Ryan O'Halloran: Jimbo Cook's jumbo-sized game could take Bills' offense to next level
"Trust in pro football is earned through consistency, and look for James/Jimbo/Jimmy Cook to only build on this breakout performance," O'Halloran writes.
His back-side blocking assignment completed, Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern looked for somebody else to hit when he felt running back James Cook brush his hip beyond the line of scrimmage.
“I was like, ‘Oh, no, is he going to fall?’ ” McGovern said. “But then he bounced away and kept going. I just went, ‘Thank goodness.’ ”
Bills running back James Cook weaves his way through the Miami defense en route to his 49-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Cook went on to score a 49-yard touchdown, the longest carry of his three-season NFL career and his team record-tying third first-half scores in a thorough 31-10 beat down of the Miami Dolphins.
Cook got going, kept going and never stopped going until he was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter.
See Jimbo catch: A 17-yard touchdown to start the scoring on a brilliantly designed fourth-down play by offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
See Jimbo grind: A 1-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7.
And see Jimbo sprint: The aforementioned 49-yard touchdown that stretched the Bills’ lead to 17 points. He was clocked at 20.99 mph by Next Gen Stats, the fastest of any carry in his career.
Rejoice fantasy football owners, James/Jimbo/Jimmy Cook is on the scene to not just stack up all-purpose yards, but score touchdowns.
Rejoice Bills fans, James/Jimbo/Jimmy Cook is going to occasionally be counted on to do the short-yardage dirty work instead of quarterback Josh Allen, removing a bit of wear and tear for No. 17.
Cook scored nine touchdowns in his first 34 games (five rushing, four receiving). He scored the hat trick against Miami. Cook had two rushing touchdowns in 237 attempts last year; he had two in 11 attempts against the Dolphins.
“Kudos to the o-line,” Cook said. “They opened lanes for us to run through. Turned out good.”
Turned out great, actually.
“It’s awesome to see (Cook’s) confidence,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “It takes 11 guys to have a good run game and the way he’s running the ball, he has great vision and his cuts blow my mind. I don’t know how he does it.”
Cook’s first touchdown was a tone-setter. Coach Sean McDermott went for it on fourth-and-3 and Cook caught Allen’s pass behind the line of scrimmage and scored.
Cook’s second touchdown was a statement.
“He’s been begging for some goal-line runs and we gave it to him and he got his touchdown down there,” Allen said.
Cook’s third touchdown was basically football heaven for any Bills supporter. The blocking was that good and his speed that eye-popping.
The Bills had just turned Miami over on downs thanks to defensive tackle Ed Oliver’s sack. After a sudden change, time to take a shot and throw it downfield, right? Nope. During their quick preparation for the Dolphins, the Bills noticed how the Miami defensive linemen like to slant at the snap and sometimes get out of position.
McGovern blocked his man. Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, right tackle Spencer Brown and jumbo tight end Alec Anderson triple-teamed defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook outruns Miami Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer to the end zone for a 49-yard second-quarter touchdown on Thursday. Harry Scull Jr. Photos, Buffalo News
Cook was off to the races. Safety Jordan Poyer took a terrible angle and there was no way he was going to catch Cook.
Cook did the rest. He did his usual somersault after crossing the goal-line and then threw the football into the stands.
“I wasn’t thinking, I was just doing,” he said.
Cook then ran horizontally across the end zone in celebration, his teammates in hot pursuit.
“I couldn’t get to him,” Torrence said with a laugh.
Neither could the Dolphins.
What does this mean for the Bills’ offense moving forward? Basically, they can trust Cook in any situation. Even though he’s a third-year player, this can be the kind of momentum boost that takes him to new heights. It’s easy to forget how he ranked fifth in rushing yards last year (1,122) and 10th in attempts (237). Match regular touchdowns with those totals and the Bills have a true workhorse back.
“Last year, his ability and what he did on the field for our offense – he was a true catalyst for us to get going in the run game and the pass game and he opened up so many things,” David Edwards said.
Cook as a runner will suck more defenders into the box, creating more 1-on-1 matchups for the receivers and tight ends, and also make play-action effective.
Cook as a receiver out of the backfield is a mismatch for the majority of linebackers.
“Like you saw (Thursday), when they trust me, I’m going to get into the end zone,” Cook said.
Trust in pro football is earned through consistency, and look for James/Jimbo/Jimmy Cook to only build on this breakout performance.