2014 NFL Mock Draft: 49ers Select Brandin Cooks

Oct 19, 2013; Berkeley, CA, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Brandin Cooks (7) escapes the tackle attempt by California Golden Bears defensive back Alex Logan (6) on a punt return during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Film Analysis vs. Cal (draftbreakdown.com)
On October 19th, 2013 @ Cal

In arguably one of the best games of Cooks’ Oregon State career, he was able to absolutely destroy the Cal defense, catching 13 passes for a career-high 232 yards and a touchdown, while adding 10 yards and another touchdown through the running game. From the very outset of the game, one could tell that Cooks was going to have a magical day. On Cooks’ very first catch from scrimmage (a screen to the right side), he was able to use his speed and elusiveness to gain some great yardage down field. As well, not only was Cooks good for his short game, but his ability to catch the long ball with ease. On a broken first-and-10 play in the first quarter, Cooks was able to speed up and find daylight enough for Mannion to go and throw a strike down field. While combining his speed, Cooks used awesome concentration and a head-fake move to the inside, setting the defensive back off of his back pedal.

On a key second-and-10 play, Cooks exhibited extreme concentration and body presence in order to haul in a  pivotal red zone reception. What amazed me most about the play was Cooks’ ability to leap up, catch the ball and yet still retain possession throughout the catch. While Cooks isn’t as great of a short/medium route runner, he makes up for it with some pretty sure-handed down-the-field grabs and with his incendiary speed. On Cooks first carry of the game (a Jet Sweep on fourth-and-two!), the former Lincoln High Trojan was still able to take the end around to the house for six points. Perhaps that run could cement Cooks not only as a player who can catch but also a player who can run and can be valuable in terms of trick plays and/or designed jet sweeps. The other Cooks’ touchdown came in the third quarter on a first-and-10 screen play to the inside in which  Cooks was able to avoid tacklers in the open field, then cutting it back outside and turning on the afterburners for a touchdown.

A lot of times Cook is so good with his speed that he doesn’t need to have a huge opening, all he needs is a little bit of space to work with and he’s about as gone as my eighth grade retainer. Another awesome play that I noticed when looking at this Oregon State-Cal game was with 1:32 left on the clock in the second as Cooks was able to rush down the field and make the catch. Cooks is so dominant when he plays, not in the fact that he is speedy or quick or somewhat strong, but rather in the fact that he can concentrate immensely on a special task (catching the football). On his first-and-10 catch, Cooks was able to leap up for the ball, catch it and the maintain the control throughout the entire process even at such an awkward position as compared to other athletes.

What I thought was interesting that I noticed briefly was that on most of Mannion’s passes, Cooks was actually under-thrown by Mannion on many of them. The main play that was relied on most throughout the entire game by the Beavers would probably have to be inside screen set up by the slot receiver. If Cooks can work on that with his NFL style offense, you can take it to the bank that he’s definitely going to be successful in the future playing for new clubs as a big name receiver or slot guy. Even when plays are seemingly doomed and look they’re going to turn out wrong from the start, Cooks can make the best out of a bad situation and turn a play once thought to be for a loss into one for a gain.

During the game against the Golden Bears, a common theme seemed to be happening in that Cooks was either a big play receiver or green screen type of runner. When he wasn’t all the way down the field, he could either come back to the ball from the corner back, or catch it relatively close to the line of scrimmage to then just take it back down the field. Either way he showed during this game his unstoppable drive and speed as well as his undeniable focus and determination to catch the football.