head coaching vacancy.Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski interviewed Thursday Everson Griffen Jersey , the team reported. Browns interim coach Gregg Williams and former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell interviewed earlier this week.Stefanski has spent 13 seasons in Minnesota, coaching under three head coaches.The Vikings promoted him from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in Week 15 after firing John DeFilippo. Stefanski also has held jobs as the team’s tight ends coach and running backs coach during his long tenure in Minnesota.Stefanski’s contract expires at the end of the league year, so he could depart the Vikings even if he doesn’t get a head coaching opportunity.Former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, Saints tight ends coach/assistant head coach Dan Campbell and Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores are also expected to interview with the Browns. He’s had his share of injury problems in his first two seasons" Minnesota Vikings 2019 OffseasonDalvin Cook:He Can Shine - But Can He Stay On The Field?New,39commentsHe’s had his share of injury problems in his first two seasonsCDTIn the second in an occasional series on Vikings key veterans, I take a look at running back Dalvin Cook.It’s been two seasons now since Dalvin Cook was drafted to be the Vikings new feature back.So far, he’s done pretty well with the carries he’s had, but the problem has been that he’s not had enough of them to really make much of a difference.Dynamic, Deadly... But Can He Be Durable?Limited to 15 games over his first two seasons because of injuries, Cook has already put up 1,364 yards from scrimmage on 258 total touches. That production is a hint of what he could do if healthy for an entire season, with his ability to make defenders miss in the passing game already among the league’s best. Just four running backs who had at least 25 percent of their team’s carries had a higher “elusiveness” ranking by PFF in 2018. He was excellent creating missed tackles in space Kyle Rudolph Jersey , even if some of the power and yards after contact he showed as a rookie were diminished in his first season after ACL surgery. If he’s this good at less than 100 percent, the ceiling here is scary. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this Vikings offense -- guided by new offensive advisor Gary Kubiak -- runs primarily through Cook.- Gregg Rosenthal, nfl.comDalvin Cook has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over the past two seasons, which is right there with top running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley.His ability to force missed tackles has been second to none, and he continues to do well in yards after contact, while also threatening break-away potential.In fact, in his limited use last season, Cook improved both his elusiveness rating and breakaway % metrics over his rookie season- and remains one of the most elusive running backs in the NFL.Just as he was in college.Last season he was the 4th most elusive back in the NFL with at least 100 attempts, and had the 10th highest breakaway percentage (38.1%) according to PFF.Elusive rating is a metric based on a combination of forced missed tackles per attempt and yards after contact per attempt. Breakaway % is the percentage of designed rushing attempts that go for over 15 yards.PFF did a nice profile on him recently, suggesting him as a dark horse candidate to be the best RB in the league this season - if he can stay healthy.But Cook’s durability is now an on-going concern, as he’s missed more games than he’s played.And half of those he was limited to about 10 carries. Cook played only 4 games his rookie season before tearing his ACL, and missed another handful of games last season with a hamstring issue.Beyond that Linval Joseph Jersey , his carries were limited - in part at least due to the hamstring issue.At Florida State, Cook had some injury issues, but didn’t miss much time.He had some shoulder surgeries in the off-season to repair a torn labrum, and he had an ankle and hamstring issue too, but he only missed one game because of it.And so going forward, the question isn’t Cook’s running ability, but rather his ability to stay on the field.Can he stay healthy for an entire season ?Key Player In Kubiak’s OffenseKubiak and Stefanski are expected to lean on outside zone as the team’s primary run concept in 2019, creating a dream scenario for Cook. Of the 40 NFL backs with 50 or more attempts in outside zone since 2017, Cook ranks fifth in rushing grade (80.1) and tied for second with New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara in yards per carry (5.4). And Cook’s 79.3 career rushing grade in outside zone concepts at Florida State ranks tied for sixth among qualifying backs in the PFF College era, rushing for 704 yards and nine touchdowns across 128 attempts (5.5 YPC) in the process.- Austin Gayle, PFFA healthy Dalvin Cook is a key ingredient in Gary Kubiak’s offensive scheme, as the principal threat in the running game - which is a primary focus.Kubiak has taken many previously unheralded running backs and turned them into Pro Bowlers - Arian Foster Kirk Cousins Jersey , Justin Forsett, and Terrell Davis among them.But of all the running backs that have thrived in Kubiak’s offense, Dalvin Cook may be the best overall talent.His vision, elusiveness, yards-after-contact and break-away ability, combined with his zone running experience, make him a perfect fit for Kubiak’s offense.But Cook’s running ability is only part of it.As a legitimate threat to break-away anytime he has the ball, he makes a very effective decoy in play-action - compelling defenses to honor the fake.Cook is also a versatile chess piece in Kubiak’s offense, which likes to move skill position players around to create different matchup issues.Cook can line-up at tailback, but also wingback, slot, or even outside as a receiver.He’s improved as a pass blocker as well- going from a 64.7 to a 84.4 PFF grade last season- filling out his three-down resume.Working On Staying HealthyAfter last season Adrian Peterson Jersey , Dalvin Cook talked about the need to keep healthy, not to let down his teammates, and dog some things in his off-season training program to help him stay healthier during the season.We’ll have to wait and see how that impacts his health this season, but another question is how limited he will be during the season.Last year Cook was limited to around 10 carries or so for most of the games he played.That was in part due to his hamstring issue.But will he be limited this year too?Can he handle 18-20 carries a game and remain healthy?That is key for Cook to reach his potential.It’s All For You, DalvinPretty much every significant change the Vikings have made offensively has, either directly or indirectly, been made to help Dalvin Cook and the Vikings running game.From bringing in Gary Kubiak and his staff, to signing free agent Josh Kline and taking center Garrett Bradbury with their first round pick, the Vikings are gearing up to run the ball more, and hopefully more effectively.It’s clear also that by picking Alexander Mattison at the end of the third round - to replace Latavius Murray - the Vikings will continue to use a committee approach at running back.But I suspect that the Vikings would like to have Cook on the field most of the time - perhaps 75% or so - because of his big play threat.Not just carrying the ball, but also as a compelling decoy in play-action, and as a big play threat as a receiver too.Having him out there - and productive - is going to help every aspect of the Vikings’ Kubiak offense - even in the plays he doesn’t touch the ball.But the reverse is also true.Not having him out there as a big play threat opposing defenses have to honor or pay the price could make the Vikings offense less dynamic and easier for opponents to defend.Bottom LineThe Vikings have yet to realize much of Dalvin Cook’s potential since they drafted ‘the best offensive player in the draft’ according to PFF two years ago.Injuries John Randle Jersey , poor blocking, and scheme have all played a part in minimizing Cook’s impact to date.But the prospect for an improved offensive line, with the additions of Bradbury, Kline and Dru Samia, combined with Gary Kubiak’s offensive scheme and commitment to the run, lay all the groundwork for Dalvin Cook to have a major break-out year, and quick ascension to the top of the RB pack in the NFL.Staying healthy may be the biggest obstacle to realizing that scenario, so hopefully Cook’s injury issues remain in the past.Poll