Let's take a second to appreciate James Cook

[BearNorth]

For people worried about Cook's # of carries, Thurman carried 288 times in 91 [16 game schedule], he also caught 62 passes. He wan't much bigger at 5-10 200#. Cook 5'11 - 190#  is on pace for 325 carries [17 game schedule] but is only on pace for 28 receptions.

[stuvian]

Cook is taking a lot of pounding but looks stronger every week. 

[Buffalo716]

31 minutes ago, stuvian said:

Cook is taking a lot of pounding but looks stronger every week. 

I don't even think he takes many very very big hits 

 

He's very slippery and knows how to take a hit also

[Ga boy]

15 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

I don't even think he takes many very very big hits 

 

He's very slippery and knows how to take a hit also

I haven’t seen him take one hit like Espenesa put on Mahomey.

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, Ga boy said:

I haven’t seen him take one hit like Espenesa put on Mahomey.

That made my back hurt

[BCAS Baritone]

I've been wondering if keeping Cook out on passing downs might also be part of the strategy to keep him fresh.  He's a shifty back so doesn't take too many square up hits where he plows into a LB or DT - more glancing blows.  In pass protection, you need to square up, stand you ground and take on a LB or Safety with a head of steam, which can be a more violent collision.  If actually out in the pattern not as much of a concern, but in pass pro it adds to wear and tear.  And it's not a touch, so for fans it doesn't count but for the player it still is violence.

[HappyDays]

The blockers deserve a shout out too. And I mean all of them. The OL, the TEs, the WRs, Gilliam... It's genuinely impressive how every single player on offense is 100% bought in to that identity. A guy like Shakir could just mail it in but he's bringing it to his CB trying to open up a crease. Guys like Samuel and Moore are running all the way across the field to get in the way of backside pursuers. Hawes has the technique of a 10 year vet. You could go down the whole depth chart and give everybody some kind of kudos.

 

I don't agree with building an offense that is better at running the ball than passing, but I can appreciate that they went all in on making it the identity of the team. Cook's vision and quick feet combined with these blocking schemes is the stuff of nightmares for DCs. Cook's 62.7% rushing success rate is the highest the NFL has seen since 2016 (hilariously it was Mike Gillislee). That doesn't happen with as many attempts as Cook has unless the RB and the blockers both are elite.

 

Edited 18 hours ago by HappyDays

[Buffalo716]

7 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

The blockers deserve a shout out too. And I mean all of them. The OL, the TEs, the WRs, Gilliam... It's genuinely impressive how every single player on offense is 100% bought in to that identity. A guy like Shakir could just mail it in but he's bringing it to his CB trying to open up a crease. Guys like Samuel and Moore are running all the way across the field to get in the way of backside pursuers. Hawes has the technique of a 10 year vet. You could go down the whole depth chart and give everybody some kind of kudos.

 

I don't agree with building an offense that is better at running the ball than passing, but I can appreciate that they went all in on making it the identity of the team. Cook's vision and quick feet combined with these blocking schemes is the stuff of nightmares for DCs. Cook's 62.7% rushing success rate is the highest the NFL has seen since 2016 (hilariously it was Mike Gillislee). That doesn't happen with as many attempts as Cook has unless the RB and the blockers both are elite.

 

 

As I've been saying here for a while we certainly have an elite offensive run blocking line and it's still very good pass blocking 

 

But both our tackles are maulers in the run game... McGovern is a very physical center.. Torrence is a unit and Edwards is solid

[Thurman#1]

16 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Health is obviously a consideration with every player in the league. For a back mind you James doesn't take that many big hits. He is a different style of runner to his brother. The bigger risk is him getting his ankle rolled up on etc which he did a bit Sunday and looked gimpy for a series or two afterwards. That can happen to anyone at any time. The him wearing down.... I worry less about that.

 

 

I hope you are right about that. I'm not convinced, but I definitely hope you are right. Thurman Thomas was also a guy who mostly squirted through things and didn't take big hits. But time took its toll, as it generally does. After those first five years his YPA took a very noticeable dip, and though he was always a very good RB, he wasn't what he'd been in those first five years.

 

I agree that James and Dalvin have different styles, but also different body types. At 5'10, Dalvin is shorter but 15 pounds heavier. James isn't nearly as big and strong.

 

I worry about his wear and tear, but from your keyboard to God's ears.

[GASabresIUFan]

14 hours ago, nuklz2594 said:

cook is our thurman. now we need a Kenny davis

Ty Johnson?

 

My favorite anti-Cook posts this off-season were the ones the said Ray Davis was just as good as Cook.   

Edited 17 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[NickelCity]

Cook and Ty are a good duo. I wish we had a dialed route runner. 

[Thurman#1]

3 hours ago, BearNorth said:

For people worried about Cook's # of carries, Thurman carried 288 times in 91 [16 game schedule], he also caught 62 passes. He wan't much bigger at 5-10 200#. Cook 5'11 - 190#  is on pace for 325 carries [17 game schedule] but is only on pace for 28 receptions.

 

 

Yeah, but it cost Thurman. Take a look at his year by years Yards Per Attempt stats.

 

1988 4.3 on 207 carries

1989 4.2 on 298 carries

1990 4.8 on 271 carries

1991 4.9 on 288 carries

1992 4.8 on 312 carries

1993 3.7 on 355 carries

1994 3.8 on 287 carries

1995 3.7 on 267 carries

1996 4.2 (way down to) 154 carries

1997 4.1 on 93 carries

1998 4.2 on 36 carries

1999 4.9 on 28 carries

 

After those first five years with so many carries, he lost a step. Again, he was still very good but not what he'd been. And if you look at his passing stats they show the exact same pattern, his yards and Yards Per Catch nosedived after those first five high mileage years.

 

James Cook is 5'11" and 190 while Thurman was 5'10 206. That's a very significant difference. Thurman, in size, was a very close match to James' brother Dalvin, not to James. And  defenders were smaller in Thurman's day.

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Thurman#1

[GASabresIUFan]

My only gripe with Cook this season and it's not on Cook, it's on Brady and Josh, is we need to utilize Cookie more in the pass game.  2 total targets in the last 4 games is unacceptable for your best playmaker. 

 

I'd also like to see Cookie get a reduction in carries.  IMHO 300+ carries is a good way to destroy your star RB.  I'd like to see him top out at 275 with 40 receptions.  

Edited 17 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[Thurman#1]

59 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

The blockers deserve a shout out too. And I mean all of them. The OL, the TEs, the WRs, Gilliam... It's genuinely impressive how every single player on offense is 100% bought in to that identity. A guy like Shakir could just mail it in but he's bringing it to his CB trying to open up a crease. Guys like Samuel and Moore are running all the way across the field to get in the way of backside pursuers. Hawes has the technique of a 10 year vet. You could go down the whole depth chart and give everybody some kind of kudos.

 

I don't agree with building an offense that is better at running the ball than passing, but I can appreciate that they went all in on making it the identity of the team. Cook's vision and quick feet combined with these blocking schemes is the stuff of nightmares for DCs. Cook's 62.7% rushing success rate is the highest the NFL has seen since 2016 (hilariously it was Mike Gillislee). That doesn't happen with as many attempts as Cook has unless the RB and the blockers both are elite.

 

 

 

Agreed, and very much so. People complain, with some justification, about keeping Shavers out there. The guy blocks very well and very consistently.

 

It all adds up.

 

Mike Gillislee!!!! Wow, that's a blast from the past!!!!

 

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, BCAS Baritone said:

I've been wondering if keeping Cook out on passing downs might also be part of the strategy to keep him fresh.  He's a shifty back so doesn't take too many square up hits where he plows into a LB or DT - more glancing blows.  In pass protection, you need to square up, stand you ground and take on a LB or Safety with a head of steam, which can be a more violent collision.  If actually out in the pattern not as much of a concern, but in pass pro it adds to wear and tear.  And it's not a touch, so for fans it doesn't count but for the player it still is violence.

