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

[NoSaint]

12 hours 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 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

25 rushes per game would be 425 a year. A record, right?

[Nephilim17]

10 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

25 rushes per game would be 425 a year. A record, right?

Indeed. That's why I wrote 20 to 25 many games.

 

There are backs out there who do that, not a lot, but they're out there and they are "bell cows," to me. Cook is not a bell cow. He's a damn fine 15-carry back but if we're grinding it out in a snow game, or with a back-up QB because Josh is out, I don't hand it to Cook 22 times. 

Edit: Can Cook get 22 touches in one game? That's a possibility. I just don't expect him to get 22 rushes in a rush-heavy game. Maybe I'm wrong. Let's see...

Edited September 29, 2023 by Nephilim17

[NoSaint]

8 minutes ago, Nephilim17 said:

Indeed. That's why I wrote 20 to 25 many games.

 

There are backs out there who do that, not a lot, but they're out there and they are "bell cows," to me. Cook is not a bell cow. He's a damn fine 15-carry back but if we're grinding it out in a snow game, or with a back-up QB because Josh is out, I don't hand it to Cook 22 times. 

Edit: Can Cook get 22 touches in one game? That's a possibility. I just don't expect him to get 22 rushes in a rush-heavy game. Maybe I'm wrong. Let's see...

to continue on getting to the same page… 15 per game would put him 8th in carries

 

by your definition bell cow means Henry, Jacobs and borderline chub

 

 

also, 21 touches vs LV…

Edited September 29, 2023 by NoSaint

[gobills404]

So far he’s on pace *knocks on wood* for the most yards from scrimmage by any Bills player since Thurman. And I did his 16 game pace for the sake of comparison.

Edited September 29, 2023 by gobills404

[Buffalo_Stampede]

4 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

So far he’s on pace *knocks on wood* for the most yards from scrimmage by any Bills player since Thurman. And I did his 16 game pace for the sake of comparison.

Would be amazing. Means the Bills had a lot of blowout wins to allow Cook his garbage time rushing yards.

 

[ColoradoBills]

I like James Cook.  I think he's a pretty good running back and a good fit for the Bills, especially with Murray and Harris behind him.

[gobills404]

13 hours 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.

 

13 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

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

 

10 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

A lot of people dislike my garbage time yards post without a rebuttal. You know what that means right? 
 

Cook will definitely earn his flowers this year but not yet. It’s early.

 

9 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I said late in 3 score games. This isn’t your typical run the clock out stuff. Why are people so upset. 

 

9 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Theres running the clock and then there’s garbage time.

 

8 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I don’t care about garbage time is the point.

 

7 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

As I said up 3 scores in the 4th is garbage time. 
 

So it’s a big difference. Not exactly running to wear you down.

 

31 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Would be amazing. Means the Bills had a lot of blowout wins to allow Cook his garbage time rushing yards.

 

Thanks for replying to my post with your thoughts about Cook in garbage time. I never would’ve known otherwise 🤦‍♂️.

Edited September 29, 2023 by gobills404

[Utah John]

15 hours 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 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

Not mentioned in the NFL.com quote was how many yards Cook has.  I looked it up.  It's 267.  That averages to 89 per game, which would put him over 1500 for the season.  And he got his 267 yards on 44 carries, which is 6.07 yards per carry.  All this without any really long runs.  He's getting close to ripping one for 75 yards, which will make his stats look even better.

[Thurman#1]

19 hours 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 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

 

 

While I disagree with Jones-Drew that Cook is a bell-cow (44 carries is 12 per game, and that's not a bell cow), yeah, he's having a really good start. Our whole run game looks good so far, though not so much during the Jets game.

 

 

6 hours ago, NoSaint said:

25 rushes per game would be 425 a year. A record, right?

 

 

Yes, because of the 17 games a year. But not by much. A very few backs have averaged 25 carries a year or more.

 

People always mention 25 carries a game when they talk about bell cows, but in reality it's really rare, and in the last fifteen years or so, spectacularly rare.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by Thurman#1

[Buffalo_Stampede]

5 hours ago, gobills404 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for replying to my post with your thoughts about Cook in garbage time. I never would’ve known otherwise 🤦‍♂️.

Here’s another one.

 

I’ll also add 22 (half) of his carries are when the Bills are up 2 scores as well. 

When leading by 17+points:

 

McCaffery - 14 rushes 48 yards

Swift - 6 rushes 49 yards

Cook - 11 rushes 116 yards

Connor - 2 rush 8 yards

Pollard - 17 rushes 82 yards

Mostert - 7 rushes 21 yards

Robinson Jr - 0 rushes

Bijan - 0 rushes

Moss - 2 rushes 10 yards

Achane - 9 rushes 135 yards

 

Maybe it’s time we ran Cook more to be honest. His average when games are close is still good. Over 5 yards per carry when leading by 1 score. If they ran Cook more vs the Jets we’re 3-0.

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[SoCal Deek]

2 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Here’s another one.

 

I’ll also add 22 (half) of his carries are when the Bills are up 2 scores as well. 

