Amari Cooper’s final days in Oakland were a forgettable hodgepodge of inconsistency and head-scratching usage. After fighting through six games under Jon Gruden, the Raiders’ top receiver was shipped to Dallas, where he starred once again.
During a radio interview with Pro Football Talk a week, Cooper reiterated that the change of scenery was essential to reboot his livelihood.
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“Yeah. Whatever the circumstances may be, there are certain reasons why one location might not work to get a man and another place will, Cooper said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I think the change of scenery was really necessary. I really, honestly, don’t think if I would’ve stayed with the Raiders last year I would have managed to flourish and attain some peaks I was able to achieve as a Cowboy. It was definitely necessary.”
In 11 games with Dallas, including playoffs, Cooper averaged 81.45 getting yards per tilt and scored 7 TDs. In six games with Gruden’s Raiders, the wideout generated 46.6 receiving yards with one TD. Cooper believes part of the production discrepancy was his use in Oakland.
“I really don’t think it was a fantastic match for me,” he said. “I really don’t think I was actually able to showcase my skills there for all those reasons, I will call it extenuating circumstances. However, for whatever reason, I was not able to achieve my heights and I kind of knew I needed to be gone to be able to perform some of the things which I wanted to perform as an NFL player.
“I felt just like there are items that I needed to do out there on the field during the matches, certain plays I wanted to be called and certain routes I wanted to conduct that just weren’t a part of the game plan.”
After being unleashed in Dallas, Cooper seems poised for another big season as the No. 1 goal in the Cowboys’ offense. New coordinator Kellen Moore intends to be more creative with his scheme and move the dynamic receiver around more than previous coaches, which might help generate positive matchups. Add in a full offseason of chemistry building between Cooper and Dak Prescott, and it portends a major season for the wideout, irrespective of whether he’s playing under a new big arrangement or not.
Read more: footballleagueworld.com