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Message
Revisiting the Cooks Pick (Analysis of Top-Level Receivers)
Posted on 9/14/15 at 10:52 am
Posted on 9/14/15 at 10:52 am
No, I am not solely questioning a second-year player’s abilities or production (especially after being injured for a large portion of his rookie season). I am primarily questioning the front office’s decision to take Cooks 20th overall in the 2014 draft. He is diminutive in stature but with elite speed and agility. Yes, you need that kind of quickness to spread the field and open up opportunities in the vertical passing game, but perhaps the importance of size at the wideout position is understated. After all, football is a game of inches. When it comes to outleaping a defensive back for the football, it helps to have as much of a height advantage as possible.
Sure, a player of Cook’s athleticism and talent can make for a hell of a number two option, but it doesn't seem to translate to a Pro Bowl level receiving threat.
I thought it was a reach when we drafted him, and I still think it was a reach. The guy struggles to get off jams at the line of scrimmage because of his lack of size and will seldom outleap a defender for a jump ball despite his phenomenal vertical ability.
His measurables for both lateral quickness and straight line speed are off the charts, but remember that he is barely 5'10" and around 190. He can be a massive compliment to a big-bodied receiving threat such as Jimmy Graham or perhaps Marques Colston circa 2009, but I just don’t think he can put this receiving corps on his back and be that number one guy.
I have compiled a list of the top-50 receivers in the NFL last season, based on yards receiving, and have provided their height and weight for comparison. Tight ends were excluded from the list and rookies from the 2014 draft class are designated with an ‘R’.
1. Antonio Brown 5’10” 181
2. Demaryius Thomas 6’3” 229
3. Julio Jones 6’3” 220
4. Jordy Nelson 6’3” 217
5. Emmanuel Sanders 5’11” 180
6. T.Y. Hilton 5’9” 180
7. Golden Tate 5’10” 198
8. Dez Bryant 6’2” 220
9. Jeremy Maclin 6’0” 198
10. Odell Beckham Jr. (R) picked 12th overall 5’11” 198
11. Randall Cobb 5’10” 192
12. DeAndre Hopkins 6’1” 218
13. DeSean Jackson 5’10” 178
14. Alshon Jeffery 6’3” 216
15. Calvin Johnson 6’5” 237
16. Steve Smith Sr. 5’9” 195
17. Anquan Boldin 6’1” 220
18. Mike Evans (R) picked 7th overall 6’5” 231
19. A.J. Green 6’4” 207
20. Kelvin Benjamin (R) picked 28th overall 6’5” 245
21. Vincent Jackson 6’5” 230
22. Sammy Watkins (R) picked 4th overall 6’1” 211
23. Julian Edelman 5’10” 200
24. Eric Decker 6’3” 214
25. Brandon LaFell 6’3” 210
26. Rueben Randle 6’2” 208
27. Andre Johnson 6’3” 229
28. Kenny Stills 6’0” 198
29. Roddy White 6’0” 211
30. Marques Colston 6’4” 225
31. Jordan Matthews (R) picked 42nd overall 6’3” 212
32. Mike Wallace 6’0” 205
33. Malcom Floyd 6’5” 225
34. Malcolm Floyd 6’2” 220
35. Doug Baldwin 5’10” 189
36. Andrew Hawkins 5’7” 180
37. Mohamed Sanu 6’2” 210
38. Larry Fitzgerald 6’3” 218
39. Keenan Allen 6’2” 211
40. Reggie Wayne 6’0” 203
41. Eddie Royal 5’10” 185
42. Torrey Smith 6’0” 205
43. Jarvis Landry (R) picked 63 overall 5’11” 202
44. Dwayne Bowe 6’2” 222
45. Pierre Garcon 6’0” 216
46. Kenny Britt 6’3” 223
47. Greg Jennings 6’0” 198
48. Brandon Marshall 6’4” 230
49. Kendall Wright 5’10” 191
50. Robert Woods 6’0” 190
Receivers Under 5’11” 11/50 22%
Receivers Over 6’0” 27/50 54%
Mean Height of Top-50 Receivers 73.04 inches or 6’1”
Mean Weight of Top-50 Receivers 208.6 lbs
Ideal Receiver Size 6’1” 208
As you can see, there are several players comparable to Cooks’ size who have had massive success at the professional level. However, this tends to be the exception rather than the norm. Of the smaller group of receivers highlighted in bold, only Brown, Hilton, Jackson, and Smith, have had multiple 1000-yard seasons.
