James Cook -- 5.8 ypc(!) and his longest is only 33 yards.

[Dablitzkrieg]

He's exciting to watch.   Putrid pass blocker though.  Most rookies are.   Hopefully the offseason helps with that

4 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Since Singletary isn't on this list, I believe this statistic is a product of Cook avoiding initial contact with his speed. His speed plus light boxes leads to very favorable rushing situations.

Oh, there's more...

 

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

11 hours ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Cook #1 and Hines #2 next year I guess.  No way motor is back unless it's for dirt cheap.

 

5 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

Agree with this. The offense needs explosive dynamic players. Cook and Hines are exactly that. I'm not convinced Cook is a 20 touch kind of guy. However, he's beginning to show his value to the team. Feed him little by little and see how he responds. Baby steps because he's obviously young and still learning. Motor is playing well and much more reliable and experienced despite lacking Cook's type of explosiveness. I trust the coaching staff to make solid decisions on how and when to play the combo of Motor, Cook, and Hines. I suspect all 3 will be an integral part of the hopeful Bills Super Bowl appearance and win. 

 

 

Hines has amassed -0.5 yards rushing and 53 yards receiving.  He's a nonentity in this Offense after 8 games.  He's not a #2.

 

 

4 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Whether Devin returns to the Bills depends as much what happens with the other backs hitting FA as it does on him. If Barkley, Jacobs and Pollard all hit the open market there is a chance Motor is back at a reasonable price. If one or two of those re-signs where they are I suspect very much that he is gone.

 

EDIT: as for whether Cook can be a bell cow - I'm not sold either. But I am not totally sold Motor is a bell cow either. The question for Cook is can he be a starter for a team that is always going to be pass first and facing light boxes. That means being able to handle about 15 carries per game and 3 or 4 touches in the passing game.

 

1 hour ago, eball said:

He’s our bell cow next season, because Motor won’t be back (unless he gets zero play on the open market).

 

 

What is considered a "bell cow"?  Singletary has about 11 carries a game on average,  This year, he's had zero games with  over 20 carries, 2 over 15 and and 6 games under 10.   

 

4 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

Specifically, a new dynamic WR to pair with Diggs. Davis is obviously not that guy, but can be a quality 3rd option when we go Spread. A younger Beasley is also on the ‘23 wish list.

 

 

He is having his best year.  He already has 800 yards after 15 games.  He is averaging a whopping 17.7 YPC and has 7 TDs. 40 of his 45 catches were for 1st downs or TDs. He has more catches in the last 3 games than Diggs. 

 

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

What is considered a "bell cow"?  Singletary has about 11 carries a game on average,  This year, he's had zero games with  over 20 carries, 2 over 15 and and 6 games under 10.   

 

 

Exactly my point. I don't think the Bills offense necessitates a bell cow. Not sure Motor is a bell cow. He is a starting back in a pass heavy offense. That is the test for Cook. Can he be that?

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

Exactly my point. I don't think the Bills offense necessitates a bell cow. Not sure Motor is a bell cow. He is a starting back in a pass heavy offense. That is the test for Cook. Can he be that?

 

Doesn't have to right now.  If you mean if Singletary is gone next year, they will sign someone else I bet.  

 

Singletary is a situational back.  He can't be used as a traditional feature back.

[Roundybout]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Exactly my point. I don't think the Bills offense necessitates a bell cow. Not sure Motor is a bell cow. He is a starting back in a pass heavy offense. That is the test for Cook. Can he be that?

 

I don't think the modern NFL requires a dedicated "bell cow" anymore. 

 

Look how many teams use committees - Browns, Packers, Chiefs, 49ers - it's very rare to have a Derrick Henry get the bulk of touches during a game. Goes to show how much the RB position has fallen off. 

[BillsBytheBay]

11 hours ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Cook #1 and Hines #2 next year I guess.  No way motor is back unless it's for dirt cheap.

Cook and Hines cant hold Motors jock strap when it comes to vision.  

  Cook is a great one cut and go runner, but Motor see's holes like Fred jackson did. (Just comparing the vision) 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

WGR this morning trying to come up with ways to say the Bills run game isn’t as good as the statistics say.

 

Let’s take away the Allen scrambles.

 

4.62 yards per carry (13th) with Allen’s designed runs in there, okay see they’re average.

 

We all understand passing is where you want to be, and not checking down constantly like Kurt Warner wants.

 

But Cook is over 5.0 yards per carry and Singletary is North of 4.5 ypc.

 

Dorsey has not stuck with the run for an entire game game more than three times this year (Cleveland, Patriots and Bears). 
 

They don’t need to become the 2000 Ravens to attempt more runs and pile up Time of Possession.

 

 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

cook is a diamond in the rough...

[newcam2012]

3 hours ago, jwhit34 said:

Given.

 

The question is (given where they are in their careers) is James ever > Dalvin?

To be fair, Hines has never had a chance to prove himself as a RB in Buffalo. Clearly, he was picked up mainly for special teams. The coaches have decided to groom Cook which is a wise thing to do. 

