Some Browns fans take issue with my last Amari Cooper column – Terry Pluto
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Earlier in the week, I wrote a column about the Amari Cooper trade to Buffalo. I spent much of the story – probably too much – highlighting Cooper’s unhappiness with the Browns and his contract situation.
I received several emails like this one from David:
“I have to disagree with one point (sort of). Cooper was by far my favorite player on this team. I even compared him to Nick Chubb … just did his job and kept his mouth shut. But wow did that change. His QB a disaster, but nine dropped passes and the subtle complaining through social media? I don’t see Chubb’s play on the field changing under the same circumstances (contract issue). He’d go to work like always and keep his mouth shut. Even after a gruesome injury, assuming he returns.”
“I have to disagree with your assessment of Cooper. You made it sound like he is a ‘victim’ of this mess of a season. He has a supposed reputation as a pro’s pro. No off field trouble, keeps his head down and works hard. But he was not a victim, he had a part, along with many others in the debacle. Maybe more so than others. The nine drops are on him. Maybe 3 or 4 fewer drops and the Browns have two or three wins. He dropped some big ones. It was/is obvious something was going on. The worst part for me is that there are 52 other guys in that locker room that he let down.”
Cooper & Watson
Like me, even the critics of my column all appreciated Cooper. And like me, they had a hard time understanding why he performed so poorly. The drops and a few other things such as being on the wrong page with Deshaun Watson showed a lack of focus.
One of my theories was Cooper being frustrated playing with Watson. It wasn’t personal. It came down to performance, Watson struggling with his passing and accuracy.
I watched the tape of last Sunday’s game. There was a play where Watson rolled out away from a pass rush. Cooper cut his route short, and came back in the direction of Watson.
Watson fired a pass, at least 20 yards over Cooper’s head for an incompletion. As Cooper came back to the huddle, Watson was waving at him – telling him to run deep.
I thought Cooper had made the proper move. Seeing the QB scramble under duress, come toward him to make yourself a target for a shorter, safer pass.
But the analyst on the game was former player Jonathan Vilma. He basically said Watson was correct. Cooper was facing “press coverage,” and when that happens – go long and beat it down the field.
The Browns are using something new this season – “choice routes.” allowing the receiver to make a “choice” which way to cut when facing tight coverage. I wonder if some of the miscommunication between Watson and receivers is due to that
