WR Amari Cooper (8.14.23)
What did you think of the work out there today?
“It was good work, you know, I mean, everybody worked hard. Feels great to, you know, actually put the work in against a different team to prepare us for the season. So it was good work, especially a team like this, you know, coming off of Super Bowl contention. So it’s good.”
Amari, with you guys having to start so fast this season, it must be really good to test yourself against the Super Bowl runner up. Do you think you’ll come out of here with a pretty good idea of where you guys stack up this season, how good you’re going to be?
“Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, that’s the purpose of doing this. That’s the purpose of going up against another team, especially another good team. Like you said, we got to hit the ground running, so why not have a pre-trial.”
You guys put work in against each other, but when you’re going against somebody that doesn’t necessarily know the plays. How big is that to kind of find out where you are?
“Good, I guess. I get what you’re saying. It’s good to go up against new faces. I kind of say that sometimes, too. I’m going up against a DB. I beat them on a route in practice a couple of times throughout the week. But obviously we only have so many plays, so I have to keep running it on them, finding different ways to be creative and win, as opposed to going up against a guy who I don’t usually go up against to really get that feel of how it’ll be in the game when I’m going up against an opponent who I don’t practice against.”
Uncharacteristically I saw a couple go off your hands today, and I never see that in practice. So I’m just wondering, is that a testament to how good those guys are or did you just have the kind of day where you’d like to have a couple back or characterize that?
“Yeah, I mean, obviously you have to catch every ball. That’s why they call it receivers, right? So obviously I’d like to have those back. But that’s why we are out here. That’s why we practice. Get better, never to get complacent. It always sets reminders for you to focus.”
Where are you at this year in your training camp? Coming off that injury now, you missed a couple of days at the Greenbrier. Are you in training camp form for your pace?
“I’m getting there. I’m getting there health wise. Yeah, I’m good as far as conditioning and all those things. That’s why it’s so important to practice, so important to be available, so important to stay healthy so that you can practice every day, so that you can condition every day. But I’m getting there, you know, we have time. We’re all getting, you know, by week one I’ll definitely be ready.”
Amari whenever I’ve talked to one of the young receivers or we do, they mentioned you and Marquise (Goodwin) kind of taking them under your wing. How important is that for you as a veteran? Kind of taking those guys in?
“Yeah. I mean, as the vets, you set the tone. You set the tone for what the receiver’s group is going to be. I always try to lead by example. I’m always pushing the guys to better every day, but it’s more believable when you’re actively showing them that you’re trying to better every day. And that’s what I try to do.”
I know Elijah (Moore) wasn’t out there today, but what’s it been like kind of getting used to playing alongside of him and just having another South Florida guy in the room that you can get to know better?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s been great. Elijah makes a lot of plays. He’s a great compliment to the offense, great compliment to me. We’re going to be a great tandem together, you know? I think about great tandems like Torry Holt and Isaac Booth. You know, that’s what I think we could be. We both run really good routes, both create separation. We both get open, and we’re both reliable.”
You probably won’t play in a game, perhaps until Kansas City. Is that okay? You need to be in a game?
“I mean, this is like a game. Trust me, it’s like a game. They’re going up against these All Pro. (James) Bradberry’s been a Pro Bowler –some of the best work you’ll get. I don’t think it matters whether we play or not in the game, because this is like a game.”
Is there a preference, like, either way between games or joint practices in terms of the work you’re getting.?
“No preference. Like I said, it feels like a game. I mean, it’s not like the guys come out here and practice and don’t play the same in the game. People are who they are. I know me, myself, I go as hard as I can. It’s no differentiating between these practice reps in terms of joint practice and the game reps.”
You like where you and Deshaun (Watson) are in terms of kind of getting on the same page?
“Yeah, I like what our communication is. Obviously, I dropped a couple of balls today. I like making my quarterback’s job easy as possible, and I look forward to growing on today and all the previous practice days. But by the time the season comes, that’s why I go so hard. That’s why I practice. That’s why I grind. I just want to make his job easy. So as of right now, I like where we are communication wise, but we could better.”
What’s the biggest difference that you’re seeing in Deshaun’s game from last year?
Obviously, he missed most of the season, how much more comfortable do you see him in the offense?
“I asked him personally. He’s a lot more comfortable. Bbviously, him not playing for almost two years, when he first came back, he was just trying to get back to where he was. And I think just from talking to him, he feels like he’s back to him.”
Obviously, you’re going to come out tomorrow and you’re going to want to have an even better day than you had today. Do you do anything? Do you get extra jugs or do you just come out and try to focus and just have a more Amari Cooper kind of day?
“Yeah, of course. You have always do extra, right? Extra, extra, extra. Just did some extra sprints after practice. Always looking for ways to get better – extra stretching, whatever I feel like I need to work on.”
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