Tag: cowboys wide receiver

The Lamb to lead the flock: Cowboys rookie WR steps into anointed role

When CeeDee Lamb was drafted 17th overall, many had high expectations for him. Two weeks into the season he’s lived up to them.

The Cowboys have had an eventful first two weeks of the 2020 season. In Week 1, the nearly pulled out a victory on their last drive vs the Los Angeles Rams. This past Sunday, they came back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons. While they’ve had several dark moments, they also have shined at key times and when their backs were against the wall.

One of the biggest bright spots so far has been the play of rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. In his NFL debut, he was targeted six times and hauled in five receptions for 59 yards, topping all rookie receivers in both categories. However, the young stud wasn’t satisfied with his play as he explained during the postgame media session.

“Honestly, I’m not really too pleased with myself or my performance,” Lamb said. I feel like there’s a lot more stuff that I left on the table. I could have played a lot faster. I could have done a lot of things better to be a better option and better target for Dak.”

He didn’t waste any time adjusting and improving his game, and it showed vs the Rams. He was tied with Amari Cooper for second in receptions with six and led the team with 106 yards receiving, becoming the first Cowboys rookie in history to record a 100-yard game in the first two weeks of the season.

Two plays in particular stand out.

With the Cowboys down 15 with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, and facing a 3rd and 7 from the Falcons 42, Lamb high points the ball to make a tough catch for 12 yards and a Cowboys first down. Dak Prescott would cap off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz.

On the Cowboys final drive, they faced a 2nd and 10 from their own 46. Lamb did a great job getting open with a double move on an out route and catch a 24-yard pass down to the 30, putting the Cowboys in field goal range. Greg Zuerlein cashed in from 46 yards to complete the comeback win.

Lamb also did something else in Week 2 and that’s show leadership. Before the Cowboys final possession, he had some encouraging words for his quarterback.

“Dak is the man for the job,” Lamb said according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. “And right before the last drive, I said, “Dak, we’re all behind you, so we got you. I think that kind of gave him a little boost.”

Lamb currently leads all rookie receivers in targets, catches, and yards. Also, although he’s still a rookie, he’s already showing he can lead.

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CBS Sports names Cooper sixth-best WR heading into 2020

Amari Cooper ranked sixth best wide receiver heading into 2020.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper is coming off of his fourth Pro Bowl selection in his first five years in the NFL. In his first full season with a star in his helmet, Cooper set career highs in yards (1,189), touchdowns (8), and yards per catch (15.1).

Even with his struggles on the road last season (catching only 27 passes) he was still one of the league’s best. So much so that Jared Dubin of CBS Sports ranked the top 10 receivers entering the 2020 season and Cooper came in at No. 6 on the list (5th in the NFC), ahead of more highly-regarded names such as Odell Beckham (10) and Mike Evans (7).

6. Amari Cooper, Cowboys

I can hear the complaints already. Cooper ahead of Evans? Really?

Well … for his career, Evans averages an 82-1,291-9 line per 16 games. Since arriving in Dallas, Cooper has averaged 84-1,225-9 per 16 games, and he’s done it on considerably lower target volume. (He’s played all 25 games.) He’s also got a much higher catch rate (67.2 percent), so even though his yards per catch average (14.6) trails that of Evans, he’s still been a bit more efficient on a per-route basis (2.24 yards per route run). That advantage holds even if you take out Evans’ rookie season, where he was something of a co-No. 1 option alongside Vincent Jackson.

Cooper changed life instantly for the Cowboys in 2018 after being acquired via trade from the then-Oakland Raiders in exchange for a 2019 first-round pick. In the nine games he played, The Alabama star caught 53 passes for 725 and six touchdowns. The Cowboys went 7-2 and captured the NFC East crown for the second time in three seasons.

Heading into 2020, Cooper has a chance to have his best season yet with the other weapons around him at the receiver position. Michael Gallup elevated his game to 66 receptions for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns in 2019, doubling bis numbers from his rookie campaign. CeeDee Lamb, regarded by many as the best wide receiver in the NFL Draft, fell to the Cowboys at No. 17. His ability to play not only in the slot but also on the outside allows the Cowboys to move Cooper around, who also can play multiple positions.

Having so many threats around Cooper could see things open for him more than ever in an offense that will certainly attack through the air regularly under Mike McCarthy and his West-Coast approach mixed in with Kellen Moore’s vertically-attacking philosophy.

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