My point is that when it comes to playing the odds, which is just as important as instincts when drafting a player, selecting larger receiver has proven to be the better bet.
Here are a list of receivers selected after Brandon Cooks who meet or exceed the aforementioned desired size and have shown potential after rookie season:
Donte Moncreif 6’2” 221 picked 90th overall
Jordan Matthews 6’3” 212 picked 42nd overall
Allen Robinson 6’2” 220 picked 61st overall
Martavis Bryant 6’4” 211 picked 118th overall
Davante Adams 6’1” 212 picked 53rd overall
Personally, I always liked the idea of us selecting Matthews and Bryant was also a very intriguing option, particularly as a third-round pick.
When you select skill position players in the first round, you need to hit it out of the park. This will probably go down as one of the deepest and most talented wide receiver draft classes in the history of the NFL. It pains me to think that we reached by selecting a smaller receiver who everyone assumed would just run away from people.
I want the guy to succeed, truly I do. I will gladly eat crow if he proceeds to tear it up from here on out.
Still, I just don’t think Cooks was the guy for us to take. Additionally, I didn’t see the point of picking a receiver until at least the second round. I understand that they wanted someone who could stretch the field and provide Drew with a deep outlet, but in my opinion Stills was just as good of an option (and a hell of late round steal which I figured would pay dividends after watching him at Oklahoma) and we traded him away like it was nothing.
Sure, a player of Cook’s athleticism and talent can make for a hell of a number two option, but it doesn't seem to translate to a Pro Bowl level receiving threat.
I thought it was a reach when we drafted him, and I still think it was a reach. The guy struggles to get off jams at the line of scrimmage because of his lack of size and will seldom outleap a defender for a jump ball despite his phenomenal vertical ability.
His measurables for both lateral quickness and straight line speed are off the charts, but remember that he is barely 5'10" and around 190. He can be a massive compliment to a big-bodied receiving threat such as Jimmy Graham or perhaps Marques Colston circa 2009, but I just don’t think he can put this receiving corps on his back and be that number one guy.
I have compiled a list of the top-50 receivers in the NFL last season, based on yards receiving, and have provided their height and weight for comparison. Tight ends were excluded from the list and rookies from the 2014 draft class are designated with an ‘R’.
1. Antonio Brown 5’10” 181
2. Demaryius Thomas 6’3” 229
3. Julio Jones 6’3” 220
4. Jordy Nelson 6’3” 217
5. Emmanuel Sanders 5’11” 180
6. T.Y. Hilton 5’9” 180
7. Golden Tate 5’10” 198
8. Dez Bryant 6’2” 220
9. Jeremy Maclin 6’0” 198
10. Odell Beckham Jr. (R) picked 12th overall 5’11” 198
11. Randall Cobb 5’10” 192
12. DeAndre Hopkins 6’1” 218
13. DeSean Jackson 5’10” 178
14. Alshon Jeffery 6’3” 216
15. Calvin Johnson 6’5” 237
16. Steve Smith Sr. 5’9” 195
17. Anquan Boldin 6’1” 220
18. Mike Evans (R) picked 7th overall 6’5” 231
19. A.J. Green 6’4” 207
20. Kelvin Benjamin (R) picked 28th overall 6’5” 245
21. Vincent Jackson 6’5” 230
22. Sammy Watkins (R) picked 4th overall 6’1” 211
23. Julian Edelman 5’10” 200
24. Eric Decker 6’3” 214
25. Brandon LaFell 6’3” 210
26. Rueben Randle 6’2” 208
27. Andre Johnson 6’3” 229
28. Kenny Stills 6’0” 198
29. Roddy White 6’0” 211
30. Marques Colston 6’4” 225
31. Jordan Matthews (R) picked 42nd overall 6’3” 212
32. Mike Wallace 6’0” 205
33. Malcom Floyd 6’5” 225
34. Malcolm Floyd 6’2” 220
35. Doug Baldwin 5’10” 189
36. Andrew Hawkins 5’7” 180
37. Mohamed Sanu 6’2” 210
38. Larry Fitzgerald 6’3” 218
39. Keenan Allen 6’2” 211
40. Reggie Wayne 6’0” 203
41. Eddie Royal 5’10” 185
42. Torrey Smith 6’0” 205
43. Jarvis Landry (R) picked 63 overall 5’11” 202
44. Dwayne Bowe 6’2” 222
45. Pierre Garcon 6’0” 216
46. Kenny Britt 6’3” 223
47. Greg Jennings 6’0” 198
48. Brandon Marshall 6’4” 230
49. Kendall Wright 5’10” 191
50. Robert Woods 6’0” 190
Receivers Under 5’11” 11/50 22%
Receivers Over 6’0” 27/50 54%
Mean Height of Top-50 Receivers 73.04 inches or 6’1”
Mean Weight of Top-50 Receivers 208.6 lbs
Ideal Receiver Size 6’1” 208
As you can see, there are several players comparable to Cooks’ size who have had massive success at the professional level. However, this tends to be the exception rather than the norm. Of the smaller group of receivers highlighted in bold, only Brown, Hilton, Jackson, and Smith, have had multiple 1000-yard seasons.
