FSU Football: Breaking down the emergence of Robert Cooper

Chop Chat’s Sam Tschida looks at why FSU football sophomore defensive tackle Robert Cooper is having a major breakout start to the season in 2019.

Through the first four games, the FSU football defense has been less than stellar. Ranked 98th in defensive efficiency according to Bill Connelly’s SP+, there have not been a whole lot of bright spots on this year’s defense.

However, the defensive line, despite the woes of the rest of the defense, has been nothing short of elite so far this season. After an okay performance against Boise to open the season, the interior defensive line has balled out in every single game since the opener. The two biggest stars are inarguably junior Marvin Wilson and redshirt sophomore Corey Durden, who was both projected to have a dominating season. Both Wilson and Durden have combined for 35 tackles, 7.5 of which have gone for a loss, and 6.5 sacks.

This all in just four games.

However, despite his two counterparts receiving most of the attention, sophomore Robert Cooper has quietly been having a breakout campaign in his second year at FSU. The former high-level four-star from south Georgia came into FSU last year as a backup behind both Demarcus Christmas and Fred Jones, both of whom had a stellar season. Playing in only six games, he tallied ten total tackles with 0.5 going for a loss.

This season, Cooper has started every game at Nose Tackle in the ‘Noles new 3-4 defense and plays the weak-side defensive tackle when the ‘Noles switch back to a four-man front. Through the first few games, Cooper has not only done well but absolutely excelled, grading out as the highest-rated player for the Seminoles against Louisville according to PFF. He currently has 14 total tackles with 2 TFLs, in just four games. So what has made Cooper such a dominant player this season? Let’s look at the tape.

In the 3-4 defense, the primary role of the nose tackle is eating up double teams and allow the linebackers to roam unblocked. When the NT is in a one-on-one situation, they are normally in a position to make the play. This means that stats do not always reflect how good a player is, but the film always does.

Here, Cooper is at NT against UVA, shaded to the center’s left shoulder. He sheds the center and is too quick for the right guard, getting immediate pressure on Bryce Perkins.

Obviously, he doesn’t make the play, but against a quarterback that doesn’t possess the scrambling ability of Perkins, that play is a sack. Cooper’s quickness and power are why he makes such a good play here, and that burst is not something we saw last year.

Another great play we can see by Cooper is here against Louisville. Coop is in a ‘1’ technique (between the guard and center) in a 3-4 look.

Although he wasn’t the first player to the ballcarrier, the pressure up the middle would’ve assuredly stopped the running back in his tracks. Cooper does a fantastic job of quickly shredding the down block and making the stop, one of his many great plays on the day.

These are just two of many examples of Robert Cooper doing a great job this season. Although he hasn’t been unblockable by any means, the ‘TrenchMonster’ is having himself a nice start to the season and has been integral to the defensive-line domination.