The Athletic (Paywall): With Amari Cooper, here's what the Bills are getting from their new receiver

[TBBills Fan]

2 hours ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

For those that remember or have heard it from their parents, Lofton was 33 years old when the Bills signed him, and he had a 1,000 yard receiving year when he was 35.

 

And he was our legit deep threat 

[Wizard]

3 hours ago, technobot said:

Joe B from the Athletic posted an article on Amari Cooper, and his notes from watching some footage:

 

Link to article (paywall)

 

Why?
- "opposing defenses didn't respect the Bills' ability to get open"
- our guys couldn't beat them early, and Allen has to go into scramble mode
- we need a high volume separator/attention-taker

 

What does the film show?
- Cooper "still getting open at good rate"
- some of the drops are on Cooper but some are simply the result of terrible QB-play (poor ball placement, poor QB reaction, throwing late)

Strengths:
- excellent route runner, Buscaglia uses "glide" several times
- "power and intention in every step"
- does not give away many "tells"
- can flip the switch between gliding and surprising defenders with quick-footed release and break-off
- "excellent understanding of zone depths, spacing from defenders"
- "relocates well" and will be a boon when Allen goes scramble drill

 

Weaknesses:
- occasional drops
- "no longer a deep-field separator", not as much RAC as young Cooper
- not a good blocker (Mack Hollins has entered the chat)
- potential separation issues will have to be covered by his smooth route running

 

Fit?
- sees Coleman as the X for now, with Cooper as the (Canadian pronunciation) Zed
- Shakir stays Y, Hollins as backup X/Z/WR4, Samuel as gadget WR5

 

Much of this has been posted by TBD contributors already, and Joe's notes on why the cap and compensation make sense is obvious to most of us. As for the future, he posits this year as a "try before you buy" with perhaps a short term (ideally 1 yr) extension to follow if all goes well and both sides are interested.

 

I (technobot) will not lie and say I watched a ton of game film on Cooper, but just a quick perusal of Pro Football Reference showed that Cooper was averaging 3-5 drops a year on ~130 targets/year. 2018 (the year he was traded to DAL), 2022, and this year in particular seem a bit like outliers.

 

Also, from my hazy memory of 2018, he was clearly unhappy and was on his way out. Buscaglia mentioned that Cooper's body language sometimes indicated frustration, which would be natural. Joe did also note that Cooper wasn't typically demonstrative, but sometimes you just can't hide it. Cooper was obviously unhappy this year, especially in a "I have to produce to get paid big next year" kind of year.

 

The (legal cannabis) pipe-smoking dream I have is that Cooper, much like our beloved #17, is a ginormous BOOM player, with some BUST. Point being, Cooper has had 4 200+ yard games in his career. Paired with Allen, we might finally get the technobot-prophesied 500+ yard, 7 TD, wet-dream, GOAT performance of Biblical significance.

I have never had a wet dream from a football game.  Is that similar in concept to Rex Ryan's foot fetish?

 

 

 

 

[Rock'em Sock'em]

2 hours ago, buffalonian said:

That's what I thought too.  But apparently we will not be entitled to a comp pick if he signs elsewhere.  It has something to do with the status of his contract.  I don't know the details, but it is what I heard on the radio this morning. 

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-gm-brandon-beane-on-why-the-amari-cooper-trade-happened-how-the-wr-will-fit-in-buffalo-s-offense

Bean 09:08.  There is potential to get a comp pick.

 

I think comp picks are limited to 5th rounders for non QBs with 10+ years.  Cooper was drafted in 2015, so this is his 10th year.

[reddogblitz]

I couldn't care less about low round comp picks. I just want somebody that can get open and catch the freakin' football.

[Rock'em Sock'em]

20 minutes ago, reddogblitz said:

I couldn't care less about low round comp picks. I just want somebody that can get open and catch the freakin' football.

Shakir was a 5th round pick.

[reddogblitz]

1 hour ago, Rock'em Sock'em said:

Shakir was a 5th round pick.

 

That's nice. I'm hoping Amari plays well and we re sign him. Otherwise we're gonna be in the same boat next year without a stud WR and a lot of spares at WR. I'm hoping this is the first step in getting serious about vastly improving the WR positions going forward and into the future.

 

[BillsFan130]

5 hours ago, technobot said:

Joe B from the Athletic posted an article on Amari Cooper, and his notes from watching some footage:

 

Link to article (paywall)

 

Why?
- "opposing defenses didn't respect the Bills' ability to get open"
- our guys couldn't beat them early, and Allen has to go into scramble mode
- we need a high volume separator/attention-taker

 

What does the film show?
- Cooper "still getting open at good rate"
- some of the drops are on Cooper but some are simply the result of terrible QB-play (poor ball placement, poor QB reaction, throwing late)

Strengths:
- excellent route runner, Buscaglia uses "glide" several times
- "power and intention in every step"
- does not give away many "tells"
- can flip the switch between gliding and surprising defenders with quick-footed release and break-off
- "excellent understanding of zone depths, spacing from defenders"
- "relocates well" and will be a boon when Allen goes scramble drill

 

Weaknesses:
- occasional drops
- "no longer a deep-field separator", not as much RAC as young Cooper
- not a good blocker (Mack Hollins has entered the chat)
- potential separation issues will have to be covered by his smooth route running

 

Fit?
- sees Coleman as the X for now, with Cooper as the (Canadian pronunciation) Zed
- Shakir stays Y, Hollins as backup X/Z/WR4, Samuel as gadget WR5

 

Much of this has been posted by TBD contributors already, and Joe's notes on why the cap and compensation make sense is obvious to most of us. As for the future, he posits this year as a "try before you buy" with perhaps a short term (ideally 1 yr) extension to follow if all goes well and both sides are interested.

