Oakland Raiders: Using Amari Cooper On Kick Return Team A Terrible Idea
By Kevin Saito
For the Oakland Raiders, it would be the biggest high risk/low reward play they could make. After drafting Amari Cooper fourth overall this year, the Raiders finally have an explosive weapon to pair with Derek Carr. The hope is that together, the pair of them – with a healthy dose of Michael Crabtree and Rod Streater – can help take the Raiders’ passing game, and the offense as a whole, to heights that haven’t been seen in years.
Which is precisely why having Cooper returning kicks and punts is a bad, terrible, horrible, no good idea.
In an article that appeared on ESPN.com, Raiders’ special teams coach Brad Seely said:
"“We brought in the young guy from LSU [Trindon Holliday] that, you know, he’s got talent, has been talented here in the past in the NFL. So we’re giving him an opportunity, too. Amari Cooper is another guy we’re working back there. It depends on, you know, what exactly his role is on this football team if he’s going to do some of that stuff, because he could because he’s got a lot of talent. At this time of the year, you’re really just trying to evaluate as many guys as you can.”"
While it’s understandable that at this time of year, they’re evaluating talent and exploring options, Cooper’s role on the football team is pretty obvious – he’s going to be a big part of the engine that drives the team’s offense. Perhaps one of the biggest, most important parts. If Cooper isn’t catching balls, he’s going to be drawing enough attention to free up some of Oakland’s other pass catchers like Streater, Crabtree, Mychal Rivera, or even Clive Walford.
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Why the Raiders would even consider rolling the dice by entertaining the notion of having Cooper field kicks and punts is mind boggling. He’s going to be exposed to enough risk of injury when he’s running offensive plays. There is absolutely no need to increase that risk by putting him in the meat grinder that is special teams play.
Perhaps, some might think that this is a simple overreaction and that Cooper might bring a spark of life to a special teams unit that needs one. To that, we would offer a simple historical perspective.
In 1989, the Raiders had a young receiver named Tim Brown. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. He was the team’s best receiver – by far. He was also the team’s best special teams return man, having been elected to the previous season’s Pro Bowl in that capacity.
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In the third quarter of the first game of the season, Brown was returning a kick when he was tackled by Chargers linebacker Ken Woodard. The result of the play was that Brown tore the medial collateral, posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee and ripped the MCL off the bone.
Needless to say, Brown required surgery and was done for the year. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the Raiders – the Los Angeles Raiders back then – finished the season 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
Obviously, Brown recovered and went on to have a very lengthy, very productive career. He is arguably the best receiver in Raider history – though it’s perhaps worth noting that following his injury, Brown did not record a 1,000 receiving yard season until 1993. Though, he did go on to record nine straight 1,000 receiving yard seasons after that in his Hall of Fame career. Whether one has anything to do with the other is a question up for debate.
What should not be up for debate however, is that throwing Cooper out there on special teams and exposing him to that sort of risk, would be a serious blunder – one that could have serious implications for the team as a whole.
Yes, the Raiders special teams do need some life. They need a spark. Without a doubt. But Cooper shouldn’t be the answer. They brought in Holliday ostensibly, to be the return man with Andre Debose gone after suffering an injury. If they’re not convinced Holliday can do the job, take a longer look at Kris Durham, since they signed him. If they don’t think Durham is the solution, why not give Brice Butler a chance? What about Andre Holmes? Trent Richardson? Roy Helu?
Or here’s a better idea — why not let Fresno State product and good friend of Carr, Josh Harper earn a roster spot returning kicks?
The point is that the Raiders have plenty of options that they can and should be taking longer looks at. They should scrap the idea of Cooper returning kicks entirely. It is just not worth the risk. Oakland needs Cooper on the field chewing up yards and scoring touchdowns this season more than they need to see him energizing their special teams.
Cooper is a big part of the Raiders’ offense. Risking his health on special teams would be a mistake that could have far reaching consequences for the team as a whole. You wouldn’t take your Porsche out muddin’, so why would you risk putting Cooper on special teams?