Hicks To Start At Right Tackle
11/19/2008, updated 1:36 p.m.
Phil Mackey, KFAN.com
Ryan Cook has played poorly almost the entire season, so the writing was on the wall, but Brad Childress announced on Wednesday that Artis Hicks will now take over as the starting right tackle.
Cook had trouble holding his own in one-on-one pass blocking situations, and he was prone to false starts and holding penalties.
“That’s not something you want to lead the league in,” Childress said about Cook’s propensity to commit penalties. “Really, it’s a cumulative work. You’re trying to put yourself in the best position to win games, so that’s all I’m doing.
Cook will now take over Hicks’ role as utility offensive lineman -- a guy who can backup any of the five positions. He’s not thrilled to make the move, but he certainly saw the writing on the wall.
“I had kind of known a little bit, just from my own personal opinion of how I played in the Tampa game and the Green Bay game,” Cook said.
“The penalties obviously didn’t help either.”
Hicks started the first four games at left tackle in place of the suspended Bryant McKinnie. Coming into the 2007 season, Hicks was ahead of Anthony Herrera on the depth chart at right guard. He’s essentially played everywhere along the offensive line, including right tackle throughout the previous practice weeks.
“I talked to [Cook] and just told him ‘Don’t get too down,’ because this business is full of ups and downs,” Hicks said. “You’re going to have your great times, you’re going to have your low times, and you have to stay even keel. You’ve got to stay right in the middle. He understands that. If anybody in this locker room understands what he’s going through it’s me. I went through it last year. I feel for him.”
Childress echoed similar thoughts.
“It’s interesting how the world turns,” Childress said. “365 days ago, Anthony Herrera jumped in for [Hicks]. [Now] he’s jumping in for somebody. He didn’t like it back then. He doesn’t like to have that job, it’s somebody else’s problem. But he’ll do a great job of competing and representing us.”
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