By John Sarianides

The Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth round pick (#118) from the New Orleans Saints last night for a 1st round pick (#32) and a third round pick (#103).

The acquisition of Cooks gives the Patriots a much needed vertical threat that can make big plays after the catch. They haven’t had a receiver that can consistently challenge coverage vertically since Randy Moss. Cooks has put up big numbers in his first three years in the league. He has caught 215 passes for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career thus far. 

At 5-10 190, Cooks is the prototypical Patriots receiver in terms of size. He can play the X receiver spot (split end), the Z receiver spot (flanker) or in the slot. Cooks is also effective in motion. The Saints did a great job of short motioning him into stack alignments. It allowed Cooks to get a free release off the line and gain instant separation. 

The Patriots will use Cooks in the same way. Here are some different ways the Patriots will use Brandin Cooks in their passing game.

Cooks is the Z receiver or the flanker in all of the diagrams.

Diagrams 1&2: Put Cooks in Motion: Brandin Cooks is explosive off of the line of scrimmage. The Patriots put him in motion a lot in an attempt to free him up and get him open. 

 Diagram 1: Cooks (Z) goes in full motion across the formation and runs a seam route on the snap. If the middle of the field is open, he runs a post. If it is man to man, he runs the corner route and looks to separate. If it is Cover 3 and Cooks has a safety or nickel matching up with him, he runs the seam and looks to win one on one vertically.

Diagram 2: The Patriots motion Cooks (Z)  into a stack alignment and run him across the formation on a five yard crosser. If Cooks gets man coverage, he out runs it and looks to create separation. If it is zone, he finds the dead spot and sits.

Diagrams 3 & 4: Out Cuts: Cooks is a quick twitch athlete who moves with ease in space. The Patriots do a great job of getting their smaller, quicker receivers in space and running them horizontally. Cooks fits the mold of what the Patriots look for in receivers. 

Diagram 3: Cooks (Z) goes in short, stack motion and runs a six yard out route. He will get a clean, easy release at the snap, get into space and run the route. It is an easy way to beat man coverage or create spacial separation versus zone coverage.  

Diagram 4:  Cooks (Z) runs a simple six yard studder out cut versus man to man. If it zone and he has space, he sits. Cooks does a great job of creating separation on his release. He will thrive in the Patriots system because of his ability to get open quickly. 

Diagrams 5 & 6: Angle and Whip Routes: The Patriots probably run more angle, whip and return routes than any other team in the NFL. The way they teach the different phases of these routes is the single biggest reason why their receivers do such a great job of getting open. 

Diagram 5: Cooks (Z) will run a simple inside whip route out of a slot alignment. If it is zone coverage, Cooks runs a spot route and sits. If it is man coverage, he returns it to the sideline and creates separation. Cooks could be effective on whip routes because of his quick twitch athleticism. 

Diagram 6: Cooks (Z) has quick, quiet feet which is what you need when running the angle route. The 49ers made the angle route popular with their running backs running it out of the backfield in the 80’s. They called it the Texas route in the West Cosst offense. 

Cooks would run a four yard out cut, plant, re-direct and angle back inside into space. The angle route is a difficult route for slot defenders to cover. 

Diagram 7: Option Routes: Cooks (Z) is a terrific route runner who knows how to get open. When he figures the Patriots route adjustments, he will become difficult to stop. One of the easiest ways for a receiver to learn his new team route adjustments is by running simple option routes like this. 

Diagrams 8, 9 & 10: Vertical Crossers: Cooks (Z) is explosive down the field and in space. The Patriots run a lot of different variations of vertical crossing routes. They are effective against man to man coverage. Here are three different variations. 

Diagram 8: This is a simple play action pass with a vertical crossing route by the Z receiver. The receiver climbs the route 6 to 12 to 20 to 25 yards and separates. The Patriots like to call this play either from the left hash or the middle of the field. Chris Hogan did a great job on vertical crossing route this season but Cooks will be even better at them because he is more explosive. 

Diagram 9: On this play, Cooks (Z) would run a simple 12 yard Dig route. If it is man coverage, he out runs it. Zone coverage, he sinks and sits. 

Diagram 10: Another vertical crosser for the Z receiver. The only difference is, it is a five step concept out of shotgun. Again, Cooks (Z) would run 20-25 yards to the opposite hash or the numbers. 

Diagram 11: Double Moves: Cooks is the Z receiver on this play. On the snap, he will take an inside release, get vertical and show comeback for two steps. He will then snap his head upfield and run vertical. Cooks will make a lot of big plays on double moves next season.

Diagrams 12 & 13: Coverage Busters and Decoys: The Patriots will probably game plan 10-15 touches a week for Cooks. That  even includes him not getting the ball. Here are two examples.

Diagram 12: Cooks (Z) would go in short motion and take a reverse path on the snap. Brady would fake the reverse to Cooks and read the X receiver to the F receiver in his progression. The F should come open if the linebackers bite on the play action. 

Diagram 13: On this play, Cooks (Z) is the coverage buster. He would simply take the top off of the coverage by running a seam route. If Brady works front side, his progression would F to Z to Y. Y (the tight end) would be the hot. Brady would go backside to the X receiver if he had man to man coverage.

Diagrams 14 & 15: Perimeter Screens: The Patriots have always been an effective perimeter screen team. Here are two examples of play-action slip screens that Cooks could be effective on.

Diagram 14: Cooks (Z) would line up as the slot on the right. On the snap, he would step off the line of scrimmage and look for the ball. After catching it, he would get vertical and fit in behind his blocker in the tunnel. Cooks athleticism and ability to break defenders down and make them miss would be on display on this play. 

Diagram 15: Cooks (Z) comes in short motion this time, stacks behind the X receiver. On the snap, he steps off, catches the ball, finds the lane and fits in behind his blockers. 

As you can see. The Patriots have a variety of ways they can get Brandin Cooks the ball. He is a play maker and Josh McDaniels will scheme up a bunch of different ways to get Cooks the ball.