Cooper aims even higher
After Pro Bowl rookie season, wideout takes on a more vocal role
Everyone is excited about Amari Cooper’s sophomore campaign. Even the greatest receiver in NFL history.
The Raiders’ Cooper made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last season, and one of his fans pulled him aside for a talk in Hawaii in January.
“I told him at the Pro Bowl that he was taller than I thought he was and that he is going to do some incredible things,” said former 49er and Raider Jerry Rice, a Hall of Famer.
Cooper’s 1,070 yards were the most by a Raiders receiver since Rice in 2002, and even Cooper is fired up about how much more he can do.
“Yeah, I’m a lot more comfortable,” Cooper said. “I feel like I have a great feel of what it’s like to be a pro. I like my progress so far.”
Oakland veterans hit training camp in Napa on Wednesday, and observers may not recognize Cooper.
He is still 6-foot-1, with a little more muscle on his 210pound frame, but he will be the one having fun, joking with teammates. This, a year after
he showed up and took a serious, never-let-them-see-you-smile approach.
“Yeah, man, he’s talking more,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “He’s talking more. He came in (as a rookie) and he probably did it on purpose — you just come in, shut your mouth and go to work, and that’s exactly what he did.
“Everyone respected him. No one could ever say anything about his work ethic besides, ‘Man, he’s quiet.’ ”
That was followed by oohs and aahs, as Cooper immediately got the best of cornerbacks at practice and then in games. A precise route runner from childhood, Cooper also had the speed and hops to make tough catches.
In his first 11 games, he caught 58 passes for 851 yards and four touchdowns. That’s when he admittedly hit a rookie wall, and the wall hit back, a foot injury limiting his effectiveness down the stretch.
Cooper had only 14 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the last five games.
He could hardly practice, and in two games his role was simply that of decoy. But he won points with teammates for his toughness.
“It’s always frustrating when you can’t do all the things that you want to do out there, but injuries are a part of the game,” Cooper said. “I did learn from it. You’re supposed to take care of your body and not take it lightly.
“I was always taught to give 100 percent of what you have, so that’s what I tried to do.”
Sometimes Cooper tried to do too much, and he had 10 dropped passes, second most in the NFL.
Rice also had an issue with dropping passes his rookie year. And he turned out OK.
“You’re always going to have some kind of issue as a rookie,” Rice said. “In our case, we weren’t able to catch everything. When you drop a football, you can’t think about it or else you’re going to drop another one. I know my rookie year, I started to press a little bit more.
“Amari is going to be more relaxed this season, and no one is going to be talking about drops,” Rice said.
Part of the relaxation process is Cooper’s growing chemistry with Carr; the two were by far the youngest quarterback-receiver duo at the Pro Bowl. Cooper can’t help but be more relaxed in Year 2.
“Yeah, it’s comfort,” Cooper said. “I know with every route that I run, I know where Derek wants to go with the ball. I know how he wants to throw it. Those will be the best words to describe it.”
Carr said he can throw the ball to Cooper earlier than he did last season.
“I’m able to trust where he’s going to be at,” Carr said. “I’m used to seeing his routes run a certain way. Those are things that take time, getting that chemistry down.
“But it’s nice to see all of the hard work ... that we’ve had together paying off out here in practice and hopefully come August, September and through the season.”
It’s not a walk in the park, mind you. New Raiders cornerback Sean Smith, at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, looks like a linebacker, and he has made sure Cooper is working hard — on keeping his balance from getting knocked over as well — at practice.
“It’s a great experience,” Cooper said. “He’s a really talented player, but he’s really smart. It’s kind of like a chess game out there. It’s fun.”
After plays, they will discuss what route Cooper was running and what the former Chief was looking for and trying to do.
“We definitely help each other,” Cooper said.
The Raiders, 7-9 a year ago, are national media darlings heading into training camp, and Cooper will need to do more than help a playoff push. Along with Carr and defensive end Khalil Mack, he will have to lead the way.
He understands that, and welcomes the challenge with open arms and a smile.
“I’ve never been the type of person who just walks into a building and be outspoken,” Cooper said. “I just like to chill out first. See how things are going.” They’re going well. “I can’t wait to see what he is going to do,” Rice said.
“Amari is going to be more relaxed this season, and no one is going to be talking about drops.” Jerry Rice, Hall of Famer, on Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper