Cory's Corner: No Dalvin Cook Is Huge News
Green Bay doesn't have to prepare for a versatile weapon. Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry should be grinning from ear to ear.
The NFC North just got a touch easier.
I’m not saying that it’s a complete lock for the Packers to claim the division title, but it just got easier thanks to the Vikings releasing Dalvin Cook. I have always liked Cook and I think that he is one of the top two running backs in the NFC next to New York’s Saquon Barkley.
Cook, 27, has had plenty of injury issues as the 2022 season was the only season in his six-year career that he has played every regular season game.
If Cook ends up in Chicago that is a worry, but his fast-twitch nature is a lot more dangerous on the fast track of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis than the cow pasture at Soldier Field.
The reason why Cook gives so many headaches is because he does a lot of the same things that the Packers’ Aaron Jones does. Cook can run and catch and is very dangerous in space.
The Packers linebackers just breathed a huge sigh of relief. They don’t have to worry about Cook when he splits out wide and they definitely don’t have to worry about him when he catches a swing or screen pass. Cook is the personification of the versatile offensive weapon that is deadly in today’s NFL game.
Deebo Samuel was a weapon in the playoffs against the Packers because of all the things the Packers had to prepare for.
With no Cook in Minnesota, the Lions now have a clear target on their backs. They’ve got a veteran quarterback, and a capable defense. The only question is if that team can answer expectations after years of melting in the face of them.
I really like this move for the Packers. It makes things a lot easier for Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Go after Kirk Cousins with all you’ve got. Put pressure on him all game long and watch him make mistakes. In one transaction, the Vikings just made Cousins’ job a lot harder — even with arguably the best receiver in football.
Before this move, I thought that the Packers had an outside chance of winning 10 games. Now, I think they have an outside shot of winning the division.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (64)
mrtundra
June 10, 2023 at 06:40 am
Don't fool yourself. Mattison will be as good as Cook was, for the vikings. I still feel that Detroit is our biggest rival in the North. Campbell has his team playing well, against the Packers. Until the Packers win against Detroit, the Lions will be our biggest threat in the NFC North. They have beaten us three times in a row, now. Time to turn things around, there. It's also time to sweep the vikings, again. They think we are nothing, without Aaron Rodgers. I cannot wait to prove them wrong. GO PACK, GO!!!
mnbadger
June 10, 2023 at 09:33 am
Totally agree with every point you made MrT.
"Don't listen to those foo's"
GPG!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 09:43 am
Mattison is a good player but hes not going to singlehandedly win games like Cook did to us in the past.
The dropoff from Cook to Mattison is significant.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 02:36 am
I don't know from Mattison, but Dalvin Cook has absolutely sliced us in the past. I thought I saw some drop off last year, and didn't follow the Vikings enough to really know if that was blocking or Cook himself. I saw them talking about this and still wonder what they have in mind, obviously they must think they've got it covered somehow so we shouldn't expect them to be a walk in the park. Still, Cook was special and I do think they're going to have more of a dropoff without him.
Of course everybody's saying that about us without Rodgers, so ...
GregC
June 10, 2023 at 10:05 am
Cook has averaged 4.7 yards per carry for his career while Mattison has averaged 4.1. I'll take that difference any day.
I agree that the Lions are a bigger threat than the Vikings to win the division, but the Packers need to pass up the Vikings too, so it helps that they are losing one of their biggest offensive weapons.
dblbogey
June 10, 2023 at 04:23 pm
I propose we swap head coaches with the Lions. We could throw Joe Barry in with the deal.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 05:06 pm
Yeah lets give up a guy who won 13 games 3 times for a guy whos best season was 9 wins and no playoff birth. Makes sense.
jannesbjornson
June 10, 2023 at 11:18 am
Didn't they bring in Campbell and use a One pick on an ILB to stop these guys? The Vikings are a passing team. The Bears have a better O line this year and will use the rookie, Johnson. Detroit will go as Goff goes. Should be an open competition.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 02:43 am
Agree JJ, I never looked at this year as the Packers being out. We absolutely could take the division, we just need a lot of things to go right for that to happen. I won't be disappointed if we don't, as long as everybody's putting in good individual effort. If that doesn't translate into a good team then we'll know that's on in-game coaching as compared to pre-season development coaching. (I can only hope the whole coaching staff is acing that)
Leatherhead
June 10, 2023 at 11:28 am
The Vikings were 28th in rushing attempts, 3rd in passing attempts, they spent their first round pick on another superduper WR, and then they released their RB.
I'm going to make a prediction here: The Vikings are planning on riding 35 year old Cousins' arm into the Super Bowl. He got sacked more than most of the QBs in the league last year, they didn't improve the Oline, and their defense was one of the worst in the league last year. They're all in on doing it through the air.
