Productive tight end made Pro Bowl in his last two full seasons
ASHBURN – The interview ended and Chris Cooley did, well, what Chris Cooley does. Which means something a little different. This time it involved shaving off the stubble on his face as part of a promotion, surrounded by cameras. Another time in camp he helped a fan with a marriage proposal.
But the Cooley that Washington needs him to be is the one he was on the field for his first six seasons. That’s before a broken ankle ended his season after seven games in 2009. And while Fred Davis emerged in his absence, it must be noted that Cooley made the Pro Bowl in 2007 and ’08. And in a dreadful season he was on pace for more than 64 catches when he was hurt.
“It was very hard for me to sit out and watch last year,” Cooley said. “I can’t wait to get out and start playing.”
Nor can the Redskins wait to see him this season. With major questions at receiver, aside from Santana Moss, Washington needs receiving threats. Cooley and Davis can offset some of the problems because they’re both dangerous. And Washington plans to incorporate both into the game plan. Just remember: Mike Shanahan’s credo is to maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses.
Davis and Cooley can be in the game at the same time serving as blockers in the run game — both have improved in this area. Davis and Cooley could be the best tight end tandem in the NFL; both could catch more than 50 passes.
“Both of us have proven that we can catch the ball,” Cooley said. “It makes us very versatile … . Defenses will have to guess.”
And offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said, “They’re all interchangeable. It’s ‘What’s the best matchups?'”
Usually that best matchup at tight end will involve Cooley. And Cooley knows what Mike Shanahan can do with a tight end, having watched Shannon Sharpe as a young Denver fan. He doesn’t remember specifics; he does remember watching the Broncos win.
“To sit down and talk to Mike Shanahan for the first time was kind of cool,” he said. ‘”I was in awe a little bit.”
He wasn’t in awe of himself Sunday, criticizing his practice performance with good reason. He dropped four passes, but came out a day later and was much more sound.
“That’s what you want; you want guys that are critical of themselves,” Mike Shanahan said. “You want guys that expect perfection from themselves.”
