Jonathan Cooper Review

[xwalker]

I just re-watched all of the snaps that Cooper played in 3 starts with Cleveland last season.

I had already watched him after they signed him for the playoffs, but I just wanted to review him again.

He was even better than I remembered. He was good.

If he had been starting there for 3 years I would say he looked like an average NFL starter; however, considering that he was new to that team and scheme and probably not in the best condition after being out injured from training camp until late in the season, I think it was quite impressive that he was that good.

He still has decent quickness. He can get moving really fast; although his running looks a little weird with kind of a herky-jerky motion. He appears to have gained a good bit of weight. He has decent power and his awareness is good in terms of blocking the right defender and help blocking, switching up to handle stunts, etc. He did show some occasional lapses in technique which caused him to get off balance but it was not a big issue.

I doubt if he was in great condition last season after missing training camp and most of the season with an injury. He has the opportunity to be in better condition this season.

With a full training camp with the Cowboys and playing with All-Pros around him, I think he can be really good. This scheme seems like a perfect fit for him.

The Browns starter that he replaced was suspended and when he returned is when they cut Cooper with 1 game remaining in the season. My guess is that his agent asked them to cut him if he was not going to start.

Edit: Don't over analyze the positions they are playing in OTAs. Remember OTAs are without Pads. It's a great time to see if Cooper can handle the mental size of playing Center and shotgun snapping. The top backup Center has been out with an injury so it makes sense to try Cooper there.

 

[ThreeandOut]

He's probably making Collins move to RT possible.

 

[Teague31]

Broaddus thought his Cleveland tape was really good and I thought I read somewhere that PFF (FWIW) had him rated as the #1 guard in football those few weeks he started.

Bottom line is he doesn't have to be a star. If he is above average this line will be even better than last year cause Collins taking over for free is a huge upgrade

 

[Screw The Hall]

To me, this is one of those Marc Colombo dealios. There is no doubt he has talent, anytime a guard is selected as a top 10 pick you know there are going to be some gifts to work with. He's really never been healthy, so you give him an entire offseason in your conditioning program and with your trainers to bring him along. This is your quintessential low risk/ high reward scenario. We'll see.

 

[jday]

Broaddus thought his Cleveland tape was really good and I thought I read somewhere that PFF (FWIW) had him rated as the #1 guard in football those few weeks he started.

Bottom line is he doesn't have to be a star. If he is above average this line will be even better than last year cause Collins taking over for free is a huge upgrade

If the ol manages to improve on last year's performance, it follows the offense as a whole will be better than last year. <Chills>

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cooper makes the 53. No question in my book.

 

[AbeBeta]

To me, this is one of those Marc Colombo dealios. There is no doubt he has talent, anytime a guard is selected as a top 10 pick you know there are going to be some gifts to work with. He's really never been healthy, so you give him an entire offseason in your conditioning program and with your trainers to bring him along. This is your quintessential low risk/ high reward scenario. We'll see.

Colombo was on his 4th team?

 

[JohnsKey19]

I just re-watched all of the snaps that Cooper played in 3 starts with Cleveland last season.

I had already watched him after they signed him for the playoffs, but I just wanted to review him again.

He was even better than I remembered. He was good.

With a full training camp with the Cowboys and playing with All-Pros around him, I think he can be really good. This scheme seems like a perfect fit for him.

Good write up xwalker.

The LG position is the biggest story heading into the regular season IMO. What made our OL so good over the past 3 seasons is we could call any running play to either side. While I'm not expecting Cooper to be Leary/Collins, let's hope he at least allows the running game to have the same versatility. And while it certainly helps to be sandwiched by All-Pros, he's still gonna have to dig in and win a lot of 1-on-1 battles. If he can't, it will be noticed and cause stress to the OL.

 

[Screw The Hall]

Colombo was on his 4th team?

Too literal man. Injuries destroyed both first rounder's careers until Colombo got his second chance with the Cowboys. Colombo had 3 injury plagued seasons to start his career and Cooper has had 4. It's not a hard comparison to grasp.

 

[xwalker]

Colombo was on his 4th team?

There were both 1st round picks.
Their original teams gave up on them due to multiple years of injury problems.
They both came to the Cowboys in their 4th NFL season.
They were both 27 years old when they came to the Cowboys.

 

[haleyrules]

Sure hope Cooper can find his game again. He could be a good Cowboy. Him and the half crazy Moore.

 

[Teague31]

Good write up xwalker.

The LG position is the biggest story heading into the regular season IMO. What made our OL so good over the past 3 seasons is we could call any running play to either side. While I'm not expecting Cooper to be Leary/Collins, let's hope he at least allows the running game to have the same versatility. And while it certainly helps to be sandwiched by All-Pros, he's still gonna have to dig in and win a lot of 1-on-1 battles. If he can't, it will be noticed and cause stress to the OL.

