New Kid On The Block

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni often reiterates, in some form, that while the capacity of one’s role varies throughout the roster, each player’s role is vitally important to team success.

Take wide receiver Johnny Wilson, for example. Twice garnering All-ACC honors at Florida State, Wilson last season joined a crowded house at his position. Targets were scarce for the rangy, plus-sized wideout, though Wilson’s impact couldn’t be quantified by merely glancing at a box score.

Wilson, who caught only five passes as a rookie, was instead tasked with undertaking a role that accentuated his blocking prowess, the grimy and unglamorous dirty work required to free up teammates. It’s a job description that’s typically overlooked, and perhaps under-appreciated, by those watching from afar, but instrumental to the offense’s overall functionality.

For a short time, Wilson’s season-ending injury sustained in training camp created an understated void, as the roster seemingly lacked for a logical replacement. That is until the Eagles unearthed the wide-ranging talents of undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper, who dazzled in camp as a pass-catcher by showcasing requisite play strength and physicality, along with a team-first mentality that suggested he could fill the shoes of the 6-foot-6 Wilson.

“I think that this guy is a really strong football player who can do some of the dirty work stuff for us as far as our blocking, as far as special teams, as far as good speed to be able to clear things out,” Sirianni said following roster cutdowns. “And really when you have a guy like that, there’s opportunities for him as well in the pass game that mesh off of some of those things.

“I’m looking forward to watching him continue to develop. [Wide receivers coach] Aaron [Moorehead] has done a really good job with him. [Offensive coordinator] Kevin [Patullo]’s done a really good job with him, of helping him develop. I think he’s got some tools in his body to continue to develop.”

ITB PHOTO/ANDREW DICECCO: Catching everything is why undrafted rookie WR Darius Cooper made the team, but blocking is why he’s seeing more field time.

Cooper, who accumulated 3,185 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns over his five-year collegiate career at Tarleton State, was an All-Conference selection in each of his final three seasons. He didn’t have much blocking or special teams experience prior to joining the Eagles. But Cooper is also someone who played in a college offense that relied on hand signals rather than traditionally hearing a play out of a huddle, and he picked up the complexities of an NFL offense without much of a delay.

Much of his time during the summer months was devoted to mastering the specifics of Patullo’s offense, of which he evidently had a fairly decent handle on early in camp. A popular pass target across the various units, Cooper earned the trust of his quarterbacks, seemingly delivering a head-turning play daily.

A high-volume, do-it-all pass-catcher at the collegiate level, the receiving and route-running aspect came across as a natural flair. The blocking element, however, could really only be observed in a live game. Cooper flashed natural ability there, as well, though the refinement behind the scenes required what he termed as “500 shots.”

“Just the development of blocking, as far as, knowing my role, coming in here and getting extra work and getting my 500 shots in before and after practice with guys like [player development assistant] Pat McDowell and A-Mo,” he explained. “Doing different drills, hand placement, moving my feet and just doing the 500 shots, the extra work, and it helped out a lot.”

A-Mo, of course, is the nickname of Eagles wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, who has held the position for six seasons. McDowell is an integral figure within the organization, unknown to most on the outside. In the 2022 offseason, McDowell shifted from his role as a member of the strength and conditioning staff to his current position of player development assistant/scout.

There isn’t a training camp session or in-season practice where McDowell isn’t intently working, or engaging with, players from a developmental angle. If you’ve happen to tune into HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” pay attention to the shots that feature the defensive line room. Seated front and center in the brief moments captured by the cameras is McDowell.

“He’s so intelligent,” Cooper gushed. “And his knowledge of the game, as far as just the science behind our body works and how we can implement that on the field. He’s very intelligent … he just gives me different nuggets – different tips and tricks – that I can do and helps me out with that. So, Pat McDowell is definitely a great asset.”

Earlier in the season, Cooper would frequently work with the bags before practice to “get some punches in,” although he now has a better understanding of the position’s technical aspects. When practice ended, Cooper would continue to hone his technique with a blocking dummy, and for some variance, McDowell would also have a bag fastened on his arm for Cooper to rep his blocking.

There’s also a mindset Cooper brings with him every day, as it pertains to the grueling part of his job. The gritty nature of his game day function isn’t something that every wide receiver welcomes with open arms or embraces the way Cooper has. The rookie cares only about executing his assignment, whatever the capacity, at a high level to benefit the team.

As he’ll tell you, it’s a mindset, much like how he approaches blocking.

“You gotta have a little chip on your shoulder,” he explained. “But it really depends. You gotta watch film; you can block guys differently based on how they play. Some guys are more aggressive, other guys are more finesse. So, with the guys that are more finesse, you gotta kind of break down and mirror them first and then you strike. Other guys that’s more physical, you just just gotta duck your head and go in there with bad intentions. You just gotta know who you up against.”

While Cooper hasn’t factored all that much in the receiving game to this point, it’s worth noting his usage has climbed in recent weeks, logging 21 snaps against the Chargers and Raiders, respectively. Three of his five receptions this season occurred over that span.

He’s caught just five passes this season, but Cooper has drawn a pair of pass interference penalties in the 10 games he’s appeared in, most recently Sunday in the end zone on a fade ball. Cooper is also a mainstay in “push play” personnel, his job dedicated to protecting the edge.

Like Wilson, Cooper’s opportunities to generate plays at his position of trade have been in short supply. Such is life on a star-studded offense in which the receiving game runs through A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. But Cooper isn’t concerned with variables outside his control; rather, his focus centers solely on the team, and however he can tangibly contribute. And when the bell needs answering, Cooper is prepared to take full advantage.

“Whenever your opportunity comes, you gotta take full advantage of it,” he said. “That’s why you gotta be ready at all times and just take it day-by-day. And always get your catches in and always talking about route-running with A.J. and Smitty and [Jahan Dotson], and just always staying on top it because you never know when your number could be called.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com