Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper shares simple solution to drop issues

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper dropped his sixth pass through three weeks. What’s his solution to the frequent drops?

Note: Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus Elite unless otherwise noted.

Oakland Raiders fans officially hit the panic button after wide receiver Amari Cooper dropped his sixth pass of the season. Unlike the offensive line allowing four sacks, the third-year wideout exhibited a reoccurring fault in his game.

Some analysts choose not to worry about dropped passes as long as the receiver reels in a majority of his targets, moves the chains and produces in the clutch. However, in order for the Raiders offense to reach its maximum potential, Cooper can’t leave footballs on the ground at an alarming rate.

During his rookie year, Cooper dropped 18 passes. Then he corrected the issue in the following season with only four, per Pro Football Focus analyst Gordon McGuiness:

As mentioned, he’s already eclipsed his sophomore year total in drops with six in three games. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to know he’s capable of correcting the issue. On Wednesday, he offered a simple solution to the problem, per Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Michael Gehlken:

Raiders WR Amari Cooper sees pattern to early-season drops: he's trying to run before catching. A focus moving forward.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) September 27, 2017

Known for his crisp routes and quickness, Cooper’s talents have led to his drops. He doesn’t have an issue creating separation to provide a decent-sized throwing window for quarterback Derek Carr. However, he’s working through the process too quickly when trying to make a play.

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Based on the wideout’s assessment, he’s more concerned about racking up yards after the catch than securing the ball. It’s a common mistake for speedy and elusive receivers eager to showcase their skills in the open field.

At Wednesday’s practice, Cooper worked on his short routes and camera footage picked up another dropped pass at practice, per Gehlken. It’s important to show patience with the third-year wideout. He’s 35 games into his career, but his production has outweighed the lost yardage through the years.

At this point, the Raiders will have to live with a handful of drops in an average season, especially if Cooper sees 130 or more passes thrown in his direction.

The AC-DC connection remains a dynamic pair, but whether it’s Carr’s ball placement to aid his young receiver or extra hours on the jug machine, the best football still lies in the future for the quarterback-wide receiver tandem.

Many fans will watch Oakland’s Week 4 matchup with high anxiety when Cooper matches up against a quality cornerback duo in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr., but it’s a tough matchup to fully redeem a poor performance on the national stage. In terms of Cooper’s improvement and learning from past mistakes, look out for a few bulletin points on Sunday.

First, expect Carr to feed No. 89 easy completions to build his confidence. The Raiders signal-caller took the blame for pushing too hard in the previous game, which led to turnovers, per the team’s official website. In Week 4, you’ll see AC-DC warm up with a few slant routes to establish an early rapport.

Secondly, pay attention to Cooper’s adjustment once the ball touches his hands. Will he see the pass into his possession and settle for a reception without the yards after the catch? Or does he commit the same mistake as he hears footsteps?

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Most players would agree practice and preparation make the difference on game day. With a tough challenge in the forefront, we’ll see if Cooper took his own advice. Above all, he can’t lose his confidence. Once the imaginary voices speak to receivers in their heads, it’s hard to shake off the mental errors.

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