Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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“Whether it’s his balance or ability to lower his pad level and run after contact — whatever combination that is — it’s amazing,” Harris added.
Cook, too, was presented with the question about himself. He went with his vision, a trait that is enhanced by those mental snapshots he takes before each snap.
“I’m fast, obviously, but I think it’s my vision that sets me apart,” Cook said. “Seeing stuff and trusting it … that’s what vision is all about. Trusting your eyes and getting to where you’re going.”
And similar to the split-second decisions Cook makes on the field, he already had a play in mind to describe how he relies on his vision.
Minnesota led 28-7 late in the third quarter of a Week 3 home game against Oakland. The Vikings faced first-and-11 at their own 38 when the play call was for Cook to take a handoff and veer right.
But with his mental snapshot already taken, Cook said he anticipated an opening on the left side of the line before the play began.
The 24-year-old promptly took the handoff and immediately made a jump cut to his left, breezing past rookie defensive end Clelin Ferrell’s attempted tackle and through a hole created by tight end Kyle Rudolph and left tackle Riley Reiff.
“I took it backside even though I knew the guy was back there because I knew I could break his arm tackle,” Cook said. “That’s just trusting your instincts and your eyes once again. I knew he was back there, but I believe in myself to break through that tackle and do what I do.”
Cook finished with an electric 25-yard run on the play, his longest carry on a day where he cruised to 110 rushing yards on just 16 carries.
Truth be told, Cook has used all of his incredible attributes to help the Vikings be in playoff contention in the final couple weeks of the season. His smarts, toughness, creativity, balance and vision are just a few of the tools he has in his arsenal.
It’s just a matter of which one he’s going to use on the next play.
“Dalvin does [something new] every single week,” Ham said with a shake of his head.
Through it all, Cook brings an infectious joy to teammates and the sport.
He likes to hop up and down after big runs, throw his hands in the air to get the home crowd going and hand the ball to an offensive lineman after a touchdown for a colossal spike of the pigskin.
“That just comes from not taking the game too serious,” Cook said. “Once you’re too locked in or too serious about it, I think you can overlook the fun part of playing football.
“We’ve been playing football from whatever age you started — I started playing when I was 4 — and I wasn’t worried about no pads,” Cook added. “Just playing football … that’s what I try to revert myself back to. Once I touch the field, it’s just having fun and being Dalvin.”