RobHowe
Administrator
Cooper DeJean Ready for Bigger Role in '22
Iowa's Sophomore Defensive Back Can Be Versatile Contributor
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Cooper DeJean Ready for Bigger Role in '22
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MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
He may be that surprise player that develops the season that at the end of the season will be a known commodity. Can't wait to see him progress and play.
I think we are just lucky he grew up where he did. If he was from a big school and went to all those camps he'd have been a crazy high recruit. Not that we may not have still gotten him but the competition woulda been no less fierce than what it was for XN.
How to best use him is the only question. I agree i would find a package of plays even if it's just a small # of them to get him on the field on O. Put him in jet sweep motion, wildcat QB something. Give defenses something to think about. The thought that we have a weapon and probably won't use him is just par for the Ferentz course
If he is not on D, he is being replaced by 4* TJ Hall, someone with starting experience like Jemari Harris, or highly-regarded players Sebastian Castro or Reggie Bracy. We probably don't lose that much by taking him out of the defensive lineup.
Who knows what the WR availability will look like in Week 1, but there is a chance we might show up with only 1-2 scholarship receivers available. The only way you can run a functional offense with so few receiving threats is if you have multiple running threats in the backfield. KF has never shown the willingness to get so creative on offence, but they already have a wildcat package in place (we saw it a fair amount 2 years ago). If you put DeJean as the point man, with 2 of your talented RBs on the field at the same time, you can create a lot of dilemma for the D.
If they try to run our standard offense with Petras under center and walkon WRs on the outside, it will be like getting into a fight with one arm tied behind your back. EVERY TEAM will man-up on the outside and simply blitz us into submission, and we won't have any recourse. I am probably catastrophizing the situation, but this is what I see in my game 1 nightmares.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I don't think we should get too panicky on the WR as it sounds like guys are coming back off injury this week. I think there are options there and in any event, its not like DeJean could just pick up the playbook and be a WR in a week anyway. Its a bit too late to switch positions this late into Fall camp.
I would be fine with inserting him into a few gimmick plays, but I would rather see Labbas in there running some read option to see what sort of playmaker he might be.
I believe DeJean will be playing a lot on defense and also getting reps as a returner, so not sure Iowa should be stretching him into the offense as well. Injuries are going to happen on D too, so we need depth and talent there. I think this kid is right where he should be.
I would be fine with inserting him into a few gimmick plays, but I would rather see Labbas in there running some read option to see what sort of playmaker he might be.
I believe DeJean will be playing a lot on defense and also getting reps as a returner, so not sure Iowa should be stretching him into the offense as well. Injuries are going to happen on D too, so we need depth and talent there. I think this kid is right where he should be.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
He does have some QB experience from HS which helps tremendously if they want to run a few options out of that wildcat.
And unlike Goodson with that experience could be asked on to actually throw the ball. I don't remember Goodson ever having done that as many times as he took direct snaps
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
That was exactly my point. It seems when teams line up in the wildcat or whatever they call it, the player just ends up running 90% of the time. That is why I never understood it. Defenses key on the runner and take that guy out as the first responsibility. I would think it would be more effective if a few other plays, including passes, is run out of it. Keep the defenses guessing a bit more.
Bruce was also a HS QB and could run the wildcat, but he might be our only available scholarship receiver, so I wouldn't risk him. My guess is one of the Williams could run point, as well. I anticipate times this year when we will not be able to throw the ball at all, and we need to have something we can insert as a changeup (.e.g. multiple, legitimate running options with backfield misdirection and a smidge of option-football).
Only one pass in the highlights, but it's a beaut:
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Cooper DeJean | #Swarm21 | Highlights
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He's accurate with those touch passes down the field. Exactly the opposite of what Petras is for the most part. But yeah he's like Michael Vick when he was in college. Just looks like he's 2 levels faster than his competition.
If our starting receivers are healthy I think they're actually pretty darn good. The only way out passing game will suck bad is if they're hurt or Petras sucks it up. I guess the oline might suck too.
SmokeTownHawk
Well-Known Member
Wonder how his speed compares to Tim Dwight? From what people have been talking about with Cooper with the WR room a bit thin with injuries, I'd like to see him get some snaps @ WR.
Dwight ran 10.2 in high school (equivalent to about 10.44 FAT); he ran 10.31 FAT in college.
DeJean ran 10.71 FAT in high school. They both long-jumped close to 24'. DeJean is substantially bigger (height and weight).
Yeah Dwight was like 5'8 180ish at Iowa. DeJean is 6'1 210ish. He's just starting to develop into the athlete he'll be I think. If he stays healthy look out.
