Minnesota Vikings Week 4: Top 3 takeaways vs. the Detroit Lions
By Josh Clarke
Missing a Michelin Star
Dalvin Cook was in the middle of turning in another fine performance, in what was promising to be an outstanding rookie campaign, when disaster stuck. On his 13th carry of the day, Cook burst through the middle of the Lions’ defense and cut to his right with only the safety to beat.
Hopes of another explosive play from the second-round selection were soon dashed as Cook’s left knee gave way during a cut, causing him to crumple to the turf without contact.
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Vikings fan’s hearts jumped straight to their throats and from Cook’s reaction they could tell the injury was a bad one. Cook would not return to the game and his injury was later confirmed as a torn ACL, prematurely ending his promising campaign.
Cook had unquestionably played a huge part in the Vikings’ offensive revolution and from the remainder of yesterday’s game, you can already see how much he will be missed.
Prior to his injury, Cook was tearing the Lions apart on the ground. We hadn’t seen the long run we had become accustomed to, but Cook was making each carry count.
On his 13 carries, Cook had 51 yards, his second touchdown of the year, and averaged 5.1 yards a carry. When Latavius Murray replaced him, the Vikings’ rushing offense was noticeably altered.
Murray carried the rock 7 times but only gained 21 yards and despite having a 4.36 40-time, he didn’t seem to have the breakaway speed Cook possessed. Without that burst, Murray won’t be able to get through the same amount of holes as Cook before they are closed up.
While the offensive line is certainty improved compared to last year’s version, against the Lions they showed they may not be good enough to sustain their blocks to compensate for the difference in speed.
To cut Murray some slack, he showed in Oakland he was a reliable back and the Vikings wouldn’t have signed him to a relatively expensive contract if they hadn’t been impressed. Without a doubt he represents be an upgrade over last years back up, Matt Asiata.
Perhaps he just needs additional reps to get up to speed, after all he missed the majority of preseason and the 19 snaps he had against Detroit were more than he had in the three previous games of the season combined.
For the Vikings sake, Murray had better hit the ground running, the Vikings are already without their starting quarterback and Case Keenum isn’t going to be able to turn in a career-defining performance every week.
If they don’t have a dependable ground game to rely on I can’t see a Minnesota having much success if needlessly forced to the air with their second string QB.