Dallas Cowboys: Amari Cooper found success against Jalen Ramsey in 2020
The Dallas Cowboys are no longer playing football this season, but there are still some very intriguing games set to be played this weekend. As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs, many are talking about how well Rams […]
The Dallas Cowboys are no longer playing football this season, but there are still some very intriguing games set to be played this weekend.
As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs, many are talking about how well Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey matches up with Packers receiver Davante Adams.
Ramsey has cemented himself as one of the elite defensive backs in all of football since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected the Florida State product fifth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft — one pick after the Cowboys drafted running back Ezekiel Elliott. Ramsey starred for the Jags, and he is now starring in L.A.
On the flip side, Davante Adams is having a career season as Aaron Rodgers' go-to target. The All-Pro wideout has hauled in 115 passes for 1,374 yards and a whopping 18(!) touchdowns on the year. Regardless of who Adams has lined up against, he has largely torched his opponents.
That makes Saturday's battle between two of the best in the world that much more fascinating. The Rams, led by Ramsey and All-World defensive tackle Aaron Donald, are tops in the league in scoring defense, while the Packers are leading the league in scoring offense.
Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper had most success against Ramsey in 2020.
Amari Cooper has established himself as one of the league's premier receivers. That has especially been the case since the Alabama product arrived to the Dallas Cowboys in a midseason trade back in 2018. Cooper gave Dak Prescott a legitimate go-to target, taking the Cowboys passing attack to another level.
Cooper posted perhaps his best season yet in 2020 — despite playing with four different quarterbacks through the season due to injuries. The Pro Bowl wideout grabbed 92 passes for 1,114 yards and five scores, and he stepped up in a big way for the Cowboys after Prescott went down in week five.
The Dallas Cowboys matched up with the Los Angeles Rams in the season opener, pitting Cooper against Ramsey on a Sunday Night Football broadcast. While Ramsey did not solely defend Cooper in week one — he also guarded Michael Gallup in the game, including on a play with some controversy — the two talents went at each other on several occasions.
Cooper grabbed seven catches for 57 yards against Ramsey this season, good for an average of more than eight yards per reception. Though Cooper did not find the end zone in the game, he gave Ramsey some fits.
Last year, Ramsey said that what Cooper has done since arriving in Dallas is "elite". That is significant praise from one of the best players in the entire league.
According to Pro Football Focus, Amari Cooper recorded the most catches and the most yards against Jalen Ramsey in 2020. Here are other notable wideouts that went against the Rams corner in 2020:
- Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs — one catch, four yards, one touchdown
- Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (two games) — five catches, 48 yards
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans — four catches, 40 yards
Now, this speaks to how impressive Jalen Ramsey is. Ramsey is the definition of a lockdown defensive back and one of the primary reasons why some are giving the Rams a chance at upsetting the Packers this weekend.
There is a large section of the Dallas Cowboys fan base that is still upset about the team passing on the star defensive back in favor of Elliott back in 2016. Each of the player's performances in 2020 only strengthens the argument that the Cowboys made a mistake. Teams are putting more of an emphasis on throwing the football than ever before, making a player of Ramsey's caliber extremely valuable.
Amari Cooper has established himself as one of the elite talents at the wide receiver position, and his production against Jalen Ramsey is yet another data point that backs that up.
Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
