Jonathan Cooper Plans To Bring A 'Nasty Side' To Patriots Offensive Line
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Bill Belichick has acquired and coached many talented offensive linemen throughout his Patriots tenure, but the common thread among the very best to line up to protect Tom Brady has been the nasty side. The intensity. The attitude. A level of toughness that sets them apart from the rest.
Recently retired former All-Pro guard Logan Mankins is the leader in the clubhouse in that department. On today's line, Bryan Stork certainly brings an "I will eat you alive" mentality to every snap. Matt Light wasn't necessarily "nasty" like Mankins was, but certainly got in guys' faces whenever the situation called for it - like that mini-brawl against the Broncos in the 2011 AFC Divisional Round.
The Patriots offensive line, which got manhandled and ultimately proved the team's downfall in the AFC Championship Game at Mile High, could certainly use some extra talent, but there's no question they could use more of an edge. New addition Jonathan Cooper says he brings that to the table.
"I do have that and it's one of those things that you learn that when you're bigger than everybody," Cooper said in a conference call with reporters when asked if he has a "nasty side" as part of his mental approach. "When you're younger you should be gentle, be nice, and it's one of those things that you kind of have to learn that it's nothing personal. It's just business.
"So when you finish somebody at the whistle at the end of a play, it's nothing personal. It's within the rulebooks. But it's just those little things that kind of show like, 'He's nasty, you don't really want to mess with him.' I do feel like I have that."
Clearly, Cooper has seen The Godfather. Nothing personal when I pancake you to the ground (sometimes, hopefully), it's strictly business. He isn't necessarily just "saying what you want to hear" with the comments about his tendency to show some nastiness from time to time. Cooper's NFL Draft Profile in 2013 said he "flashes some attitude when challenged."
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Unfortunately, some in the local Cardinals media questioned Cooper's toughness, drive, and dedication as he fought through multiple injuries in the first three seasons of his career. A 2014 story reads Cooper "looked nervous and unsure of himself" in training camp.
Coach Bruce Arians seemed particularly hard on Cooper publicly when speaking to the media. Where Belichick might simply say "That's between me and the player," Arians said things like "If [Cooper] was one of the best players, it'd be different. He hasn't shown that he's one of the best players."
Where the Patriots and their fans hope Arians is right is when he said in the same story, "[Cooper]'s gotten a lot better than he was ... and I think he has a great future as long as he continues to improve the way he's improving." When Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer caught wind of those questioning Cooper's desire, he said "I'm shocked to hear that ... I never thought it had anything to do with desire at all. That's not what I've witnessed.
"I've seen a guy that works hard, that wants it, is frustrated with himself if he makes mistakes, frustrated with the injuries that he's been through. But I would never label him that way. I would just say he's had a handful of injuries that are difficult to overcome, get past and move on."
Hopefully, for the sake of the Patriots, the injuries are the only real obstacle that has kept Cooper from realizing his full potential. Durability could also be an issue, but it is for just about any offensive lineman. Not everyone can pull a Mankins and just play on a torn ACL.
Based on the reports out of Arizona throughout his Cardinals career, Cooper has struggled with his confidence but not necessarily his drive or commitment to the game. He just needs a healthy offseason and normal training camp, which he pretty much has not yet had in his career, to prove what he can really do.
If Cooper can make it to the start of the 2016 season healthy in New England, he'll have a chance to show why he was the seventh overall pick in 2013. And if he does, hopefully, he brings a little of the nasty too. The Patriots line desperately needs it.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
