Someone Please Explain To Me The Cooper Hate

[NJCardFan]

For starters, it's pretty much a known fact that it takes offensive linemen coming out of college a year or 2 to become acclimated to the pro game. There are few exceptions like Anthony Munoz but those are few and far between. 2nd, Cooper broke his leg in pre-season game #3 last season and was lost for the season and yet there are those who felt he should have played on one leg and excelled(judging by some comments on here that he should be at pro bowl level right now). So, essentially this was his rookie season. Then throw in the fact that Arians didn't want to break up the chemistry of the o-line and kept the Samoan Matador Paul Fanaika in there except when he was hurt and gave Cooper a chance and lo and behold we actually found a running game. Then Fanaika comes back and our running game disappears but some are hating on Cooper for, in my opinion, no reason going so far as to call him a bust and blaming him for Stanton's injury which is 100% false. I hope those of you hating on him that Cooper gets cut and like Leonard Davis becomes an all pro lineman.

 

[kerouac9]

Copper couldn't earn the job in training camp. When he finally had the opportunity to play, he looked like a keystone cop until going back to the bench and developing a mysterious malady that kept him out for the rest of the year.

Kent Somersault on Twitter said that there's not much to say on Cooper that hasn't already been said--including "might be a bust"--which you'll never hear him say out loud if it weren't something considered on Hardy Drive.

It's not hate--it's just objectively evaluating a top 10 pick who has shown almost nothing in two years.

 

[NJCardFan]

Copper couldn't earn the job in training camp. When he finally had the opportunity to play, he looked like a keystone cop until going back to the bench and developing a mysterious malady that kept him out for the rest of the year.

Kent Somersault on Twitter said that there's not much to say on Cooper that hasn't already been said--including "might be a bust"--which you'll never hear him say out loud if it weren't something considered on Hardy Drive.

It's not hate--it's just objectively evaluating a top 10 pick who has shown almost nothing in two years.

What part of he broke his leg last year is not computing here?

 

[kerouac9]

What part of he broke his leg last year is not computing here?

Fine, but show up to training camp ready to compete. Or, when you get your chance in-season, show that your play was worth waiting for.

I don't under stand why breaking your leg in August means that you suck 10 months later, and then 15 months late the best that Ron Wolfley and your teammates ca say about you is that you're "not finding yourself on the ground quite as much."

Wolfley will blow out of proportion the smallest positive on any player--the fact that he couldn't think of one front-handed compliment to use for Cooper should be meaningful.

 

[NJCardFan]

Ever break your leg? Blow out a knee? Tough injuries for a lineman to come back from. I think the kid deserves a shot. Funny how no one mentions how much better the running game did when he was in there.

 

[az jam]

Starting OG Paul Fanaika has played poorly and will be a free agent. IMO Cooper will be the starting OG position next season. He needs to do well.

 

[NJCardFan]

Starting OG Paul Fanaika has played poorly will be a free agent. IMO Cooper will be the starting OG position next season. He needs to do well.

And if he doesn't THEN we can rip him but to do so now is a tad unfair.

 

[football karma]

Unmet expectations.

Combined with: might be injury prone. Fwiw: Urban noted that his wrist was pretty messed up. Hard to be an offensive lineman when you can't use one of your hands.

To me, early in the season, Cooper looked like a guy who was waiting for his leg to break again. Tentative, going down at first contact, etc.

Given how mediocre the guard play was this year -- if Cooper and Watford don't win jobs next year, it will be a giant dissapointment.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

We will know one way or the other early next season. IMHO, all the excuses go out the window two years after an injury.

 

[GatorAZ]

Hate =/= Disappointment

 

[MrYeahBut]

I suppose it's tougher for a lineman to come back from injury especially when you don't lose some weight, get in shape, stay focused, show some desire, etc. then play a couple games and get injured again.

Tyrann came back from injuries twice in less time. Blowing out a knee is no less devastating for a DB.

