Former Saint Brandin Cooks

[Akrasian]

Think they regret letting him go? 7 receptions on 8 targets, 107 yards, a key part in the Rams beating the Saints today. What the hell were they thinking? And am I ever glad that he is a Ram.

 

[jrry32]

He sure put Michael Thomas to shame today.

 

[OC_Ram]

Yup

 

[Memento]

And let's not forget that the Cheatriots let him go as well. Think he'll be fired up for the Super Bowl?

 

[12intheBox]

Former Patriot Brandin Cooks.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Cooks has to be loving this.
Sending the Aints home with broken hearts.
Now a chance to do the same to the Cheats.
Back to back.

 

[jap]

Drew's arm is not what it used to be, and there were times when Brandin was an 'Aint where he felt Drew put him in physical danger with long floaters that allowed defenders to recover and blast Brandin when the rock arrived. Cooks wasn't happy about those plays at all.

At NE, the Man named Brady throws mostly short to intermediate passes, and his long throws can hang up there too. It's not that big a deal if you are a big receiver: Brandin isn't big.

Here in the Land of LaLa, Brandin is matched with a young QB who has a legitimate gun for an arm plus rare accuracy to boot. Jared is tailor made for a small Warp-5 speedster like Cooks. Just like he (and Jared) demonstrated to the 'Aints how to properly use him, expect him to put on a show at the Super Bowl.

 

[Mackeyser]

Think they regret letting him go? 7 receptions on 8 targets, 107 yards, a key part in the Rams beating the Saints today. What the hell were they thinking? And am I ever glad that he is a Ram.

They shipped him out because he was too fast for Brees who doesn't have that long ball anymore. Legit, he has to wind up to throw it 50 yards in the air.

Brees really struggled to get his timing with Cooks, but he was and is worth that 1st rounder.

The hard part for Brees going forward is that his deep range will only continue to shrink.

 

[Merlin]

They shipped him out because he was too fast for Brees who doesn't have that long ball anymore.

Yep. That plus I think Cooks said something about it and sealed his fate. Good for us either way.

 

[Ramstien]

I did not realize it until I saw the stats that was a career high game 7 catches for 107 yards. What did Holt say, "Big time players make big time plays!"
'

 

[Prime Time]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...-intentionally-dropped-third-down-pass-in-ot/

Brandin Cooks intentionally dropped third-down pass in OT
Posted by Charean Williams on January 24, 2019

Brandin Cooks caught seven passes for 107 yards in the NFC Championship Game, but his biggest contribution came on a drop.

The Rams receiver intentionally dropped a third-and-seven pass from Jared Goff in overtime from the New Orleans 39-yard line, coach Sean McVay revealed Thursday. It appeared cornerback Marshon Lattimore would have tackled Cooks for a 4-yard loss, which would have made Greg Zuerlein‘s attempt 61 yards.

Zuerlein easily made the 57-yard game-winner.

“Brandin Cooks, talk about a smart football player,” McVay told reporters, via NFL.com. “Having the presence when I give him a terrible play call on the third down to drop it, knowing that it would have been a terrible play where he intentionally drops it.”

Goff didn’t realize it was an intentional drop until later and said he should have thrown the ball at Cooks’ feet. Cooks saved him.

“I think it’s one of those things where you see what happened, one of the D-ends and Marshon, the way that they played it, being able to be in the backfield before I technically really was able to catch the ball and get upfield,” Cooks said. “I think it was more important to save those yards, not that Greg needs them, but rather play it safe than sorry.”

 

[Synthetic]

Not at all.

Cooks didn't work out here. The Saints hoped he could be their next Marques Colston and it simply didn't work. The Saints gave him multiple roles on offense in those years and it didn't work. You have to consider that he was a first round draft pick for them in 2014 and he never lived up to any of the hopes and expectations for him replacing who was previously the best WR we had in the Payton era.

You could easily argue though that the Saints do miss having play makers in the WR corps and that isn't just about Cooks. One of the things that really hurt them in 2017 was that they didn't replace him with anybody and also the regression of Willie Snead. Snead was a great receiver for us from 2013 to 2016. He had moments and going into 2017, that was a contract year for him. Snead screwed himself up badly by getting arrested for DUI leading to a suspension and then when he finally did come back, he was a shell of his former self. Another player they missed on was signing Coby Fleener whom never played well enough to be worth the ridiculous contract he got. They missed up this past year with thinking Tre'Quan Smith would be an instant hit in the offense when he was drafted and Cameron Meredith spend all year injured.

