NFL Combine: Writer Asks Ridiculous Question About Dalvin Cook
By Kelvin Hunt
Former FSU star running back Dalvin Cook will participate in the upcoming NFL Combine but questions supposedly linger about his ability?
Related Story: Writer Questions Dalvin Cook's Character
For whatever reason, former FSU star running back Dalvin Cook still isn’t getting the respect he deserves. A couple of weeks ago he apparently has character issues according to some writers.
Now? He apparently haven’t proven himself on the football field while become the best FSU running back, and arguably the best running back in the history of the ACC.
Bleacher Report’s NFL Lead Analyst Chris Sims posed his biggest questions for 10 of the top prospects going into the NFL Combine. Here’s what he asked of Dalvin Cook:
"Question: Can you be the man?Florida State’s career rushing leader has few faults to his game.But that’s what talent evaluators are paid to find. And they may find it easy to knock Dalvin Cook as he works out next to Leonard Fournette all weekend long.Why? Fournette is 10 pounds heavier and powerful enough to keep a running-back-by-committee approach at arm’s length. The same can’t be said for Cook, who weighs in at a media guide’s 214 pounds but relies more on speed and sizzle. Those guys normally don’t carry the rock 25 times every weekend.One word of caution: In compensating for a lack of perceived size, Cook shouldn’t compromise that speed and sizzle. Any attempt to add pre-combine poundage should come with the ultimate goal of looking the part but sacrificing no time from his 40-yard dash."
Thoughts
Dalvin Cook is projected to be picked in the first round in the upcoming NFL Draft. Last year Ezekiel Elliot was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft with the No. 4 overall pick.
As a rookie, he averaged 21.4 carries per game in the regular season with the Dallas Cowboys and led the NFL in rushing yards. LaGarrette Blount was second in the league in carries, and averaged 18.6 carries per game in the regular season.
Le’Veon Bell averaged 18.76 carries per game. Newsflash, NFL running backs are not asked to routinely carry the ball 25+ times per game anymore.
However, if you must question Cook’s ability to be the man I can help you with that. Cook was responsible for 55.5 percent of FSU’s rushing attempts in 2016.
He averaged 22.1 carries per game, rushing 288 times and that’s not to mention the 33 receptions he had coming out of the backfield either.
In 2015, Cook averaged 19 carries per game and accounted for 53 percent of FSU’s total rushes while playing on one leg most of the season due to a bum hamstring.
Fournette has only averaged 19.25 carries per game throughout his career at LSU and Cook has averaged 18 carries per game throughout his FSU career.
However, Cook is much more of a threat in the passing game than Fournette.
Must Read: FSU Fans React To Dalvin Cook Letter To Nole Nation
In reality, Cook has proven that he can be the man much more consistently than Leonard Fournette who can’t even stay on the field because of injuries.