 

[Mitch]

I don't think it is hate...it's pure frustration...especially seeing as Leonard Davis was a first-round bust.

 

[NJCardFan]

I don't think it is hate...it's pure frustration...especially seeing as Leonard Davis was a first-round bust.

So was Levi Brown.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

It's not hate--it's just objectively evaluating a top 10 pick who has shown almost nothing in two years.

Fine, but show up to training camp ready to compete. Or, when you get your chance in-season, show that your play was worth waiting for.

Agree.

Cooper did not come back prepared to take over the starting guard job. Whether it was technique, out of shape, not knowing the play book or being tentative because of the injury.

No hate, just disappointed.

 

[Mitch]

So was Levi Brown.

Good call...that's actually whom i meant!

 

[kerouac9]

Ever break your leg? Blow out a knee? Tough injuries for a lineman to come back from. I think the kid deserves a shot. Funny how no one mentions how much better the running game did when he was in there.

I think you mean YET ANOTHER shot. Because he's already had two, and he fell on his face both times--literally as often as not.

The ONLY thing that people mention to defend Cooper is that his entering the lineup as a starter correlated with two games of effective rushing. Should I show you some graphs of other correlated events?

 

[BillsCarnage]

Agree.

Cooper did not come back prepared to take over the starting guard job. Whether it was technique, out of shape, not knowing the play book or being tentative because of the injury.

No hate, just disappointed.

Cooper was interviewed at one of the Rattler games over the summer. Only impression he left me with was that he just doesn't have it mentally to play in the NFL. I'll have to see if I can find the video.

 

[clif]

fair or unfair he has done squat in two years and he was a top ten pick. Why would we treat him any different than any other number 1 pick? Watching larsen and fanika get worked week after week is not encouraging when you consider cooper could beat either out. His leg was almost 18 months ago.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

If we learned anything from all our O-line draft busts... It's that we really need to stick to waiting for Oakland's to become FA's.

I know 1 doesn't = a trend, but it's all we got.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Because he has been beaten by an UDFA...BUST.

 

[D-Dogg]

he has one year to prove it or bust out, IMO.

 

[Cheesebeef]

he has one year to prove it or bust out, IMO.

This.

 

[Stout]

Copper couldn't earn the job in training camp. When he finally had the opportunity to play, he looked like a keystone cop until going back to the bench and developing a mysterious malady that kept him out for the rest of the year.

Kent Somersault on Twitter said that there's not much to say on Cooper that hasn't already been said--including "might be a bust"--which you'll never hear him say out loud if it weren't something considered on Hardy Drive.

It's not hate--it's just objectively evaluating a top 10 pick who has shown almost nothing in two years.

Blah blah haterade.

I think you mean YET ANOTHER shot. Because he's already had two, and he fell on his face both times--literally as often as not.

The ONLY thing that people mention to defend Cooper is that his entering the lineup as a starter correlated with two games of effective rushing. Should I show you some graphs of other correlated events?

Blah blah troll--1 shot, not two DUH

he has one year to prove it or bust out, IMO.

Exactly. Haters gonna hate, but next year will tell all. I hope he turns into what we'd (most of us) like him to be, but it might not happen. I'm firmly in the wait and see camp.

 

[don7031]

I don't think it is hate...it's pure frustration...especially seeing as Leonard Davis was a first-round bust.

Leonard Davis was not a bust. He was a day one starter with the Cardinals. Then the Cardinals tried to make a tackle out of guard which finished him in Arizona. For Dallas he was a three time Pro Bowl guard and earned 2nd team All Pro honors.

 

[don7031]

For starters, it's pretty much a known fact that it takes offensive linemen coming out of college a year or 2 to become acclimated to the pro game. There are few exceptions like Anthony Munoz but those are few and far between.

Rookie guards have made the Pro Bowl this year and last year. And others play at a high level.

For your acclimatization, you actually have to be playing to achieve that.