The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Dalvin Cook, who was recently let go by the New York Jets. The move is not surprising, considering the team has a need a running back after losing Keaton Mitchell for the season. Still, Cook has been a shell of his old self, so how does he fit into the running back depth chart?
Does Dalvin Cook help the Baltimore Ravens backfield?
Right now, he will be just that, depth. As noted, he has 67 rushes for 214 yards this season. He is averaging 3.2 yards per attempt, which is well below his career rate of 4.6. He also is down to a 38.8% success rate, which is below his career rate of 48%.
So, he is not going to come in and change the game. As the Ravens stand, they are going with Gus Edwards and Justice Hill as their one-two punch. Edwards brings the power and can close out games. Hill brings the speed, he is the best pass protector, and if they get down, he will play more than Edwards.
So, the Ravens will use their two backup running backs in a similar manner. Melvin Gordon will work behind Gus Edwards. Then, Dalvin Cook would be the speed back and passing down back behind Justice Hill. He will play a backup role behind Hill, but if something happens to Hill, he will step into a much bigger role. At the same time, if something happened to Edwards, it would be Gordon who is asked to step up, and not Cook.
In the playoffs the Ravens may choose to keep Cook active over Gordon. Gordon has hardly been active, and when all three were healthy, the Ravens had two of their speed backs, Hill and Mitchell active over Gordon, who is just here to be a backup to Gus Edwards as the power back near the goal line.