Last season ended on a sour note for then-rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper. The Florida product was unable to haul in a Michael Vick pass in the endzone against the eventual champions, the Green Bay Packers, and had to think about that unfortunate moment throughout the entire offseason.
But it appears that he has shaken off that ill-moment and has a chip on his shoulder in training camp.
With DeSean Jackson holding out and Jeremy Maclin not physically prepared to fully practice, Cooper, along with Jason Avant, has been taking first team reps.
“I’m not out there with my head spinning anymore,” said Cooper. “I’m much more comfortable going through this the second time around. There’s nothing like game experience and seeing the speed of the game.”
He has certainly proven his worth to the coaching staff so far in training camp. The extended amount of repetitions has given him the opportunity to find an identity on the roster, and he has clearly benefited from the absence of the starters.
At 6-foot-3, Cooper has a chance to be the team’s red zone option. He’s got the figure to be a threat in the endzone, whether it be on fade routes or over the middle routes. With no true red zone threat (as of now), the Eagles are hoping Cooper can be that guy.
Bo Wulf, a columnist for the Philadelphia Eagles Official Website, explained how Cooper fits the mold of a true red zone option and how he believes Cooper’s sophomore year will be much better than his rookie season.
“At 6-3, 222, Cooper profiles as a potential red-zone threat and he has the requisite athleticism and sure-handedness to fill that role,” said Wulf. “It’s often said that a player’s largest development comes between his rookie and sophomore seasons, which could be especially true for Cooper, who no longer has to deal with splitting his time between football and baseball as he did at the University of Florida.”
After making a few impressive catches the past couple of days at training camp, Cooper still has room to improve in the physical department. When matched up opposite Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (6’2″), Cooper was shut down and overmatched. But then again, DRC is one of the best corners in the league, and Cooper won’t always have a cornerback of his caliber and size opposing him.
It’s certainly an interesting storyline to follow and one that should become more clearer as preseason games begin.
He had better be improving, because if DJax don’t get his a$$ in here, & Maclin don’t get better, from his illness, we are going to have a huge problem!!
DRC or who I like to call Dr.C (Doctor C) was a serious steal. Im a little worried about our WR’s right now. Maclin may not perform very well this year due to the illness and no one really knows where desean’s head is now. Im not confident in Avant being our #1 so I think we need Malcom Floyd really bad now.
Yeah, Maclin scares me right now. Do you see the Birds signing another WR on the market? I know the Jets released Cotchery today, coming off a back injury, so that could be a risk.
Floyd is a possibility, from what Lombardi is saying. Cotchery is a huge risk, & so is Braylon Edwards. Cotchery is always hurt & Edwards is a nutbag.
How about convincing Moss, on a 1 year shot?
edwards signed with the niners today
I don’t know what the significance of this is, but apparently Randy Moss was in Philly today eating dinner… who knows what that means, probably nothing. Just throwing it out there.
VR, thanks.
Kyle, that means he will be signed before the weekend. LOL!
I’m really concerned about the receivers. Rosenhaus is such a douche!!! Giving D Jack the same lousy advice he gave TO. I wish the owners could somehow band together and refuse to allow him to deal. What a creep and an asshole! And this mystery illness Maclin has? Health has always been the Eagles undoing in the AR era. It is very frustrating as a fan. I have spent many a season just biting my nails and praying no one gets hurt rather than being able to enjoy the ride. We need at least one of those guys here to win the SB. Vick is the only guy we absolutely cannot win it without. Thats why I was totally against a Samuel trade because we would also be screwd if Samuel was traded and DRC or Nnamdi got hurt also. Losing Vick or having only one CB is the only thing that can stop us this time. I’m worried about Patterson but he was the third DT. He’s done unfortunately. GB will be tough and we have to keep the Saints out of that dome where they are cozy and get those hometown calls. But Im really think this is the year if that damn Lombardi curse doesn’t kill us with injuries. You name the year and I’ll tell you who was hurt that directly led to the loss.
