Raiders’ Amari Cooper catches on fast after Bengals pounded him
Raiders’ Amari Cooper catches on fast after Bengals pounded him
When the Bengals’ Adam Pacman Jones slammed Amari Cooper’s head and the other cornerbacks took turns roughing him up all game long two weeks ago, the Oakland rookie’s position coach took it all in, smiling.
“I thought it was great that it happened to him,” said receivers coach, Rob Moore, a former Jets and Cardinals receiver.
On Sunday against the Ravens, Cooper had five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown by halftime.
Especially on a 68-yard touchdown catch when he made the cornerback bite on an inside move and then took the route back outside and to the end zone.
“One thing that did separate him from the other receivers was his ability to separate and he did show he had top-end speed,” Moore said.
Cooper’s 106 yards after the catch this season rank sixth in the NFL.
Cleveland Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden — who has Cooper on his Sunday dance card — is impressed.
Extremely hard worker, wants to get it right, unbelievably competitive.
When asked if he had kept the football after scoring his first NFL touchdown, Cooper said no, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him.
Safety Charles Woodson (shoulder) and defensive end Justin Tuck (knee) have been cleared to play Sunday after missing a practice early in the week.
Defensive tackle Justin Ellis (ankle) was ruled out for a second straight week.
Defensive end Benson Mayowa (knee) will miss a third straight game.