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

[Spence]

Whatever happened to Chris Cooley?
The Skins are about to face the best football player in the world. Who is he?
Who is missing practice on Wednesday, but playing on Sunday?
Who will Laron Landry be missing on Sunday night?

The answers to those questions and more in today's edition of Smoke Signals. Read it now!

[maroonandblack30]

What happened to Chris Cooley? He is on pace to have to his best season ever (besides TDs). He already has as many catches this year as he did in 07.

[hooskins]

Spence I think you are taking the Cooley comments by Zorn too far. It's not that he didn't know Cooley was a beast in this offense, he clearly did he isn't stupid. he just found it hard to get him going right away because he wasn't use to a great TE, he probably knew it would be growing pains. You can plan all you want, but you don't know how things run until gametime.

That answer was also kind of suggested by the reporter, and it wasn't straight outta Zorn's mouth, so I don't take it too seriously. Cooley has a ton of yards, but really isn't a threat because we don't get in the RZ enough. And remember the play where he almost got in during the Seattle game? Bad throw by Campbell in that one.

I think this is a non-issue, I doubt Cooley wouldn't trade all his receptions for a win this week.

[Spence]

I dunno, guys. Seems to me using Chris Cooley in the red zone instead of 3 wide receivers is a no-brainer. Especially when you consider the quality of our wide receivers.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by maroonandblack30

What happened to Chris Cooley? He is on pace to have to his best season ever (besides TDs). He already has as many catches this year as he did in 07.

If you take away touchdowns, I don't see how it can be his best season ever. Touchdowns are pretty important, they're the reason you put your offense on the field. Cooley has never caught fewer than 6 TDs in a season. Now he has one. His yards per catch have also declined this year to the lowest level since his rookie season. I don't think anything is wrong with Chris Cooley, but there is something wrong with this offense.

[PennSkinsFan]

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.

[maroonandblack30]

Originally Posted by Spence

If you take away touchdowns, I don't see how it can be his best season ever. Touchdowns are pretty important, they're the reason you put your offense on the field. Cooley has never caught fewer than 6 TDs in a season. Now he has one. His yards per catch have also declined this year to the lowest level since his rookie season. I don't think anything is wrong with Chris Cooley, but there is something wrong with this offense.

He is on pace for 88 receptions.... 20+ more than he has ever had in a season.

Lack of TDs is a product of the offense.... 10 total TDs thru the air. The Redskins BARELY even get inside the redzone!!!

[MTK]

I don't think Cooley's success this season should be discounted simply because he's not catching TDs. He's on pace for a career high in catches and he's been our most reliable receiver. It's not like he's missing in action this season and has 20 catches, I'm kind of confused about the question as to what happened to him.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Spence

If you take away touchdowns, I don't see how it can be his best season ever. Touchdowns are pretty important, they're the reason you put your offense on the field. Cooley has never caught fewer than 6 TDs in a season. Now he has one. His yards per catch have also declined this year to the lowest level since his rookie season. I don't think anything is wrong with Chris Cooley, but there is something wrong with this offense.

Let's give opposing defenses some credit - they are giving Cooley more attention in the red zone than in years past. Taking away Campbell's security blanket has definitely impacted our red zone performance, and until someone else steps up (perhaps M. Kelly), Cooley will continue to be on opponents' radars when we get into the red zone.

[MTK]

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.

[PennSkinsFan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

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.

[Hog1]

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

[SC Skins Fan]

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.

[hagams]

Originally Posted by PennSkinsFan

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.

[IowaSkinsFan]

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.