Can James Cook break a tackle, ever?!?!

[DrDawkinstein]

That isnt his game. Did anyone think it was?

 

Cooks game is to AVOID contact, out run it, beat it to the corner and get loose.

 

He is NEVER going to run through someone. He never has. That has never been his game and shouldnt be expected.

[SoMAn]

Leading up to the season I went back and watched some of last year’s games. One of my thoughts with each watch was, “they’re going to miss Singletary”. 
 

There seems to be a common belief that our RB room has been improved this year.  I’m not so sure. 
 

Cook arguably has better quickness and vision that Singletary, but he’s got no arse. He’s what they used to call a scat back. With today’s faster and stronger defenders, a back has to have some push, otherwise he’s absolutely useless between the tackles-as seen last night with Cook.  In his defense, the o-line wasn’t doing much to provide him with holes to run through.

Watching the line collapse, I’m starting to wonder if Morse, who should be that anchor in the middle, is starting to become a liability. 

[1onemangang7]

He can't avoid contact forever. If he plays that many snaps the likelihood that he will miss time I'd guess would be pretty high. Just a reality no wishful thinking or anything. Ya need a backup plan other than Josh hitting the wrong uniform lol

Edited September 12, 2023 by 1onemangang7

[C.Biscuit97]

Dude ran hard against a good defense. I would love a legit stud rb. But Cook is the least of this teams worries. 

25 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

That isnt his game. Did anyone think it was?

 

Cooks game is to AVOID contact, out run it, beat it to the corner and get loose.

 

He is NEVER going to run through someone. He never has. That has never been his game and shouldnt be expected.

Also, isn’t the goal to avoid getting tackled? 
 

I swear some want the Lombardi GB offense of 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

[1onemangang7]

7 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Dude ran hard against a good defense. I would love a legit stud rb. But Cook is the least of this teams worries. 

Also, isn’t the goal to avoid getting tackled? 
 

I swear some want the Lombardi GB offense of 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

Damn right. I thought Harris' 3 yarder looked good.  That's how you soften em . It's ok to use a punter.

[zow2]

I'm sure it's noticed in the RB film room... they will watch and the other RBs will think Jesus dude, an opponent fingernail scrapes across your leg and he goes down like a 12 year old..  Get tough James,  you won't be able to avoid defenders on every carry. 

[1onemangang7]

1 minute ago, zow2 said:

I'm sure it's noticed in the RB film room... they will watch and the other RBs will think Jesus dude, an opponent fingernail scrapes across your leg and he goes down like a 12 year old..  Get tough James,  you won't be able to avoid defenders on every carry. 

Gotta be some eye rolling at least

[Chandler#81]

1 hour ago, Dopey said:

Yeah, Cook is the reason we lost 🤣

Cook isn't the one leading the nfl in turnovers over the since last year. 

I created a Josh Allen excuse thread right after the game. This seems to be an excuse thread, for Josh.

Yeah, a RB who can’t break a tackle is an excuse for Allen. Next week, Allen will most likely perform better. Cook will not.

[PBF81]

10 hours ago, zow2 said:

So many people here love the guy. I just don’t see it as i’ve said since last season.  As a RB you simply have to break some arm tackles.  Watch Breece Hall for 2 carries and he’s everything Cook isn’t. 

Yes, when no one touches him, Cook is decent, but that’s the case with any RB.  I need more Damien Harris or Murray.  Cook seems like a nice change of pace, but not THE GUY to me.  Hope im proven wrong 

 

 

Cook has never been a tackle-breaking player, not even in college.  He was drafted for his speed.  It's wrong to expect that from him.  But that's what McBeane want.  

 

I was hoping to see more of Harris yesterday, he only saw 9 snaps.  Seems as if he's like Hines, a lot of hype over his signing, but maybe they won't use him much either.  

 

Good coaching would know how to optimize the talent we have.  

 

 

[C.Biscuit97]

53 minutes ago, 1onemangang7 said:

Damn right. I thought Harris' 3 yarder looked good.  That's how you soften em . It's ok to use a punter.

