{"id":79366,"date":"2020-01-10T06:45:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T11:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=79366"},"modified":"2020-01-10T06:45:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T11:45:08","slug":"dalvin-cook-minnesota-vikings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/01\/10\/dalvin-cook-minnesota-vikings\/","title":{"rendered":"Injuries Behind Him, Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Cook Focused on Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dalvin Cook<\/a><\/strong> lives to showcase his burst of speed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a former sprinter, Cook relished those race moments. When the gun went off, it would be time for the Florida native to shine. His quick feet and nimbleness made Cook one of the top sprinters in Florida, where he would eventually clock a personal best 10.08 seconds in the 100-meter dash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cook graduated from track to use his speed on the football field. And now, he is the premier running back for the Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, a sixth-seeded playoff team in the Divisional Round. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Injuries have defined Cook\u2019s career, most notably a torn ACL in his rookie season. During the 2019 campaign, Cook suffered a chest injury, limiting his performance and forcing him to miss the Vikings Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the injury bug behind him, Cook is ready for another stellar playoff performance. After putting up 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, Cook\u2019s Vikings upset the New Orleans Saints on the road 26-20 in overtime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This week, the Vikings are looking for similar success against the NFC leading San Francisco 49ers.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, just to let y\u2019all know,\u201d <\/span>Cook said to reporters on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Dalvin Cook and his Football Roots<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dalvin Cook will be the 49ers\u2019 primary target to contain Saturday afternoon. Cook\u2019s vision of the field is second to none, allowing him to get to the outside with ease and fooling defenders with his cutback ability.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s in the shotgun or in the I-formation, Cook knows where the hole is and he can burst through it with tremendous speed for huge gains. He can also be an effective catcher of the ball, evidenced by his three receptions for 36 yards against the Saints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cook\u2019s prolific running attack started from his days playing at Miami Central High School and accelerated into college. His tenure with the Florida State Seminoles put Cook on the national map, averaging just shy of 1,800 scrimmage yards per year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it was the Orange Bowl against Michigan (207 scrimmage yards) or last week\u2019s thrilling Wild Card victory, Cook was the center of the offensive production. Steamrolling defenses with his innate offensive skill set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know they’re definitely going to challenge us in the run game early,” <\/span>49ers defensive tackle <\/span><\/a>DeForest Buckner<\/a> said. “Especially with Dalvin Cook back there, he’s one of the best in the league. We’ve just got to do a really good job with shutting that down early.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Cook Plays Integral Role For Minnesota Vikings Offense<\/h2>\n

The Minnesota Vikings ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (133.5). They have relied heavily on Cook and the running game to set up quarterback Kirk Cousins<\/a><\/strong> and the play action passing game.<\/p>\n

The 49ers, on the other hand, are 17th in the league in run defense (112.6). This bodes to be problematic for San Francisco, which will need several interior defenders in the box\u00a0 to slow down Cook. The Saints run defense was fifth in the NFL (93.9), yet Cook was able to get almost 100 yards on the ground.<\/p>\n

Cook knows that his time is now to prove his league-wide value. After all, injuries became a part of Cook\u2019s narrative, as many pondered whether physical setbacks would linger every season. His 1,135 rushing yards rank 10th among running backs in the NFL, demonstrating how Cook has conquered the adversity of injury.<\/p>\n

And turned it into motivation to capture NFL-wide respect. The Minnesota Vikings are not going away because of their running game and are a tough out in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

“Dalvin is a special player,” Vikings offensive co-ordinator Kevin Stefanski said.<\/a> “When he touches the ball, good things happen.<\/p>\n

Dalvin Cook is a big reason for the team\u2019s prosperity, looking to revel in the Divisional Round like competing in one of his former track meets.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>