Cooper late first round pick? I read some where his 40 time really

[CougEd]

made several teams take notice. But I would have sworn he would have been lucky to make it by round 4.

I know the NFL isn't about college production, but it seems like once a kid posts some good numbers in the combine it becomes the rage. After Locker out ran Buchanon in 2010 and seeing how he struggled at times in coverage I couldn't see how he would be picked before round three, yet his 40 time really opened eyes. Maybe same thing for Cooper and his decision to leave wasn't dumb after all.

 

[earldacoug]

Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

 

[YakiCoug]

Originally posted by earldacoug:
Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

He's athletic, no question. His forty time of 4.86 nearly matches Utah DE Nate Orchard's 4.84 (Cooper is11th among 35), and his three-cone time of 7.23 seconds is 6th among 36 (faster than Orchard and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa). But at the point of attack is where his relatively weak bench (29 reps of 225 pounds) and his short arms (31 inches) hurt him. It's true he sometimes had trouble wrapping people up. His bench was still 9th among 30, but everyone knows guys with short arms have an easier time on the bench. Point is, he can get stronger and he will. God knows how weenie he was until Leach et al arrived. Just as with Deone Bucannon, Cooper made strides physically once he got some proper guidance from Leach's staff.

This post was edited on 2/23 9:41 PM by YakiCoug

 

[CrimsonWazzu]

Originally posted by CougEd:
made several teams take notice. But I would have sworn he would have been lucky to make it by round 4.

I know the NFL isn't about college production, but it seems like once a kid posts some good numbers in the combine it becomes the rage. After Locker out ran Buchanon in 2010 and seeing how he struggled at times in coverage I couldn't see how he would be picked before round three, yet his 40 time really opened eyes. Maybe same thing for Cooper and his decision to leave wasn't dumb after all.

The old saying goes, "It only takes one scout to be convinced".

Cooper definitely made the right choice going out. The DT crop is thinner than usual and I would say he's gone absolutely no later than round 4, and could go as high as 2nd.

The 40 time is a nice shiny thing to help him get noticed a little more. He also interviews very well and does have the frame and quickness to be a 3 and 5 Technique DT. That means he could play 3 downs in base 4-3 defense.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

The draft is a crap shoot, to a great extent. You can play the odds, but you can't be sure how it will turn out. Had X come back and had a great year, and avoided serious injury, I think he would have made it into the first 2 rounds somewhere.

As it is, he doesn't have to worry about getting injured and as you guys have noted in this and other strings, this is a down year for DT's. Yes, he has things he needs to improve; that is why he is not an obvious 1st or 2nd round pick, despite his size, speed and agility. But it is true that you only need one scout and his team to be willing to take a chance on you, and perhaps he will get that. If he makes 3rd round (and at this point, I think that is likely), then maybe he will feel that the money he gets is enough to offset what he could have gotten a round or two higher next year, given the "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" aspect.

Let's hope he cracks the 3rd round, so later he can feel that he made the right choice.

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by earldacoug:
Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

He's athletic, no question. His forty time of 4.86 nearly matches Utah DE Nate Orchard's 4.84 (Cooper is11th among 35), and his three-cone time of 7.23 seconds is 6th among 36 (faster than Orchard and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa). But at the point of attack is where his relatively weak bench (29 reps of 225 pounds) and his short arms (31 inches) hurt him. It's true he sometimes had trouble wrapping people up. His bench was still 9th among 30, but everyone knows guys with short arms have an easier time on the bench. Point is, he can get stronger and he will. God knows how weenie he was until Leach et al arrived. Just as with Deone Bucannon, Cooper made strides physically once he got some proper guidance from Leach's staff.

This post was edited on 2/23 9:41 PM by YakiCoug

Yes, it is his short arms that will lower or remove him from some teams draft boards. It is a shame because if he had long arms, he could have been a much more productive player and definitely drafted high. Here is a link of a link of Cooper with his short arms.



Xavier Cooper

 

[YakiCoug]

Originally posted by Coug1990:

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by earldacoug:
Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

He's athletic, no question. His forty time of 4.86 nearly matches Utah DE Nate Orchard's 4.84 (Cooper is11th among 35), and his three-cone time of 7.23 seconds is 6th among 36 (faster than Orchard and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa). But at the point of attack is where his relatively weak bench (29 reps of 225 pounds) and his short arms (31 inches) hurt him. It's true he sometimes had trouble wrapping people up. His bench was still 9th among 30, but everyone knows guys with short arms have an easier time on the bench. Point is, he can get stronger and he will. God knows how weenie he was until Leach et al arrived. Just as with Deone Bucannon, Cooper made strides physically once he got some proper guidance from Leach's staff.

This post was edited on 2/23 9:41 PM by YakiCoug

Yes, it is his short arms that will lower or remove him from some teams draft boards. It is a shame because if he had long arms, he could have been a much more productive player and definitely drafted high. Here is a link of a link of Cooper with his short arms.

Smoking Tongue appreciates this.

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by Coug1990:

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by earldacoug:
Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

He's athletic, no question. His forty time of 4.86 nearly matches Utah DE Nate Orchard's 4.84 (Cooper is11th among 35), and his three-cone time of 7.23 seconds is 6th among 36 (faster than Orchard and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa). But at the point of attack is where his relatively weak bench (29 reps of 225 pounds) and his short arms (31 inches) hurt him. It's true he sometimes had trouble wrapping people up. His bench was still 9th among 30, but everyone knows guys with short arms have an easier time on the bench. Point is, he can get stronger and he will. God knows how weenie he was until Leach et al arrived. Just as with Deone Bucannon, Cooper made strides physically once he got some proper guidance from Leach's staff.

This post was edited on 2/23 9:41 PM by YakiCoug

Yes, it is his short arms that will lower or remove him from some teams draft boards. It is a shame because if he had long arms, he could have been a much more productive player and definitely drafted high. Here is a link of a link of Cooper with his short arms.

Smoking Tongue appreciates this.

I was thinking of Tony when I linked this.

 

[YakiCoug]

Originally posted by Coug1990:

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by Coug1990:

Originally posted by YakiCoug:

Originally posted by earldacoug:
Cooper struggled to get off of blocks in college imo.

He's athletic, no question. His forty time of 4.86 nearly matches Utah DE Nate Orchard's 4.84 (Cooper is11th among 35), and his three-cone time of 7.23 seconds is 6th among 36 (faster than Orchard and UCLA's Owa Odighizuwa). But at the point of attack is where his relatively weak bench (29 reps of 225 pounds) and his short arms (31 inches) hurt him. It's true he sometimes had trouble wrapping people up. His bench was still 9th among 30, but everyone knows guys with short arms have an easier time on the bench. Point is, he can get stronger and he will. God knows how weenie he was until Leach et al arrived. Just as with Deone Bucannon, Cooper made strides physically once he got some proper guidance from Leach's staff.

This post was edited on 2/23 9:41 PM by YakiCoug

Yes, it is his short arms that will lower or remove him from some teams draft boards. It is a shame because if he had long arms, he could have been a much more productive player and definitely drafted high. Here is a link of a link of Cooper with his short arms.

Smoking Tongue appreciates this.

I was thinking of Tony when I linked this.

I think we had eleven Black Knights on special teams last season. That Cal kick returner felt a few nibbles on his ankles on his way to the endzone.