 

There's recent evidence that Cook is still very..."uneven" in pass pro. Whether it's a lag in pre-snap recognition or limitations in blocking aptitude, it's still risky to rely on him 1:1 against a blitzer. He has shown some willingness, to be fair. 

 

Despite this lingering weakness in his game, I believe one key to further unlocking the Brady offense is more aggressively attacking defenses through the air with Cook lined up in the backfield. Gotta take advantage of heavy boxes (hehe) and run blitzes and known tendencies. Whether Cook stays in to block, or chips and leaks out, or motions out and runs a route...you gotta continue to diversify and evolve. Keep em guessing. 

 

54 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Yeah, but it cost Thurman. Take a look at his year by years Yards Per Attempt stats.

 

1988 4.3 on 207 carries

1989 4.2 on 298 carries

1990 4.8 on 271 carries

1991 4.9 on 288 carries

1992 4.8 on 312 carries

1993 3.7 on 355 carries

1994 3.8 on 287 carries

1995 3.7 on 267 carries

1996 4.2 (way down to) 154 carries

1997 4.1 on 93 carries

1998 4.2 on 36 carries

1999 4.9 on 28 carries

 

After those first five years with so many carries, he lost a step. Again, he was still very good but not what he'd been. And if you look at his passing stats they show the exact same pattern, his yards and Yards Per Catch nosedived after those first five high mileage years.

 

James Cook is 5'11" and 190 while Thurman was 5'10 206. That's a very significant difference. Thurman, in size, was a very close match to James' brother Dalvin, not to James. And  defenders were smaller in Thurman's day.

 

 

 

That Bills offense became incredibly repetitive/predictable towards the back half of their run. As a dialed-in teenager at the Bills vs Lions Thanksgiving game ('94), I showed an uncle how predictable the Bills had become by correctly predicting their first 4 consecutive offensive plays (then punt), down to the nuanced results of each. 

 

And Thurman logged consistently heavy YoY NFL usage with only one fully intact ACL. While a less rigorous offseason training regimen (than we see these days) might have allowed for more recovery, it also didn't maintain or even improve upon speed and explosion as the years rolled on. 

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

I hope you are right about that. I'm not convinced, but I definitely hope you are right. Thurman Thomas was also a guy who mostly squirted through things and didn't take big hits. But time took its toll, as it generally does. After those first five years his YPA took a very noticeable dip, and though he was always a very good RB, he wasn't what he'd been in those first five years.

 

I agree that James and Dalvin have different styles, but also different body types. At 5'10, Dalvin is shorter but 15 pounds heavier. James isn't nearly as big and strong.

 

I worry about his wear and tear, but from your keyboard to God's ears.

 

If it is long term wear and tear you are worried about then the Bills have guarded against that. This is year 4. They are pretty much committed through year 5. But it would cost $5.4m in dead cap if they wanted to move on in 2027. 

 

That isn't a justification anyone can use to still hold onto a wrong opinion about extending him. 

[Pete]

I can’t imagine the offense without Cook.  Bills passing game often looks forced and difficult.  If I was coordinator, playing Bills- I’d put my #1 CB on Dalton.  If there’s no Dalton, and no Cook, we have an average offense, with an elite QB being a game manager throwing bubble screens

[Sharky7337]

Can we rename this the James Cook thanks Ray Davis for losing weight thread?

Edited 4 hours ago by Sharky7337

[ticketssince61]

On 11/4/2025 at 9:01 PM, Buffalo716 said:

 

 

James Cook like Thurman is going to run us into the Super bowl powered behind this offensive line captained by Josh Allen

 

He's playing like an all pro 

 

I think Cook is great but no comparison to Thurman as an all around back or even a pure RB. Thurman had:

- more power-

- much better moves

- and read the holes much better

[Prospector]

On 11/4/2025 at 11:38 PM, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Weren't you saying he wasn't a 3 Down Back? 😱

Well the coaches don't play him on 3rd down, so technically he's not 😀