Paul Bretl | 9/10/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers’ rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper had limited opportunities in the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he made the most of those snaps, which has Matt LaFleur believing he deserves more.
“It was good to get him out there,” said Matt LaFleur on Monday. “He certainly flashed and made some plays. I would anticipate him getting more time moving forward.”
Cooper was on the field for only 11 snaps. He took over for Eric Wilson as the Will linebacker when the Packers were lined up in their base 4-3 defense. As LaFleur said, Cooper was able to flash, making a few impact plays despite playing a relatively small number of snaps. Cooper finished the game making three tackles, recorded a run stop, and batted a pass.
Beyond the box score, what Cooper was able to showcase was his elite speed, good instincts, and the ability to navigate blockers to get to the ball carrier. However, as is the case with just about any rookie making his NFL debut, there are still some things to clean up as well for Cooper, but overall, it was an impactful performance.
“It wasn’t perfect,” added LaFleur. “It never is and we’ve got to clean up some things and make sure we’re communicating well when we’re out there. If there was a missed alignment, we’ve got 10 other guys on the field that can help him get in the right spot. But it was exciting to see him go out there and play football.”
Before suffering a hip injury that sidelined him for a good portion of training camp, including the preseason, Cooper was rotating in with Wilson as the third linebacker when the Packers were in base. With the second defense, he and Wilson were the two nickel linebackers. In the early going it was clear that Isaiah McDuffie was the second linebacker next to Quay Walker, and Cooper’s injury never gave him the opportunity to challenge him or Wilson for immediate playing time.
While sidelined, Cooper did all the right things to stay up to date with the defensive installs, but there is no replacement for taking what is being learned in the meeting rooms and being able to apply it on the practice field. That element was missing for Cooper while navigating an injury, which led to his reduced role to start the season.
“For him, I think, it’s just getting out there and doing it,” said linebackers coach Anthony Campanile. “He’s been doing a great job in the classroom, in practice. Staying involved as much as he can, I think he’s done a good job. But, obviously, the speed of it, that’s the toughest part for anybody coming back. I think he’s doing a good job of it right now, I do.”
How exactly the Packers plan to get Cooper more reps moving forward remains to be seen. He could become the primary Will linebacker option over Wilson or perhaps when the defense is lined up in nickel and facing a more obvious passing situation, he could come on the field for McDuffie, whose impact is more so felt in the run game. Cooper also brings an added blitzing ability, an area where he found tremendous success in college.
As is the case for any young player, reps–whether they be in games or practice–are extremely valuable, and Cooper, to a degree, has been playing catch-up in that regard because of missed time. But in the albeit small sample size that we’ve seen of him now in-game action, he’s already proven to be deserving of more opportunities–a good sign for a linebacker unit that could use more playmaking.
“Just knowing where I’m at,” said Cooper during training camp when asked about making the jump from college to the NFL. “My eyes. My feet. Just being able to know what’s going on so everything slows down with me. Looking at the sets the offense is in. Just being able to know what’s in front of me.”