 

I (technobot) will not lie and say I watched a ton of game film on Cooper, but just a quick perusal of Pro Football Reference showed that Cooper was averaging 3-5 drops a year on ~130 targets/year. 2018 (the year he was traded to DAL), 2022, and this year in particular seem a bit like outliers.

 

Also, from my hazy memory of 2018, he was clearly unhappy and was on his way out. Buscaglia mentioned that Cooper's body language sometimes indicated frustration, which would be natural. Joe did also note that Cooper wasn't typically demonstrative, but sometimes you just can't hide it. Cooper was obviously unhappy this year, especially in a "I have to produce to get paid big next year" kind of year.

 

The (legal cannabis) pipe-smoking dream I have is that Cooper, much like our beloved #17, is a ginormous BOOM player, with some BUST. Point being, Cooper has had 4 200+ yard games in his career. Paired with Allen, we might finally get the technobot-prophesied 500+ yard, 7 TD, wet-dream, GOAT performance of Biblical significance.

"Not a good run blocker "

 

Sean McDermott :

Edited October 17 by BillsFan130

[HomeTeam]

I'm really excited about this pick up. Really like his demeanor and skillset. Hopefully he's productive and falls in love with Buffalo and wants to stay. 

[Saxum]

2 hours ago, reddogblitz said:

I couldn't care less about low round comp picks. I just want somebody that can get open and catch the freakin' football.

 

Stevie Johnson was a 7th round pick and had 3 consecutive 1000 yard reception seasons and was uncoverable by best CB in NFL at time by "Revis Island".

 

 

Diggs was a 5th round pick too.

Edited October 17 by Saxum

[reddogblitz]

10 minutes ago, Saxum said:

 

Stevie Johnson was a 7th round pick and had 3 consecutive 1000 yard reception seasons and was uncoverable by best CB in NFL at time by "Revis Island".

 

 

Diggs was a 5th round pick too.

 

Yeah and we ran him off cuz he dropped too many passes or God made him drop too many.

 

As was Jake Fromm and Ray Ray McCloud and Vosean Joseph. 

 

Again hopefully it's moot cuz he's gonna do great and we resign him. Would take that all day over another SJ.

Edited October 17 by reddogblitz

[Sierra Foothills]

5 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

2 years 36 mill is what I would offer.  

Brandon, is that you?

 

5 hours ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

For those that remember or have heard it from their parents, Lofton was 33 years old when the Bills signed him, and he had a 1,000 yard receiving year when he was 35.

Lofton was a track star at Stanford and continued competing in masters events after he retired from the NFL. In that regard his speed was abnormal.

 

4 hours ago, Saxum said:

"Free" things are sometimes worth what you pay for tnem.

Coincidentally enough I paid zero for your opinion.

 

[Saxum]

22 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Coincidentally enough I paid zero for your opinion.

 

 

Glad you got it during clearance sale.

[Chandler#81]

5 hours ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

For those that remember or have heard it from their parents, Lofton was 33 years old when the Bills signed him, and he had a 1,000 yard receiving year when he was 35.

 

I’ve thought about Lofton and ‘89 most of the day and the comparisons. But for as much as I love Shakir, he’s no Andre Reed..

[Buffalo ill]

13 hours ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

For those that remember or have heard it from their parents, Lofton was 33 years old when the Bills signed him, and he had a 1,000 yard receiving year when he was 35.

 

In an era when murdering WRs was legal and commonly practiced by dbs.

[JP51]

15 hours ago, nedboy7 said:

I mean if someone doesn't think he is the best WR already on the team then I don't know what to tell you.  He is going to transform the offense. 

If that means he simply frees others up and keeps 17 from being eradicated scrambling... that to me is transformative.... more than that bonus. 

[Chicken Boo]

16 hours ago, bills_fan said:

Paired with Allen, we might finally get the technobot-prophesied 500+ yard, 7 TD, wet-dream, GOAT performance of Biblical significance.

 

Its only Biblical if it comes in the Super Bowl lol.  Thanks for sharing.

 

Fixed that for you.

[Da webster guy]

I don't think Amari is going to draw double coverages until he starts torching defenses.    We see two high safeties almost all the time, like most teams.   

Amari isn't a deep threat speedster anymore so i think you'll see the the cb's playing over the top and safeties looking to undercut the slants/inside moves.  But isolated vs man red zone he's going to eventually be an automatic throw the way Diggs was if he got singled.   

 

The issue is obviously chemistry and timing with Josh, and no more body catches by Cooper, that doesnt work very well with #17 fastballs.   Deshaun had some beautiful throws to Cooper when he had no separation and he has a knack for coming up with the ball.   I get the feeling db's dont look forward to going against this guy.  he's slippery