all leverage," Morris said. "Being the center he had one hand between his legs all the time in terms of snapping the ball. Now he can use both. I think you just have to create habits, and years and years [of practice] will help you create habits."

Morris calls Cook's development ongoing. Early in training camp it even looked as if Cook might face competition from backup Marcus Johnson, but that ended when Johnson injured his right knee.

Cook did not appear to be at his best against Pittsburgh in the Vikings' third preseason game, when the starters saw their most extensive action. But Morris said that on one occasion Cook simply tripped over his own foot, and that facing the Steelers' 3-4 scheme actually helped Cook because it meant he had to take on a linebacker at times instead of a defensive lineman.

Cook gets his next test Monday night at Lambeau Field. Kampman's 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons are second-most in the NFL to San Diego's Shawne Merriman (29.5). At times Cook figures to get help from a tight end or a running back, but there also will be one-on-one battles.

That is fine with Cook, whose transition to right tackle continues.

"I've kind of taken ownership of [the position] and realized that's where I'm going to be and that's where I need to be to contribute to this team," he said. "I will definitely try to take every opportunity available to me to improve."