Cooks yards per reception

[Kontradiction]

Meh not a big Cooks guy.

Doesn’t help move the chains.

Sure, a big play once in a while is nice.. I rsther move the chains

If the team didn't have Cooks to do that, you'd see defenses playing a lot more Cover-1 with a Robber to choke off the underneath routes. Amendola, Gronk, and Hogan would all have much tougher sledding.

 

[Bruins29]

If the team didn't have Cooks to do that, you'd see defenses playing a lot more Cover-1 with a Robber to choke off the underneath routes. Amendola, Gronk, and Hogan would all have much tougher sledding.

I dont think he will be responding to you.....ever lol

 

[Kontradiction]

I dont think he will be responding to you.....ever lol

I suppose not, but Cooks is the reason why the Patriots are seeing a lot more Cover-2 and more zone than usual. Without him and it's basically a repeat of 2010-2011 and those windows on the shorter and intermediate routes are a lot tighter. The receivers aren't the problem in the passing game. It's the pass protection and, in particular, Joe Thuney. I trust in Scar to get that straightened out and, coupled with the return of Hogan to full health, the offense should be fine entering the playoffs (assuming the health of other key contributors over the next few weeks).

 

[supafly]

He is a very good deep threat but the majority of catches are close to intermediate
View attachment 18889 .

I think this is why I felt so strongly during the offseason that he wasn’t just brought here to act as a deep threat. Belichick spoke highly of guys such as Wallace in his prime days, and how they could use him in different ways to utilize his talents and get him the ball in space. I felt that Cooks’ speed could be taken advantage of on crossing routes, and haven’t been disappointed thus far.

Can’t wait to see him in this offense with another year under his belt, not to mention the return of #11.

 

[Angelpats]

I suppose not, but Cooks is the reason why the Patriots are seeing a lot more Cover-2 and more zone than usual. Without him and it's basically a repeat of 2010-2011 and those windows on the shorter and intermediate routes are a lot tighter. The receivers aren't the problem in the passing game. It's the pass protection and, in particular, Joe Thuney. I trust in Scar to get that straightened out and, coupled with the return of Hogan to full health, the offense should be fine entering the playoffs (assuming the health of other key contributors over the next few weeks).

You would think cover two would open the shorter routes but that doesn’t seem to be the case because we haven’t been converting third downs as often. The last two teams have been playing man more and they might have figured out Cooks now. He’s really not that physical a player as Edelman. He is really the missing piece that would have made this offense historic.

 

[Kontradiction]

You would think cover two would open the shorter routes but that doesn’t seem to be the case because we haven’t been converting third downs as often. The last two teams have been playing man more and they might have figured out Cooks now. He’s really not that physical a player as Edelman. He is really the missing piece that would have made this offense historic.

The third down issues seem to be stemming from the fact that the pocket is collapsing in the last two weeks more than in previous weeks. A lot of that is on Thuney and, to a lesser extent, Andrews. I don't know if Andrews is a real problem or if he is beginning to struggle because he's now being put in a position where he needs to help Thuney, though. Hard to tell.

 

[Bruins29]

He’s really not that physical a player as Edelman.

There arent many WRs that have played the game that are as physical as Edelman. So I really dont think its a fair comparison given the unique skill set Cooks brings on top of the fact they play different positions in the group.

 

[Angelpats]

The third down issues seem to be stemming from the fact that the pocket is collapsing in the last two weeks more than in previous weeks. A lot of that is on Thuney and, to a lesser extent, Andrews. I don't know if Andrews is a real problem or if he is beginning to struggle because he's now being put in a position where he needs to help Thuney, though. Hard to tell.

It’s mainly Thuney, guys were just beating him single handed. I wonder what Brady’s release time is. Earlier in the year he said he’s making a concerted effort to go deep and I hope that is not affecting his decision making because he’s had guys open before the pocket collapses. I miss our dink and dunk offense sometimes. It’ll save Brady from a lot of hits and getting seriously hurt.

 

[Angelpats]

There arent many WRs that have played the game that are as physical as Edelman. So I really dont think its a fair comparison given the unique skill set Cooks brings on top of the fact they play different positions in the group.

Imagine Edelman with Cooks speed. He might be one of the best wrs of all time. Now if given some training Cooks can be as physical as Edelman then I Think our offense would be unstoppable especially if Edelman comes back into original form.

 

[Bruins29]

Imagine Edelman with Cooks speed. He might be one of the best wrs of all time. Now if given some training Cooks can be as physical as Edelman then I Think our offense would be unstoppable especially if Edelman comes back into original form.

Agree that if this team had both it would be awesome. Where this is getting off track is the thinking that Cooks could be or needs to be as physical as Edelman. First, no WR will ever be as physical as JE. Second, Cooks wont be and dosent need to be. Its not his game.

It is difficult to play the "what if "game with players. Particularity with a player like JE who is full tilt and suffers injuries because of it.

As far as JE coming back like he was before. HE just had major surgery and will be 32. It is possible he takes a little more of a DA role than a guy who gets 1000 yards a season again. Then again JE dosent seem like the type of guy to bet against. But you have to be on the field and you have to be healthy and available come playoff time. DA/Pats are doing a really great job of that.

 

[Ozymandias]

The book on Cooks has not changed at all since he's entered the league. Tremendous speed, good hands, excellent ability to track the ball in flight, in addition to limited size and physicality. His lack of size shows up the most in jump ball situations along with being able to beat press coverage consistently.

The press coverage issue can be mitigated with better route running, but as it stands Cooks is very limited in his route running. By that I mean he's not deceptive enough at it. Don't get me wrong, Cooks is very precise in his route running almost mechanical and robotic - but that's the issue. A lot of route running is about deception and leverage. From an outsider's perspective it looks like Cooks is way too reliant on his speed to get separation. Perhaps because of that speed he's never truly had to hone his craft to the subtle nuances of route running like someone such as Julian Edelman, who was not blessed with blazing speed, had to.

Despite his limitations, Cooks because of speed and change of direction should be able to run drag routes, angle routes, and pivot routes far more effectively than he does now. The fact that the Patriots don't often have run these and instead stick with 7-8-9 routes can be looked at in two ways: either don't think he's good enough at them, or they prefer him in the lid-lifter role he's best at.

Either way, he's been effective in New England at things he does well, and not effective at things he does not do well, as expected. I think where he can improve the most, beyond the route running and lack of physicality issues, is his chemistry with Brady. I think even with his obvious weaknesses he could still be much more dangerous when he and Brady both develop a keen trust factor, where Brady can throw to him in spots before Cooks even makes his break in the route rather than waiting to see if he read the coverage the same way as his QB. Cooks has been very productive but I feel like there's been yards left on the field simply because he and Brady aren't always on the same page.