Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 20 BC 17

Nov 22, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs the ball during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Dalvin Cook

Dalvin Cook’s stat-line on Saturday wasn’t eye-popping. He didn’t score. He didn’t top 100 yards. But once again Dalvin Cook was a difference-maker on Saturday.

At this point there should be very little doubt as to who the best back on FSU’s roster is. Mario Pender is talented. Karlos Williams is athletic. But Cook is special. Cook carried 14 times for 76 yards on Saturday, but it was down the stretch on FSU’s final drives that he was at his best. Just like a week ago, when Cook iced the game at Miami, the true freshman was ready in crunch time with several key runs to set up Roberto Aguayo’s game-winning field goal– gaining 53 of his 76 yards in the final quarter.

Perhaps most impressively, Cook was never tackled for loss.

On a night when negative plays and penalties cost Florida State considerably, Cook didn’t contribute. That was never more crucial than on the final drive. Down in BC territory, Cam Erving misses a block and allows a man into the backfield. The mistake threatened to blow up the play behind the line of scrimmage and put FSU off schedule. Granted, Roberto Aguayo was in range already, but on a wet field — and after Aguayo had already missed one — the closer the Seminoles could get, the better.

Cook completely bails Erving out, cuts on a dime, breaks the linebacker’s ankles and scampers up the middle for a gain of four.

While that’s unremarkable on the stat-sheet, it’s indicative of how gifted Cook is– other backs can’t do that.

That’s not to say FSU doesn’t have other talented backs on its roster. It does. FSU has some very good backs. But Cook looks like he could be great.

FSU needs to keep getting him more touches.

Next: Receivers Dropping Passes