Obviously, nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan. But that's how they roll in the Land of 10,000 Mistakes.
jont
June 10, 2023 at 12:22 pm
👍
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 05:15 pm
I have no idea what the Vikings are doing lol.
CanPackFan
June 11, 2023 at 10:13 am
I do. I think this is purely a business/cap decision. $14 Mil off their cap is a lot of bread. Cooks' been injured a bit lately and they have evolved into more of a passing team. Quite the opposite of what I think the 2023 Packers are going to look like...
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 02:47 am
LH, you must be a Prophet, lol
Cousins is a really accurate passer, fortunately for us he's never translated that into being all that effective. His nailbiters last year was his most effective I've ever seen him be; we should expect them to be a test for our backfield ...
PackEyedOptimist
June 10, 2023 at 06:54 am
Unfortunately, the Lions added Jahmyr Gibbs, who I think is just as good as Cook.
Leatherhead
June 10, 2023 at 07:56 am
Yes, but they lost Swift and Williams. This is the way the Lions do things; they make a big hole and then fill it and think they've improved.
HawkPacker
June 10, 2023 at 09:31 am
Just like they did with the TE position as well.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 09:44 am
Gibbs is a different kind of player. Hes more of a swiss army knife as he was Alabama's leading receiver last year. Hes not going to be a workhorse with 20+ carries every game like Cook was.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 06:34 pm
Dear knucklehead who downvoted my comment: Gibbs had 20+ carries just 3 times in 3 years of collegiate football. Hate me all you want but you cant call me wrong.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 09:18 pm
How do I get downvoted for stating a fact? This board gets more toxic by the day.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 02:50 am
I'll take that tradeoff any day, face a rookie instead of a veteran like Dalvin Cook. But yes, on paper the Lions very much look like they'll be for real this year. I'd be surprised if their running game improves.
greengold
June 10, 2023 at 07:24 am
No mention of RB David Montgomery leaving CHI for Detroit @ 3 Years $18M, $11M guaranteed.
No mention of De’Andre Swift & Jamaal Williams leaving Detroit.
No mention of Detroit drafting Jahmyr Gibbs #12 overall. Somehow you did manage to mention the Lions... without any of that.
No mention of Roschon Johnson (R4 #115 2022) & Khalil Herbert (R6 2020) starting in CHI.
No mention of pass protection with rookies at RB for all 3 of our division foes.
Our Linebackers heaving a sigh of relief? eh... PLAYOFFS? Playoffs??? ... PLAYOFFS?!!!
Hell yeah, I think our Packers are going to make the Playoffs this year, but that has nothing to do with Dalvin Cook. We should be able to take care of an entire schedule filled with Dalvin Cooks, based on all the RUN STOP the Packers have added this offseason.
Funny, no mention of that either...
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:00 am
GG I too am looking forward to a much improved D against the run. And maybe I'm remembering Dalvin Cook from years past moreso than last season? Still, not facing THAT threat bodes well for us IMHO. I remember some really nasty plays when he sliced us to ribbons.
"What the hell's going on out there? Everybody's hitting, nobody's tackling!" Cook is by no means the only opponent we've had that trouble with, I seem to remember a certain Jalen putting his Hurt on us last year, but Cook had our number lots. Hopefully that particular skill leaves their building with him.
CanPackFan
June 11, 2023 at 10:17 am
Have we really added a lot of run stoppers this year? Young guys who have been barely tested in a full NFL schedule yet? I don't feel that way right now. Maybe they will develop that way, maybe not. Of course, it all depends on how Barry schemes this coming season?
Rarescope
June 12, 2023 at 01:28 am
Sounds like you made the same mistake I did - looking for useful information in a Cory article. Did anyone else notice the random one sentence paragraph on Debo Samuel? It’s like he’s not even trying anymore. Coldworld, Dobber, LH, or Since ‘61 just to name a few could all be turning out far better articles than this.
croatpackfan
June 10, 2023 at 07:27 am
Cory, I understand your need to write articles to get controversy and, consequently, get as much clicks as you can.
Regarding release of the Dalvin Cook from Vikings roster may make them weaker a bit, but we should not forget that football is first and utmost team game.
Second, I challange your claim "...the Vikings just made Cousins’ job a lot harder — even with arguably the best receiver in football." I challange it because I checked and find out that Davante Adams is still on Raiders roster and I can not find any information about trade from Raiders to Vikings.
