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While Dalvin Cook is ahead of schedule and is slated to be the centerpiece of the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, head coach Mike Zimmer appears to be happy with last year’s No. 1 runner Latavius Murray.
“Latavius had a great spring,” Zimmer said Tuesday. “He looks way better than he did at this time [last season]. Obviously at the beginning of training camp last year when he was hurt, but he was out there today and I said, ‘you’re running the ball really good.’ He’s seeing things well, he’s making good cuts, and I think there will be good competition.”
Murray got off to a slow start in Minnesota following ankle surgery at the end of the 2016 season. After seeing only a handful of carries behind Cook over the first four weeks, Murray emerged as the top back after Cook suffered a torn ACL. He finished the season with 842 yards on 216 carries and eight touchdowns.
Cook is ahead of schedule in his rehab. The team expected him to be a limited participant during OTAs and minicamp, but he was taking reps during the final week of OTAs and splitting them with Murray on the first team on Tuesday.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/0...backfield/
It's great to have a young stud and a veteran that is 1200 plus a season rusher on his history it's a team game there is one prize that matters
Good competition? C'mon now Z. Happy that Murray looks good in minicamp, but he ain't starting. Its the Dalvin Cook show. If you want to start slow with Cook the first few games, I get that. But anything else is silly. Glad to have Murray as the #2 RB and to get a handful of snaps each game....but that's it.
If Cook is 100% healthy he is the starter, Murray is still a damn good RB, and I think Roc Thomas is going to be our third RB on the team
Quote: @StickyBun said:
Good competition? C'mon now Z. Happy that Murray looks good in minicamp, but he ain't starting. Its the Dalvin Cook show. If you want to start slow with Cook the first few games, I get that. But anything else is silly. Glad to have Murray as the #2 RB and to get a handful of snaps each game....but that's it.
I think he's just throwing Murray a bone. Guy restructured his contract to come back. A healthy, happy Murray will be a very important part of this team.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good competition? C'mon now Z. Happy that Murray looks good in minicamp, but he ain't starting. Its the Dalvin Cook show. If you want to start slow with Cook the first few games, I get that. But anything else is silly. Glad to have Murray as the #2 RB and to get a handful of snaps each game....but that's it.
I think he's just throwing Murray a bone. Guy restructured his contract to come back. A healthy, happy Murray will be a very important part of this team.
Yeah, throwing him a bone is I'm sure what he did. I don't see Murray being an important part of the team, however. I think he's a pretty good backup in case of injury. I see him getting some early reps in the season to ease Cook's workload at the beginning. He averaged 3.9 yard rushing and caught 15 balls last year. McKinnon was much more dynamic and the 49ers paid him as such. Cook is the guy that can play all downs and once he's fully comfortable, he's the bell cow.
There's nothing that Murray can do that Cook can't do better. I know you get that and I don't dislike Murray at all. Good dude and took a pay cut.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good competition? C'mon now Z. Happy that Murray looks good in minicamp, but he ain't starting. Its the Dalvin Cook show. If you want to start slow with Cook the first few games, I get that. But anything else is silly. Glad to have Murray as the #2 RB and to get a handful of snaps each game....but that's it.
I think he's just throwing Murray a bone. Guy restructured his contract to come back. A healthy, happy Murray will be a very important part of this team.
Yeah, throwing him a bone is I'm sure what he did. I don't see Murray being an important part of the team, however. I think he's a pretty good backup in case of injury. I see him getting some early reps in the season to ease Cook's workload at the beginning. He averaged 3.9 yard rushing and caught 15 balls last year. McKinnon was much more dynamic and the 49ers paid him as such. Cook is the guy that can play all downs and once he's fully comfortable, he's the bell cow.
There's nothing that Murray can do that Cook can't do better. I know you get that and I don't dislike Murray at all. Good dude and took a pay cut.
No one's arguing that Cook won't be the feature back. But Murray will play a very big role as the 2nd back, especially considering that the Vikings may want to keep Cook's reps down, also considering we haven't yet identified our new Jet.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good competition? C'mon now Z. Happy that Murray looks good in minicamp, but he ain't starting. Its the Dalvin Cook show. If you want to start slow with Cook the first few games, I get that. But anything else is silly. Glad to have Murray as the #2 RB and to get a handful of snaps each game....but that's it.
I think he's just throwing Murray a bone. Guy restructured his contract to come back. A healthy, happy Murray will be a very important part of this team.
Yeah, throwing him a bone is I'm sure what he did. I don't see Murray being an important part of the team, however. I think he's a pretty good backup in case of injury. I see him getting some early reps in the season to ease Cook's workload at the beginning. He averaged 3.9 yard rushing and caught 15 balls last year. McKinnon was much more dynamic and the 49ers paid him as such. Cook is the guy that can play all downs and once he's fully comfortable, he's the bell cow.
There's nothing that Murray can do that Cook can't do better. I know you get that and I don't dislike Murray at all. Good dude and took a pay cut.
No one's arguing that Cook won't be the feature back. But Murray will play a very big role as the 2nd back, especially considering that the Vikings may want to keep Cook's reps down, also considering we haven't yet identified our new Jet.
I hear ya, I just don't think there's going to be another 'Jet' type RB. Cook will do it all. Cook is much bigger and stronger than Alvin Kamara, he can carry the load. Also, the #3 RB doesn't get many plays over the course of a year, if at all. And C.J. Ham gets a few touches also. I don't think the #3 RB is any kind of concern for the team.
imo Cook should see about half the snaps early with Murray getting about 40-45% and RB3 getting about 5-10%, by about week 4 or 5 it should be Cook up to about 60-65%, Murray at about 30%, and RB3 the rest unless RB3 really shines in any given duty and Murray isnt up to speed. I wouldnt want to see Cook used more than that and sometimes less if the games are in hand, no reason to not try and keep as many starters fresh as situations allow if we are hoping for an extra month of football at the end of the year.
I disagree that Cook is a "carry the load" back or a "workhorse" back. I think the Vikings were overusing Cook last year. I just don't think that is a workload that suits him as I think he'll be dinged up or injured too often with that kind of workload, but Cook is clearly the centerpiece in the backfield. I think you just pick a snapcount you want for Cook to keep him fresh and healthy and give Murray the rest. Maybe get a bruiser as the 3rd back for 4 minute offense situations. Both Murray and Cook are do all type backs, but neither are physically punishing runners.
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