What are your feelings on James Cook RB1

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'd take the RBs from Seattle, Jets, Detroit, Saints, Raiders, Chiefs, Giants over James Cook to name a few

 

So Kenneth Walker, yep. Agree. Beast. 

 

Breece Hall, meh. I wouldn't swap them, but nor would I if I were a Jets fan. They are 6 and two 3s. 

 

Montgomery - no. His success was scheme. Gibbs, sure. He is very talented. 

 

Kamara, I have loved, he is one of the few guys I'd have paid a second contract - but as a rusher he has declined big style. Less than 4 ypc over the last 3 years and off field issues. I'd pass at this point.

 

Josh Jacobs - mainly a volume guy. Again his ypc is not great.

 

Pacheco - good back but I wouldn't swap.

 

Barkley - yea when he is healthy and his line gives him at least some blocking he is a stud.

 

 

[Beast]

6 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Do you really want your All World QB risking injury running the ball on short yardage downs or have a Derrick Henry or Pacheco type RB getting those yards for your team? 

You’re blaming that on Cook? That’s funny. 
 

Here’s the truth….the Bills are going to play Allen that way regardless of who they have at running back. That is part of Allen’s game and no running back is going to bring that dimension to the Bills.

[GunnerBill]

39 minutes ago, Beast said:

You’re blaming that on Cook? That’s funny. 
 

Here’s the truth….the Bills are going to play Allen that way regardless of who they have at running back. That is part of Allen’s game and no running back is going to bring that dimension to the Bills.

 

100%  

[biggerdaddynj]

I quickly learned to appreciate Cooks (when he got on the field) after having concerns about his skillset when they drafted him (like many, my concerns were about having an RB1 with his measurables and style of running as we really appeared to needed a legit three down RB1 ((which he isn’t … yet🤞)).  Also, so I didn’t have to hold my breath every time Josh was off to the races (which I still love subjectively but fear objectively any time the entire future of our “franchise” tucks it in and runs as Hero Josh who runs like a four inch taller version of Mike Alstott).
 

I sort of thought we drafted Cook to some degree in part because we lost out on signing JD McKissic with his strongest ability (catching)—not judging them as equals in overall talent, Cook is obviously light years ahead of McKissic.  Fortunately, Cook has clearly proven to us all that he’s a special “electric back” who will continue to develop into a better player (catching and eventually I hope blocking) that will make more and more contributions so they can expand his repertoire.  No matter what anyone might say about him I’d have to think that 99% of fans will concede he’s an outstanding asset we just need to use properly as his play evolves so he will continue to be a more frequent game changer.
 

But, I concur with others who believe Cooks alone is not going to provide us with a stand-alone running game. We need a “thunder” to his “lightning”.  I really grew to appreciate Murray’s play but when he came in for Cook it was a blatant tip of the hand that he was going to use his power to get us those 2-3 yards needed for a 1st or as a blocking back when we passed on third and short.  I think he did great.  Harris went down earlier than I was able to see enough of him to judge him but I really grew to appreciate Ty Johnson (which was one of the nice surprises of the year).  He took advantage of his opportunities and delivered nice strong runs contrary to what my aforementioned lack of real football knowledge had me expecting of him before the season started.

[Bookie Man]

Would like to see him bulked to about 205 if he's going to be a feature back. If it doesn't cost him any speed. 

[DCofNC]

On 2/7/2024 at 8:31 PM, Beast said:

 Cook was 3rd in yards from scrimmage for all running backs. What else needs to be said?

This is why you can’t take stats at face value. You don’t have the whole picture.  Schemes, average yards per touch etc, people in Pittsburg still think Najee Harris is great bc he’s had 1000 yard seasons… and yet he’s doing it 3.8 yards at a time. 
 

I like Cook in a Kamara Role, when the saints still had a true bell cow back.  You need a gu who can get tough yards on his own, that’s not Cook.  I’m going to get somebody telling me how great his yards after contact are next and again, doesn’t tell the whole story.   The guy is good, but just like Gibbs, you need a Montgomery in some situations.  If you bring in Henry to add to the fold… now you have a super threat. That would be good ole fashion fun.

[Big Turk]

He better hit the JUGS machine every day this offseason.  Premier talent.  Has to make those catches...he likely cost the Bills 3-4 TDs alone this year with his drops.

[Warriorspikes51]

He could reach close to Jamaal Charles prime level if he works hard enough 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Elite quickness.

Better toughness and runner inside than I thought he would be

***** hands that need to improve. He dropped 2 TDs on perfect throws

[Nephilim17]

So he's run better, and especially inside, than many of us expected. But he's dropped a few more than expected.