You know how to write masterpiece articles, but sometimes, your articles are a little bit off.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 09:47 am
Yes its a team game but people are really underselling how good Dalvin Cook was for the Vikings, especially against the Packers.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:04 am
+1 from me on that. He was our kryptonite on many plays I unfortunately remember ... it's like we couldn't stop him no matter how many guys got to him.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:02 am
Croat, nice shout-out to Te 😎
Rarescope
June 12, 2023 at 01:33 am
Spot on Croat - except for the bit about Cory knowing how to write masterpieces. He is the Joe Barry of CHTV. Once in awhile lucky enough to make it look like he knows what’s going on, but the rest of the time JAG.
CheesedDeadHead
June 10, 2023 at 07:45 am
Joe Barry knows how to adjust his game plan to the opponents personnel? I must have missed that game…
Leatherhead
June 10, 2023 at 07:57 am
Holding 16 opponents to 28 or less was an accident, obviously.
mnbadger
June 10, 2023 at 09:38 am
do you mean that you missed that PLAY?
Certainly the evidence of JB adjustments generates a small pile.
Small pile, hmph, did I just use that term when talking about our DC?
GPG!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 09:51 am
Top 10 pass defense 2 years in a row. I know hating on Barry is "in" these days, but can we give the man just a little credit? No hes not perfect. No hes not Bill Belichick. But back to back top-10 pass defenses speaks for itself. Clearly hes doing something right.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:08 am
I put that more on stellar talent in the backfield. Hopefully we still have that AND coaching takes a big step forward ...
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:05 am
CDH, we're speaking in words of positive encouragement today, lol
NickPerry
June 10, 2023 at 08:54 am
"If Cook ends up in Chicago that is a worry, but his fast-twitch nature is a lot more dangerous on the fast track of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis than the cow pasture at Soldier Field."
Just how true is this???
Not just being more dangerous on the turf at the "Bird Cage", but the field at Solider Field FINALLY getting a fitting name...
A cow pasture!
Leatherhead
June 10, 2023 at 11:24 am
We only have to play in Chicago once a year, and it's the first game this year, so the field is probably going to be in real good shape.
Cook in Chicago doesn't bother me. They are not going from worst to first in one year.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
June 12, 2023 at 08:54 am
Any team with a strong rushing game concerns me until the Packer defense proves they can slow/stop the run. Improvement in this area will be imperative if we want to see this young team surprise. We have a lot of young 1st or 2nd year DL that need to show up. The potential is there but need to show it!
GregC
June 10, 2023 at 09:41 am
I agree with Cory on this one. I was glad to hear that Cook left the Vikings. He was a headache to play against.
TarynsEyes
June 10, 2023 at 09:44 am
"Before this move, I thought that the Packers had an outside chance of winning 10 games. Now, I think they have an outside shot of winning the division."
Ayahuasca, Ayahuasca,
If anything, at the moment, the loss of Cook doesn't make the Packers better, it just makes what has been the norm, perhaps the norm again, which would make the rest of the norm, the norm again, also. Like winning a paralyzed Division and then getting sent home in the playoffs. Three cheers for normal, and the prevailing mediocrity that is inevitable after such a demanding Division Title win.
If the path to the SB could be limited to the NFCN, the Packers might be deemed a lock. Perhaps some Ayahuasca will make it so, eh, Cory?
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:11 am
One and done in the playoffs this year would be a lot better than at any time since before Favre. I'd consider it a great start to JL10 starting.
Rarescope
June 12, 2023 at 01:38 am
Ever the fount of optimism, as reliable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, is Taryn - where anything less than a super bowl win every year is “prevailing mediocrity.”
Pierre
June 10, 2023 at 09:52 am
Heard a football analyst assessing the Packers defense for next season and he believes they have young talent to be successful…IF they are allowed to be let loose and play a pressing aggressive defense rather than an almost “prevent laid back” defense Barry seems to use. I agree with this assessment. Use the talent of Alexander in pressing the opponents best receiver instead of playing ten yards off the ball and just trying to “contain” catch yard progress. Get this defense on the attack mode that rushes QB decisions prematurely and look to create more turnovers.
Leatherhead
June 10, 2023 at 11:17 am
If we attack more, we'll invariably give up more "explosive plays", and some people believe that's a key determining factor in winning football games.
Keep the play in front of you. Tackle. That sounds like something I've heard more than one coach say.
We're already 6th in the league in putting pressure on the QB, even without Gary for a half a season, and now we've added a guy.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:15 am
LH, what's this I've read about the league disallowing tackling drills, is that true? Are our guys expected to just coast on skill they developed in College or how does that work?
CanPackFan
June 11, 2023 at 10:20 am
The big IF is Barry! Can a tiger change its stripes? I guess we will see.
marpag1
June 10, 2023 at 11:37 am
I'm supposed to believe that the Lions have "a capable defense" and that the "only question" the Lions have is if they will meet expectations? Really?
