When Amari Cooper is rolling, he’s tough to stop. When the Raiders top wide receiver isn’t in a groove, he’s nothing more than a glorified decoy. Hence, the conundrum for head coach Jon Gruden. What to do with Coop? Before the season, Gruden was convinced that Cooper was going to be the “focal point” of
Breaking down Amari Cooper’s future with Raiders
Raiders extended fifth-year option, but can sever ties without any cap hit after this season
You know what’s disheartening to me about all of this? It’s the fact that gone are the days when you’d have a core set of players that became the face and brand of the team. Carr, Mack and Coop…they were to epitomize the Raiders. When the Raiders came to town, other teams fans would automatically started worrying about whether their team could figure out how to stop those three. Kind of like our version of “the triplets” from Dallas in the 90s.
Alas, the Patriot way to build and maintain a team, the CBA, salary cap, and contract size have all conspired to destroy the likelihood of a player spending most if not all of their career with the team you root for your entire life…and becoming the face or brand of that franchise.
A bit altruistic I know, but sure seems like we’ve lost something over time…and we’re feeling it first hand with the loss of Mack and now possibly Coop. They were to be part of the core that would be the new face of the Raiders…finally…after nearly two decades of waiting.
Cork, I am wondering if the problem with Cooper is related more to Carr’s unwillingness to go to Cooper and the O Line’s failures in giving Carr time. Seems to me that Gruden intimated as much when he spoke of having plays called for Cooper and they didn’t work out or when he talked about Cooper being open and the ball not going to him. What do you think, Cork?
Hello, Michelle. Thanks for the feedback, as always. Same goes to everyone else. We love the give-and-take, especially from such astute football minds. As to your question, I intend to do a post on what’s holding Cooper back. In short, some of what we are seeing is what was projected for Cooper coming out of college. He’s not a physical receiver that is going to outmuscle defenders for the ball. He excels when he gets the ball in his hands and can use his speed and elusiveness to make yards after the catch. The problem is, the Raiders aren’t getting the ball in his hands often enough, in position for him to make yards after the catch, etc. Derek Carr doesn’t purposely ignore Cooper. It’s more a case of Carr just wanting the ball out of his hands as soon as possible. Anyway, more on this later. Take care. — Cork
Thanks, Cork! Can’t wait to read your article!!
I don’t think Cooper has a future with our Raiders.
With the concussion, he might finish out the year with us, but that will likely be it.
I think Gruden has seen all he needs to. Cooper has proven he is not a #1.
If for some unknown reason Gruden gives Cooper big money, there will be a revolt due to the Mack foolishness.
Totally agree. How unfortunate. We all had such high hopes for him.
The kid is only 24. I certainly don’t advocate a top dollar contract, but would advise that maybe at 24 he’s not yet what he can become. Same can be said for most all of us.
Even if we are able to re-sign him to a, lets say, 4 year 50M with 30M gtd, we still need to find a #1. Which is what he was supposed to be.
He was young enough when he got here to fix the drops and become an ultra productive player.
Yes, I know its another new scheme. He has to get open and catch the ball in any offense.