Minnesota Vikings: Dalvin Cook just scratching the surface going into 2018
By Joe Kipp
The Minnesota Vikings hit a home run when they drafted Dalvin Cook with the 41st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the sky is the limit for the second-year running back.
Dalvin Cook was everything the Minnesota Vikings expected him to be and more in his rookie season. Unfortunately, the former Florida State Seminole played in only four games, in what was looking like a potential Rookie of the Year campaign.
Cook got off to a hot start to his career, racking up 74 rushes for 354 yards, good for 4.8 yards per carry. He also added in 11 receptions for 90 yards, along with two rushing touchdowns. Of course, Cook tore his ACL when he attempted to cut-back on a run against the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
So what could a full 16-game season from Cook look like? Before he fell injured in just his fourth NFL contest, he was averaging 97 rushing yards per game, which would put him on pace for 1,536 yards over a full season.
Factoring in his performance of just 66 rushing yards in Week 4, he still would have been on pace for 1,416 yards by season’s end. And despite scoring only two touchdowns in four games, he still would have been scored eight times in 16 games.
But all of these are just hypothetical scenarios. We could play the “what if” game all day long. So what can fans expect from Cook in 2018?
Many believe Cook was the missing piece to the offense — not Kirk Cousins — from last season; an arguable sentiment, especially since Case Keenum proved plenty-serviceable last season with 22 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. But that’s another argument for another day.
Cook adds a dimension of explosiveness the Vikings just didn’t have in 2017. He provides the ability to open the playbook in a variety of ways for new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. But if DeFilippo learned anything from last season, it’s not to run Cook up the middle.
Cook excels when he gets outside the numbers. He forced the second-most missed tackles from Weeks 1-4 with 18, only behind fellow rookie sensation Kareem Hunt who had 31. When Cook gets an opportunity to cut-back, watch out.
But that’s nothing new to Cook (or Hunt), who led the entire NCAA in 2016 with 92 broken tackles, followed by – you guessed it: Hunt who had 76. Named one of Pro Football Focus’ top second-year players to breakout in 2018, Cook is primed for a large workload and could easily put up some crazy numbers.
We’re talking about a guy who totaled 85 touches on 169 offensive snaps in just four games. That means Cook had the ball in his hands on 50 percent of the plays he was on the field for. He averaged 5.22 yards per touch, which is an excellent number for a player primed to be a true three-down back.
And let’s not forget, with the departure of Jerick McKinnon to the San Francisco 49ers, a huge role as the resident pass-catcher is up for grabs. Could Cook be primed for even more touches this coming season? Coaches may be hesitant at first, but as time goes on it’ll become clear how deserving he is.
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Would it shock anyone if Cook eclipsed 2,000 total yards in 2018? With a 50 percent touch-rate and huge opportunity for more receptions, a breakout season isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Cook showed briefly last season why he should’ve been a first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Whether or not he’s the missing piece in the Vikings’ offense is up for debate. By season’s end that argument might be no contest.