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Former Vikings’ running back loves the resilience of Dalvin Cook

By Adam Patrick

Oct 15, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs past Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Thomas Brown (26) during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) runs past Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Thomas Brown (26) during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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Robert Smith visited the Minnesota Vikings’ practice facilities on Wednesday and talked about why he likes the team’s most recent addition to their backfield.

Considering what he accomplished during his eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Robert Smith is arguably one of the most underrated running backs to ever carry the ball in the NFL. From 1997 to 2000, no other back in the league who carried the ball at least 500 times averaged more than Smith’s five yards per rushing attempt.

Now working as a college football analyst for Fox Sports and The Big Ten Network, the former Vikings’ running back stopped by the team’s facilities on Wednesday to take in one of Minnesota’s OTA practices. As he was watching the team’s current players out on the field, Smith spoke about his feelings regarding the Vikings’ newest member of their offensive backfield in rookie running back Dalvin Cook.

"“I love him as a player. Seeing him at Florida State, the ability to break the big runs, but the ability to play through nagging injuries. He had a hamstring [injury] a couple of years ago and had probably a 40-to-50-yard run.You could see, there was some question before the game on if he was going to play, and you could see during the run that it started to bother him and started pulling on him, but he still finished the run. That’s what you need in the league. As the season goes on, no one is 100 percent healthy, especially at running back, so it’s great to see he can do that stuff.”"

Smith retired sooner than most due to wanting his body to actually be able to make it through the rest of his life without much struggle. So he personally knows how much of an impact injuries can have on a player mentally.

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Having played in at least 13 games in each of his final four seasons with Minnesota, Smith also knows how important durability factors into becoming a successful running back in the NFL. The type of back that the Vikings hope Cook will be able to develop into over the next few years.

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