i would vote Dez Bryant - because not only did I watch and enjoy him as a receiver, but Dez was also a prolific punt returner coming into the NFL and had his moments there until they decided it was too risky especially given his wreckless style.
- Dez could overpower and overwhelm his man with his size, strength and physical nature
- And he also possess terrific eye hand body control and ball skills when out-jumping CBs at it’s high point of the thrown ball in the red zone – Depending upon the skill of the QB that throws the more catchable ball
Dez would come up with the more impressive contouring catches when it comes down to physically contested catches with defenders hanging all over him – he had a notch over Cooper in that area.
He was never a blazer but he was field fast, competitive play speed and was a terrific runner after the catch.
- Plus I got to admit that I got a kick out of Dez and his swaggering woofing down his opponents with fire and passion, whether pre-game or during the game, you could not verbally intimidate him out of his game - when he was in his prime and at the top of his game.
- The only thing that I ever saw was when it came to the more elite man coverage CBs, he had a more difficult time of separating because he depended so much on his physical style and upper body strength and never sought to perfect and sell his route running, that those elite coverage CBs never had to worry about anything more than a couple of moves ,..and that was it.
If they could match up “ physically” with Dez per strength, they could better compete and neutralize him.
- Amari Cooper is like watching a 6-1 version of Cole Beasley playing on the outside when it comes to art of pure route running.
He has electric feet, hips , stop-restart change of direction on a dime, explosive cutting in and out of breaks, his repertoire of moves can simply freeze and confuse CBs.
Plus Cooper has it in his ability to catch a slant and take it the distance as well as over the top of defense ability,
- But just the opposite of Dez, ...Amari seems to bothered by physical jam pressing CBs more, than in-prime Dez.
- We'll get to measure Cooper vs the elite press CBs –(such as Saints Lattimore in Saints game) and he’ll face the likes of Pats Stephen Gilmore, Rams Jalen Ramsey, Lions Darius Slay and Bears Kyle Fuller in the coming weeks
- Both WRs have had issues with drops and injuries at one point or another.