The Cooper Effect

[CouchCoach]

More than any player the Cowboys have added through FA or trade, the Cooper effect is the most impactful I can recall in this FA era.

The most notable and impactful one prior to this was the Plan B for Novacek.

What if the Cowboys hadn't been able to do that and had to keep going at 3-5 with that group of WR's and a struggling QB? Would they have ended up top 10 or even higher and within reach of Murray with trades?

Would that first pick in this draft have been a WR or a QB? Would they be discussing a contract now or waiting until after or well into this season with the present QB1 or would he be fighting for the job? Remember, this QB had been called out by two WR's with their "we're getting open" comments and they were getting NFL open.

If that record had been a top 10 drafting one, does Garrett not only not get the extension but lose his job and does Booger bring Riley in with Murray?

Amari Cooper is our "It's a Wonderful Life" player because his impact affected quite a few and it does cause me to consider a lot of "what if's" because of him. I do not recall one player having this type of effect for the Cowboys in since 1990. If not for him, this team might have a new HC and QB.

So, in an in though the out door way, if you don't like Garrett or Prescott, you can blame Cooper.

 

[DFWJC]

Teams will have to adjust to us having Cooper or pay the price.
I think they will. But then again, we will have an offseason to think up stuff too

 

[DandyDon52]

More than any player the Cowboys have added through FA or trade, the Cooper effect is the most impactful I can recall in this FA era.

The most notable and impactful one prior to this was the Plan B for Novacek.

What if the Cowboys hadn't been able to do that and had to keep going at 3-5 with that group of WR's and a struggling QB? Would they have ended up top 10 or even higher and within reach of Murray with trades?

Would that first pick in this draft have been a WR or a QB? Would they be discussing a contract now or waiting until after or well into this season with the present QB1 or would he be fighting for the job? Remember, this QB had been called out by two WR's with their "we're getting open" comments and they were getting NFL open.

If that record had been a top 10 drafting one, does Garrett not only not get the extension but lose his job and does Booger bring Riley in with Murray?

Amari Cooper is our "It's a Wonderful Life" player because his impact affected quite a few and it does cause me to consider a lot of "what if's" because of him. I do not recall one player having this type of effect for the Cowboys in since 1990. If not for him, this team might have a new HC and QB.

So, in an in though the out door way, if you don't like Garrett or Prescott, you can blame Cooper.

Anything is possible, but I think JG and Dak would have had 2019 regardless.
It did help Dak though with his contract and getting signed, and gave new life to JG getting extended.
A lot will depend on what happens this season as far as HC is concerned.
If Moore does good, he could be the next HC, and Richards could be a possibility.
Or we just get 5 more years of Big Red!

 

[Doomsday101]

No doubt having a true #1 WR makes a difference on this team or any team as far as that goes. Who was the #1 WR on the team before Cooper got here last season? Hurns? Austin? Gallup? Beasley? I think Gallup has a chance to develop into atop WR but as of last season none of these guys would be a #1 on any team in the league. Cowboys took a risk on these guys and it hurt Dak and with no top TE it only made the job even more difficult for Dak. Adding Cooper gave this team a chance. I do think a full offseason and a season under Gallup's belt adding a savvy vet like Cobb who can play out of the slot or motion to the outside and yes a TE in Witten whom I still feel can be that safety net in a pinch will go a long way for Dak and this offense.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Regardless of what happens with Dak and Garrett after this year, I think most can agree, the Cooper trade was a needed and welcomed site.

 

[HanD]

Anything is possible, but I think JG and Dak would have had 2019 regardless.

this wasn't a good qb draft. imo, dallas would have waiting til after 2019 to fire jg, bring in payton or riley and go after the deep 2020 qb class as a fresh start.

 

[CouchCoach]

this wasn't a good qb draft. imo, dallas would have waiting til after 2019 to fire jg, bring in payton or riley and go after the deep 2020 qb class as a fresh start.

Could be because Booger is not prone to paying coaches not to coach. Some think because he's a billionaire that doesn't matter but the oddest thinking people about money I know have the most.

The team does a turnaround unlike anything we've seen before and the HC can't get an extension and the OC gets fired. That does strike me as a bit odd.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Could be because Booger is not prone to paying coaches not to coach. Some think because he's a billionaire that doesn't matter but the oddest thinking people about money I know have the most.

The team does a turnaround unlike anything we've seen before and the HC can't get an extension and the OC gets fired. That does strike me as a bit odd.

That's why I think this year will be different. Garrett realizes that the doors are starting to close on his time here in Dallas. From the coaching shakeups prior to 2018 to your OC being fired after 2018. Apparently the FO is looking for positive change. So Garrett's back is against the wall this year.

 

[glimmerman]

Am very interested to see the improvement of Gallop. He has the potential to be a #1 WR also. If he makes a huge jump this year you will see Daks passing numbers go way up. Plus Wilson is healed up and the addition of Cobb. Our TE maybe open all day by mid season if the have to account for these WR and Elliot may have a easier time running. If Moore uses these guys right and Dak makes the throws then it’s a potent Offense.

