Cook is Bill with most rushing yards in first 3 games since 2012 (Spiller)

[Nephilim17]

Just read this on NFL.com...

 

The Bills finally have a reliable bell cow providing balance to the offense, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. After racking up 98 yards on the ground in Sunday’s road win over Washington, Cook now has the most rush yards by a Bills player through the first three weeks of the season since 2012 (C.J. Spiller with 308). 

 

Nice to see. Didn't know that we'd gone over decade without that kind of production.

 

I disagree with MJD's assertion that we have a "bell cow" back (maybe it's semantics, but I define "bell cow" as 20 to 25 rushes many games), but I think Cook is a good number-one back on this team who can rack up 12 to 16 carries a game and get good yardage and some catches.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-rb-index-week-4-one-running-back-i-promise-to-stop-underestimating

Edited September 28, 2023 by Nephilim17

[zow2]

Cook is so good I think he should be given vet rest games off, ala NBA style.  Keep him fresh for the playoffs.  

[Warriorspikes51]

Latavius Murray is really nice to have for short yardage and goal line. He's a big guy

Edited September 28, 2023 by Warriorspikes51

[The Frankish Reich]

3 minutes ago, Nephilim17 said:

Just read this on NFL.com...

 

The Bills finally have a reliable bell cow providing balance to the offense, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. After racking up 98 yards on the ground in Sunday’s road win over Washington, Cook now has the most rush yards by a Bills player through the first three weeks of the season since 2012 (C.J. Spiller with 308). 

 

Nice to see. Didn't know that we'd gone over decade without that kind of production.

 

I disagree with MJD's assertion that we have a "bell cow" back (maybe it's semantics, but I define "bell cow" as 20 to 25 rushes almost every game), but I think Cook is a good number-one back on this team who can rack up 12 to 16 carries a game and get good yardage and some catches.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-rb-index-week-4-one-running-back-i-promise-to-stop-underestimating

I liked CJ Spiller! And I'm liking James Cook now.

Is there such a thing as a bell cow back anymore? Derrick Henry in his prime perhaps, but where's the guy consistently getting 20-25 carries a game? McCaffrey, if you add his catches, may be almost there, but that's not the traditional guy we think of. Cook is what he is, which right now is pretty damn good. Use him, don't abuse him, don't run him till he pukes!

[Gregg]

I would have to look it up, but I honestly can't remember the last time the Bills had an RB rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. With the exception of Allen, I think Cook will be the key to beating the Fins. If he can have another good day running, then that means the Bills are controlling the clock and keep the Fins offense on the sidelines. It will also open the passing game if the Fins D has to pay attention to Cook running the ball. Of course, the most important thing is to finish drives with 7 not 3.

[Haslett_Stomp]

5 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Latavius Murray is really nice to have for short yardage and goal line. He's a big guy

 

I was surprised how big he looked the first time he took a handoff.

Edited September 28, 2023 by Haslett_Stomp

[Sherlock Holmes]

1 minute ago, The Frankish Reich said:

I liked CJ Spiller! And I'm liking James Cook now.

Is there such a thing as a bell cow back anymore? Derrick Henry in his prime perhaps, but where's the guy consistently getting 20-25 carries a game? McCaffrey, if you add his catches, may be almost there, but that's not the traditional guy we think of. Cook is what he is, which right now is pretty damn good. Use him, don't abuse him, don't run him till he pukes!

McCaffrey is the GOAT he should have more touches...

[Buffalo_Stampede]

How many yards does he have when the Bills are up 3 scores?

 

I’ll make it easy. Most of his yards have come late in blowouts. Nothing to impressive so far.

Edited September 28, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[SoonerBillsFan]

Inconceivable!  We dont run the ball, our run blocking sucks, our OL sucks and we need to trade for another RB from Indy!  I read it right here all offseason, preseason, and after the Jets game...  (sarcasm off)

[WhoTom]

9 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Latavius Murray is really nice to have for short yardage and goal line. He's a big guy

 

I'm liking the "running back by committee" philosophy, with Cook being the primary guy and Murray and Harris adding a little change-of-pace.

[The Frankish Reich]

"Bell cow" RB - I looked at the leading rushers the last 10 years. There are a few that averaged right about 20 carries per game, like Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs the last couple years. But only 2 who went above that: Derrick Henry in 2020 and DeMarco Murray in 2014 (both around 23/24 carries). And obviously those were not great teams. 

Thing of the past. Cook + Harris + Latavius = today's model.

[Conlan58]

12 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

I liked CJ Spiller! And I'm liking James Cook now.

Is there such a thing as a bell cow back anymore? Derrick Henry in his prime perhaps, but where's the guy consistently getting 20-25 carries a game? McCaffrey, if you add his catches, may be almost there, but that's not the traditional guy we think of. Cook is what he is, which right now is pretty damn good. Use him, don't abuse him, don't run him till he pukes!

As a Bills fan - yes 100%!

 

As a fantasy football player who has Cook as a starter - you shush.

[Augie]

16 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Latavius Murray is really nice to have for short yardage and goal line. He's a big guy

 

….and late in the game when the defense is tired and we want to run clock protecting our healthy lead. I hope for that to be a weekly tradition!   😋

[aristocrat]

13 minutes ago, Gregg said:

I would have to look it up, but I honestly can't remember the last time the Bills had an RB rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. With the exception of Allen, I think Cook will be the key to beating the Fins. If he can have another good day running, then that means the Bills are controlling the clock and keep the Fins offense on the sidelines. It will also open the passing game if the Fins D has to pay attention to Cook running the ball. Of course, the most important thing is to finish drives with 7 not 3.

Shady in 2017

Our between the tackles runs are what I’ve noticed the most this year. Harris and Murray going through the middle have been pretty effective 

[BullBuchanan]

Cook has done great, but agreed that he's anything but a "bell cow" back. Pretty much the opposite.

[Charles Romes]

I’ll be happy if he sustains the same stats in tight games against playoff teams without garbage-time breakaways boosting the numbers. 

[Nephilim17]

31 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

"Bell cow" RB - I looked at the leading rushers the last 10 years. There are a few that averaged right about 20 carries per game, like Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs the last couple years. But only 2 who went above that: Derrick Henry in 2020 and DeMarco Murray in 2014 (both around 23/24 carries). And obviously those were not great teams. 

Thing of the past. Cook + Harris + Latavius = today's model.

You are correct. But I feel like a "bell cow" can and does go over 20 carries a game reasonably often. And a bell cow is good for all yardages. I don't see Cook being that kind of back and I like our committee approach. But he is the "lead" back and will get most touches most games.

[Ta111]

45 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

How many yards does he have when the Bills are up 3 scores?

 

I’ll make it easy. Most of his yards have come late in blowouts. Nothing to impressive so far.

Actually that’s the most impressive part of his yards. When the opponent knows you’re going to run to drain the clock you still put up yards. Very impressive.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, Ta111 said:

Actually that’s the most impressive part of his yards. When the opponent knows you’re going to run to drain the clock you still put up yards. Very impressive.

No. Not up 30-3 or 31-10. Game over. Half his yards have come in at the end of these games.

Edited September 28, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[BuffaloBillyG]

He's not a bell cow back, but I will say the more touches he gets in a game... especially late...the more effective he seems to be. 

 

He's due for a long TD run, I think he gets it this week tbh.