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The Denver Broncos defense has done well against Oakland Raiders star wide receiver Amari Cooper in six games against him, allowing just 17 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. That amounts to just 3 catches for 26 yards a game.
Despite Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden suggesting they will need to get Cooper the ball more, he should take a look instead at Martavis Bryant tape.
“If we had more first downs in the second half and had more time of possession, perhaps we would’ve seen more of Cooper,” Gruden said. “But you look at the film, we had him wide open deep (on one play). We didn’t go there. He was open a couple of times and for whatever reason, we didn’t go that route. Yeah, we want to get him going. That’s easier said than done.”
Bryant has played against this Broncos defense when it was at its best in 2015. Twice. In two games in 2015, Bryant torched that historic “No Fly Zone” for 19 catches for 241 yards in those two games. That’s some serious credentials against one of the best units in NFL history.
The Broncos defense will already have its hands full with tight end Jared Cook, which could open things up for Bryant. The Broncos defense should keep Cooper under wraps with the same guy they always keep him under control with, but find a way to stop Bryant from having himself a big game.
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