Not using James Cook on final drive a head scratcher

[GASabresIUFan]

2 hours ago, Returntoglory said:

One of the more head-scratching decisions was that when the Bills got the ball back with 3:33 left in the game to try to win it, Cook was nowhere to be found

it's called being stupid.  

[artmalibu]

I must be crazy but I saw Cook go to the sideline and he looked to be in pain.  Maybe he was banged up a bit. 

Ty at 100% is better than cook at 75%.  

 

Bad scheme, bad personnel?, bad refs and still had a legit shot to tie/win the game at the end.   

[ganesh]

3 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You conveniently forget how Cook got blown up trying to block for Allen. That's why he wasn't playing there. Ty Johnson is the better blocker.

The ask is why not put the ball in the guy who had the best game until that point.  Putting Ty Johnson there is almost a give away asking Josh to play hero ball and the KC defense pinned their ears behind the back and came after him successfully.

[Lake Ontario]

We needed to stay on the right side of the chains / down and distance on this drive.  3:33 is too much time to be thinking 2-minute / hurry-up - especially since we had all three TO's plus the 2-minute warning. Cook was gashing KC at 6.5 yds per carry.  If the answer for Johnson being out there is "because he's the 2-minute back," we shouldn't have been in 2-min.  If they answer is pass-pro - why were we passing?

 

As soon as we commenced this drive, the goal needed to be 6 pts while expiring as much of the clock as possible.  Ultimately, we wanted to fall across the goal line for the lead as time expired.  Even if that is too lofty a goal, you needed to try. 

 

It needed to be our mission to keep the ball in our possession and not let them touch it again.  We should have learned this from Belichick taking our lunch money for 20 years.

[TheBeaneBandit]

Now I don't know for sure, but Cook may have had his bell ring. But if he was physically able, then yes, absolutely no excuse to not have him out there.

[GoBills808]

15 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Having cook on the field those last four plays likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the game. 

He was out ther 

[Julio Hopkins]

15 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You conveniently forget how Cook got blown up trying to block for Allen. That's why he wasn't playing there. Ty Johnson is the better blocker.

 

My guy, Johnson wasn't even blocking on the final drive.  

[Don Otreply]

15 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Having cook on the field those last four plays likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome of the game. 

An easy pitch and run to Cook would have got the first down…, likely repeatedly, jmo. 

[PromoTheRobot]

12 hours ago, artmalibu said:

I must be crazy but I saw Cook go to the sideline and he looked to be in pain.  Maybe he was banged up a bit. 

Ty at 100% is better than cook at 75%.  

 

Bad scheme, bad personnel?, bad refs and still had a legit shot to tie/win the game at the end.   

 

That belief is what led to us getting stuffed on 4 of 5 QB sneaks. Remember last week when everyone said we should have snuck twice against Baltimore? Brady took that advice and "stuck with what worked."

 

[PayDaBill$]

16 hours ago, Returntoglory said:

One of the more head-scratching decisions was that when the Bills got the ball back with 3:33 left in the game to try to win it, Cook was nowhere to be found. Even if the first play wasn't designed for him, the running back didn't take the field the entire final drive. 

 

Cooks  stats vs Chiefs

 

13 carries

85 rushing yards

2 rushing TDs

3 receptions

3 targets

49 yards

 

Cook was Buffalo's leading rusher in the game. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, and his longest run was for 33 yds.

 

So please, someone explain to me why he was not used?

You’re late to the party with that take, i posted it numerous times during the in game thread.

 

The staffs use of Cook bordered on incompetence imo.

15 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

You conveniently forget how Cook got blown up trying to block for Allen. That's why he wasn't playing there. Ty Johnson is the better blocker.

And yet he wasn’t all that effective either… give the guy running all over the field, catching passes and scoring ….

[PromoTheRobot]

56 minutes ago, PayDaBill$ said:

 

The staffs use of Cook bordered on incompetence imo.

And yet he wasn’t all that effective either… give the guy running all over the field, catching passes and scoring ….

 

If all you do is ignore all the times Johnson was effective, sure.

[ngbills]

Anyone remember the drive earlier and Cook catching a few passes out of the backfield? With 3:33 to go Cook should have been either running the ball or available for the quick pass out of the backfield, especially since we knew KC was blitzing. Better blitz beater would be the Cook out of the backfield than a get rushed and huck the ball downfield. Maybe take a clue of what KC did to close out the game? 