[Einstein's Dog]

2 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

 

I don't think the modern NFL requires a dedicated "bell cow" anymore. 

 

Look how many teams use committees - Browns, Packers, Chiefs, 49ers - it's very rare to have a Derrick Henry get the bulk of touches during a game. Goes to show how much the RB position has fallen off. 

I agree with you.  J Cook is taking over the Lightning role.  And we can now see he has it in him.  We keep Hines (maybe restructure) as backup lightning role to Cook and for special teams.

 

The Bills will need a Thunder type - reliable 2-3 tough yards and excellent pass protecter.  Seems suitable to be a veteran FA acquisition at a good price point.  Maybe even Singletary although he isn't really the tough 2-3 yard guy.  

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Doesn't have to right now.  If you mean if Singletary is gone next year, they will sign someone else I bet.  

 

Singletary is a situational back.  He can't be used as a traditional feature back.

 

I think Cook has to be capable of that at some point to be worth what they invested. Obviously while Motor is here they don't need him to be. 

[BADOLBILZ]

20 minutes ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

cook is a diamond in the rough...

    

Brother of a current star NFL RB

5 star recruit

Played in the spotlight in SEC and on a national championship team

2nd round pick at a time when RB's rarely get picked before the 2nd round

[deanjf]

6 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

I like his quickness. However, he looks pretty light in the ass. I don't see him breaking many tackles when he gets hit or wrapped up. I realize that's not his game. I like the role he's playing and his current contribution. I'm skeptical that he's a starting caliber RB and a reliable workhorse type RB. To be honest, Blackshear looked and looks better than Cook. I get the Cook hype because we all want him to be the reliable, dynamic, explosive RB that the Bills have lacked for years. However, we've been here done that with so many RBs. Cook's sample size is way too small to start declaring him the next Barry Sanders. Let's wait and see how he develops. 

In his entire career, I have never seen Cook break a tackle...

[HappyDays]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Question is could he be that #1 guy if Devin walks? Because if he can't then I'm not sure change of pace back is sufficienct value for a 2nd round pick... even if they get him going a bit more in the passing game.

 

If he spends his rookie contract racking up explosive plays and TDs that's good enough for me to warrant the 2nd rounder. Allen hasn't had a teammate capable of creating explosive plays on his own since John Brown fell off a cliff.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

 

If he spends his rookie contract racking up explosive plays and TDs that's good enough for me to warrant the 2nd rounder. Allen hasn't had a teammate capable of creating explosive plays on his own since John Brown fell off a cliff.

 

Someway I wish Singletary comes back. Allen loves him and useful in lots of ways. Agree with lack of speed but great lots of other thing's.

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

14 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

    

Brother of a current star NFL RB

5 star recruit

Played in the spotlight in SEC and on a national championship team

2nd round pick at a time when RB's rarely get picked before the 2nd round

being an alabama fan, I know him quite well. he's had a slow start but I believe he will be a gem in the running/passing game.

[Einstein's Dog]

4 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

If he spends his rookie contract racking up explosive plays and TDs that's good enough for me to warrant the 2nd rounder. Allen hasn't had a teammate capable of creating explosive plays on his own since John Brown fell off a cliff.

Adding a dynamic RB for the offense for four years is a good thing IMO too.  After a rocky start they are developing him into a valuable asset for years to come.  It will be fun to watch.

 

The Bills will still need another RB IMO, but that doesn't mean Cook isn't worth it.

[GunnerBill]

15 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

If he spends his rookie contract racking up explosive plays and TDs that's good enough for me to warrant the 2nd rounder. Allen hasn't had a teammate capable of creating explosive plays on his own since John Brown fell off a cliff.

 

Fair. But it will need to be more than 3 TDs a season which is what he has so far. If he is churning out 500 yards on the ground and 300 in the air he needs to be scoring 8 plus TDs. 

 

Not criticising. He is a rookie. I was not expecting that this year. But if he isn't going to end up as the Bills starting back then that is the kind of production he needs to justify a 2nd.

[HappyDays]

30 minutes ago, deanjf said:

In his entire career, I have never seen Cook break a tackle...

 

He doesn't break tackles the way we usually think of it but he does have quite a bit of yards after contact. He runs through a lot of arms before they have a chance to get a good hold on him. If he isn't given space to work with he won't churn out yards with power, but give him a lane with some space and he shoots through it fast enough that his power doesn't matter. Considering the number of light boxes we face, his is the more important skill set in this offense anyways IMO.

[Patrick Duffy]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

No way Hines is back unless he takes a pay cut.  

Someone other than Hines

 

I bet we will still see some of those same posters who continue to say, "Bills can't run the ball", or "have no running game". Speaking for myself it's crystal clear and only requires the use of just a small amount of common sense to see that they do have a pretty good ground game when the RBs get more than 5-10 attempts.

 

So for some reason those that say this nonsense looking at only those games the RBs had gotten a hand full of attempts and because they didn't break one for a TD or didn't get chunk yards in those very limited opportunities the conclusion is "Bills suck at running the ball"

 

I just don't get it lol