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- Dalvin Cook is one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL when he is healthy.
- As he takes the field under new head coach Kevin O’Connell this fall, he might have an increased role in the passing game.
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Not only does Dalvin Cook have a new number in 2022, but he also has a new role. The 26-year-old running back will No. 4 like he did in college and is set to see an increased number of targets in the passing game.
The Vikings opened training camp with OTAs on Tuesday for the first time under new head coach Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell, who spent the last two years with the Los Angeles Rams, has been an offensive coordinator in the league since 2019.
Before taking over that role with Washington, he served as a quarterbacks coach. That was after he played quarterback at San Diego State and spent four years with various NFL organizations as a former third round draft pick.
Since then, O’Connell has risen up the coaching ladder and is considered one of the top offensive minds in the game. He takes over for Mike Zimmer, who was a defensive-minded coach who made the playoffs in only three of eight seasons and never made it past the NFC Championship.
It is a new era in Minnesota and the Vikings’ offense is going to look completely different in 2022.
In an OTA report from Chad Graff of The Athletic, he detailed some of the changes that he noticed on Day 1 of OTAs under O’Connell. Graff was clear that there aren’t many starting jobs up for grabs, but there is a lot of opportunity to gain increased reps with strong performances.
The first thing that he noticed was how O’Connell brought over a unique wrinkle from his time in Los Angeles under Sean McVay. Minnesota had a TV on the field to watch replays in real-time.
A cool new addition to Vikings practices’ is this massive outdoor TV. It shows the all-22 view of the most recent drill/play on loop and lets coaches and players study in real time. The Rams do it — that’s where Kevin O’Connell got the idea. pic.twitter.com/KJUjwTIdT0
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) May 17, 2022
Graff also noticed that Cook had a new role as a pass-catcher.
“Another potential wrinkle for the Vikings offense could mean Dalvin Cook gets more involved in the passing game. In multiple formations, Cook lined up in bunch wide receiver sets. That could be something the new staff is tinkering with in May, or it could be something they plan on unveiling in a bigger fashion come Week 1.”
Cook spoke with the media after the first day of OTAs and did not give any detail into what the plan might be to use him split-out.
“I don’t want to just sit up here and tell y’all everything,” Cook said. “We’ve got Green Bay Week 1, so we’re gonna wait and see.”
Whether Cook lines up as a receiver a lot in 2022 will have to be seen. However, using him in such a fashion could be another unique look for an offense that is going to be creative and explosive. It also gives Cook a real increase in value as a fantasy football option, particularly in PPR leagues. Stay tuned!