Not sure Free won a one on one battle all year

 

[AbeBeta]

Too literal man. Injuries destroyed both first rounder's careers until Colombo got his second chance with the Cowboys. Colombo had 3 injury plagued seasons to start his career and Cooper has had 4. It's not a hard comparison to grasp.

Cooper's on his 4th chance

 

[Nightman]

I just re-watched all of the snaps that Cooper played in 3 starts with Cleveland last season.

I had already watched him after they signed him for the playoffs, but I just wanted to review him again.

He was even better than I remembered. He was good.

If he had been starting there for 3 years I would say he looked like an average NFL starter; however, considering that he was new to that team and scheme and probably not in the best condition after being out injured from training camp until late in the season, I think it was quite impressive that he was that good.

He still has decent quickness. He can get moving really fast; although his running looks a little weird with kind of a herky-jerky motion. He appears to have gained a good bit of weight. He has decent power and his awareness is good in terms of blocking the right defender and help blocking, switching up to handle stunts, etc. He did show some occasional lapses in technique which caused him to get off balance but it was not a big issue.

I doubt if he was in great condition last season after missing training camp and most of the season with an injury. He has the opportunity to be in better condition this season.

With a full training camp with the Cowboys and playing with All-Pros around him, I think he can be really good. This scheme seems like a perfect fit for him.

The Browns starter that he replaced was suspended and when he returned is when they cut Cooper with 1 game remaining in the season. My guess is that his agent asked them to cut him if he was not going to start.

Edit: Don't over analyze the positions they are playing in OTAs. Remember OTAs are without Pads. It's a great time to see if Cooper can handle the mental size of playing Center and shotgun snapping. The top backup Center has been out with an injury so it makes sense to try Cooper there.

This is what I heard........ I have no idea why CLE would trade him given their OL needs at the time

He could be a great find at a great price

 

[Deep_Freeze]

There were both 1st round picks.
Their original teams gave up on them due to multiple years of injury problems.
They both came to the Cowboys in their 4th NFL season.
They were both 27 years old when they came to the Cowboys.

Well I have alot of optimism for him. I do like the decision to not resign Leary, and try him out instead. He was here in practice, the coaches had seen Cooper before they let Leary walk. We can't pay everyone, we have to find deals wherever we can find them.

Plus, unless he's all-pro, no reason to overpay for a guard. We have alot of other needs that could be satisfied.

 

[AbeBeta]

There were both 1st round picks.
Their original teams gave up on them due to multiple years of injury problems.
They both came to the Cowboys in their 4th NFL season.
They were both 27 years old when they came to the Cowboys.

1. Cooper had three teams give up on him.

2. Is this gonna be another Jeremy Parnell love affair for you?

 

[CCBoy]

There were both 1st round picks.
Their original teams gave up on them due to multiple years of injury problems.
They both came to the Cowboys in their 4th NFL season.
They were both 27 years old when they came to the Cowboys.

The pedigree matters, and usually marries up with an offensive lineman in his career. 27 is still on the youngish side for an interior lineman in the NFL. I can't wait until he is able to show an attitude and anger when 'his' running back or quarterback gets hit.

He's really set up for success now...and with a group that will be together for long enough to be both forceful and synchronized.

 

[CCBoy]

1. Cooper had three teams give up on him.

2. Is this gonna be another Jeremy Parnell love affair for you?

Don't worry about X...just follow Cooper.

 

[AsthmaField]

1. Cooper had three teams give up on him.

2. Is this gonna be another Jeremy Parnell love affair for you?

Well, I look at it more as only 1 team really gave up on him. Arizona traded him to New England in the Chandler Jones trade.

Since it was a trade, New England had Cooper at his first round draft pick salary. Had Cooper not been making a good bit of money, I don't think Belichick would have gotten rid of him. At a reasonable rate, the Pats would have kept him and tried to get him going again.

To be honest though, I didn't pay that much attention to the whole thing so I could be wrong about the money Cooper was making at NE.

Then, Cleveland had him and had their starter at his position coming back off of injury. Plus, Cleveland was making such a youth movement and makes such weird decisions at times that I don't put much stock into their evaluation of any player.

 

[CCBoy]

Well, I look at it more as only 1 team really gave up on him. Arizona traded him to New England in the Chandler Jones trade.

Since it was a trade, New England had Cooper at his first round draft pick salary. Had Cooper not been making a good bit of money, I don't think Belichick would have gotten rid of him. At a reasonable rate, the Pats would have kept him and tried to get him going again.

To be honest though, I didn't pay that much attention to the whole thing so I could be wrong about the money Cooper was making at NE.

Then, Cleveland had him and had their starter at his position coming back off of injury. Plus, Cleveland was making such a youth movement and makes such weird decisions at times that I don't put much stock into their evaluation of any player.

No need to have to apologize for perimeter reasons on a player...I know that I am glad that he arrived onto the roster for Dallas. I'll ride that out on site as well.