Cowboys VIDEO: How Brandin Cooks Speed Fits Coach Mike McCarthy New West Coast Offense
The Dallas Cowboys got the "playmaker with juice" they were after, and it came in the form of Brandin Cooks. With Cooks secured in a trade with the Houston Texans, Dak Prescott gets another weapon and CeeDee Lamb gets a running mate.
So, how will Cooks "fit" in coach Mike McCarthy's new West Coast Offense?
Looking back at how Cooks was used last season for the Texans, the 5-11 receiver was used often on quick slants and screens.
The quick passes to Cooks means he can use his speed (4.33 in the 40) and agility in open space to gain positive yards.
And what's a key component of a West Coast Offense? Yards after the catch.
While Cooks possesses enough sound route-running skill to be a viable option for Prescott on quick, short throws, he also has that "home run" speed that will scare the daylights out of opposing defenses.
Another weapon in Cooks' arsenal is his ability to get separation, something Dallas receivers not named Lamb struggled to do often last season. In an offensive style predicated on timing with clean, crisp routes, Cooks should be able to make the most of every opportunity given to him.
There are some critics of the move, but maybe only because some were dreaming of DeAndre Hopkins as "the guy'' or of Odell Beckham Jr.'s availability being a winning move. But Dallas, which was close to securing a deal for Cooks last year at the trade deadline, returned to that particular negotiating table and got an affordable deal for a player in Cooks who has the sort of speed that those two big names do not.
Still, with plenty of "playmaking juice" in his legs, Cooks seems to fit all the criteria on paper to be a valuable contributor for the Cowboys in what is now an offense that can cause serious problems in a variety of ways.
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