Browns receiver Amari Cooper is a perfectionist | Jeff Schudel
Nov. 12—Amari Cooper is a wide receiver savant — a quiet one, to be sure and in that regard the opposite of Jarvis Landry or Odell Beckham Jr., but a savant nonetheless.
While the Browns were on their bye, Copper, the team's leading receiver in catches (39), yards (553) and touchdowns (five) spent the time off scouting himself as though he were a defensive back.
"I was able to reflect on a lot of stuff that we've been doing and more specifically, the stuff that I've been doing," Cooper said. "I was just looking at my tendencies and stuff like that, trying to put myself in the mindframe of the guys who are guarding me, trying not to tip them off too much. I feel like I'm trying to change some stuff up."
Cooper has always been regarded as a precise route runner. His quarterback, in this case Jacoby Brissett, appreciates that because he knows exactly where Cooper will be on any given pass play. It sounds simple and logical, but it doesn't always happen. Rashard Higgins did not always follow details of the game plan when he played for the Browns, which is one reason he did not get the playing time fans thought he deserved no matter who was the head coach at the time.
"When you talk about guys who understand football, hardworking, smart and guys who you want in your locker room, Amari is one of those guys," Brissett said. "You listen to him talk about, 'Hey, man. This is what I'm thinking in the realm of the plan. This is what this DB did versus me last time or this thing and that.' He's opened my eyes to so many different things of trust and things of that nature that the things that he does are incredible."
Cooper is in his eighth NFL season. He is on pace to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his career.
Cooper would not divulge what his review of his own catches revealed.
"You always have tendencies, and that's why you do a self-scout," Cooper said. "At least in my eyes, sometimes I give the DBs too much credit. Sometimes I think they're three steps ahead when really they aren't. At least in my eyes, obviously I have some tendencies but I'm looking to change those up."
Every game Cooper plays is a reminder how Browns general manager got the best of the Cowboys in the trade to acquire Cooper. He sent a 2022 fifth-round pick to Dallas. The teams also swapped 2022 sixth-round picks.
Cooper's five touchdown catches are more than any Cowboys receiver has. CeeDee Lamb leads the Cowboys with 42 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys as a team have eight touchdown receptions.