In 2016 Cooks was getting out-played by a rookie Michael Thomas. Thomas has a legitimate shot to become the best WR the Saints have ever had. He reminds me of a vintage Eric Martin from back in the day but better. Cooks was gone from this team the minute he threw a fit back in 2016 saying he didn't get the ball thrown to him enough. This led to the game vs Detroit where our offense was designed around getting the ball to him and he ended up failing badly.

Cooks one big strength was his speed. He often got owned in coverage badly and never established himself as the #1 receiver here. Some of his best moments in NOLA were in the slot position. He was kinda like Randall Cobb (Packers) for us. What you are getting from Cooks is a completely different player from his time here and he's also in a different system. The Patriots used him differently too. With the Saints, he was a disappointment for being a first round draft pick. Thomas was better than him in 2016 and there were stats to prove it that Thomas was going to be something special for them.

I believe the Patriots got rid of him over that play in the Super Bowl where he had the end around run play and instead of running for the first down, he ran directly to the one guy who could tackle him and tried to jump over him. He had moments like that in NOLA too. One of the most frustrating things about him was his poor on field vision and it often seemed like he would run head first for the one guy who could tackle him down the stretch of the field.

With all that aside, I wish him well and am glad to see you guys enjoy him. I don't hold any ill feelings towards him. People change, people grow over time.

 

[1maGoh]

Not at all.

Cooks didn't work out here. The Saints hoped he could be their next Marques Colston and it simply didn't work. The Saints gave him multiple roles on offense in those years and it didn't work. You have to consider that he was a first round draft pick for them in 2014 and he never lived up to any of the hopes and expectations for him replacing who was previously the best WR we had in the Payton era.

You could easily argue though that the Saints do miss having play makers in the WR corps and that isn't just about Cooks. One of the things that really hurt them in 2017 was that they didn't replace him with anybody and also the regression of Willie Snead. Snead was a great receiver for us from 2013 to 2016. He had moments and going into 2017, that was a contract year for him. Snead screwed himself up badly by getting arrested for DUI leading to a suspension and then when he finally did come back, he was a shell of his former self. Another player they missed on was signing Coby Fleener whom never played well enough to be worth the ridiculous contract he got. They missed up this past year with thinking Tre'Quan Smith would be an instant hit in the offense when he was drafted and Cameron Meredith spend all year injured.

In 2016 Cooks was getting out-played by a rookie Michael Thomas. Thomas has a legitimate shot to become the best WR the Saints have ever had. He reminds me of a vintage Eric Martin from back in the day but better. Cooks was gone from this team the minute he threw a fit back in 2016 saying he didn't get the ball thrown to him enough. This led to the game vs Detroit where our offense was designed around getting the ball to him and he ended up failing badly.

Cooks one big strength was his speed. He often got owned in coverage badly and never established himself as the #1 receiver here. Some of his best moments in NOLA were in the slot position. He was kinda like Randall Cobb (Packers) for us. What you are getting from Cooks is a completely different player from his time here and he's also in a different system. The Patriots used him differently too. With the Saints, he was a disappointment for being a first round draft pick. Thomas was better than him in 2016 and there were stats to prove it that Thomas was going to be something special for them.

I believe the Patriots got rid of him over that play in the Super Bowl where he had the end around run play and instead of running for the first down, he ran directly to the one guy who could tackle him and tried to jump over him. He had moments like that in NOLA too. One of the most frustrating things about him was his poor on field vision and it often seemed like he would run head first for the one guy who could tackle him down the stretch of the field.

With all that aside, I wish him well and am glad to see you guys enjoy him. I don't hold any ill feelings towards him. People change, people grow over time.

Yeah, that bum only got 1700 yards, 15 ypc, and 8 TDs that 2016 season. Can't have guys underperforming like that.

And that 9 target, 7 reception, 73 yards game against Detroit is unacceptable. He should have at least 1 TD in every game.

 

[Synthetic]

Yeah, that bum only got 1700 yards, 15 ypc, and 8 TDs that 2016 season. Can't have guys underperforming like that.

And that 9 target, 7 reception, 73 yards game against Detroit is unacceptable. He should have at least 1 TD in every game.

Stats don't tell the entire story. Look at Brees' stats for this year. They wouldn't tell you how bad he's struggled in his last 6 games.

Go back and watch that Detroit game. The only reason he had so many targets is because he threw a fit in the media the week before, complaining about not getting enough passes thrown to him. So they game planned to get him involved vs the Lions and it limited the offense.

