Jonathan Cooper Pleased To Be Honing Skills With Cowboys' Vaunted O-Line

[waving monkey]

FRISCO, Texas – Not everyone gets a dress rehearsal for a new job, but that’s essentially things worked out for Jonathan Cooper and the Cowboys.

Cooper is one of the newest members of the Dallas offensive line this spring – but he isn’t that new. It’s easily forgotten in the shuffle of an NFL season that Cooper signed on last January. He spent a week with the Cowboys, up until their playoff exit.

It was a short stint, but it made plenty of difference when it came time for Cooper to enter free agency in March.

“I felt like just being surrounded by a group of guys who are willing to help you and a coaching staff who is looking to push you and help you improve, you couldn’t really beat that,” he said.

In talking to Cooper, who is entering his fifth year in the NFL, the expertise of both the Cowboys’ coaching staff and their offensive linemen was a topic of continued discussion. Plenty of praise is heaped on this team’s front five from the outside, but Cooper learned quickly that the praise is justified.
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link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...eased-be-honing-skills-cowboys-vaunted-o-line

 

[dallasdave]

FRISCO, Texas – Not everyone gets a dress rehearsal for a new job, but that’s essentially things worked out for Jonathan Cooper and the Cowboys.

Cooper is one of the newest members of the Dallas offensive line this spring – but he isn’t that new. It’s easily forgotten in the shuffle of an NFL season that Cooper signed on last January. He spent a week with the Cowboys, up until their playoff exit.

It was a short stint, but it made plenty of difference when it came time for Cooper to enter free agency in March.

“I felt like just being surrounded by a group of guys who are willing to help you and a coaching staff who is looking to push you and help you improve, you couldn’t really beat that,” he said.

In talking to Cooper, who is entering his fifth year in the NFL, the expertise of both the Cowboys’ coaching staff and their offensive linemen was a topic of continued discussion. Plenty of praise is heaped on this team’s front five from the outside, but Cooper learned quickly that the praise is justified.
\
link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...eased-be-honing-skills-cowboys-vaunted-o-line

It would be nice to have 5 Pro-Bowl O-lineman

 

[Bardley1985]

FRISCO, Texas – Not everyone gets a dress rehearsal for a new job, but that’s essentially things worked out for Jonathan Cooper and the Cowboys.

Cooper is one of the newest members of the Dallas offensive line this spring – but he isn’t that new. It’s easily forgotten in the shuffle of an NFL season that Cooper signed on last January. He spent a week with the Cowboys, up until their playoff exit.

It was a short stint, but it made plenty of difference when it came time for Cooper to enter free agency in March.

“I felt like just being surrounded by a group of guys who are willing to help you and a coaching staff who is looking to push you and help you improve, you couldn’t really beat that,” he said.

In talking to Cooper, who is entering his fifth year in the NFL, the expertise of both the Cowboys’ coaching staff and their offensive linemen was a topic of continued discussion. Plenty of praise is heaped on this team’s front five from the outside, but Cooper learned quickly that the praise is justified.
\
link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...eased-be-honing-skills-cowboys-vaunted-o-line

Smith, Cooper, Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins sounds like the best O-line we could ask for!!! I, as many fans I am sure had a love hate relationship with Doug... it was always him on a big play that brought the ball back!

I think Cooper will suprise people... I wouldn't mind giving him a cheap lil 3yr contract if the coaches have any faith in him... if he goes out and is balling he's gonna leave is for a phat contract!

 

[gimmesix]

I know it's real early, but I don't really care about position flex for a player if he's expected to start. It seems more like Dallas is preparing Cooper to be a backup, but the Cowboys also seem to be preparing every other starting guard candidate to play multiple positions.

 

[Bardley1985]

I know it's real early, but I don't really care about position flex for a player if he's expected to start. It seems more like Dallas is preparing Cooper to be a backup, but the Cowboys also seem to be preparing every other starting guard candidate to play multiple positions.

I think it's to show them the other positions, just in case, and to help understand the mental parts of the OLine. I think it's genius to train at other positions unless they are as good as Tyron or Fred where there's no chance they get moves... I could see moving the other three if smith or Fred get hurt

 

[kevm3]

Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary ala Darren McFadden. I think we'll get more out of him compared to the other teams.

 

[Risen Star]

Smith, Cooper, Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins sounds like the best O-line we could ask for!!!

Actually the best I could ask for is Smith Leary Frederick Martin Collins.

The best you can possibly ask for being some reclamation project who has failed at multiple spots in the league, including the Patriots, seems a little too fan zombie for me.

