Will Syracuse be able to beat Florida State Saturday? It’s a stretch, and even the most optimistic of Orange fans can agree on that. Syracuse will have to be on the top of its game to win tomorrow, but there is a new advantage the Orange or will have. Dalvin Cook will not be playing.
Florida State’s star running back will sit out of Saturday’s contest with an ankle injury. Could Cook have played if the Seminoles were playing a more “competetive” opponent? Maybe, but there’s no need to get into specifics. The point is he won’t be on the field, which is good for the Orange. Let’s take a closer look at just how much of a playmaker Cook has been for Florida State this year.
12: Touchdowns scored by Cook this season
Dalvin Cook has the most touchdowns of any player on Florida State this year. Even Everett Golson has only thrown for 11. Cook’s 11 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown almost matches the rest of Florida State’s running backs and wide receivers combined, who have scored 13 times without him. Cook is averaging more yards per rushing attempt (8.2) than Golson is per pass attempt (8.01).
1037: Rushing yards on the year for Cook
Cook hit the 1000 yard mark in Florida State’s loss to Georgia Tech last week. In the first seven games of the season, Cook has run for over 200 yards in two games and at least 150 yards in four. He basically won the Seminoles’ game against Miami on his own, a game where he scored three touchdowns and ran for 222 yards on only 22 attempts.
6: Career carries for Cook’s replacement
With Mario Pender also out of this game, Florida State will turn to true freshman Jacques Patrick. In his six carries Patrick has run for 12 yards. The longest run of his college career was for five yards. Kermit Whitfield (a wide receiver) has a better stat line rushing than Patrick with his three carries for 18 yards.
Dalvin Cook is good. Really good. His absence may not keep Florida State from getting the win over Syracuse tomorrow, but if nothing else it gives Orange fans a glimmer of hope going into the game. Maybe Syracuse can catch the Seminoles off guard. Probably not, but maybe.
Posted: Nathan Dickinson