Actually, maybe it’s not!

 

too soon 😞

[C.Biscuit97]

25 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Yeah, a RB who can’t break a tackle is an excuse for Allen. Next week, Allen will most likely perform better. Cook will not.

Why the hell are you dumping on Cook?

[Dopey]

36 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Yeah, a RB who can’t break a tackle is an excuse for Allen. Next week, Allen will most likely perform better. Cook will not.

I'll wait and see. 

[1onemangang7]

48 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Why the hell are you dumping on Cook?

He's not cut out for the pros. Why do you dump on Kelly?. He clearly was

[Boatdrinks]

I don’t see Cook as a feature back and never have. Just doesn’t seem to have “ it” factor. 

[BullBuchanan]

why do you expect him to? He didn't break tackles in college either. he was and is an outside runner and pass catcher we're trying to use as a normal back. Classic Beane - McD miscue.

Edited September 12, 2023 by BullBuchanan

[CapeBreton]

2 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

why do you expect him to? He didn't break tackles in college either. he was and is an outside runner and pass catcher we're trying to use as a normal back. Classic Beane - McD miscue.

 

Bills reached on him because they were desperate for a receiving back, now they are using him as a workhorse which he clearly isn't, doesn't make any sense. I hated the pick at the time and I hate what he means for our offence, we can't rely on this guy at all.

[vincec]

Cook will never break a lot of tackles. Unfortunately, he’s not that elusive either. He has good speed and good hands. If he puts on some size, it will help his pass blocking, which isn’t great, and he can be a pass game specialist. My main problem with Cook yesterday was that he got the ball way too many times, which it’s not his fault. He’s not Marshall Faulk. Harris and/or Murray should have been more involved. That’s on Dorsey, IMO.

[billsbackto81]

He's not a physical "between the tackles" RB, especially with a subpar O Line like ours. He's got speed for days but once contact is made, it's over.

[MikePJ76]

He isn't a lead back.  He is a good player but not a lead back.  

 

The fourth quarter last night should have been all about the two bigger backs and the tight ends.  Instead they are just going to run delayed draws out of the shotgun and hope cook can beat people to the edge.

 

They are never going to get better if they don't change the running game and use it more.  

Edited September 12, 2023 by MikePJ76

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, MikePJ76 said:

He isn't a lead back.  He is a good player but not a lead back.  

 

The fourth quarter last night should have been all about the two bigger backs and the tight ends.  Instead they are just going run delayed draws out of the shotgun.

 

They are never going to get better if they don't change the running game and use it more.  

 

Disagree, in that, he is a lead back in today's NFL. And performed really well the first 3 quarters.

 

But when you want to downshift and grind it out, you put in your secondary back as your "closer". Which we kinda did, but then got cutesy again.

[MikePJ76]

1 minute ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Disagree, in that, he is a lead back in today's NFL. And performed really well the first 3 quarters.

 

But when you want to downshift and grind it out, you put in your secondary back as your "closer". Which we kinda did, but then got cutesy again.

thats fine and a fair point. 

 

They need to get bigger and powerful when they have leads in the fourth quarter and cooks is not that guy.  If the interior is going to get beat they need someone that can get through a tackle and fall forward.  They signed two guys to do that and then in the most perfect game ever to shift to this philosophy, eat time and just go down and kick field goals to win....they didn't.

 

That third and 2 last night was just inexcusable to throw the ball.  That should have been a between the tackles run and if it is 4th and inches would just sneak it.  Then keep running.  

 

some games you have to just keep being aggressive because the other team can score quick, mahomes, burrow, jackson, herbert etc...Not wilson and the jets.  That game was a street fight in the second half and they should have played that way. 

the raiders are going to come in sunday and go big and run all day and then on defense they are going to drop 6 or 7 like the jets did and hope allen throws it in the middle of the field.  

 

this team needs to find a real running game and soon.

[Pasaluki]

I don't think his speed is that special either. For a running back to not be able to take a hit they should at have extraordinary speed. He's not terrible I just don't see him as a special player...

