Smoke Signals for Dec 4: 'Whatever happened to Chris Cooley?' edition

As for Portis not practicing, I can't see how anyone should be making a big deal about this. Dude has taken a serious beating this year but keeps coming back for more on Sundays. I have zero problems with him taking Monday through Saturday off. He needs the rest.

Nah, I don't either. Best way to keep him healthy is to rest him and the Redskins have had success with that this season.

11 starters not practicing.
Most if not all will likely play....it's that time of the season

Where is Chris Cooley?

2nd in the NFL among all tight ends in receptions and 3rd in yardage. I also suspect that if you charted all the red zone formations this season he was in nearly every package. He does not come off the field much and certainly not recently. Perhaps GTripp can confirm this.

The only tight end really having a great season is Tony Gonzalez (if we want to factor in touchdowns). Only Gonzalez and Gates have more than five tds (six a piece), Witten has three, Owen Daniels has two, Dallas Clark three, etc. The story is really about the drop in production from the tight end position league wide (which actually has not taken place in Washington). My guess is a move toward more athletic safeties and many defenses running less Cover 2.

Cooley is also required to do more blocking, considering our 32 sacks. That being said, Cooley should be a prime target in the red zone. Cooley has been a go to guy for first downs. But, he clearly could be utilized more and better than he currently is, but, I don't take that as a slap at Zorn. I think more so, it is the reality of poor pass protection and the need to have TEs helping pick up blitzes.


This here is the reason Cooley isn't have the TD year that he did last year. Somehow we are screwing up on the O-line more than we were last year. If they are pulling him in to block more, it leaves him with less targets. I think he best catches of the year have been when he blocked, and then shed off the block for a catch. Can't do much when there's 4-5 defenders getting presure up the middle.

It's a catch 22....if Cooley had more TD's, the offense would be playing better/scoring more points.

If the offense was playing better and scored more points, Cooley would have more TD's.

Chicken - egg, cart - horse.

I think the real issue is that they have been calling routes for him that are very short to give Campbell a reliable hot route because the pass protection is so horrid. He doesn't have a chance to get up the seam because Campbell is running for his life by then.

Where is he? On pace for nearly 90 catches. No one on the offense is getting touchdowns. It feels like it's been a month since Portis scored (wait, I think it has), Cambpell never throws for more than one a game, and Moss has nearly disappeared of late.

It's also worth noting that Cooley's only TD (and Devin Thomas' for that matter) came on a trick play - a WR bootleg pass from ARE. Cooley never caught particulary long TD passes prior to this season, and right now our red zone offense stinks out loud.

I think his lack of scoring is much more a function of our putrid offense rather than a drop off in his skill/production. It's also worth noting that he is blocking better this season than at any time in his pro career.

Chris Cooley's problem is that other teams have discovered his high value to this offense. They know he is one of the few true talents in a very weak WR corps. Guard him well and you take away a major component of this offense.

He needs help from the WRs who are not carrying their weight, especially in the Red Zone.

Chris Cooley's problem is that other teams have discovered his high value to this offense. They know he is one of the few true talents in a very weak WR corps. Guard him well and you take away a major component of this offense.

He needs help from the WRs who are not carrying their weight, especially in the Red Zone.

I agree that he needs help from the WRs (and the offense in general), but I don't think other teams are taking him away. His catches are better than ever, and his yards are right there. He's not scoring because the offense simply can't covert a damn thing in the endzone. Can you even remember the last time he was targeted in the endzone, or the redzone for that matter?? I sure can't.

I agree that he needs help from the WRs (and the offense in general), but I don't think other teams are taking him away. His catches are better than ever, and his yards are right there. He's not scoring because the offense simply can't covert a damn thing in the endzone. Can you even remember the last time he was targeted in the endzone, or the redzone for that matter?? I sure can't.

I think Cooley is the best and have always really liked him as a player. He's doing well. I wear his jersey every game (bought it in his rookie year - custom made). I meet his wife at the Philly game this year, in the stands. Yes, she's beautiful and very pleasant to talk to.

All I'm saying is that the other teams know he's a Pro Bowler. He's not going to be able to hide under the radar. If others would step up [ROOKIES!], he'd be even more effective.

I think Cooley is the best and have always really liked him as a player. He's doing well. I wear his jersey every game (bought it in his rookie year - custom made). I meet his wife at the Philly game this year, in the stands. Yes, she's beautiful and very pleasant to talk to.

All I'm saying is that the other teams know he's a Pro Bowler. He's not going to be able to hide under the radar. If others would step up [ROOKIES!], he'd be even more effective.

I agree, although I think the only time he flew under the radar was during his rookie year. LBs can't cover him and safeties and corners can't tackle him without help. He's a beast.

I guess my issue is with this thread, unless we are strictly talking about TDs. And if that's the case, again I believe the lack of TDs is a function of a sputtering offense, not Cooley individually.