[Ray Finkel]

17 hours ago, Returntoglory said:

One of the more head-scratching decisions was that when the Bills got the ball back with 3:33 left in the game to try to win it, Cook was nowhere to be found. Even if the first play wasn't designed for him, the running back didn't take the field the entire final drive. 

 

Cooks  stats vs Chiefs

 

13 carries

85 rushing yards

2 rushing TDs

3 receptions

3 targets

49 yards

 

Cook was Buffalo's leading rusher in the game. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, and his longest run was for 33 yds.

 

So please, someone explain to me why he was not used?

 

17 hours ago, Returntoglory said:

One of the more head-scratching decisions was that when the Bills got the ball back with 3:33 left in the game to try to win it, Cook was nowhere to be found. Even if the first play wasn't designed for him, the running back didn't take the field the entire final drive. 

 

Cooks  stats vs Chiefs

 

13 carries

85 rushing yards

2 rushing TDs

3 receptions

3 targets

49 yards

 

Cook was Buffalo's leading rusher in the game. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, and his longest run was for 33 yds.

 

So please, someone explain to me why he was not used?

He should be getting so many more touches.  They don’t run enough wheel routes with him.  He is a mismatch for most linebackers in coverage.  A speed guy that we don’t use enough.  Can you imagine how the Chiefs would use him.  Poor coaching strikes again.

[BADOLBILZ]

 

 

16 hours ago, NewEra said:

He’s asking why he was “used”- as in why aren’t we giving him the dam ball.  He shouldn’t have been out there to pass block-  correct.  But we should’ve ran him.  He was our best player in the run game and our 2nd best player in the pass game.  Last drive of the game- he doesn’t get a touch.  

 

 

Goldilocks needs to learn how to pass block so he doesn't have to come off the field all year for Ty Johnson.   I'm not absolving  Brady of choking in the moment, it's been my biggest criticism of him.   But Cook is a dumb player and it's understandable to not want him on the field in critical situations.   Beyond blown blocking assignments we saw his buffoonery in the pass game last year when he dropped some critical TD passes when they leaned on him late in down sequences.   It's not like replacing Thurman Thomas with Carwell Gardner........Ty Johnson is plenty good  as a runner AND a better pass catcher in addition to the blocking element.

Edited 4 hours ago by BADOLBILZ

[gjv]

I don't think this was one of Brady's finest games. I would be surprised if he didn't agree.

[Rigotz]

The third down back is Ty Johnson. He's in on passing downs.

 

That situation is primarily a passing script. James Cook is bad at pass blocking.

 

You can expect Ty Johnson to be in on any pure passing script sequences.

Edited 3 hours ago by Rigotz

[clearwater cadet]

19 hours ago, NewEra said:

He’s not asking why he wasn’t pass blocking.  He’s asking why he wasn’t used. I agree.  We throw the ball to Samuel on 2nd and 10.  Meh.  Cook should’ve been involved a lot more than he was.  I agree 💯.  He’s a stud and we let KC off easy by not using him enough 

I would think it harder to cover a fast running back out of the back field than a WR.  Seem the back is going to be covered by a linebacker or D-line dropping into coverage.  Back got a little bit of a running start.  Don't get me wrong I love Ty Johnson, but Cook seemed to be at another level that game. 

[Figster]

40 minutes ago, clearwater cadet said:

I would think it harder to cover a fast running back out of the back field than a WR.  Seem the back is going to be covered by a linebacker or D-line dropping into coverage.  Back got a little bit of a running start.  Don't get me wrong I love Ty Johnson, but Cook seemed to be at another level that game. 

Joe Brady did a very good job this season IMO. 2 playoff wins in the young coaches cap along with getting Buffalo to the AFC Championship. Featuring a well balanced Offense run and pass. Good ball distribution giving all the Bills play makers a chance to contribute. The kind of Offense that helps bring about longevity at the QB position. That being said James Cook is borderline elite in my humble opinion and more touches vs KC wins the game IMO. 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Figster

[Returntoglory]

4 hours ago, PayDaBill$ said:

You’re late to the party with that take, i posted it numerous times during the in game thread.

 ….

I'm sorry. I didn't see your post.

 

I WAS TOO BUSY WATCHING THE GAME! 😘

[Mark92]

Cook can't pass protect.  If they were not going to feed him the ball then he was a liability.  I love cook and we owe much of the past season to him but he does have a flaw.