eagles WR coach praises Cooper
Riley Cooper, Marvin McNutt working to move up Eagles receiver depth chart.
The top of the Eagles' wide receiver lineup is set and on solid footing after a summer of turmoil a year ago.
DeSean Jackson is signed, participating in early practices, and seems more at ease than he has been in some time, particularly after a training camp holdout last year. Jeremy Maclin, after battling a mysterious illness in 2011, losing weight, and missing most of the offseason preparation, is healthy, has added seven pounds of muscle and bulked up to 205, and says he has not lost any speed or quickness.
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"So much more ready," than last season, Maclin said Thursday. "I wish the season started tomorrow, that's how ready I am."
Quarterback Michael Vick, saying Maclin reminds him of former Cowboy Michael Irvin in size and route running, believes the receiver is poised for his best season yet.
Jason Avant still has the slot-receiver role. But after the top three, there is a deep competition under way among recent draft picks and young free agents.
Riley Cooper and Marvin McNutt each have the kind of height, at 6-foot-3, and big frames that the Eagles' top three receivers lack. Undrafted speedster Damaris Johnson has opened eyes early in offseason practices as Ron Johnson and
Chad Hall also scrap for catches and a chance to make the roster.
"Our wideout group has probably the best depth in the league," Cooper said. "We've got nine, 10 guys that are awesome."
Added Maclin, "If you're afraid of competition, get out of the game. That's how you've got to look at it."
Cooper, a fifth-round pick in 2010, begins the offseason as the fourth receiver, but stuck behind the top trio, he hasn't had many opportunities in his first two years with the Eagles.
"I'm the fourth guy. I accept that. I've just got to go out every day and try to get better, same as everybody else," Cooper said.
Wide receivers coach David Culley noted that Cooper is getting his first full NFL offseason.
"I expect him to really make a jump and be the kind of player he's capable of being," Culley said.
Last year, Cooper had just 16 receptions. He wasn't even targeted until the Eagles' eighth game. Seen as a potentially big, end-zone receiver, Cooper was targed just four times inside opponents' 20-yard-line, resulting in one completion, a touchdown. All four tries were in the Eagles' win over the New York Giants.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-01/news/31960225_1_david-culley-desean-jackson-eagles
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