Cooley Got Offense Going In First Half

HailttRedskins · Oct 15, 2007

Link: http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=30244

It was an early season question mark for the Redskins' offense: Why wasn't Chris Cooley more involved?

Last year, Cooley was the team's leading receiver, but through four games this season he had just 10 catches--three for touchdowns--for 80 yards.

Against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Cooley was in a rhythm early with Jason Campbell. In the first half, Cooley logged seven catches for 97 yards as the Redskins opened up a 14-7 lead.

Cooley finished with a career-high nine catches for 105 yards and one touchdown. It was the fourth consecutive game that Cooley has a touchdown catch.

In the second half, the Packers worked to limit Cooley and the Redskins' offense started to stall. With Cooley locked up, Campbell struggled to get the ball to receivers on downfield routes.

Green Bay pulled out the win 17-14 at Lambeau Field.

"We didn't run as many plays and we didn't sustain many drives [in the second half], and that's what allows you to make more catches and more plays," Cooley said.

Added Campbell: "Chris did an outstanding job in the first half of making plays for us. He is an outstanding player. I don't know what happened in the second half--maybe we didn't convert enough third downs so that we would have had the ball more."

Cooley figured to have a big game against Green Bay.

The Packers had struggled against mobile tight ends this season, as evidenced by the Oct. 7 game versus Chicago when Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen combined for seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooley got off to a strong start against the Packers. As Campbell's top target, he finished the first quarter with four catches for 55 yards, including a 28-yard reception that set up the Redskins' first touchdown.

The Redskins had moved to the Packers' 31-yard line and Campbell dropped back to pass on first down. Campbell had excellent pass protection as he waited several seconds for a receiver to get open.

He finally found Chris Cooley wide open along the left sideline. Cooley caught the pass and ran into open space. He was pulled down from behind at Green Bay's 3-yard line by linebacker Nick Barnett One play later, Campbell scrambled six yards for a touchdown.

Late in the first half, the Redskins were on the move again. Campbell continued to pass in Cooley's direction, completing a 16-yard pass and a 12-yard pass to the 6-3, 247-pound tight end to move the ball deep into Packers' territory.

Then, on 3rd-and-9 at the Packers' 14-yard line, Campbell threw to Cooley running an out pattern to the left. Cooley hauled in the pass just as he crossed the goal line, two steps in front of his nearest defender.

The Redskins' first-half success could not be sustained, though, as Cooley caught just two passes for eight yards in the second half.
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Cooley Got Offense Going In First Half

HailttRedskins I Still Say Redskins

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Cooley Got Offense Going In First Half

HailttRedskins I Still Say Redskins

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