I suspect that Cooks is being underestimated by some...

[Merlin]

As good as he is when it comes to breaking open deep, he does struggle against press coverage. Matt Harmon of Next Gen Stats charted his stats when pressed at the line of scrimmage, and needless to say, he hasn’t been good.

Yep I mentioned this the other day and people flipped out. He's a small dude and his inability to handle physical press coverage and that includes DBs who are good at rerouting and knockin wideouts off their route. It was the case coming out of college and while he's improved a great deal with experience and savvy he can still be manhandled and the book on him is to play him physical.

That said, how many DBs are there in the league that can do that to him? It's a small list tbh. And when that does happen, we have more than him at wideout, not to mention he will win some and has potential to burn the defense if they don't have safety support over the top. And drawing the safety is the big key with him anyway.

So as I mentioned before, he's not a Julio Jones type elite WR. But that's ok. Because he's a guy who not only has speed in spades, but also elite acceleration and it shows in his routes. This is a guy I would pay, because even when he does start to age and lose some speed he will still separate on his short and intermediate routes due to his technique.

 

[Flint]

Yep I mentioned this the other day and people flipped out. He's a small dude and his inability to handle physical press coverage and that includes DBs who are good at rerouting and knockin wideouts off their route. It was the case coming out of college and while he's improved a great deal with experience and savvy he can still be manhandled and the book on him is to play him physical.

That said, how many DBs are there in the league that can do that to him? It's a small list tbh. And when that does happen, we have more than him at wideout, not to mention he will win some and has potential to burn the defense if they don't have safety support over the top. And drawing the safety is the big key with him anyway.

So as I mentioned before, he's not a Julio Jones type elite WR. But that's ok. Because he's a guy who not only has speed in spades, but also elite acceleration and it shows in his routes. This is a guy I would pay, because even when he does start to age and lose some speed he will still separate on his short and intermediate routes due to his technique.

Not many guys have the ability to get their hands on Cooks, and some of the ones that do are wearing the same jersey he is.
One thing you don’t really hear is that NE hasn’t really been a deep strike offense since Moss left and Brady’s arm isn’t what it once was. McVay wants the deep ball to be a part of the offense, and while Goff can’t throw 70 yds on his knees, I think we’ll see a good amount attempted.

 

[Karate61]

This seems to be the narrative around the web...all Rams sites....Sammy loafed...Sammy dogged it....Sammy didn't finish plays...
OK
Biggest game of the year...Sammy sees 2 passes...maybe one...until the 4th quarter.
Think we only had 7 points total at that point.
#1 scoring offense in the league.
Much like I question Belichick's decision to sit Butler....I question the decision to NOT target Watkins until the game was almost lost...I question the lack of use of Tavon...I question the reliance on the screen plays to Gurley...instead of some sort of decoy type thing...in the biggest game of the year...At home. That's not a Sammy issue. That's a game plan thingy.
Players are human...it's hard to continually run full speed down the field, when you're only involved in 2% of the plays as a primary target. It is....Is it right? No....But that's human nature...If Cooks is running constantly down the field without any looks, I'm sure his effort too...will wane.

Although, just to point out, it's part of Watkins job description to run down the field most plays. That's how he's supposed to earn his millions. He best be running every play, and as fast as he can, all game long!

 

[Mackeyser]

Because Cooks is known as being a gym rat, film junkie. A friend of my son’s covered OSU and UofO sports and said she had never seen anyone work harder and train more. She said that a few weeks before the trade.

I saw where Brees said essentially the same thing.

Have you seen anything on Watkins that says that? I haven’t but I’m also not saying it isn’t possible.

But I am going to go with Cooks being a harder worker. And watching Kupp lining Watkins up over half way through the season tells me he sure didn’t have the offense down at that point. From all accounts, the alignments and plays are not complicated in McVay’s offense. Let’s see if Cooks needs the same help.

We know he's not in Cook's class because he never got fully into the playbook and he didn't know what was happening on some plays.

