NFL defenses have used a higher rate of Cover 2 and Cover 4 defenses over the last couple years to help tamp down on explosive passing. And while it’s certainly worked to that end, it’s also forced them to defend the run with 7 or 6-man boxes.
That could be good news for players like Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Cooper has been considered one of the best off-ball linebackers in the draft thanks to his size, athleticism, and ability to play in space as well as downhill.
The New York Giants are in a good place with their linebacking corps, but it’s also a unit that was built for a different defense. Could Cooper appeal to them with Shane Bowen calling their defense now?
Prospect: Edgerrin Cooper (45)
Games Watched: vs. Miami (2023), vs. Auburn (2023), vs. Alabama (2023)
Measurables
Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football
Strengths
- Size (length)
- Athleticism
- Space play
- Closing speed
Edgerrin Cooper is a long, fast, and explosive linebacker prospect. He has a great build for the position at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds with 34-inch arms. His frame allows him to play with great leverage while also letting him cover bigger tight ends in space.
Cooper is a very athletic linebacker with a great initial (and closing) burst, as well as the long speed to cover broad swaths of field when playing in space. Cooper also has good quickness, agility, and fluidity and is able to move like a much smaller defender. Taken as a whole, he appears very comfortable playing in space. Cooper’s athleticism also allows him to fly to the ball once he diagnoses the play, coming downhill fast and hard. Cooper’s speed and explosiveness allow him to track down the ball carrier from a good distance. He’s able to make plays near the line of scrimmage even when playing from a deeper coverage zone or the opposite hashmark.
Those traits also allow him to be an effective blizter. He’s able to rush off the edge or through the A-gaps, with his speed and explosiveness making him a mismatch for most blockers.
Cooper is also completely willing to take on blockers in the run game and is generally able to defeat them to make plays on the ball carrier. He’s a physical player who isn’t afraid to mix it up in run defense and typically arrives at the ball with bad intentions. That said, he isn’t a particularly reckless player. Instead, he’s a reliable tackler who does a good job of wrapping up to prevent yards after contact and get the ball carrier safely on the ground.
Weaknesses
Cooper’s greatest weakness lies in his processing speed and he doesn’t appear to be a truly instinctive player.
Cooper generally doesn’t diagnose the play quickly and instead needs an extra beat or two in order to confirm his reads before he’s willing to commit to a play. He wasn’t particularly accurate in his first move and instead gave the time to develop before triggering downhill. Cooper was also prone to being manipulated by misdirection and can be pulled out of position by receiver motion or play-action.
His athleticism gave him a good margin for error at the collegiate level, but the speed and sophistication of the Pro game could make his processing a liability.
Cooper will also need to continue to develop his hand usage at the NFL level. He flashes active hands when taking on blocks, but needs to do a better job of keeping himself clean when taking on offensive linemen.
Game Tape
Projection
As of right now, Edgerrin Cooper projects as an off-ball linebacker in an active second level rotation at the NFL level. He has a great blend of size, athleticism, and physicality that coaches will want to work with.
Cooper’s biggest hurdle to being an every-down starter will be his processing. He may never be a truly instinctive linebacker, but he’ll need to become a quicker processor to fully unleash his athleticism. As things stand now, he needs to see the play develop and confirm what he sees before committing. Once he commits, he flies to the ball, but he loses valuable seconds verifying what his eyes are telling him.
With that in mind, Cooper’s best fit might be in a defense that limits his responsibilities and allows him to play fast. He should be fairly scheme diverse and able to play in an even or odd front, and teams that use blitzing linebackers will likely appreciate him as well.
Does he fit the Giants?
He might fit the defensive scheme, but is unlikely to be a value fit
Final Word: A day 2 value
2024-04-13 18:00:00
#NFL #Draft #prospect #profile #Edgerrin #Cooper #Texas
