Amari Cooper fell off in a big way last season, and he'll have to step up in a major way to please new Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
The three-year veteran topped 1,000 yards his first two seasons of his career with the Raiders. Last season, however, the star wideout dropped down to 680 yards. This is something that has been brought to the attention of new Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
In a recent interview, Gruden said that he wants Cooper to play the way he did back in 2015 and 2016 when he takes the field in 2018 (quotes via Pro Football Talk):
“He has to get healthy and stay healthy,” Gruden said. “We need him to be the player he was the first two years. I’ve said it earlier.
"We’re going to make him the main vein of our passing offense and move him around a lot. . . . We are really excited about him. I think he’s entering the prime of his career.”
“I said it when he came out of Alabama, that he reminded me of a young Tim Brown,” Gruden said. “He has that type of game speed. He’s elusive, and has a wide range of routes he can run.
"He’s flexible. It’ll benefit him to stay healthy and stay in the same system for a few years. If he does that, great things are ahead.”
Gruden is now at the helm of the Raiders organization that worked so hard to get him onboard. So much so that they even included a stake in ownership for him.
He also expressed how great of a working relationship he has had with Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie:
"It's been great," Gruden said. "…He's a great guy. If you can't get along with Reggie McKenzie, you can't get along with anybody.
"We both realize there's a sense of urgency. Mark Davis and the Oakland Raiders want to win. We want to improve the roster, improve the product on the field."
What are your thoughts on Gruden requesting Cooper to return to his old form from two years ago next season? Do you think that Cooper could have an explosive season this year under the leadership of Jon Gruden? And how far do you think a healthy Oakland team could go this season with Gruden at the helm? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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