My point is that when it comes to playing the odds, which is just as important as instincts when drafting a player, selecting larger receiver has proven to be the better bet.
Here are a list of receivers selected after Brandon Cooks who meet or exceed the aforementioned desired size and have shown potential after rookie season:
Donte Moncreif 6’2” 221 picked 90th overall
Jordan Matthews 6’3” 212 picked 42nd overall
Allen Robinson 6’2” 220 picked 61st overall
Martavis Bryant 6’4” 211 picked 118th overall
Davante Adams 6’1” 212 picked 53rd overall
Personally, I always liked the idea of us selecting Matthews and Bryant was also a very intriguing option, particularly as a third-round pick.
When you select skill position players in the first round, you need to hit it out of the park. This will probably go down as one of the deepest and most talented wide receiver draft classes in the history of the NFL. It pains me to think that we reached by selecting a smaller receiver who everyone assumed would just run away from people.
I want the guy to succeed, truly I do. I will gladly eat crow if he proceeds to tear it up from here on out.
Still, I just don’t think Cooks was the guy for us to take. Additionally, I didn’t see the point of picking a receiver until at least the second round. I understand that they wanted someone who could stretch the field and provide Drew with a deep outlet, but in my opinion Stills was just as good of an option (and a hell of late round steal which I figured would pay dividends after watching him at Oklahoma) and we traded him away like it was nothing.
This post was edited on 9/14/15 at 11:05 am
Posted on 9/14/15 at 10:53 am to saint amant steve
He was the only good draft pick in like three years. I'm not going to complain or what-if that pick.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 10:56 am to saint amant steve
I'm not reading all that shite.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 10:58 am to whodatfan
I remember this thread...
In may.
In may.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 11:15 am to saint amant steve
Bookmarked.
Cooks is probably going to live up to the 20th selection. He'll end up being more productive than all of the bigger guys you have listed as drafted after him.
Cooks is probably going to live up to the 20th selection. He'll end up being more productive than all of the bigger guys you have listed as drafted after him.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 1:09 pm to saint amant steve
quote:
As you can see, there are several players comparable to Cooks’ size who have had massive success at the professional level. However, this tends to be the exception rather than the norm. Of the smaller group of receivers highlighted in bold, only Brown, Hilton, Jackson, and Smith, have had multiple 1000-yard seasons.
Brown and Hilton will each have at least 4-5 more years with 1000 yards. Not to mention Cobb who is getting better every year and a top 20 WR. In that whole comma inducing word vomit you have up there, you never make a point. Cooks is barely in his second year. You do realize he was leading almost every category among rookies last year before he got hurt right? He would have been #2 probably behind OBJ for offensive rookie of the year no doubt. To even mention Cooks with Martavis Bryant is sinful. Bryant is a straight line speed guy. He blows the top off of defenses. That is it. He probably will never be a top tier WR like Cooks appears to be.
Also you ignore the fact that when Cooks was picked he was exactly what we needed. A fast WR that could create separation in short areas. We already had the big bodies in Graham and Colston. No one knew that Graham wouldn't be on the team the following year and that Colston would be regressing so fast.
You can question many moves by the front office recently but the Cooks pick appears to be one of the things they got right
Posted on 9/14/15 at 1:40 pm to Throbinhood
quote:
You do realize he was leading almost every category among rookies last year before he got hurt right? He would have been #2 probably behind OBJ for offensive rookie of the year no doubt.
He amassed only 550 yards through ten games despite having substantially more targets than a number of rookie receivers.
Considering that for the first time in NFL history three rookies had more than 1000 yards receiving in a season, his production would not have finished second behind Beckham unless his production greatly increased.
He had no 100-yard receiving games and would have needed to increase his average by 20 yards per game in order to exceed 1000 yards. That was certainly attainable, but you act like it was a guarantee.
quote:
To even mention Cooks with Martavis Bryant is sinful. Bryant is a straight line speed guy. He blows the top off of defenses. That is it. He probably will never be a top tier WR like Cooks appears to be.