Given his college history (just going by scouting reports as I don't watch college ball) he was better than average as a pass-catching back. 

In totality, it's correctable as he has a history of catching well, and nothing to worry about. As Bills fans we have some causes for concern but back isn't one of them.

[DCofNC]

13 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So Kenneth Walker, yep. Agree. Beast. 

 

Breece Hall, meh. I wouldn't swap them, but nor would I if I were a Jets fan. They are 6 and two 3s. 

 

Montgomery - no. His success was scheme. Gibbs, sure. He is very talented. 

 

Kamara, I have loved, he is one of the few guys I'd have paid a second contract - but as a rusher he has declined big style. Less than 4 ypc over the last 3 years and off field issues. I'd pass at this point.

 

Josh Jacobs - mainly a volume guy. Again his ypc is not great.

 

Pacheco - good back but I wouldn't swap.

 

Barkley - yea when he is healthy and his line gives him at least some blocking he is a stud.

 

 

If you wouldn’t trade him for a Breece Hall, your entire view is clouded by your fandom. 

[bigK14094]

On 2/7/2024 at 8:39 PM, NewEra said:

He’s on his way to being a top 5 back if he can clean the drops and fumbles

HE will always need a thumper short yardage back on the short yardage situations.  Of course, there is 17 for that, but I don't like that  choice.

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, DCofNC said:

If you wouldn’t trade him for a Breece Hall, your entire view is clouded by your fandom. 

 

Breece Hall had a bad year. All he does well is run very fast in a straight line. That's a nice skillset to have a few times a season, but to justify his high pick he will need to be much better at navigating tight spaces and working through muck at the LoS. It can't be 2 yards or 50 yards and nothing in between.

[GunnerBill]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

Breece Hall had a bad year. All he does well is run very fast in a straight line. That's a nice skillset to have a few times a season, but to justify his high pick he will need to be much better at navigating tight spaces and working through muck at the LoS. It can't be 2 yards or 50 yards and nothing in between.

 

I thought he was overrated as a draft prospect and I still do. Like you say he has a skillset but he is miles away from being a complete back. Said then Walker > Hall. 

[Kenosha2Buffalo]

1 hour ago, DCofNC said:

If you wouldn’t trade him for a Breece Hall, your entire view is clouded by your fandom. 

 

Cook is far better 

[3rdand12]

To the OP

I think the Kid will improve each year. needs a complimentary bruiser. But yea. I really like his progress.

 Hoping Brady/Allen can make better use of him on check downs and let him fly.

Work in progress, of course

 Go James !

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I thought he was overrated as a draft prospect and I still do. Like you say he has a skillset but he is miles away from being a complete back. Said then Walker > Hall. 

Help define his weak points. Beyond the drops and or fumbles, please.
 

To me .. he got a very slow start and is still playing catch up. And Bills were not aligning  him to his strengths .

Speed.

Dare I say ? Get him in space so he can burst. His vision was much better this year.
Complete back. Bills want complimentary and change up in the backfield. Using three kinda makes that point for me i hope ?

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

 

Help define his weak points. Beyond the drops and or fumbles, please.
 

To me .. he got a very slow start and is still playing catch up. And Bills were not aligning  him to his strengths .

Speed.

Dare I say ? Get him in space so he can burst. His vision was much better this year.
Complete back. Bills want complimentary and change up in the backfield. Using three kinda makes that point for me i hope ?

 

My comment was about Hall not Cook.

[3rdand12]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

My comment was about Hall not Cook.

Oh dear

Sorry for my lack of processing posts again lol

[DCofNC]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

Breece Hall had a bad year. All he does well is run very fast in a straight line. That's a nice skillset to have a few times a season, but to justify his high pick he will need to be much better at navigating tight spaces and working through muck at the LoS. It can't be 2 yards or 50 yards and nothing in between.

How good was Cook with garbage blocking?  Hall is an absolute stud behind a trash line and zero fear for the defense to being beat by the pass.  Cook has a good line and Josh Freaking Allen to take attention off him, gee whiz I wonder who has it easier.

[Thurman#1]

On 2/8/2024 at 10:24 AM, BillMafia716ix said:

How you guys feeling on James Cook as a number 1 back? With Brady taking over full time James Cook should see an increase workload. Fumbles and drops have been an issue with him though. I still think he’s too small to be an every down back. Personally I would like to see use him like Detroit uses Gibbs and find a quality #2. I like Ty Johnson but could we find better?

 

 

He's absolutely a #1 back. No question.

 

They're likely to continue cycling through #2s. Wouldn't be surprised to see Ty Johnson here again.

 

 

Edited February 10 by Thurman#1