 

[RamFan503]

Not at all.

Cooks didn't work out here. The Saints hoped he could be their next Marques Colston and it simply didn't work. The Saints gave him multiple roles on offense in those years and it didn't work. You have to consider that he was a first round draft pick for them in 2014 and he never lived up to any of the hopes and expectations for him replacing who was previously the best WR we had in the Payton era.

You could easily argue though that the Saints do miss having play makers in the WR corps and that isn't just about Cooks. One of the things that really hurt them in 2017 was that they didn't replace him with anybody and also the regression of Willie Snead. Snead was a great receiver for us from 2013 to 2016. He had moments and going into 2017, that was a contract year for him. Snead screwed himself up badly by getting arrested for DUI leading to a suspension and then when he finally did come back, he was a shell of his former self. Another player they missed on was signing Coby Fleener whom never played well enough to be worth the ridiculous contract he got. They missed up this past year with thinking Tre'Quan Smith would be an instant hit in the offense when he was drafted and Cameron Meredith spend all year injured.

In 2016 Cooks was getting out-played by a rookie Michael Thomas. Thomas has a legitimate shot to become the best WR the Saints have ever had. He reminds me of a vintage Eric Martin from back in the day but better. Cooks was gone from this team the minute he threw a fit back in 2016 saying he didn't get the ball thrown to him enough. This led to the game vs Detroit where our offense was designed around getting the ball to him and he ended up failing badly.

Cooks one big strength was his speed. He often got owned in coverage badly and never established himself as the #1 receiver here. Some of his best moments in NOLA were in the slot position. He was kinda like Randall Cobb (Packers) for us. What you are getting from Cooks is a completely different player from his time here and he's also in a different system. The Patriots used him differently too. With the Saints, he was a disappointment for being a first round draft pick. Thomas was better than him in 2016 and there were stats to prove it that Thomas was going to be something special for them.

I believe the Patriots got rid of him over that play in the Super Bowl where he had the end around run play and instead of running for the first down, he ran directly to the one guy who could tackle him and tried to jump over him. He had moments like that in NOLA too. One of the most frustrating things about him was his poor on field vision and it often seemed like he would run head first for the one guy who could tackle him down the stretch of the field.

With all that aside, I wish him well and am glad to see you guys enjoy him. I don't hold any ill feelings towards him. People change, people grow over time.

That's all well and good but I also watched Cooks all through college and what we are seeing from him now is the player I watched at OSU. The fact that the Saints and the patsies misused him is not on Cooks. It's a bit like Tavon in a Fisher "offense". The Saints really probably shouldn't have drafted him for their system. Cooks can run every route and always lived on short to intermediate routes that he would turn into chunk yardage. He was always able to take the top off a defense but that was anything but his bread and butter.

There is indeed a reason he works in McVay's offense and why Sean wanted him before he got traded to the patsies. McVay doesn't appear to utilize a "true #1 receiver". He values weapons, versatility, and smarts. Cooks, Woods, Kupp, and it seems maybe Reynolds all fit that mold.

I was stoked when we grabbed Cooks and nothing has changed that mindset.

 

[Synthetic]

That's all well and good but I also watched Cooks all through college and what we are seeing from him now is the player I watched at OSU. The fact that the Saints and the patsies misused him is not on Cooks. It's a bit like Tavon in a Fisher "offense". The Saints really probably shouldn't have drafted him for their system. Cooks can run every route and always lived on short to intermediate routes that he would turn into chunk yardage. He was always able to take the top off a defense but that was anything but his bread and butter.

There is indeed a reason he works in McVay's offense and why Sean wanted him before he got traded to the patsies. McVay doesn't appear to utilize a "true #1 receiver". He values weapons, versatility, and smarts. Cooks, Woods, Kupp, and it seems maybe Reynolds all fit that mold.

I was stoked when we grabbed Cooks and nothing has changed that mindset.

I'm glad he worked out for you guys. I have no ill feelings towards him, have wished him well since he was first traded.

 

[Nicky P]

I don't think they regret it. They have their #1 in Michael Thomas (although may not have felt that way immediately) and ended up using that draft pick on a guys who contributes on the line.

 

[RamsFanCK]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...-intentionally-dropped-third-down-pass-in-ot/

Brandin Cooks intentionally dropped third-down pass in OT
Posted by Charean Williams on January 24, 2019

Brandin Cooks caught seven passes for 107 yards in the NFC Championship Game, but his biggest contribution came on a drop.