Cooks is gonna be head and shoulders better than Watkins in this offense.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Although, just to point out, it's part of Watkins job description to run down the field most plays. That's how he's supposed to earn his millions. He best be running every play, and as fast as he can, all game long!

That's everyone's job....to run as fast as they can...EVERY PLAY....all game long...yet, go to a game....watch certain players when the play goes away from them....hell, watch the line...guys take plays OFF....

Dude scored 8 tds in 39 catches for a reason....he's a very good wr.

Put any wr on our roster in the open market...any one of them....they won't attract the same type of deals. 32 NFL GM's value Sammy more than every one of them...Including Cooks. Why is that?

 

[majrleaged]

That's everyone's job....to run as fast as they can...EVERY PLAY....all game long...yet, go to a game....watch certain players when the play goes away from them....hell, watch the line...guys take plays OFF....

Dude scored 8 tds in 39 catches for a reason....he's a very good wr.

Put any wr on our roster in the open market...any one of them....they won't attract the same type of deals. 32 NFL GM's value Sammy more than every one of them...Including Cooks. Why is that?

That is not true. Andy Reid, maybe. You have no clue who the others covet more. But you state it as fact. Why is That?

 

[Badfinger]

That is not true. Andy Reid, maybe. You have no clue who the others covet more. But you state it as fact. Why is That?

Are you new here?

 

[LesBaker]

Cooks
Woods
Kupp
Everett/Higbee
Gurley

On every snap?

Geez... Who do you cover? Or rather, not roll coverage toward?

Say it @Rams43 .......Say "Oooops I forgot Austin".

SAY IT!!!

 

[Rams43]

Say it @Rams43 .......Say "Oooops I forgot Austin".

SAY IT!!!

Can’t say it. Les.

Pretty damned funny, though.

 

[Mackeyser]

That's everyone's job....to run as fast as they can...EVERY PLAY....all game long...yet, go to a game....watch certain players when the play goes away from them....hell, watch the line...guys take plays OFF....

Dude scored 8 tds in 39 catches for a reason....he's a very good wr.

Put any wr on our roster in the open market...any one of them....they won't attract the same type of deals. 32 NFL GM's value Sammy more than every one of them...Including Cooks. Why is that?

Not true. McVay originally wanted Watkins and got outbid by the Pats.

As well, the Pats valued Cooks more because they could have tried to trade for him (not that the Bills were gonna trade in the division, but still).

All we know is that KC valued him highly. Which is fine. I take nothing away from Sammy.

But to say that Sammy > Cooks as a matter of fact just isn't so.

 

[Mackeyser]

Say it @Rams43 .......Say "Oooops I forgot Austin".

SAY IT!!!

 

[ReddingRam]

Cooks has now been drafted with first Rd. picks 3- X's ... how many other WR's in this league can say that?

 

[LACHAMP46]

But to say that Sammy > Cooks as a matter of fact just isn't so.

On the open market as FA's....their contracts will...

 

[LACHAMP46]

That is not true. Andy Reid, maybe. You have no clue who the others covet more. But you state it as fact. Why is That?

Several teams wanted Watkins...His price ended up being...what top 2 wr paid in the league....your market price typically determines your value or worth....

I don't know what Cooks will make on the open market....no one does....

but

I can almost guarantee he won't make what Watkins has commanded.

 

[dieterbrock]

I can almost guarantee he won't make what Watkins has commanded.

You're right. Outside of getting injured he wont make what Watkins got.
He'll get more

 

[LACHAMP46]

You're right. Outside of getting injured he wont make what Watkins got.
He'll get more

http://www.ramsondemand.com/betting-exchange/
:neener:

 

[dieterbrock]

http://www.ramsondemand.com/betting-exchange/
:neener:

Sure thing. If he doesn't miss significant time, he signs for more than Watkins. Book it

 

[majrleaged]

Several teams wanted Watkins...His price ended up being...what top 2 wr paid in the league....your market price typically determines your value or worth....

I don't know what Cooks will make on the open market....no one does....

but

I can almost guarantee he won't make what Watkins has commanded.

Again, we don't know. Cooks numbers are better.