Following a 31-23 victory over the Washington Redskins, the Dallas Cowboys will have the Thursday night stage to themselves with a more upbeat Amari Cooper.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper set up for a free-throw shot celebration, mocking Philadelphia 76ers guard Markelle Fultz. For Oakland Raiders fans who watched the mild-mannered 24-year old over the last three years, the choreographed moment came as a major shocker.
Cooper opened up to Yahoo Sports reporter Kimberley Martin about the trade that sent him to the Cowboys and openly admitted he’s a changed man in Dallas.
He had this to say:
"Just reflecting on my last four games here and my personality here, I feel like it did change me, as far as having that chip on my shoulder… Not that I wasn’t passionate before, but playing with more passion, trying to intentionally have fun out there. It definitely has changed me, in terms of me going out there and just having fun with it."
Those watching the Thanksgiving Day telecast between Dallas and Washington would also see Cooper talking into the camera in complete flex-mode after hauling in eight catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns:
When Thanksgiving and Gameday fall on the same day... 🍽🏈@AmariCooper9 https://t.co/a7mTkortY8
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 22, 2018
We’re seeing a new Amari Cooper in Dallas. The Cowboys hope that he’s also put the inconsistencies that plagued his budding career in Oakland behind him as well. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he dropped 18 passes during his rookie campaign but that number dropped to five in 2016 then rose to 10 last year. Through 12 weeks, the fourth-year pass-catcher has only dropped two passes — none with the Cowboys.
In Oakland, Cooper didn’t say anything that would generate compelling storylines for everyone to dissect, but his comments about a more passionate energy could rub his former fanbase the wrong way. Nonetheless, his targets had significantly dipped before his departure. Here’s a comparison of Cooper’s production between the Raiders and Cowboys this season:
- (Raiders): 323 snaps, 32 targets, 22 receptions, 349 yards, three touchdowns
- (Cowboys): 202 snaps, 32 targets, 22 receptions, 280 yards, one touchdown
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Cooper has played 121 more snaps with the Raiders. Yet, he’s been targeted just as much in a shorter period with the Cowboys. Oakland’s offense isn’t loaded with playmakers, so there’s no excuse not to feature a wideout who logged 1,000-plus yards in back-to-back terms right out of college.
Not counting Week 6 when Cooper exited the first quarter with a concussion, the Raiders targeted him five times or fewer in three contests. In the other two outings, he recorded 100-plus yard games with a double-digit target volume.
It’s fair to wonder if frustration crept into his mindset because of the inconsistencies in his involvement, especially after head coach Jon Gruden called him the “main vein of the offense.”
Now, with the Raiders’ stint in the rear-view mirror, Cooper has helped the Cowboys to a 3-1 record, and the team needs an encore presentation from him Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.
Dallas will attempt to hold the NFC East lead by knocking off a squad that’s won 10 consecutive games. The Saints rank 30th in passing yards and allow the fourth-most receiving yards to No. 1 wide receivers (84.8) per Football Outsiders. Quarterback Dak Prescott should look toward Cooper’s direction early and often.
According to Dallas Morning News reporter Jon Machota, owner Jerry Jones would like his team to view Thursday’s matchup like it’s a Super Bowl:
“Each play, we’ve got to think it’s the Super Bowl play. If every player on every play in this game says, ‘When we put that tape on Monday, it’s going to look like one of my best plays of the year,’ it’s really going to take that kind of focus to beat a team like this.”
Talk about pressure. It’s a crucial matchup, but a loss wouldn’t drop the Cowboys from a shot at a division title. The Philadelphia Eagles and Redskins have a Monday Night Football showdown; there’s a possibility all three teams could head into Week 14 with identical 6-6 records.
A combination of Cooper’s comments about his shift in demeanor and Jones’ talk about a Super-Bowl effort sets the stage for a Thursday Night Football game rich in background story surrounding a star player and playoff implications.
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