Not using James Cook on final drive a head scratcher

[Logic]

While I am as disappointed as everyone else in the outcome of the game...

...I continue to shake my head a little bit at how surprised everyone is that rookie offensive coordinator Joe Brady got outcoached in key moments by one of the greatest to ever coordinate defense in Steve Spagnuolo. Or how surprised everyone is that rookie defensive coordinator Bobby Babich got outcoached in big moments by first ballot Hall of Fame offensive mind Andy Reid.

I'm not excusing it, by any means. But if the hypothesis is "our coordinators each got outcoached in big moments", well...yeah. Look at their respective experience levels as playcallers, and look at that of Steve Spagnuolo and Andy Reid. 

[transplantbillsfan]

20 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?

 

This was my gut reaction as well.  However, I think maybe we should consider that our final drive was ultimately going to be more of a passing drive than running drive.  Or at the very least there needed to be more freedom on the drive for the team to run or pass.

 

I think James Cook is a fantastic RB and I've changed my tune on the idea of re-signing a RB.  I hope we keep him in Buffalo beyond next year on a deal that is both fair to him and fair to us.  I'm sure whatever it is some are going to react that we've overpayed him, but he's clearly so valuable to our offense.

 

HOWEVER... Cook is a detriment to the offense in one critical aspect: pass blocking.

 

That's really the reason I think they had Ty Johnson on in that final drive.  If you listen to Joe Marino's All-22 breakdown he actually describes one play (and I think it was one of those plays on the last drive Cook came in for) where Cook was on the field for a passing play and he totally whiffed on his block, causing pressure to get in Allen's face forcing a bad throw.

 

Love Cook.  Hope he spends some time with Ty Johnson in the offseason to get better at that one critical part of his game.

[NewEra]

7 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

 

 

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.

Yeah I know- I get what you guys are laying down.  I’m not talking about Cook in pass protection.  I wish they had handed cook the ball.  I’m not sure why he would’ve been out there in pass protection to begin with.  

[artmalibu]

9 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

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."

 

 

What belief?  I dont understand what your trying to say.