pay djax
for what its worth… Eskin reported that Moss was at the Capital Grill eating and that it may have been to be in the are for NFL films in Mt Laurel, NJ. He also said that someone with Eagles said Moss in the area has nothing to do with the Birds.
vricchini – I’ll tell you where Jackson head is… Up his agents a$$ cause he isn’t thinking clearly. I’ll assume breathing all those hazordous gasses will cloud his thinking! Sounds like its Jackass not Jackson
’01 Vincent and Buckhalter. ’02 Donovan and Landetta. ’03 Emmons and B West. ’04 Big Kid, TO and Chad Lewis. ’06 Kearse, Lito and Big Kid (again). ’08 Big Kid and B West (was playing but ineffective he was so banged up at the end). ’09 Fat Jack. I can’t blame last year on injuries. I blame it on the Giants for providing the blueprint. That was not cool considering we showed them how to beat the Patriots in ’07. Other Lombardi curse items include losing SB XV with the superior defense and running game to a WC team when that just didn’t happen. And of course Buddy’s best chance disappearing into the fog in Chicago.
LOMBARDI CURSE…..The man who once said, “Winning isn;t everything. It’s the only thing.” Lost his only post season game to the 1960 Eagles. Vince didn’t like to lose. The SB trophy was subsequently named after him and his bitter curse was that those dam Philadelphia Eagles would never hold it.
yeah maybetheycan. They say he is the best agent there is but desean needs to be in camp. I made excuses for him but now I think its getting tired. Show up to work and we’ll talk. I Like many people have hated the FO but this year they are doing everything right.
Randy Moss in Philly eating?? I think its interesting. I dont think we should look at this as coincidence. With Maclin uncertain and desean is a mystery he could become a #1 or a solid 2 which is what he wants so I think its something to ponder on.
Currently watching Eagles vs patriots in SB 39 on ESPN 2…Sickening we lost that game.
Breaking News, as per my sources Paulman is still a doushe and apparently he has a hole network of douches. Turns out he was right about the whole taylor mays being available for trade talk. John Clayton is reporting that after practice and team meetings Pete Carrol likes to unwind by spending his free time Making up stories about former players of his at USC. I would like to say I’m sorry to Paulman, because when I read this when he first suggested it, I thought to myself what a strapper this dude is. Oh yeah on a scale of 1 to 10 Paulman what would you say Riley Coppers inner fire is stoking at. I heard he attended a Religious retreat so I hope that did’nt throw any cold water on the flame.
McNabb, Burgess, Dhani Jones, LJ Smith, Dawkins, Westbrook, Pinkston, G lewis, T.O., Darwin Walker, Corey Simon,Sheppard, S brown…All led By Jim Johnson (R.I.P.); When we were clicking on all cylinders…Those were the days. Time for a new Defense, players, and era. lets do it again and win the SB this time around boys. By the way, ever since that game against NE, I can’t stand the patriots til this day. The first half just finished and i’m going to change the channel because I know what the 2nd half will look like. We got to win it this year, Nothing less. PEACE
Oh yeah…Trotter also
To Rocko, Sickinening that D McNabb got sick and ran out of gas with 3-4 Minutes to go…
Rocko – I typically really enjoy watching old Ealges games. I watched the SB live, of course, than again a few days later. It makes me ill and I’ll never be able to watch another minute of it. I actually get a pit in my stomach just thinking about it. If I see it again I might throwiup on my wifes shoes…. That game was the beginning of my hatred for NE which is almost as deep seated as my hatred for that friggin team with the star. NEs history of cheating has sealed ny enjoyment of their losses forever, and I’ll always believe the NE cheated in that SB as well as many other games.