[Chaos]

Cook's yards after contact were zero yesterday. Total yards per carry 3.8.  If this doesn't change quicky, we need to stop feeding him. No running attack can rely on a line generating wide open holes. 




 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Chaos

[BigBadBills]

2 minutes ago, Chaos said:

Cook's yards after carry were zero yesterday. Total yards per carry 3.8.  If this doesn't change quicky, we need to stop feeding him. No running attack can rely on a line generating wide open holes. 




 

You mean after contact?

[Simon]

1 minute ago, BigBadBills said:

You mean after contact?

Probably but he's so busy repeatedly reposting redundant threads that his brain can't keep up with his mouth.

[Trust The Process]

18 minutes ago, Chaos said:

Cook's yards after contact were zero yesterday. Total yards per carry 3.8.  If this doesn't change quicky, we need to stop feeding him. No running attack can rely on a line generating wide open holes. 




 

good grief

[Chaos]

4 minutes ago, Trust The Process said:

good grief

I started to post "seemed like YAC was zero" and figured I should look it up, assuming it could not possibly have been zero. But there you go. 

[newcam2012]

53 minutes ago, Pasaluki said:

I don't think his speed is that special either. For a running back to not be able to take a hit they should at have extraordinary speed. He's not terrible I just don't see him as a special player...

He's serviceable. 

[BarleyNY]

I’ve got $1000 that says James Cook could break a Sam Martin tackle. 

[LABILLBACKER]

8 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

I’ve got $1000 that says James Cook could break a Sam Martin tackle. 

That punt was pathetic but that tackle made him look like a p ussy.

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

That punt was pathetic but that tackle made him look like a p ussy.

 

Are we expecting Punters to be big hitters?

[Turk71]

Keep running him up the middle, he's a powerhouse.

I had a bad feeling on the first drive when they ran Cook up the middle for little gain on 1st and 2nd down, then Spencer Brown gets knocked flying backwards into Allen. Cook is not a 3 down back, he hits the ground whenever he's touched; and once again Brown should not be a starter. 

Stinker all around, Allen played like ***** but the coaches and line stunk it up as well. 

[Airseven]

19 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Are we expecting Punters to be big hitters?

No, but perhaps do literally anything other than skipping out of the runner’s way.

[Chicken Boo]

I don't get it.  Most of you don't want a stud RB. You buck at the suggestion every time. 

 

"It's a passing league" remember?

[Bermuda Triangle]

7 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

That isnt his game. Did anyone think it was?

 

Cooks game is to AVOID contact, out run it, beat it to the corner and get loose.

 

He is NEVER going to run through someone. He never has. That has never been his game and shouldnt be expected.

How about beating an LB or DB one-on-one in space?  Harty couldn't do it last night either.

[Airseven]

4 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

How about beating an LB or DB one-on-one in space?  Harty couldn't do it last night either.

It was rather comical how they tried to feature Harty early. Those plays had no chance. 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Airseven

[MJS]

He looked pretty good catching passes. He had a few nice runs.

 

I guess we'll have to wait and see more from him.

[BillMafia716ix]

Damien Harris was so good for New England. He should be the lead back IMO.  I hate how we constantly run our running backs out of shotgun too. We don’t allow our back to get a full head of steam. 

[John from Riverside]

1 hour ago, Chaos said:

Cook's yards after contact were zero yesterday. Total yards per carry 3.8.  If this doesn't change quicky, we need to stop feeding him. No running attack can rely on a line generating wide open holes. 




 

I know everybody is on the doom and gloom train today but it is worth noting that they played the Jets defense last night. That is probably the best defense they will see all year.

[Royale with Cheese]

19 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

I don't get it.  Most of you don't want a stud RB. You buck at the suggestion every time. 

 

"It's a passing league" remember?

 

I mean it is a passing league.  The last time the leading rusher in the NFL won a Super Bowl was almost 30 years ago.

The consistent winners are passing teams.