Amari Cooper vs Marcus Peters: The new rivalry

August 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders tackle Donald Penn (72) during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at O.co Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Surrounding Factors

A big part of why Peters has so many interceptions and passes defensed is the Chiefs’ pass-rush. Peters often jumps short routes because he knows his pass-rush will get there to cut the time down for longer routes to develop. This is why Peters struggles against route-runners that can hit him with double-moves.

Peters is a physical, bump-and-run corner at the line of scrimmage but he isn’t the fastest corner in the world. So fast receivers are also able to blow by him with their speed but that takes time too. That’s time the Chiefs pass doesn’t usually allow opposing teams to have as they are among the league’s leaders in sacks and pressures.

But this Sunday, they play against a Raiders offensive line that’s tied for the best in the NFL in sacks allowed. They are also among the best in the NFL in pressures allowed so Cooper can get those routes with double-moves off. One thing that helped Slay against Cooper is that he always had help over the top as they were in cover-2.

The Chiefs may be a little reluctant to run too much cover-2 with the game running back Latavius Murray had against them last year. Murray had four carries for 112 yards with two TDs, one of them a 90-yarder. So the Chiefs may want to keep a safety in the box because a big running play is the outcome defenses least want.

And we have to remember that Derek Carr, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL already in year two, is throwing him the ball. One thing no corner can do is stop an accurate pass that’s thrown on time. And that is something the Carr has made a habit of doing with Cooper all season long.

Next: Advantage Cooper