Saturday’s Showdown: Irabor vs. Cooks

(Photo: ASU Athletics)

Oregon State is sporting the best passing attack in the Pac-12, behind two players: QB Sean Mannion and WR Brandin Cooks. Mannion will usually look for his main target Cooks, who will get a lot of attention from ASU’s top corner, Osahon Irabor. That matchup highlights the game’s key to victory.

OSU runs a lot of what I call “that dude” plays. By that I mean, get “that dude” (Cooks) the ball any way possible. Cooks has 91 receptions on the season, 1344 receiving yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns, all of which are good for either first or second in the nation.

The superstar is also used in the run game on wide receiver sweeps, where he has tallied 174 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 carries. Oh, and he returns punts. Yes, he is dynamic and electrifying to say the least.

Earlier in the week, ASU head coach Todd Graham called Cooks “the best overall player we’ve played against.”

Irabor seconds his coach’s observations about the wide receiver.

“[Cooks is] definitely a dynamic receiver, does a lot of great things especially when the ball is in his hands. He is really explosive, really quick, and really fast,” said Irabor.

Irabor is great press corner, and can win when the ball is in the air. Further, Irabor sets the edge against runs aimed toward the boundary side of the field. His 36 tackles on the season are tied for fourth-best on the team. All of the elements in the corner’s game will be crucial in trying to limit Cooks’ yards after catch because OSU will find ways to get the ball in his hands.

The receiver presents trouble for any defensive back, with breakaway speed, solid route-running, and willing to get physical. What makes him most dangerous, though, is his ability to take a small dump off and turn it into six points.

“Just keeping him corralled, not letting him get any explosive plays, any big plays,” said Irabor. “As he goes their offense kind of goes, same thing with the quarterback [Sean Mannion], so if we can disrupt those two and effect those two we should be in good shape, and we understand that.”

How do you stop this dynamic duo? Luckily for ASU, the USC Trojans may have come up with a blueprint. Two weeks ago when USC faced this very same OSU team, USC brought pressure with their front seven, played bump-and-run coverage with Beaver receivers, and kept both safeties over the top.

End result: Mannion throws 3 interceptions, completes just 58 percent of his throws; Cooks is held to only 6 receptions for 88 yards (he did have a receiving touchdown). Most importantly, USC won, 31-14.

How was USC allowed to keep two safeties over the top you ask? Because the Beavers don’t run the ball, seriously. They rank toward the bottom of nation in rushing attempts. 85 percent of their offense comes from the passing attack.

Expect to see Irabor and Cooks to go at it all game long, and for Irabor, he looks forward to the challenge.

“That’s what you play this game for, is to see yourself go against the best guys and to make sure they don’t have those huge games against you, and your team and your defense,” said Irabor.

If Irabor keeps Cooks in front of him and gets tackling support from the defensive pursuit, the Sun Devils will retain their one-game lead in the Pac-12 South over UCLA heading into their showdown with the Bruins next week.

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