OAKLAND -- Jared Cook plays a ton in coach Jon Gruden's offensive scheme. The Raiders move the tight end around some, playing him as an outside receiver, a slot man and an in-line blocker.
The veteran has proven adept at all three spots, and he came up big yet again in Oakland's offensive game plan.
Cook had eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown vital to a 45-42 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He played 76 of the offense’s 92 snaps and was effective in most every role.
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The veteran is thriving under Gruden, with 26 catches for 370 yards past the season’s quarter pole. He’s on pace for a massive season, well beyond the career-high 759 yards that he set with the Titans in 2011. He might be a 1,000-yard receiver before the season’s through, especially with the volume of snaps and targets he is receiving this season.
The Raiders' defensive line rotation is near constant these days. Bruce Irvin is playing a smaller percentage of snaps -- at just 46 on Sunday. Frostee Rucker play 65 percent of snaps, and even Arden Key ranked above Irvin on this day. The defensive captain still had a sack, though, and was effective rushing the passer.
P.J. Hall was limited in his first game back from an ankle sprain, playing just 19 snaps. Johnathan Hankins played a ton -- he was active for 57 snaps, and had two tackles and two fumble recoveries on the day. Maurice Hurst had a fine day, with four tackles, a strip sack and a pass defensed.
Gareon Conley had the pick six early, but he later was pulled from the game. He struggled to contain Antonio Calloway on a 59-yard pass play in the fourth quarter, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie stepped in opposite Rashaan Melvin after that.
NFL
Offense
Total offensive snaps: 92
Quarterback -- Derek Carr 92
Running back -- Marshawn Lynch 50, Jalen Richard 34, Keith Smith 13, Doug Martin 6
Wide receiver -- Jordy Nelson 80, Amari Cooper 80, Martavis Bryant 40, Seth Roberts 30, Dwayne Harris 4
Tight end -- Jared Cook 76, Lee Smith 30, Derek Carrier 17
Offensive line -- Gabe Jackson 92, Kolton Miller 92, Rodney Hudson 92, Kelechi Osemele 84, Brandon Parker 57, Donald Penn 35, Jon Feliciano 8
Defense
Total defensive snaps: 82
Defensive line -- Johnathan Hankins 57, Frostee Rucker 53, Arden Key 50, Maurice Hurst 50, Clinton McDonald 43, Bruce Irvin 38, Fadol Brown 29, P.J. Hall 19
Linebacker -- Tahir Whitehead 82, Marquel Lee 65, Emmanuel Lamur 35, Derrick Johnson 22, Nicholas Morrow 1
Defensive back -- Rashaan Melvin 72, Marcus Gilchrist 67, Reggie Nelson 55, Gareon Conley 55, Leon Hall 47, Erik Harris 35, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 28
Special teams
Total special teams plays: 34 Carrier 38, Kyle Wilber 34, Rodgers-Cromartie 34, Lee 34, Harris 34, K. Smith 30, Harris 30, Morrow 30, L. Smith 24, Feliciano 18, Matt McCrane 17, Johnny Townsend 15, Trent Sieg 15, Lamur 14, Nelson 9, Jackson 9, Miller 9, Parker 8, Richard 8, Osemele 7, Rucker 6, Whitehead 4, Hankins 4, Conley 4, Key 4, McDonald 4, Irvin 4, Penn 3, Hudson 2.