Amari Cooper Media Availability November 9, 2023
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Obviously, Ravens have the number one scoring defense.
00:17 What jumps out the most for you?
00:20 >> Everything, I mean, I feel like they have a complete defense.
00:23 Their D-line is extremely good.
00:25 Getting to the quarterback, their linebackers are fast, great overall players.
00:29 And their DBs are also good as well.
00:31 Some good physical safeties.
00:35 They do a lot of things with their defense that makes it a challenge.
00:38 So we just have to be able to hone in on our game plan, and I think we'll be fine.
00:43 >> How physical do these games get with the Ravens?
00:47 They seem to be one of the most physical teams you guys probably played this season.
00:52 >> Yeah, it's probably one of the best ways to describe their defense.
00:58 It's physical.
00:59 So we just have to go out there and be physical as well, like we always do.
01:05 It's gonna be a physical ball game.
01:06 We know that going into it, we just gotta stretch and call it a play.
01:11 >> What are those two deep connections that you had last week with Deshaun?
01:16 Do you feel like your guy's chemistry or whatever, going forward?
01:22 >> Yeah, I mean, as we know, Deshaun loves to throw that deep ball.
01:27 So it's obviously very beneficial to us to have a connection there.
01:32 The deep ball obviously flips the field,
01:36 gives us a great opportunity at not just scoring three, but six.
01:41 So it's really important.
01:43 >> I think it was important that last one, it was wanted and up and in time.
01:47 But that last test, it's important to get that video to show everybody
01:53 there's still a threat of going after that injury.
01:59 >> 100%, he went out there, he showed that he could throw the ball deep.
02:06 Yeah, I mean, just like how you said, I'm sure people were excited to see that.
02:12 They just wanna see him go out there and play like himself.
02:16 So that's what he did.
02:17 >> Kevin's talked about how he draws so much attention from the defense.
02:22 Have you noticed you're getting even more this year?
02:25 >> I started scenarios for sure.
02:29 I mean, it's just the nature of it.
02:33 Sometimes teams decide to double team you or give some extra attention to you.
02:39 And that's when other players have to step up.
02:43 And obviously, I believe we have the guys in the room to do it.
02:45 So it's not really a problem.
02:47 >> You still have big numbers despite that attention.
02:49 How are you able to kind of defeat that extra?
02:54 >> Just by really paying attention to what those guys are trying to do.
03:00 >> Come on.
03:01 >> [LAUGH] Pay attention to what those guys are trying to do.
03:05 Just go out there and just execute.
03:08 >> Marlon Humphrey didn't play in that first game.
03:10 How is that?
03:11 >> Mm-hm.
03:12 >> Big difference.
03:14 >> Yeah, obviously, it's a big difference.
03:15 I mean, Marlon is a pro bowl caliber player.
03:19 So he presents probably a little bit of a tougher challenge than the guys they had
03:24 playing the first game just because, I mean, he starts over those guys.
03:30 I actually know Marlon going all the way back to Bama.
03:32 So he's a tough opponent for sure.
03:36 >> So if you guys added the helmet deflection play to the playbook this week?
03:39 >> [LAUGH] It was already in the playbook.
03:43 That's the way we drew it up.
03:44 >> [LAUGH] >> It's been about me that,
03:49 your numbers are up.
03:51 I know DeShelby's out a few weeks, whatever.
03:53 But spreading the ball out to everybody, how important is that?
03:54 And do you think that's going to happen organically now that he's back?
03:58 >> Yeah, 100%.
03:59 I mean, obviously, that's a huge thing when it comes to offense,
04:03 spreading the ball around, getting everybody touches, confusing the defense.
04:08 I'm not giving them a point of reference of where the ball's gonna consistently go.
04:14 Just a great strategy overall for offense, that's for sure.
04:16 >> Have you seen more of a zip on Deshaun's ball as from last week into
04:21 this week's practice?
04:23 He's getting out there every day.
04:24 >> I mean, personally, my preference is for it to not have that much zip on it.
04:30 Just run my route, catch the ball, and get going.
04:33 So Deshaun actually throws a very catchable,
04:39 very comfortable ball, so take that how you want it.
04:44 I mean, it doesn't have a lot of zip on it for a reason.
04:50 I mean, it's easy for the receiver to catch that way.
04:53 >> Amare, is Deshaun the most aggressive quarterback you've played when it comes
04:57 to trying to push the ball down the field and kind of hunting default?
05:01 >> I would say so, yeah, 100%.
05:03 I mean, he's always looking for ways to throw the ball downfield.
05:08 And for the right reasons, obviously, one of those plays,
05:12 like I said before, it just puts you right in scoring range.
05:16 And so it's something that we obviously all the time talk about and
05:19 work on for sure.
05:20 >> In terms of how good his default is, you've played with some pretty good
05:24 quarterbacks, how does it rank for you?
05:26 [INAUDIBLE]
05:28 >> Thing number one, I mean,
05:30 that the one I caught last week when we were up 20, it was perfect.
05:34 It was right on the money.
05:37 I think I caught more perfect people than that.
05:40 So yeah, I'll put them up there.
05:42 >> Number one.
05:43 >> Karim said he wanted to thank you for falling down like this.
05:46 >> [LAUGH]
05:48 >> Yeah, he's been telling me how
05:52 generous I am to him, so I don't really plan on doing that much more.
05:58 >> Aside from getting Deshaun back,
06:00 how do you feel like this offense has grown since the last time you faced Baltimore?
06:05 >> Just resilience.
06:06 I would say no matter what the situation is in the game,
06:09 we just try to always play complimentary football.
06:13 Defense goes out there and they give up some points, which they seldomly do.
06:19 We try to go back out there and complement that by going out and scoring.
06:23 And then, yeah, just the resilience.
06:27 No matter what situation is presented to us,
06:31 we try to go out there and respond the best way we can.
06:35 >> Going back to training camp, you guys talked about being explosive in
06:38 the passing game.
06:38 Obviously, there's been some circumstances, but
06:41 do you still see that the passing game can be explosive on the defense?
06:46 >> Yeah, 100%.
06:47 I mean, we're not really even halfway through our games yet.
06:50 So it's November, December football.
06:54 A lot of things can and will change.
06:56 I think we're starting to hit our stride.
06:58 We're honing in on the pass game.
07:02 A lot of guys are up healthy, so I think so, 100%.
07:08 >> Were you a year or two ahead of him?
07:11 >> Two.
07:12 >> Two?
07:12 >> Did you guys match up in practice?
07:15 >> Yeah, he was a freshman, I was a junior.
07:17 We used to match up a lot, for sure.
07:19 >> Did you know he had NFL talent when you saw him the first time?
07:24 >> He was a freshman.
07:25 >> [LAUGH] >> Too much credit?
07:28 >> Yeah, he was a freshman.
07:29 I used to be picking on him a little bit, calling him a rookie and
07:33 stuff like that.
07:35 He was a lot more on the ball, obviously coming in as an 18 year old,
07:41 more so a track guy, but he got better as the years went on and
07:45 eventually worked his way up to becoming a first round pick.
07:47 And it was just part of the process of him being at Bama, learning how to come
07:52 save him, and getting better every day.
07:55 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:05 >> I mean, yeah, 100%.
08:15 I mean, as you can see, the division is playing pretty well.
08:19 It's a tough division.
08:22 Obviously, I feel like some of the best games and most memorable games for
08:27 me are the ones that you feel like you have a lot of line for.
08:30 So yeah, it's gonna be a good game, meaningful game.
08:35 We just gotta go out there and handle our business.
08:37 >> Cool, thanks.