Amari Cooper talked with the media ahead of the Browns matchup with the Cardinals. In one of his opening questions, Amari Cooper spoke about the challenge of having Deshaun Watson sidelined.
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00:00 I'd ask you to ease closer.
00:01 >> [LAUGH] >> What's this kind of been like the last,
00:06 I know we talked to you every week, but this month, not knowing who's gonna be
00:09 quarterbacking, just not having your guy out there.
00:11 Like, just how hard has that been for you as a whole team?
00:18 >> I mean, it's a challenge just like any other challenge that's presented to us.
00:22 Obviously, you gotta account to any situation that's presented to us, but
00:27 yeah, it's hard.
00:28 I mean, we know that Ford is our guy.
00:30 We know that he's a playmaker in all those things, so
00:34 we would love to have him out there every chance that we get.
00:37 But unfortunately, the picture doesn't always come without it.
00:40 It's just all part of the game, and just waiting on him to get help.
00:46 >> Do you have any words for
00:47 DJ Watt perhaps the way that game in Seattle ended?
00:51 >> Do I have any words?
00:52 >> Yeah, did you say anything to him?
00:54 >> Yeah, I mean, we are constantly communicating about what we see,
00:58 about some of our errors, about some of our successes.
01:02 We just try to go out there and make everything work.
01:04 So yeah, we talked at the beginning about some of those.
01:07 >> So I noticed when you guys were breaking the huddle for the goal line,
01:13 you said something to him.
01:16 And then on that play through to you, you were covered absolutely completely.
01:21 What did you say when you guys were breaking the huddle?
01:23 >> I don't remember what you're talking about.
01:25 >> It was before the field goal.
01:28 Down near the goal line.
01:31 >> We played a lot of plays in the game, so I don't remember that.
01:35 >> The receiving corps is gonna look different after the trade deadline.
01:40 Your thoughts on that, and can somebody like Cedric step in and
01:44 give you guys a boost here in the second half of the season?
01:47 >> Yeah, I mean, obviously during this time, a lot of trades happened.
01:52 Yeah, it's always the next man up mentality.
01:55 We believe in the guy in our room to step up and make plays for us.
02:00 >> We haven't seen Cedric really since training camp and you've seen him practice.
02:05 What are your thoughts on how he's looking?
02:08 And do you feel like he's ready to step into a bigger role?
02:12 >> Yeah, I mean, since Cedric has gotten here,
02:14 I think his practice habits have been real good.
02:17 He's been looking at a lot of plays, especially in the jump ball situations.
02:22 He learns fast, he's diligent in his approach to the game,
02:26 to studying, and all those things.
02:28 So, I mean, it just has to translate to the game.
02:33 >> What was your feeling when DP Chang got traded, when you found out?
02:37 >> Yeah, I mean, again, the trades are just a part of the game.
02:42 I've been traded twice, so I know how the process is.
02:46 But yeah, I was obviously sad, we communicated about that.
02:50 I texted him, told him good luck and things like that.
02:54 I'm a miss him.
02:55 We went into battle together for a year and a half, so
03:00 I consider him my brother, so.
03:04 >> How challenging is that to get traded in those,
03:06 you were the Oakland Dallas?
03:07 >> It all depends on the person.
03:12 It all depends on the situation, the scenario.
03:17 Some guys look forward to that happening, they try to turn over a new lead.
03:23 They feel like they could be much better in a new situation.
03:27 So I would say it all depends on the circumstance.
03:30 >> But Martin, how much do you think the quarterback uncertainty has held back
03:35 this off?
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03:41 >> I don't know, that's a hard question to answer.
03:44 I don't, if I recall right off the bat, our record,
03:49 I don't know, I don't know.
03:51 >> 43.
03:52 >> No, I know, I know, I recognize that.
03:57 >> [LAUGH] >> With the shine now and
03:59 guys having to step in, I don't know.
04:02 I think we can definitely improve on the offensive side of the ball.
04:07 Overall, we've been turning the ball over a lot.
04:12 So I mean, regardless of who's back there, the goal is still the same.
04:16 Especially with number one, I'm not turning the ball over at all.
04:19 So I don't know.
04:20 That's my thought.
04:22 >> Amari, even with the shot in there for the games he's played,
04:26 you're the only receiver who has a touchdown.
04:28 I mean, one touchdown in seven games,
04:33 that's gotta be something you never saw coming.
04:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]
04:39 >> What? >> I mean, I would say as a receiver,
04:41 he won't be lighting up the scoreboard scoring every game.
04:44 But again, that's just not the way it's gonna be.
04:48 We've done a lot of great things on offense.
04:50 We've had a lot of successes in third down conversions, things of that nature,
04:53 first downs.
04:54 The drive don't always end with the receivers scoring, unfortunately.
05:01 >> So what's it like getting signed clubs from Randy Nelson?
05:04 What are you gonna do with them?
05:06 >> Sell them, no.
05:07 >> [LAUGH] >> And obviously keep them,
05:12 put them in my office at home, something like that, frame them.
05:16 Definitely gonna show them off.
05:19 >> Amari, when you look at Arizona, what do they present to you that's unique,
05:22 that makes it a challenging defense to pass against?
05:25 >> Yeah, I mean, from what I've seen, they're very opportunistic on defense.
05:30 They're always making plays in the pivot part of the game.
05:33 Even though they're, I believe, one of seven, they've been ahead in
05:40 almost every game that they've played, they've only not been ahead in one game.
05:44 So they're very competitive, and you see that from the defense.
05:48 They're making plays all over the field, keeping the team in the game.
05:53 So it's gonna present a challenge to us for sure.
05:57 There's gonna be a draw fight in the fourth quarter game, so
06:00 just gotta go out there and seize the moment.
06:02 >> It must be the tougher games when you're playing a team that doesn't have
06:06 a really good record, but when you actually watch the tape, they're playing hard,
06:10 they're playing well in a lot of respects, but without getting results.
06:14 >> Yeah, I mean, generally in those type of situations when a team isn't,
06:19 when a team is playing okay, but their record is not showing it,
06:24 you can kind of pinpoint those sudden failures.
06:30 It usually comes down to a couple plays in the game, but
06:33 it's just you didn't take advantage of the moment, and that's what I'm seeing.
06:36 So they can always just flip that switch on us, so we gotta be prepared for that.
06:42 >> He's clearly one of those stateless, you're always keeping an eye on him.
06:46 >> Yeah, 100%, I mean, he's a playmaker.
06:48 He has zero regard for his body, seems like.
06:53 But yeah, I've played him a couple times.
06:56 He's always making plays.
06:57 He's always all over the field, both in the run game and in the pass game.
07:01 Even when we disrupt the game, we allow him to.
07:04 So he's definitely one to look out for.
07:06 >> You guys preach taking care of the ball.
07:08 You guys preach taking care of the ball.
07:09 In practice for the offense, what does that look like for you guys when you
07:12 really wanna make sure you're not giving those turnovers over,
07:15 especially when you're preparing for the Cardinals?
07:17 >> You gotta drill it just like everything else.
07:19 We preach ball security, especially in the receiver role.
07:22 We say the ball security always starts after catching the ball.
07:25 So as soon as he catches the ball, we're cognizant of taking care of it until that
07:29 whistle is blown.
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