Robert Cooper is one of the more technical fighters I’ve seen in this draft class. Florida State ran a multiple scheme front where he was asked to play as both a 3-tech defensive tackle and a 1-tech nose tackle, and I think that he’s capable of playing both but best suited for a nose tackle at the NFL level due to his size and lack of mobility. Doesn’t perform too well as a 0-tech – much better suited in a gap.
HT: 6021
WT: 335
Year: Super Senior
High School: South Gwinnett (Snellville, GA)
Rating: 4-star (0.9482)
Robert Cooper scouting notes
Pros:
- Flashes some excellent lateral quickness.
- Great lower body strength to help create a drive back to the quarterback.
- Has a good, not great, first step.
- Fairly explosive athlete.
- Doesn’t consistently demand a double team. He can contain it well when they double him.
- When he drew double teams, mostly from teams scheming to hit a gap with two blockers, he showed a solid ability to get off and impact that gap.
- Uses long arms to create space and disengage. A very technical hand fighter and has a plan going into every rep. He does a great job neutralizing the blocker and appears to have a plan developed for every game.
- He works well off blocks to make tackles. Solid in this regard.
- Solid gap defender. Has the ability to blow up plays in gaps.
- Very instinctive player who is seasoned and has seen a lot of football.
- Has the ability to get into the pocket.
- Interesting teammate. Built a special relationship with Mike Norvell and the coaching staff at Florida State as a leader on the team.
Cons:
- He is not a particularly great athlete – he won’t work to the boundary consistently. He will be relatively average in his position group at the next level.
- Not as strong in his upper body as you’d expect. Dominated talent that isn’t to the NFL level, but overall struggled against NFL-level players.
- Hands and arms could be stronger.
- Not going to be much of a pursuit player outside of the tackles.
