What's Next for 'The Archer' Brandin Cooks in Dallas Cowboys 'Texas Coast Offense'?
It took eight games, but Brandin Cooks' Dallas Cowboys career finally ignited against the New York Giants. After being on the periphery of the offense, despite having back-to-back games with a touchdown grab, Cooks was unleashed at AT&T Stadium.
While he had a quiet start on Dallas' first four possessions, as he had two catches for 13 yards, Cooks then started to heat up as he caught passes of 25, 10 (touchdown), 34, and 16 yards as he would finish the first half with seven catches for 104 yards.
He wasn't finished there as in the third quarter, Cooks - nicknamed "The Archer'' for the moniker's Biblical ties (Psalm 144:6 is his favorite verse and reads, ‘Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy. Shoot your arrows and rout them'' - would haul in a 37-yard pass from Dak Prescott, and just three plays later, a 32-yard catch would see his total soar to 173 yards as his trademark speed was on show.
“Brandin's always been somebody we've tried to get the ball to,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said.
“Each game's very different, the thing that was cool about that game is to get them off to a fast start. ... You feel his speed out there, his explosive speed. He just he's got big-time playmaking ability.”
Coming off a one-catch, seven-yard game in the 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, there were many questions aimed at the offense as to why a player of Cooks' caliber wasn't getting involved consistently.
Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks had his best game of the season against the Giants.
USA Today
Well, it appears that McCarthy was listening, as Cooks was a big reason for Dallas' 28-0 halftime lead.
But he wasn't the only player to get in on the action as Michael Gallup, who had seen some of his snaps go to Jalen Tolbert, wound back the clock with a 41-yard touchdown catch and then a vintage contested grab from Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter.
Both players have been on the outer of late but came to life against the Giants in what was an impressive showing.
“Whether it's Brandin or MG, whoever ... just keep running Dak's gonna find you, "Schottenheimer said. “Dak's going to go through his progression, and if you're the first open guy that gets it? Guess what? 'You're going to get the football, and we keep saying that to those guys.”
With Cooks having his breakout game within the "Texas Coast Offense,'' the notion that he is "past it" could be put to bed. But after his Sunday efforts, he has to replicate it and become a consistent performer for the offense.
But if we learned one thing about Cooks against the Giants, it's that The Archer still has an arrow or two left in his quiver.
