Going into this season, MSU's offensive line had lost three of its five starters. Sophomore Kyle Cook has established himself at left guard, where 2003 captain Joe Tate played, and is a good example of the Spartans' fast-maturing line.
The State News: Is the offensive line learning to play together ahead of schedule?
Cook: I don't know how you say what a schedule is. But I'd say we're gelling really good right now. Will (Whitticker) has played in a lot of ball games. I'm really the only one that hasn't played in a lot of ball games before this year, but I got a lot of work in last year late in the game or in practice. We all know each other and we're all really good friends, so it hasn't been hard for us to gel.
SN: What's an offensive lineman's dream play?
Cook: We really don't have a dream play. No matter what, we block. We're not going to score a touchdown, we're not going to get a 60-yard run, so we block. As long as we can put the ball in the end zone as an offense, that's our goal.
SN: What makes an offensive lineman's job so mentally demanding?
Cook: The offensive lineman has to know how to block every defense, anything they can throw at you. That's one thing. There's a lot of film studying just like any other position. The offensive lineman has to be very intelligent, knowing what to do because there's five guys out there, so if one person makes a mistake, it affects the whole line. As everybody comes together and works out and gells together, it shows progress on everybody.
SN: Which MSU defender is hardest for you to handle in practice?
Cook: Being a guard, I go against guys like (Brandon) McKinney and Kevin Vickerson, and they're starting on our team, and they're great players. I think our two interior starters and guys like (Domata) Peko and people like that, they give us a lift every day. We help them and they help us.
SN: Drew Stanton started his first game at quarterback last week. How does his ability to run change your job?
Cook: It doesn't change our job, if anything it makes it easier because he's not somebody that's going to sit back there in the pocket. It helps out with having almost another running back.
SN: Now for some word association. John L. Smith
Cook: Funny
SN: Ann Arbor
Cook: The other school
SN: Role Model
Cook: Joe Tate and Paul Harker
