GREEN BAY – Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper played 71 of 72 defensive snaps on Sunday at Minnesota, by far the largest workload of his young career.
He certainly made it count, recording 10 tackles, including four for loss, helping hold Minnesota's running game in check.
Dispensing with the details of each play because the focus is solely on Cooper, here in chronological order is the highlight reel of his work against the run. He proved to be an equal opportunity defender when it came to which blocker couldn't handle his speed and quickness.
But then, if Cooper was so effective against the run, how come he wasn't able to record a sack or QB hit for the Packers' pass rush? Stay tuned after the run-defense clips for that answer.
Play No. 1: Unblocked, athletic tackle
Play No. 2: Too quick for TE Josh Oliver (84)
Play No. 3: One false step by LG Blake Brandel (64)
Play No. 4: Too shifty for LT Cam Robinson (74) and gets the first hit
Play No. 5: Too much speed for C Garrett Bradbury (56)
Play No. 6: Pure speed as backside pursuit
Play No. 7: Another false step by Bradbury
So what about the pass rush then? As the Packers know all too well, RB Aaron Jones (33) is a stalwart in pass protection, and he was the one guy whose block Cooper couldn't beat. Here are three examples, beginning with the second defensive snap of the game. Talk about a collision sport.
Play No. 8
Play No. 9
Play No. 10
