Raiders rookie Amari Cooper ready for real debut

OAKLAND, Calif. The Amari Cooper Show premiers Sunday in Oakland and the previews have been drawing rave reviews.

“He’s going to be a special player for a long time,” said Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, who will get a front row seat on the opposing sideline. “I’ve been watching him since he was in college. He’s going to be a great one.”

Green’s a great one himself, a fellow No. 4 overall pick, who has made the Pro Bowl and the playoffs every season since he was drafted in 2011.

Cooper would relish that type of start to his career. It’ll take some work for a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2002, but Cooper seems to be the type of talent to help elevate the franchise.

“He’s a great prospect,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “Great speed, ability to catch, to run routes. He’s a real fine route-runner. He’s got body control, he’s aggressive to the catch, he’s strong through the catch. He’s a guy who you want. He’s been in a pro-style offense there at Alabama. He understands how to do things at this level. He’s impressive.”

His preseason performance offered only glimpses there’s no reason to show off the whole production until the curtain rises but it was special.

The Raiders fed him the ball four times on the first drive in the exhibition opener, with him catching three balls and running a reverse. A week later, he blew past veteran Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman for a 40-yard reception.

Cooper’s biggest highlight came in the dress rehearsal against the Arizona Cardinals. He smoked four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson on a comeback route that created so much separation, he dusted him for another 25 yards after the catch.

Cooper brushed that play off like it was nothing.

“It was just a play that we’ve repped a lot in practice,” he said after that game. “It was just a regular play.”

By now, it’s become clear Cooper would prefer to let his game do the talking for him. He takes his craft very seriously and brings a professional approach to the field. Given that, have his teammates seen any signs of nerves or him cracking as he approaches his NFL debut?

“You know he talks so much, so ...,” Carr said, before finally breaking out in a chuckle about his soft-spoken teammate.

“No, he is just the same guy every day. He really is. Amari has been just such a joy to be around, because he’s not nervous. Football is just a game to him. He knows there is a bigger calling on his life than just football, so when he comes out to football, it’s just him trying to help the team win.”

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio sees the same thing from his potential star.

“I think he’s doing what he always does: just getting himself ready to play,” Del Rio said. “Prepare himself and go compete and play hard. That’s all we expect of him, that’s all we want him to do. That’s how he’s wired anyway.”

That may be the team’s expectations, but around the league and the fan base, dreams of 1,000-yard seasons abound (Jerry Rice in 2002 was the last Raider to top that mark).

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave pleaded caution while bringing up Cooper’s age he only turned 21 in June but let it be known the Raiders are going to give him a heavy load.

“We’ve got to remember how young he is, just three years out of high school,” Musgrave said. “He’s mature beyond his years. He’s just done a fantastic job for us. We’ve got a significant role planned for him.”

Cooper has spent all camp looking as advertised. Other than a few hiccups with ball security after catches, which he says he’s learned from, Cooper has showcased phenomenal ability to get in and out of routes and given no reason to doubt his potential.

Is there anything at all that’s surprised Del Rio about his new receiver?

“Nope,” Del Rio said. “He’s very Coop-like.”

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