When leading by 17+points:

 

McCaffery - 14 rushes 48 yards

Swift - 6 rushes 49 yards

Cook - 11 rushes 116 yards

Connor - 2 rush 8 yards

Pollard - 17 rushes 82 yards

Mostert - 7 rushes 21 yards

Robinson Jr - 0 rushes

Bijan - 0 rushes

Moss - 2 rushes 10 yards

Achane - 9 rushes 135 yards

 

Maybe it’s time we ran Cook more to be honest. His average when games are close is still good. Over 5 yards per carry when leading by 1 score. If they ran Cook more vs the Jets we’re 3-0.

 

I’m completely lost on your premise here. First, it’s not unusual for RBs to pick up yards near the end of games when the defense is tired. It’s actually expected. Second, and maybe more importantly, the RB can only gain rushing yards when the offense gives him the ball. The Bills are a pass-first team. I don’t expect them to suddenly become a ground and pound team and neither does anyone else. 

[GunnerBill]

26 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’m completely lost on your premise here. First, it’s not unusual for RBs to pick up yards near the end of games when the defense is tired. It’s actually expected. Second, and maybe more importantly, the RB can only gain rushing yards when the offense gives him the ball. The Bills are a pass-first team. I don’t expect them to suddenly become a ground and pound team and neither does anyone else. 

 

It is very common for RBs to average more yards late in games. Derrick Henry no less averages less than 4 yards per carry in the 1st Qrtr.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’m completely lost on your premise here. First, it’s not unusual for RBs to pick up yards near the end of games when the defense is tired. It’s actually expected. Second, and maybe more importantly, the RB can only gain rushing yards when the offense gives him the ball. The Bills are a pass-first team. I don’t expect them to suddenly become a ground and pound team and neither does anyone else. 

People assume whatever they want. I never said anything about Cook as a player. 
 

What if it’s more about Ken Dorsey than James Cook? I like to have discussions. 
 

 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

21 hours ago, PBF81 said:

Almost all of Cook's rushing yards have been with us leading.  

 

He's got 13 carries for 36 yards when we're tied or trailing.  

He has no rushing TDs.

All but one of his carries have been on 1st or 2nd down.  

He's useless in the Red Zone;  8 carries for 22 yards, no 1st-Downs or TDs.  

In the first halves of games he's got 21 carries for 93 yards, a 4.3 YPC average, and 4 1st-Downs. 

In the second halves of games he's got 22 carries for 174 yards, 7.9 YPC average, 8 1st-Downs.  

 

It's the 4th Q with us up insumountably is where he's shone.  11 carries for 106 yards, 9.6 YPC.  4 1st-Downs  

 

Calling him a "bell cow" is way premature.  A heavy dose of caution is recommended here.  

 

FWIW 

 

Let's see how he does as a "bell cow" with the games on the line.  

 

 

And defenses are committing to stop the run when trailing late in games so that stat is arguably even more impressive for cook and neutral at worst 

 

Icing a game with a rb is incredibly beneficial 

Edited September 29, 2023 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[hondo in seattle]

22 hours ago, pigpen65 said:

Imagine a GM with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson on the roster thinking RB is the biggest need with a top 10 pick. Jesus Christ

 

Certainly, one of the stranger picks in Bills history.  You don't have a good roster but you do have really good RBs.  But instead of fixing a weakness, you triplicate a strength.  

 

But watching Beane build this RB committee has been satisfying.  One RB on a rookie contract and two others on very affordable deals gives us a good running game on a budget.  

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by hondo in seattle

[SoCal Deek]

2 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

People assume whatever they want. I never said anything about Cook as a player. 
 

What if it’s more about Ken Dorsey than James Cook? I like to have discussions. 
 

 

I like to have discussions too. But if you’re going to start one it’s WAY EASIER if we understand what discussion you’d like to have. So….now it appears you believe that the Bills should run the ball more earlier in the game? Last week they were up 37-0 late in the fourth quarter. Do you contend it would’ve been a wider spread if we had just run more? I’m not sure I’m following. 

Edited September 29, 2023 by SoCal Deek

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

I love Cooks running style. Super smooth cuts and no wasted movements. He is averaging over 6 yards per carry. They better keep feeding him this year. Let Murray & Harris get the end zone/short yardage plays, but anything between the 20s should go to Cook. I think he’ll have about 1200 yards 5 TDs by the end of the year. 

[PBF81]

3 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

And defenses are committing to stop the run when trailing late in games so that stat is arguably even more impressive for cook and neutral at worst 

 

Icing a game with a rb is incredibly beneficial 

 

Double-edged sword there.  

 

 

[blacklabel]

Spiller has his best year in 2012. He was fun to watch that season. Too bad they pooped right in the boat for Chan's final hurrah. 

[ToGoGo]

On 9/28/2023 at 10:26 AM, 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.

Having a RB who can take advantage of an opponent’s broken will is still worth something. 
 

Let me ask you this, did Singletary or Moss manage that kind of garbage yardage in the 4th quarter of big wins?