the FO needs to get Djax signed asap…he is the spark that makes our offense explosive…without DJ and Maclin (healthy) this offense is no better than some of our previous infamous wr teams…Avant and Riley Cooper are nice 3rd and 4th options, but let’s get serious
did he run out of gas or did we wait to long to go hurry up offense
6min left in the game we are taking 25 seconds to get the play in
and im rooting for cooper defintely is an asset
we also made Deion Branch a huge contract, when we made him look like Jerry Rice…defense didn’t show up for the SB…nobody wants to admit it but Belichek made JJ look silly…and of course 5 was gased…he had like 50 attempts and was being picked up off the turf the whole 2nd half
Cooper has a great opportunity to show what he can do with the #1’s and as long as Maclin/D-Jax are out, Cooper can use all the experience,practice reps as he can get (As well has S Moss and Higgins who can start praticing tommorrow)
One thing I do know, if D-JAx doesn’t show up to camp by this Weekend, the WAgles will blackball him and place on him on the permantley “no report list” and sit his ass all Season .. The yhave too many positice things going on right now to put up with him and his juvenile agent.. I am not sure if anyone told Desean and Drew that the NFL just came off a 150 Day Lockout and there is not the time for Holding out. Teams,Coaches,teammates,media and even the fans will not support it.. so get your ass in camp and play ball for nothing is going to happen while you sit-out…
paulman – your absolutely right. IMO, the Eagles will never succumb to this tactic and Jackson’s affiliation with Rosenhaus just makes the FO dig their heels in deeper. Jackson is climbing way out on a limb and his agent is hacking away with a hatchet. I absolutely believe Jackson has earned more $ BUT that doesn’t mean he has any leverage with a year remaining on his agreement. The Eagles have the right to make him honor what he signed, period. I alos beleive Jackson will get nowhere until he reports, practices then starts to talk. So today cost him 30k? Hmm, guess he’s making enough to spend that a day.
Randy Moss is in town… idk if that means anything but hes here in philly
Told you guys…Moss will be signed
Paulman, Maybetheycan, Bethlehembird and Philwill…I agree with all of you guys and my hate for NE and their cheating ways makes me ill; #5’s play and int’s, deion branches 11 catches and his MVP and our loss etc. I’m just leavin the gym so I can’t respond to you all like I really want to cause I’m tired, but I feel ya’ll; PEACE.
Songs – yes I believe we sign Moss and we win the SB and Moss retires with a SB ring with the EAGLES. OH LETS DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!
How can the eagles not offer moss a deal when he’s hear in town? Smh… we have wr problems right now… maybe moss really wants to stay retired…
I ll be at training camp tmr and ill have a full report on it for you guys in the afternoon #thankmelater…
DJax and Rose, had better play this wisely. The Eagles are a better team and need Jax but they are not as you guys say going to fold. If the Eagles think that they can get a player who can come close to filling in some of Jax’s production, they might sign that guy and move Jax to a bottom feeder team.
I think that a deal is being done behind the scenes out of our view and that it feels worse for us becasue we have no valid current info to keep us steady.
Come back Jax, come on Eagles lets all be friends.
As Always “LONG LIVE THE EAGLES” and lets go Cooper make that leap!!!
Eagles ain’t cursed by Lombardi
They are cursed by Kelly and the Dutchman
Their 3 championships were accomplished wearing KELLY GREEN
They need to go back to that green
And after 1960 they had promised Van Brocklin the coaching job but they decided that he had to also play QB which he wouldn’t do –so it was “See you later Birds”
Andy Reid has to go to the Dutchman’s grave and ask forgiveness
Until these 2 things happen no SB trophy for the Eagles
Eagles really missed Chad Lewis in the SB
He was McNabb’s “go to” guy in the last quarter when they needed 8-12 yards
Heh, they bring in Moss and I guarantee that Jackson would get his skinny a$$ in her pronto cause he would lose any leverage he and his jackass agent THINK they have!!!
is randy really in town ?
I heard Randy is signing a deal with the Radiers
my friends say hes in town on some nfl films stuff
Howard Forskin said, he was here for NFL FILMS! DAMN IT!
Get in here DJax. F^@k you Rosehoser!
i like cooper but he eats too much.. he should be trying to drop weight.. to get faster..hes over 230 now.. soon hes gonna be a tight end.. we’ll see if he can be a bog reciever in the league if not convert him to a small tight end..