He also offers large frame which is ideal in long passing situations when you are fighting for the ball with a defensive back.
quote:
Also you ignore the fact that when Cooks was picked he was exactly what we needed. A fast WR that could create separation in short areas.
You don't need to spend a first-pick on that sort of athlete. There have been plenty of Lance Moore type players who have been available in the later rounds.
quote:
No one knew that Graham wouldn't be on the team the following year and that Colston would be regressing so fast.
Yes, the Graham scenario was impossible to envision, but Colston's decline was only a matter of time because of his poor speed.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 1:49 pm to saint amant steve
I appreciate you being willing to go out on a limb with your opinion.
The jury is still out on Cooks. Personally, I don't think it will be long before it's pretty obvious he's a special player. All signs are pointing to that.
But, we'll see if you are willing to admit how wrong you were in the face of those signs should Cooks break out.
The jury is still out on Cooks. Personally, I don't think it will be long before it's pretty obvious he's a special player. All signs are pointing to that.
But, we'll see if you are willing to admit how wrong you were in the face of those signs should Cooks break out.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 1:57 pm to saint amant steve
quote:
He amassed only 550 yards through ten games despite having substantially more targets than a number of rookie receivers.
If you recall, majority of Cooks targets early in his career were bubble screens or shorts (less than 5 yards) routes. It wasn't until later in the season, right before his injury, that we started giving him shots downfield.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 2:24 pm to saint amant steve
Yesterday cooks spent most of the day 1 on 1 with patrick Peterson and a safety over the top...
It's not his fault he doesn't have any other receivers to take the heat off of him
It's not his fault he doesn't have any other receivers to take the heat off of him
Posted on 9/14/15 at 2:29 pm to Mr. Hangover
quote:
Yesterday cooks spent most of the day 1 on 1 with patrick Peterson and a safety over the top...
Ding. It wasn't on an island, it was ALWAYS with safety help.
That is why Coleman, Colston, and Snead were able to get 1v1 matchups so often. Coleman and Colston had 2 or 3 receptions they should have hauled in (Colston for sure should have...).
Snead performed well in 18 snaps.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 2:31 pm to Mr. Hangover
Yep. Arizona was blitz heavy last year
Yesterday they played deep safety help and were burned when they blitzed
Yesterday they played deep safety help and were burned when they blitzed
Posted on 9/14/15 at 2:31 pm to saint amant steve
big WR's are better and more coveted but Cooks is going to be fine.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 2:54 pm to Lester Earl
Yep... IF he is our number one WR, we need a 1A to take some of the best off of him
Posted on 9/14/15 at 3:43 pm to saint amant steve
He's not a number 1 type reciever. He's listed at 5'10 , but more like 5-8/5-9 at best.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 5:54 pm to saint amant steve
Like cooks a lot and hope he's a hall of fame guy. And he's not just our number 1 pick, he's a 1-3 pick, both. Bad pick imo, Landry is showing his worth and that a fact with a lot lesser qb, we see what Benjamin did while healthy at the panthers, John brown could have had that role. He would be a great complementary guy to a stud top guy. And no he's not Steve Smith,Smith is great off jams, Cooks has great straight line speed with only average quickness. As deep as that draft was we could have been set up with a slew of young studs for years to come. But we go for cooks and SJB for 3 of our picks. Time will tell and I hope he becomes a superstar but I don't think so until a true number 1 steps up. But who cares, what's done is done.
Posted on 9/14/15 at 5:56 pm to jcj
quote:
Cooks has great straight line speed with only average quickness
He had unreal shuttle times
He has elite straight line speed, quickness, and hands
This post was edited on 9/14/15 at 6:01 pm
Posted on 9/14/15 at 5:59 pm to jcj
So you'd take Landry on this team over Cooks? That's what you're saying?
It would be like taking a Wes Welker over Antonio Brown, in this case Cooks is Antonio because of the skill set he possesses. Landry is a possession guy.
Benjamin had big numbers because of the volume of passes thrown his way
Brown? Lol ok
Cooks is average quickness? Dude, you can't be serious
It would be like taking a Wes Welker over Antonio Brown, in this case Cooks is Antonio because of the skill set he possesses. Landry is a possession guy.
Benjamin had big numbers because of the volume of passes thrown his way
Brown? Lol ok
Cooks is average quickness? Dude, you can't be serious
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