The "capable defense" of the Lions was apocalyptically bad last year. No other team gave up as many yards. Only two teams gave up more points. The Lions surrendered the third most passing yards, and the fourth most rushing yards. They were dead last in yards allowed per play.
And I'm supposed to believe that there's no question at all about the Lions and their "capable defense?" Um... no.
NickPerry
June 10, 2023 at 05:20 pm
Agreed...I was shocked how bad Rodgers played in BOTH games against the Lions last season. I can't remember a season where he looked THAT bad against a division rival in both games in the same season. Even in 2009 when he lost both games to them Vikings when Favre was there his first season, Rodgers lost both but was lights out in each game.
Last season watching him against the Lions, refusing to use the middle of the field, and Detroit DBs just waiting to make the pick.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:18 am
Yeah that was painful. Stats whatever, the Lions still swept us. Three in a row :(
packer132
June 10, 2023 at 11:58 am
I was happy to hear that Cook was released by the Vikings, as he was always a threat. He had two games with over 150 yards against GB and 9 TD's in 9 games. The Packers did hold him at times, with 5 games under 50 yards. That allowed the Vikings to light it up with Jefferson though. I was surprised to see the record of 4-4-1 with Cook against the Pack. Though he seemed to get yards when needed, one less star player for the opponent is always good.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:20 am
Thanks, those stats look good on paper. Better than some of the plays I'm remembering when DC looked unstoppable, at least by us.
jont
June 10, 2023 at 12:37 pm
The skol chant before a game is the lamest, most artificial pseudo-enthusiasm in all of sports. For those who need a reminder.
Cook has been a really good player and undoubtedly still has some game in him. It's a real comment on how the league values RBs generally and how many good to better RBs are available that nobody would trade for him but at least a few are talking to him about a contract. They'll pay him a salary but won't gave a player or draft pick along with it.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 05:11 pm
Its not that teams werent willing to trade for Cook the player, they didnt want his contract. Especially not now when most teams are nearly maxed out salary-wise. After being released, teams now have the ability to offer him the same amount of money but be able to structure any contract in a way that doesnt cripple them this year.
stockholder
June 10, 2023 at 02:54 pm
HUGE NEWS?-
No more than Rodgers leaving the packers.
The rest of the Division is just as confident.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 05:12 pm
Go be a fan of one of those teams then.
Starrbrite
June 10, 2023 at 03:03 pm
The Cook/Jones comparisons are valid imo. I always believed Cook was a touch faster and a slightly better receiver. Jones is a much better and tougher short-yardage RB— and not as injury prone.
I am happy Cook gone from MN.
Go Packers!!!
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
June 10, 2023 at 05:13 pm
I see it the other way. I think Jones is a better receiver but Cook is better in short yardage. Cook plays a lot bigger than his 210 lb frame.
Starrbrite
June 10, 2023 at 10:05 pm
Hmmm — I might need to rethink it. In any case I believe they are very similar RB’s.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 11, 2023 at 03:27 am
No knock against #33, and I've seen him break some tackles, but Cook is a YAC monster. Maybe not against everybody in the league, but he sure sliced up a lot more than just our team.
Whereas #33 seems to rely more on making guys miss and being crafty. We're all hoping Quadzilla gets back to being unstoppable in short yardage. I think that was mainly our O line last season but still.
Starrbrite
June 11, 2023 at 06:51 pm
Excellent analysis.
CanPackFan
June 11, 2023 at 10:07 am
Oh, come on Cory! Yes, I believe that no Cook with Minny does make them only slightly easier to defense over many games. Now you think that the 2023 Packers can win 10 games or more and win the division? This is exactly the overhyping of us GB fans that I dislike. If this team went 8-9 or 9-8, I would satisfied given the all the change across so many positions, mostly at QB.
Better for us to keep our expectations low and be pleasantly surprised should what you suggest eventually happens. As the Navy SEALS say, "Hope for the best, plan for the worst"! Lets just keep our expectations low this coming season and enjoy the ride. As always, GPG.
TarynsEyes
June 11, 2023 at 11:44 am
Using two decades of pre-Favre football is pathetic at best to justify a one and done as success. We've been getting such, and more at times over the last 30 years, albeit two SB wins out of three appearances. One and done simply isn't enough to claim success when it's been the norm. Success is growth, and the FO made the decision that growth would come from another QB. Achieving the pasts status quo is not growth, but stagnation and eventual slide to lesser. This is a worst to first league now, and unless this team with Love grows, they’ll be without a seat to claim a one and done, less success.
Rarescope
June 12, 2023 at 01:47 am
Or you could, idk, maybe just try and enjoy the games as they are played?