8. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
Amari Cooper is the player who first showed me the value of “full-body route-running.”
It was during his time with the Oakland Raiders. He was running a vertical route against the Baltimore Ravens, and on his break he used his shoulders and his head to sell the defender on a different pass pattern.
It was this play:
Did you catch it? That look that Cooper flashed on his quick cut to the inside. As soon as he brought his eyes to the quarterback while slicing towards the middle of the field, the DB tried to jump the route. It was then that Cooper accelerated away from the defender and left him behind.
Full-body route-running.
Of course, “catching” was the issue that plagued Cooper during his time with the Raiders, which made him available on the open market a season ago. In stepped the Dallas Cowboys, and his impact on the offense was immediate. Thanks to Cooper’s ability to separate, Dak Prescott was an improved quarterback after the acquisition.
That success continued into 2019, as Cooper tied or surpassed career-high numbers in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He also set a new career-high number in yards per reception, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. Prescott also had an NFL passer rating of 117.3 when targeting Cooper, which for the WR was his best mark as a professional.
And yes, the full-body route-running is still there. Watch this route against the Green Bay Packers. Cooper is at the top of the screen:
Cooper really sells the under route, putting his whole body into the deke. But then he accelerates vertically, and Prescott hits him in stride. From the route to the finish, perfection.