 

[CouchCoach]

That's why I think this year will be different. Garrett realizes that the doors are starting to close on his time here in Dallas. From the coaching shakeups prior to 2018 to your OC being fired after 2018. Apparently the FO is looking for positive change. So Garrett's back is against the wall this year.

And the one thing we don't know about that is how does he feel about that? Would he prefer to be coaching a team with a more traditional set up?

I think those that think Garrett won't be in demand are mistaken. He is well liked and networked through the NFL and every GM and owner is well aware that he's been given a total newbie to OC and play calling in his contract year and to top that off, thought he would have his OC for this season.

I am intrigued by Garrett going to another team. I don't think he's a great HC but I do wonder if he isn't better than what he's been in Dallas.

I tell ya, I ran radio stations under a situation similar to Garrett's and ones where I was left on my own to gain or lose by my decisions and I was a lot more effective with the latter because I held myself accountable and responsible for the results.

 

[CouchCoach]

Am very interested to see the improvement of Gallop. He has the potential to be a #1 WR also. If he makes a huge jump this year you will see Daks passing numbers go way up. Plus Wilson is healed up and the addition of Cobb. Our TE maybe open all day by mid season if the have to account for these WR and Elliot may have a easier time running. If Moore uses these guys right and Dak makes the throws then it’s a potent Offense.

Ya know, I do not see this as a TE offense, I don't think that position as receiver is nearly as important as a blocker.

We could be overestimating this WR corps but it looks really strong to me but I see Moore as more of a down the field guy than dink and dunk because that TOP ball control offense just doesn't cut it in today's game. Need big chunks of yardage and more scoring. And that will not happen with this group of TE's.

 

[glimmerman]

Ya know, I do not see this as a TE offense, I don't think that position as receiver is nearly as important as a blocker.

We could be overestimating this WR corps but it looks really strong to me but I see Moore as more of a down the field guy than dink and dunk because that TOP ball control offense just doesn't cut it in today's game. Need big chunks of yardage and more scoring. And that will not happen with this group of TE's.

Not sure when I heard this or if it was really true but some were saying that the giants game last year when Dak ran around without Elliot and some O-Line that Moore was working with Dak in that game. He threw 3 td passes to the TE. But those passes weren’t dink and dunk passes either. Lmao. This could be awesome or a train wreck.

 

[JoeKing]

The narrative when Cooper first signed was, "now we'll find out how good Dak can be". Had nothing changed then we would know Dak is no good but thank goodness that is not the case. Because there was such a big difference, this should tell everyone Dak is good enough to win a SB but still the haters are not convinced. So we have some folks casting doubt at Dak while the FO surrounds him with a team capable of winning a SB with Dak.

 

[Kevinicus]

And to think, the Cowboys really didn't score more points with Cooper than they did without him. In fact, I believe their offensive points per game was actually less with him than it was without him, heading into the week 17 game against NY (Just checked, 20 ppg without Cooper, 19.5 ppg with cooper through week 16 - week 17 pushed w/Cooper to a whopping 21.2).

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

The narrative when Cooper first signed was, "now we'll find out how good Dak can be". Had nothing changed then we would know Dak is no good but thank goodness that is not the case. Because there was such a big difference, this should tell everyone Dak is good enough to win a SB but still the haters are not convinced. So we have some folks casting doubt at Dak while the FO surrounds him with a team capable of winning a SB with Dak.

100% true. Dak has lost two playoff games. The first playoff lost was to be expected. (No rookie has ever won it all) The second playoff lost was mainly because of the defense. So we found out how good Dak and Cooper are together, now let's see If these coaches and this defense can hold it together in the playoffs.

 

[Diehardblues]

More than any player the Cowboys have added through FA or trade, the Cooper effect is the most impactful I can recall in this FA era.

The most notable and impactful one prior to this was the Plan B for Novacek.

What if the Cowboys hadn't been able to do that and had to keep going at 3-5 with that group of WR's and a struggling QB? Would they have ended up top 10 or even higher and within reach of Murray with trades?

Would that first pick in this draft have been a WR or a QB? Would they be discussing a contract now or waiting until after or well into this season with the present QB1 or would he be fighting for the job? Remember, this QB had been called out by two WR's with their "we're getting open" comments and they were getting NFL open.

If that record had been a top 10 drafting one, does Garrett not only not get the extension but lose his job and does Booger bring Riley in with Murray?

Amari Cooper is our "It's a Wonderful Life" player because his impact affected quite a few and it does cause me to consider a lot of "what if's" because of him. I do not recall one player having this type of effect for the Cowboys in since 1990. If not for him, this team might have a new HC and QB.

So, in an in though the out door way, if you don't like Garrett or Prescott, you can blame Cooper.

In a strange kind of way it would be interesting what direction we’d take. For the sake of argument..

