Riley Cooper vs. Marvin McNutt duel is taking shape at WR for Eagles...

As Citizen Brizer the great Gate Keeper himself has written, and I paraphrase, don't expect much revelation if any to come out of the Eagles' rookie camp this weekend... for not much will be revealed. It is basically a preliminary set of physicals to be passed and paperwork to be filled out--- and a variety of chalkboard sessions, followed by observations of how well the newbies are able to line up in the correct position when the instructors call out signalled formations.

The real drama is still behind the scenes.

One of those dramatic conflicts is very much involved around young veteran wideout/special teams performer Riley Cooper and the perceived challenge of rookie draftee Marvin McNutt...


Marvin McNutt ,6-4, 215, Iowa, with 170 career college receptions for 2861 yards and 28 TD's total, has more actual receiving experience than Cooper...and slightly better speed. McNutt could win Riley Cooper's WR position based on "big play" ability alone...


Riley Cooper, 6-3, 222, Florida, and still only 24 years of age, solid on special teams and caught 7 passes as a rookie and then had 16 receptions in 2011 with one for a TD. Cooper has NFL ability. He has ideal size. He runs pretty well. He is a solid special teams player. Cooper must make a serious jump this season and show that he has more than just potential. He has made some highlight-type catches, but has also had bad drops.


To be completely fair, you have to give credit to Cooper (above) for his love of football... since his best sport is probably baseball. Cooper was actually drafted by the Phillies in 2009... and later recruited by the Texas Rangers as he insisted on sticking with football.

However the wide receiver competition shakes out, it won't be settled at rookie camp this weekend.  The first thing Marvin McNutt will have to learn in the NFL is how to run the complete Route Tree.

If you want to play receiver in this league, you have to be able to run every route in the game plan.

Where do routes break? McNutt needs to learn this stuff (Cooper already does know it)....Before we get into the actual routes, we need to know where and when the WR is going to break. And outside of the 3-step game (Slant, Flat), every route breaks at a depth of 12-15 yards. Why is that important?--- Double moves. If you are playing defensive back and see the WR stutter his feet at a depth of 8-yards, expect him to get vertical up the field—because there isn’t a route that breaks at 8-yards. However, remember one very important detail: if the WR doesn’t break his route between a depth of 12-15 yards, you better open your hips and run---because that WR is running straight down the field.

Making it simple…

Flat (1) Think Slant-Flat, Curl-Flat, Flat-7. It is the one route that will show up consistently in combination concepts. You will get it out of the backfield, plus from a No.1 WR with a reduced split and a No.2 aligned inside of the numbers.

Slant (2) You see it at the high school level on Friday nights and on Sunday in the NFL because it is the top 3-step concept in any playbook. Look for a wide split (outside of the numbers) and vs. a 3x1 formation. The ideal, quick Cover 1 (man-free) beater.

Comeback (3) One of the tougher throws in the NFL when it is run at a deep depth (15-yards). We will see it vs. Cover 1 and it is the only route (outside of the fade or 9 route) where a WR aligns wide (outside of the numbers) with a hard outside vertical release.

Curl (4) The curl route is simple, yet it is essential for working vs. off-man coverage and zone based defenses. Stem hard up the field and break back downhill to the QB. There is a reason defenses have “curl to flat” zone players in Cover 3 and Cover 4—because you have to stop this route.

Out (5) Again, similar to the comeback, the deep out is route we use to judge NFL QBs. Can they make that throw? Look for the WR to align inside of the numbers or on top of the numbers at the widest. You need to create room to run this route.

Dig (6) The classic intermediate to deep inside breaking route in the NFL. Mike Martz made it big (sometimes at a depth of 20-plus yards) when he was the coach of the Rams with Isaac Bruce and we see it today in multiple combinations. Get a vertical stem up the numbers from the WR and break it across the middle vs. any coverage.

Corner (7) The top route we see vs. Tampa 2 defenses as it puts stress on both the corner sinking and the deep half safety. And, just like the comeback and the out, you must create room to work for the WR. Can’t run the 7 route from outside of the numbers—because the WR will run out of bounds.

Post (8) We will see the “Skinny Post” (or “Bang 8”) on Sundays, but the basic post route is a concept that allows a WR to win vs. man-coverage as he works to the deep middle of the field. A big play waiting to happen when you work vs. a FS that doesn’t have discipline in his drop and depth.

Fade (9) The ultimate deep ball. The “go route” is in every NFL playbook when you want to win a one-on-one matchup down the field. And just like we said above, when you get an outside vertical release vs. a WR aligned outside of the numbers, you either get the comeback or a shot down the field.

Elite receivers can produce in the entire Route Tree. This will be the real test for Marvin McNutt. His real competition will be himself as he takes on the learning curve in rookie camp this weekend. Riley Cooper has already survived at least that much. Perhaps it may turn out that Cooper's special teams skills can coexist with McNutt's playmaking ability if somehow Marvin can prove himself over the next few months as worthy of that fourth wideout spot in the depth chart... Keeping both McNutt and Cooper---that would be a happy ending where everyone wins. But don't count on it.