Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals Preview: Key Matchups
By Austin Gayle
August 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs with the football against the St. Louis Rams during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Amari Cooper vs. Patrick Peterson
Raiders first-round pick Amari Cooper entered the league with the expectations of performing well early in his career and bringing a franchise back to relevance. While he has yet to disappoint throughout both training camp and the preseason, he will experience his hardest test yet against Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Peterson is an aggressive playmaker with great size and speed for the cornerback position. He prides himself in being an elite man-coverage corner, as he performs well in both press coverage and when he plays off the line of scrimmage.
Though Peterson has experience playing at a high level in this league, Cooper still has enough talent to put on a show against the four-time Pro Bowl defensive back. It will most likely not be as one-sided as the matchup between Williams and Arizona’s interior offensive line, but I believe Cooper will get the best of Peterson if he remains confident in his ability.
Next: Key Matchups: DJ Hayden Vs. Larry Fitzgerald