Few analysts writing about the NFL are more qualified than Terrell Davis to assess a running back's potential performance. The NFL.com contributor, after all, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 after a brief but standout career with the Denver Broncos during which he won two Super Bowls, the 1998 MVP award, and was named First Team All-Pro three consecutive seasons.
As if Minnesota Vikings fans didn't have enough reason to be excited about Dalvin Cook playing in their team's revamped rushing attack, Davis believes the third-year pro has the chance to establish himself as one football's best running backs in 2019.
“Knowing [Gary] Kubiak's history, Cook should get a lot of opportunities this season, far more than the 133 carries he had in 2018. The third-year pro has the natural ability to be a top-10 running back, and we've seen glimpses of his talent in the last two seasons. Unfortunately, injuries (ACL in 2017; hamstring in 2018) have prevented him from staying on the field for a full season. With a healthy offseason under his belt and more than a year having passed since his knee injury, Cook will be a major player in the Vikings' offense in 2019.”
In 11 games last season, Cook had 133 carries for 615 yards and two scores, averaging 4.6 yards per rush, also adding 40 catches for 305 yards. He was arguably even better as a rookie before tearing his ACL in Week 4, an injury from which he should be fully recovered this season.
Minnesota hired running-game guru Gary Kubiak in January as assistant head coach and offensive advisor, whose famed zone-blocking scheme should prove a perfect fit for a player of Cook's running style.
Follow Us
Subscribe