First impression: James Cook

[GunnerBill]

I am not sure it is antything to do with him being smug.... but in 2 snaps he fumbled and then ran what looked like a wrong route when lined up as a receiver. Add that to the concerns as a pass blocker. 

 

He has a long way to go. I liked him as a prospect but I haven't been super impressed in pre-season. Not sure he is going to be a massive weapon as a rookie. 

[TheWeatherMan]

7 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

For a RB that is kind of smug and full of himself, boy did he disappoint. He will never make it in the NFL if he can’t: A) Hold onto the football and B) Run between the tackles.

 

I see a player who has top 10 potential, but his personality is a bit abrasive to me. For a guy who hasn’t proven a darn thing, I see no reason for him to have such a disproportionate level of confidence. Yup, you made it to the NFL, your brother is a good player, you were drafted in the 2nd round, but keep in mind that even a player drafted in the 7th round can eat your lunch if you’re not careful.

For some reason I don’t think this will age well.  

[TBBills]

7 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

What have we seen to suggest he’s smug, full of himself, and abrasive?

I think the OP called his kid an A-hole before he was even born.

[All_Pro_Bills]

The fumble was a bad start and it's something to watch for, but I don't see any reason to declare a state of emergency over it right now.  Obviously, the coaches consider taking care of the football important.  Cook has a specific skill set the team targeted in the draft.  I'm pretty sure we're going to see it in action during the season.  As for his personality, all I've seen is a couple interviews where he's been asked the basic questions and given the usual answers back.  From those encounters nothing too insightful about his personally. 

 

Maybe the guy's just not a talker?  And for that matter, beyond a handful of star players and team leaders that get a lot of attention and do a lot of interviews and appearances, I know next to nothing about the person behind the player on the roster, say, 20 thru 53. 

[HOUSE]

Blackshear is not smug and has incredible balance, great hands and that blend of speed and Power. Sean McDermott needs to move him up fast before he becomes a stale fumbler... 

Edited September 10, 2022 by HOUSE

[JohnMurphyHamFetish]

He was definitely useful on the one play later in the game where he was used as a decoy on a play fake which allowed allen to go left and pick up the first down. But that fumble reminds me of Singletarys issues which would put him on the sidelines early in his career... expect the same treatment of cook until they feel confident he will improve.

[HardyBoy]

12 hours ago, artmalibu said:

 

I dont think he is hurt.  He sure looked good imo

 

Pitch count means he would only be able to play a certain number of snaps or get a certain number of touches. They do it with their d line and other positions a lot.

 

Probably why allen had to run, they couldn't trust Moss or Cook not to fumble and Singletary was at his pitch count. 

[wppete]

James Cook will be fine. The fumble was a learning lesson and didn’t cost us the game. Think next game will be a big one for him. 

[Solomon Grundy]

14 hours ago, NewEra said:

He won’t be available @ 32 imo 

But...you don't draft a RB in the 1st Rd😎

[billsfan1959]

11 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I am not sure it is antything to do with him being smug.... but in 2 snaps he fumbled and then ran what looked like a wrong route when lined up as a receiver. Add that to the concerns as a pass blocker. 

 

He has a long way to go. I liked him as a prospect but I haven't been super impressed in pre-season. Not sure he is going to be a massive weapon as a rookie. 

 

Not disagreeing with your overall assessment about Cook; however, if you slow down the play during which Cook fumbled, you will see that Leonard Floyd made a pretty good defensive play in punching that ball out. Cook was completely in the air from the tackle by Nick Scott and Floyd punched the ball loose. It isn't as if Cook just put the ball on the ground. It was far less egregious than what McKenzie did on the interception.

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Not disagreeing with your overall assessment about Cook; however, if you slow down the play during which Cook fumbled, you will see that Leonard Floyd made a pretty good defensive play in punching that ball out. Cook was completely in the air from the tackle by Nick Scott and Floyd punched the ball loose. It isn't as if Cook just put the ball on the ground. It was far less egregious than what McKenzie did on the interception.

 

I don't necessarily kill him for the fumble. It is the point about his usage I was more seeking to make.

[Solomon Grundy]

7 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Not disagreeing with your overall assessment about Cook; however, if you slow down the play during which Cook fumbled, you will see that Leonard Floyd made a pretty good defensive play in punching that ball out. Cook was completely in the air from the tackle by Nick Scott and Floyd punched the ball loose. It isn't as if Cook just put the ball on the ground. It was far less egregious than what McKenzie did on the interception.

I believe Scott punched it out

[Success]

That wasn't a 1st impression.  He carried the ball once - I'm not going to hold a fumble in a situation like that against him.

 

I think this is what they might call a "hot take."

 

[NewEra]

28 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

But...you don't draft a RB in the 1st Rd😎

I wouldn’t draft most RBs in rd 1.  Sorry, Breece Hall isn’t one of those guys.  Nfl execs agreed.  
 

I wanted AP and Lynch in the 07 draft.  
 

i still need to watch more Bijan to see if he’s one of those guys, but he looks like a game changing back from what I’ve seen so far.  

[Solomon Grundy]

Just now, NewEra said:

I wouldn’t draft most RBs in rd 1.  Sorry, Breece Hall isn’t one of those guys.  Nfl execs agreed.  
 

I wanted AP and Lynch in the 07 draft.  
 

i still need to watch more Bijan to see if he’s one of those guys, but he looks like a game changing back from what I’ve seen so far.  

You know I'm just teasing😂. By the way, the Bills will be picking at 31. Miami forfeit their 1st rder

[ColoradoBills]

17 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

For a RB that is kind of smug and full of himself, boy did he disappoint. He will never make it in the NFL if he can’t: A) Hold onto the football and B) Run between the tackles.

 

I see a player who has top 10 potential, but his personality is a bit abrasive to me. For a guy who hasn’t proven a darn thing, I see no reason for him to have such a disproportionate level of confidence. Yup, you made it to the NFL, your brother is a good player, you were drafted in the 2nd round, but keep in mind that even a player drafted in the 7th round can eat your lunch if you’re not careful.

 

If you truly believe that, wouldn't the fumble humble him.  I would bet he was one of the quietest guys on the plane ride back.

Let's give him 100 touches before we even start to see his worth.

[NewEra]

Just now, Solomon Grundy said:

You know I'm just teasing😂. By the way, the Bills will be picking at 31. Miami forfeit their 1st rder

I know…you’re my boy grundles

 

oh s*** forgot about the fins.  Nice!

 

 

[BigAl2526]

It was one play.  I'm not forming "set in stone" opinions about a guy based on one play.

[HOUSE]

Ok, his one carry was not impressive, a learning experience,  don't fumble,  got it 

[artmalibu]

5 hours ago, HardyBoy said:

 

Pitch count means he would only be able to play a certain number of snaps or get a certain number of touches. They do it with their d line and other positions a lot.

 

Probably why allen had to run, they couldn't trust Moss or Cook not to fumble and Singletary was at his pitch count. 

 

Singletary only had 8 carries, 2 less than Josh.  He has not had any injuries that have been talked about.  So, I would say he was not on a pitch count.