I have to believe Dak would have shouldered most of the burden. And if it meant we begin to look in a different direction then I might argue it could have been better long term for our franchise. After all two consecutive seasons missing playoffs this winning culture he’s being praised for would be greatly diminished.

That the Cooper trade served as only a bandaid to a larger wound or weakness and that until that was resolved our quest of reaching another SB wound be more of a struggle.

And if we’d missed the last two seasons making the playoffs there wouldn’t be as much hoopla about a more talented roster and better moves we’ve made?

I can’t help but still wonder why Cooper went South in Oakland while recalling a couple games where he was almost non existent. While it was a big success last year it doesn’t guarantee continued success.

As far as Garrett. It might be more like 2015 in where he couldn’t be blamed unless it was his call to let Dez go and or not pursue a suitable replacement.

Ultimately I believe our window of success with Dak is fairly limited. Initially I thought we’d need to win a championship before Elliott’s contract came up. And it’s looking even more like it.

 

[beware_d-ware]

I don't think the Cardinals had any intention of giving up Murray for anything short of a big overpay (although a 6 or 7 win season would have put us in range for Haskins, who I really like). He was their new coach's handpicked QB, and if they were willing to dump Rosen on the cheap to get Kingsbury his guy, I don't think they would have taken any kind of even deal for Murray.

Likewise, I think Riley is staying at Oklahoma unless he gets an offer that just blows him away. If Kliff Kingsbury can get an NFL head coaching job after a 5-7 season at Texas Tech, you can bet that Riley could have his choice of jobs in the pros too.

I think he appreciates being God at Oklahoma, going to the playoff every year and cranking out Heisman Trophy winners (and can you even imagine the kind of 5 star QBs he's recruiting after he's made two of his guys back to back #1 pick), and getting money thrown at him left and right. In the pros, he'd have to butt heads with a personnel man unless he's given Belichick-ian dictator powers and deal with the realities of cap football that he doesn't have to face at Oklahoma, and the only thing that would be the same is the money. I could see him coming out of college for the perfect job (hands-off ownership, young franchise QB, a nucleus around him, tons of cap room, and total control over personnel), but he seems fine at OU until then.

 

[Diehardblues]

The narrative when Cooper first signed was, "now we'll find out how good Dak can be". Had nothing changed then we would know Dak is no good but thank goodness that is not the case. Because there was such a big difference, this should tell everyone Dak is good enough to win a SB but still the haters are not convinced. So we have some folks casting doubt at Dak while the FO surrounds him with a team capable of winning a SB with Dak.

In the end when surrounded by enough support we must cash in on the results. Once we pay Dak that support will be more compromised .

All QB’s need a supporting cast. It’s what they do with it that separates them from the pack.

 

[Eanwen]

Well I don't know what we would have taken because I no longer watch college football, but you'd imagine it would be qb or a trade back and hope for 2020.

I think Cooper's success kind of put the "always open" claims in question. If they really were getting open all the time you'd think the offense wouldn't be so much better with Coop.

 

[CouchCoach]

I don't think the Cardinals had any intention of giving up Murray for anything short of a big overpay (although a 6 or 7 win season would have put us in range for Haskins, who I really like). He was their new coach's handpicked QB, and if they were willing to dump Rosen on the cheap to get Kingsbury his guy, I don't think they would have taken any kind of even deal for Murray.

Likewise, I think Riley is staying at Oklahoma unless he gets an offer that just blows him away. If Kliff Kingsbury can get an NFL head coaching job after a 5-7 season at Texas Tech, you can bet that Riley could have his choice of jobs in the pros too.

I think he appreciates being God at Oklahoma, going to the playoff every year and cranking out Heisman Trophy winners (and can you even imagine the kind of 5 star QBs he's recruiting after he's made two of his guys back to back #1 pick), and getting money thrown at him left and right. In the pros, he'd have to butt heads with a personnel man unless he's given Belichick-ian dictator powers and deal with the realities of cap football that he doesn't have to face at Oklahoma, and the only thing that would be the same is the money. I could see him coming out of college for the perfect job (hands-off ownership, young franchise QB, a nucleus around him, tons of cap room, and total control over personnel), but he seems fine at OU until then.

The only reason I mention him is that unlike most other college HC's, he actually expressed interest in coaching in the NFL and that can't be about money.

No college coach, including Saban or Swinney, who just got a 10 year 93M contract, is going to get carte blanche with the personnel. Belichick got that but I do not think any other HC gets that including Reid or Payton.

Successful college coaches want to paint on a larger canvass like Saban, Spurrier and Petrino tried and I think Riley thinks his offense would work in the NFL. And for men that want challenge, what's the challenge at OU? Recruiting? They had one player on that team from OK. Big 12 is an afterthought conference after OU.

That Kingsbury hire was the oddest one I've seen in many a moon. The guy was a failure in a secondary conference and was lost with FA and had to be helped by his FO in even acquiring his coaching staff.