Baldinger (& others): how will cooks fit in the rams offense?

Patriots receivers run a lot of these routes, and nobody was better at them in 2016 than the guy they just acquired, Brandin Cooks. pic.twitter.com/sNIjrym8DA

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 22, 2017

cool_hand_luke says:

Cooks vs Jaguars AFC Championship Game

Went through the game video for the Patriots and Jaguars with the goal of learning more about Mr. Cooks. Please find my thoughts below:

10 targets –i include the pis as targets
6 catches, 100 yards
2 called Pass interference penalties

Routes ran as target

Streak x3 2xPI, 20+
Comeback x3 –10, 18, 18
Out x1– Inc
In x1–8
Post x1–Inc
Dig x1–25

Most frequently the border receiver, aligned in bunch formations approximately 30% of the time

Coverage

The Jags gave him a free release all game. Either they aligned tight(within two yards) of Cooks or they play soft(5 plus yards off at snap) and kept cushion throughout the route. Most frequently Bouye was covering Cooks. The Jaguars were showing alot of cover 3 and 4 looks.

My thoughts–

Explosive speed. Coordinated. Creates separtion on vertical routes within five yards. Cuts well–is wide open on his comebacks waiting on the ball. This is likely also a factor of his deep speed as a threat.

After a few comments I read, my expectation was to see the Jaguars get physical with him–I did not see that at all. He released well and easy off the line, but was not challenged. The db was just mirroring him.

He appears to not have the desire to block. This was highly disappointing for me to see. He is a stand around and shield the db type of blocker(from this game only).

Good hands. He had a drop on a catchable ball. Otherwise, he is a solid hands catcher of the ball–two hands, eyes on ball, quick to pack it away while maintaining speed. One streak he let the ball drop into to his body but was a clean catch.

Not afraid of contact. Held on when he got hit making the catch or in traffic.

Will watch more games and get a better sample size. The speed and wr skillset is there, the size and offensive physicality is not.