 

[Risen Star]

Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary ala Darren McFadden. I think we'll get more out of him compared to the other teams.

Sometimes several changes of scenery is necessary, apparently.

 

[diefree666]

Actually the best I could ask for is Smith Leary Frederick Martin Collins.

The best you can possibly ask for being some reclamation project who has failed at multiple spots in the league, including the Patriots, seems a little too fan zombie for me.

well people in glass houses should not be throwing stones. Is that blunt enough for you?

 

[Stash]

I know it's real early, but I don't really care about position flex for a player if he's expected to start. It seems more like Dallas is preparing Cooper to be a backup, but the Cowboys also seem to be preparing every other starting guard candidate to play multiple positions.

I was wondering that same thing too, but since they're doing the same with so many of their offensive linemen, I figured I wouldn't stress about it unless they've got Cooper in a backup role when training camp starts.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Smith, Cooper, Frederick, Zack Martin, La'el Collins sounds like the best O-line we could ask for!!! I, as many fans I am sure had a love hate relationship with Doug... it was always him on a big play that brought the ball back!

I think Cooper will suprise people... I wouldn't mind giving him a cheap lil 3yr contract if the coaches have any faith in him... if he goes out and is balling he's gonna leave is for a phat contract!

I hope he does surprise. The best I could ask for given his history is a solid backup. I just don't see the confidence in him. I think Dallas is hoping for Green and Collins.

 

[Risen Star]

well people in glass houses should not be throwing stones. Is that blunt enough for you?

No. Be blunter and hopefully I'll understand it.

 

[gimmesix]

I was wondering that same thing too, but since they're doing the same with so many of their offensive linemen, I figured I wouldn't stress about it unless they've got Cooper in a backup role when training camp starts.

I think they've got an idea of how it will work out, but aren't 100 percent sure so they are getting a look at all of the options and giving all of the options the opportunity to prove their value as backups as well.

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, although I'd much rather they go into this with sure starters. It might not take long at camp, though, to establish that, but then again, they might want to take long looks at Cooper and Green at guard and maybe even Bell before deciding. Since I want the best to play, I don't mind the competition ... the only thing I mind is not having that clear-cut replacement, if that's the case.

 

[Bardley1985]

Actually the best I could ask for is Smith Leary Frederick Martin Collins.

The best you can possibly ask for being some reclamation project who has failed at multiple spots in the league, including the Patriots, seems a little too fan zombie for me.

A good possibility for sure.. I don't know what spot on the line they had him try at other camps... but if all he must do is hold his own.. I think he can handle that.. and it appears he's actually learning a lot but of course that could just be blowing smoke to milk another paycheck.. but his talent is obvious if he can just get his work ethic up and really mesh with them... I think it could work out well for everyone involved

 

[Idgit]

A good possibility for sure.. I don't know what spot on the line they had him try at other camps... but if all he must do is hold his own.. I think he can handle that.. and it appears he's actually learning a lot but of course that could just be blowing smoke to milk another paycheck.. but his talent is obvious if he can just get his work ethic up and really mesh with them... I think it could work out well for everyone involved

If a street FA at LG is the best Risen Star can ask for, and a career journeyman comes in and balls and that's the best you can ask for, maybe it'll be time to ask how hard that LG position is to fill when you've got a couple of allpros on either side, after all.

And then perhaps we'll use the premium picks and salary cap space on defense, where it belongs.

 

[ghst187]

It would be nice to have 5 Pro-Bowl O-lineman

And a staff that doesn't get pass happy at the wrong moments

 

[xwalker]

I know it's real early, but I don't really care about position flex for a player if he's expected to start. It seems more like Dallas is preparing Cooper to be a backup, but the Cowboys also seem to be preparing every other starting guard candidate to play multiple positions.

Playing Center is the best way to learn the scheme.

 

[Bullflop]

Like the other candidates that are trying out for the OL, Cooper is getting some flex training to augment his chances of sticking around. It'll be interesting to see who ultimately winds up winning the LG starting spot and also the backup jobs as well. Like many of the other spots, there'll be lots of competition on the OL, folks! Whoever wins the starting and the backup positions will definitely have earned it this year.

 

[CooterBrown]

Position flex in the oline allows the team to go light on roster spots. If Cooper can play guard and center, and Collins can play tackle or guard, they can keep Green as a backup tackle and only keep 7 olinemen.

 

[tm1119]

Has nothing to do with Cooper, but I think a lot of Broncos fans are going to be disappointed in the contract given to Leary. Playing in between Smith and Fred will make a lot of people look better than they really are.