Breaking Down Amari Cooper's Early-Season Success

Alabama junior Amari Cooper entered the season as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the nation and even debuted at No. 6 overall on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board (insider subscription required). 

Despite the preseason hype, few could have predicted the record-setting start to Cooper's 2014 campaign. 

Through two games, Cooper has hauled in 25 passes for 319 yards and one touchdown in Alabama's victories over West Virginia and Florida Atlantic. 

At his current pace, Cooper looks like a good bet to leave early for the 2015 NFL draft, so let's take a look at what he has done to establish himself as one of the top prospects and what weaknesses may still hold him back from living up to the current hype at the next level.

Footwork at the Line of Scrimmage

Cooper doesn't have elite breakaway speed, but his quick feet allow him to create separation at the line of scrimmage. 

Take a look at this play against West Virginia in which Cooper uses his footwork to shake press coverage from Mountaineers sophomore cornerback Daryl Cooper. 

Credit: DraftBreakdown.com

Blocking Skills

An underrated aspect of Cooper's game is his ability to contribute without the ball in his hands. 

Poor blocking skills rarely factor into a wide receiver's scouting report these days, but a receiver like Cooper can certainly elevate his stock by putting forth a quality effort to contribute as a blocker. 

As Matt Waldman alludes to in the tweet below, Cooper is still refining his blocking skills, but the effort and willingness to deliver a big hit is already there—and that's half the battle with skill-position players. 

Inconsistent Hands

The biggest concern in Cooper's game is his hands, which have already been an issue this season with a dropped pass in the end zone against Florida Atlantic. 

While Cooper has showed a knack for coming down with some acrobatic catches, it's often the easy ones that bite him—an issue which may indicate a lack of focus.

Cooper's shaky hands were on display last year at the Sugar Bowl, as he let a potential first down bounce off his hands in the third quarter. 

Credit: DraftBreakdown.com

Limited Physical Tools

Much of Cooper's success is due to his technical skills rather than his raw physical talent. As a result, it's fair to wonder if he may already be near his ceiling.

Cooper is listed at 6'1", 210 pounds—certainly not small, but far from the size NFL teams prefer in No. 1 receivers. 

To make matters worse for Cooper, he lacks the breakaway speed to make up for his limited size. While he has made some plays after the catch this season, a closer look at those runs, such as the one highlighted below, shows how he greatly benefited from blocking and poor defense.

On this particular play, Cooper catches the ball with roughly a seven-yard cushion from the nearest defender and has a block already in place. While the play went for 24 yards and significantly boosted his yards after the catch, it's tough to give Cooper any credit for the play.

These modest physical tools can certainly be overcome, and many of the game's most productive receivers have similar measurements to Cooper. But it is worth noting that the vast majority of top-10 picks are blessed with the size-speed combination of guys such as Julio Jones or A.J. Green, and Cooper will never be confused with those types of receivers. 

Where Does His Draft Stock Stand?

Despite the fact that he's not a perfect prospect, Cooper clearly has starter potential. A high-end comparison for Cooper would be potential Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, while a more modest evaluation might compare him Greg Jennings. 

Either way, Cooper has a bright future, and his impressive start has certainly caught the attention of any NFL personnel who hadn't already been tuned in to his performance for the Crimson Tide. 

Cooper appears to be headed toward a consensus first-round grade, with a mid-second-round landing spot likely being on the floor for his draft stock, barring any injuries or off-field issues in the coming months.