Cooper is quickly catching on to NFL
CLEVELAND — Many players struggle when they get to the NFL, awed by the speed and complexity of the game.
Amari Cooper is not one of those players.
The Raiders’ rookie has made it look easy in his first three pro games, hauling in passes and gobbling up yardage like a crafty veteran.
Of course, Cooper’s not a veteran. He’s a 21-year-old from Miami who’s only going to get better.
In Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Browns, Cooper surpassed 100 yards receiving for the second week in a row. And Sunday it took him only a half to do it.
Cooper finished with season bests of eight receptions for 134 yards, averaging 16.8 yards per catch.
Those are big-time numbers for any receiver, rookie or not.
Cooper is the first Raiders rookie with at least 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games since James Jett in November 1993. He is the first Raider of any experience level to have back-to-back 100-yard games since Randy Moss accomplished the feat ... 10 years ago.
Putting the numbers aside, you can just see Cooper is going to be special. The way he runs his routes. The way he fights for yardage after the
catch.
Talking to him, it’s readily apparent that he’s a thoughtful, well-prepared athlete. He’s got a good mentor in fellow receiver Michael Crabtree. And he’s got a head coach who believes in him.
“He’s a talented guy that we’re fortunate to have,” said Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, after his team snapped an 11-game road winless streak. “Off to a terrific start to his career. I think the way he conducts himself every day and the seriousness in which he pursues his profession ... and works on his skill sets ... are what allow the guy to have that kind of start to his career.”
It doesn’t hurt to have Derek Carr throwing him the ball, either. The second-year QB has made a special connection with his younger teammate, targeting him early and often in every game.
“Derek is a great person and a really great player,” said Cooper, trying to explain that chemistry. “He throws an anticipated ball. And he keeps it away from the defensive back, which is really good for a quarterback. When I break, the ball is in the air. With the routes that I run, it’s just a great combination.”
That’s what the Raiders were hoping for when they drafted Cooper with the fourth overall pick this year out of Alabama.
In college, he set school records for career receptions (228), receiving yards (3,463) and receiving touchdowns (31). That’s more impressive when you consider that he broke records held by Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome and Falcons Pro Bowl receiver Julio Jones.
Carr to Cooper, on the completion.
Get used to hearing those words.
You could see it on the game’s first drive. Three times in the first seven plays, Carr threw to Cooper. The results: 13, 18 and 23 yards.
Carr thinks he and Cooper are just scratching the surface of their potential, a scary proposition for opposing defenses. “We’ve come a long way, but ... there’s so much more out there that we could do better,” Carr said. “Whether it’s a certain step on a route or timing by me. ... There’s just so much out there where we just have to continue to push each other.”
Cooper believes that it all relies on repetition, preparation and familiarity.
“The difference I think is we didn’t have that many opportunities in the preseason because we didn’t play the whole game,” he said. “We both prepare as if we want to be great players, and I believe anytime you do that, you will be successful.”
That has to sound good to general manager Reggie McKenzie. He drafted both the pitcher and the catcher in this battery. If it keeps going this way, that could be a big part of his legacy.
But that day is far off. There are careers to build in the meantime. Cultures to turn around. The Raiders are 2-1 and going into another winnable road game in Chicago. Considering the 49ers’ absolute meltdown in Arizona on Sunday — highlighted by Colin Kaepernick’s four interceptions — the Raiders are back to being the best pro football story in town.
And that story starts with Mr. Cooper, who is a lot of fun to watch.
Let’s put it this way: There are Raiders offensive plays involving Amari Cooper. Then there are all the other plays they run. There’s really no comparing the two.