The Rams receiver intentionally dropped a third-and-seven pass from Jared Goff in overtime from the New Orleans 39-yard line, coach Sean McVay revealed Thursday. It appeared cornerback Marshon Lattimore would have tackled Cooks for a 4-yard loss, which would have made Greg Zuerlein‘s attempt 61 yards.

Zuerlein easily made the 57-yard game-winner.

“Brandin Cooks, talk about a smart football player,” McVay told reporters, via NFL.com. “Having the presence when I give him a terrible play call on the third down to drop it, knowing that it would have been a terrible play where he intentionally drops it.”

Goff didn’t realize it was an intentional drop until later and said he should have thrown the ball at Cooks’ feet. Cooks saved him.

“I think it’s one of those things where you see what happened, one of the D-ends and Marshon, the way that they played it, being able to be in the backfield before I technically really was able to catch the ball and get upfield,” Cooks said. “I think it was more important to save those yards, not that Greg needs them, but rather play it safe than sorry.”

I thought that might have been the case live. Hearing it's true makes me love this team even more!

 

[jjab360]

Not at all.

Cooks didn't work out here. The Saints hoped he could be their next Marques Colston and it simply didn't work. The Saints gave him multiple roles on offense in those years and it didn't work. You have to consider that he was a first round draft pick for them in 2014 and he never lived up to any of the hopes and expectations for him replacing who was previously the best WR we had in the Payton era.

You could easily argue though that the Saints do miss having play makers in the WR corps and that isn't just about Cooks. One of the things that really hurt them in 2017 was that they didn't replace him with anybody and also the regression of Willie Snead. Snead was a great receiver for us from 2013 to 2016. He had moments and going into 2017, that was a contract year for him. Snead screwed himself up badly by getting arrested for DUI leading to a suspension and then when he finally did come back, he was a shell of his former self. Another player they missed on was signing Coby Fleener whom never played well enough to be worth the ridiculous contract he got. They missed up this past year with thinking Tre'Quan Smith would be an instant hit in the offense when he was drafted and Cameron Meredith spend all year injured.

In 2016 Cooks was getting out-played by a rookie Michael Thomas. Thomas has a legitimate shot to become the best WR the Saints have ever had. He reminds me of a vintage Eric Martin from back in the day but better. Cooks was gone from this team the minute he threw a fit back in 2016 saying he didn't get the ball thrown to him enough. This led to the game vs Detroit where our offense was designed around getting the ball to him and he ended up failing badly.

Cooks one big strength was his speed. He often got owned in coverage badly and never established himself as the #1 receiver here. Some of his best moments in NOLA were in the slot position. He was kinda like Randall Cobb (Packers) for us. What you are getting from Cooks is a completely different player from his time here and he's also in a different system. The Patriots used him differently too. With the Saints, he was a disappointment for being a first round draft pick. Thomas was better than him in 2016 and there were stats to prove it that Thomas was going to be something special for them.

I believe the Patriots got rid of him over that play in the Super Bowl where he had the end around run play and instead of running for the first down, he ran directly to the one guy who could tackle him and tried to jump over him. He had moments like that in NOLA too. One of the most frustrating things about him was his poor on field vision and it often seemed like he would run head first for the one guy who could tackle him down the stretch of the field.

With all that aside, I wish him well and am glad to see you guys enjoy him. I don't hold any ill feelings towards him. People change, people grow over time.

I didn't watch much of Cooks when he was with NO but I remember him being a playmaker who put up back to back 1,100 yard seasons despite getting significantly less targets than Michael Thomas has seen since he left. He essentially put up identical stats for us this year as he did with NO in his last year and he has been a huge difference maker for us since his arrival.

Call me crazy but I don't see how that's a disappointment. You're the first Saints fan I've heard make that claim, most have stated he wasn't traded because of his on the field play but because he wasn't content with his role and the Patriots offered fair value for a player that only had two years left on his contract.

Finally if the Saints drafted him to be Marques Colston then they must have been crazy because those are two completely different types of players.

 

[Ants]

Yeah, that bum only got 1700 yards, 15 ypc, and 8 TDs that 2016 season. Can't have guys underperforming like that.

And that 9 target, 7 reception, 73 yards game against Detroit is unacceptable. He should have at least 1 TD in every game.

Yeah, Cooks was pretty much a stud from the get-go. Not sure what that guy was watching in N.O.