BOBCAT CATCH-UP: Roger Cooper
7/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Roger Cooper is fast.
Montana State’s middle linebacker is fast no matter what qualifier is put on it. He’s fast for a linebacker, fast for a big guy, he’s football fast – which is in evidence every time he’s on the field – and he’s track fast – he was a Washington state champion hurdler in high school. Cooper is fast enough to attract the interest of NFL scouts long before his senior season has begun, and he’s used his speed to his advantage, earning preseason All-America honors this year.
As fast as he is, Cooper says there’s no question in his mind when he is at his fastest. “When I’m chasing the person with the ball,” Cooper says with a smile, “that’s the fastest I ever run.”
Cooper and the Bobcat coaching staff believe he’ll be even faster this year. “Moving Coop back to the Sam (linebacker position and out of the middle, where he played last year) will afford a smooth, stylish athlete even more opportunities to get out and run and react,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “He can really run. And this will let him do that.”
The mental image that most Bobcat fans will always retain of Cooper – other than him hurdling players during an interception return -- is that of him stalking a helpless, unsuspecting ball carrier from behind like a lion chasing a wildebeest on the African plains. Cooper said that process is instinctual. “As soon as I locate the ball, something just happens inside,” he said. “There are people that run faster 40s than me, but I see myself run past them on the way to the ball.”
Cooper, too, is excited about the move back to the Sam linebacker position, an outside spot. “I think Sam is a better fit for me,” he said. “I get to lock up the tight end and go off the edge in pass rush or pursuit.”
An instrumental cog in MSU’s runs to the Big Sky Conference title the past two seasons, Cooper enters his senior season somewhat out of his comfort zone. “It was very comfortable in the huddle to look around and see Jon Montoya and Kane Ioane, see people we all respect and trust. That helped us as a defense.”
As a result, Cooper’s role will grow this year. “I think I need to step into more of a leadership role this year,” he said. “We have some great leaders, Beau Clark and Ray Sebestyen are seniors. I need to come into my own more. I won’t be as vocal as some other guys, but I can be as good a leader by the example of how I play.”
Montana State’s middle linebacker is fast no matter what qualifier is put on it. He’s fast for a linebacker, fast for a big guy, he’s football fast – which is in evidence every time he’s on the field – and he’s track fast – he was a Washington state champion hurdler in high school. Cooper is fast enough to attract the interest of NFL scouts long before his senior season has begun, and he’s used his speed to his advantage, earning preseason All-America honors this year.
As fast as he is, Cooper says there’s no question in his mind when he is at his fastest. “When I’m chasing the person with the ball,” Cooper says with a smile, “that’s the fastest I ever run.”
Cooper and the Bobcat coaching staff believe he’ll be even faster this year. “Moving Coop back to the Sam (linebacker position and out of the middle, where he played last year) will afford a smooth, stylish athlete even more opportunities to get out and run and react,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “He can really run. And this will let him do that.”
The mental image that most Bobcat fans will always retain of Cooper – other than him hurdling players during an interception return -- is that of him stalking a helpless, unsuspecting ball carrier from behind like a lion chasing a wildebeest on the African plains. Cooper said that process is instinctual. “As soon as I locate the ball, something just happens inside,” he said. “There are people that run faster 40s than me, but I see myself run past them on the way to the ball.”
Cooper, too, is excited about the move back to the Sam linebacker position, an outside spot. “I think Sam is a better fit for me,” he said. “I get to lock up the tight end and go off the edge in pass rush or pursuit.”
An instrumental cog in MSU’s runs to the Big Sky Conference title the past two seasons, Cooper enters his senior season somewhat out of his comfort zone. “It was very comfortable in the huddle to look around and see Jon Montoya and Kane Ioane, see people we all respect and trust. That helped us as a defense.”
As a result, Cooper’s role will grow this year. “I think I need to step into more of a leadership role this year,” he said. “We have some great leaders, Beau Clark and Ray Sebestyen are seniors. I need to come into my own more. I won’t be as vocal as some other guys, but I can be as good a leader by the example of how I play.”
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