Dalvin Cook lays his own claim to No. 1 running back for Vikings

[purplefaithful]

It’s unlikely Cook’s mark on the Vikings’ 2017 offense will be as profound as Peterson’s was in 2007. But for a team that has planned to replace Peterson with a trio of running backs, Cook looked awfully close to a featured back in his first game.

He was on the field for 51 of the Vikings’ 65 offensive snaps, carrying 22 times and being targeted with passes five more times. Not counting two kneel-downs by Sam Bradford, the Vikings had just six rushing attempts that didn’t involve Cook.
And after he opened the fourth quarter with a 32-yard run, Cook was still in the game to the end, breaking a 33-yarder on a third-and-7 to allow the Vikings to run out the clock at the Saints 12.
According to NFL Research, Cook recorded two of the three fastest speeds by a running back in Week 1, when he hit 20.45 and 19.98 miles per hour on his two long runs.
http://www.startribune.com/dalvin-cook-l...444099203/

[Guest]

Game speed>>timed speed

[Guest]

Cook stayed in the game for nine of the Vikings’ 14 third downs, being asked to stay in on pass protection on three of them and running routes on four. That alone could make him more likely to receive a bigger workload than did Peterson in recent years. In 2015, Peterson’s final full year with the Vikings, he was on the field for only 65.2 percent of the Vikings’ offensive snaps, running for enough yards to win his third rushing title but often heading to the sideline on third downs.

“He looked really good,” Peterson said Monday night. “He had great patience and good vision, he has great explosiveness — things that I knew. There were a couple of big runs there at the end that sealed it for them.

‘‘He’s pumped up and excited about that, being a young guy. I wish him nothing but the best.”

[Guest]

I'm still floored that Shurmur has as much trust in Cook already as he does. Crazy. This kid is working hard mentally. His blitz pickup is off the charts good. On one play, Cook engaged TWO defenders seperately in pass block in the pocket. 

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@StickyBun said:
I'm still floored that Shurmur has as much trust in Cook already as he does. Crazy. This kid is working hard mentally. His blitz pickup is off the charts good. On one play, Cook engaged TWO defenders seperately in pass block in the pocket. 

EXACTLY what I said at the game into the 4th quarter! I was like I cant believe they don't have a veteran like JM or LM in right now on a couple of those key drives...

[Guest]

Yep, no doubt Cook's the #1 guy.  Murray didn't help himself any by fumbling on his first carry.

[Guest]

I'm still amazed we ended up with Dalvin. It was the most awesome thing to witness that play action TD to Diggs. A play action pass!!! We finally joined the rest of the league!!!!