Kansas City Chiefs Minicamp Quotes: Alex Smith and Marcus Cooper
By Ben Nielsen
Jun 17, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Cooper (31) talks with media after the Kansas City Chiefs minicamp at University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
MARCUS COOPER
Q: Did it become a little more real to you now that Brandon is not here?
COOPER: “You know every day I come out here as if I was the starter. I can’t say that it’s a different feeling or it’s not. Whether Brandon was here or wasn’t I still would still compete as if I was going for the starting job. There’s no big difference.”
Q: What do you feel that you need to do to get that job?
COOPER: “Keep grinding, just getting better every day, keep the deep balls out, be quick at the defensive line, and just keep doing the stuff that we do as the Kansas City Chiefs corners.”
AA: I think it may be safe to say that Marcus Cooper may be the most important player on the Chiefs defense in 2014. If he can’t handle the starting outside cornerback position then the Chiefs are screwed.
Q: What would you say your weaknesses are as a player right now?
COOPER: “Everything. I’m still learning the position, you know. In the grand scheme of things, I still have to continue to work on everything I do out there.”
Q: Coming in as a possible starter instead of a seventh round draft pick, do you lose your edge?
COOPER: “Oh no. You have no time to lose that. This game’s not for long and you really have to come out there at the top of your peak. That’s what I try to do every day.”
Q: Do you gain an edge with this opportunity?
COOPER: “Like I said, I continue to go in daily, every day as a starter no matter what. There’s no gain. There’s no drop off. I just continue to make the team.”
Q: Collectively, how does the secondary feel with everyone being gone?
COOPER: “We’ve got a good group of guys here. I’m sorry for the guys that have departed. We can’t look at what they’re doing. We have to focus on us and the opportunity to get better as a group.”
AA: It really is a different secondary. The list of players who are no longer with the Chiefs include Flowers, Quintin Demps, Kendrick Lewis, and Dunta Robinson.
Q: Does that create a void in leadership?
COOPER: “No, we still have a couple of our guys here minus Flowers and those other guys. We all have to step up at different times and we all have to come at times. We just all are going to collectively lead and push forward.”
Q: Where were you when Flowers was released?
COOPER: “I had just finished working out here. I found out when you guys probably found out.”
Q: What was your immediate reaction personally?
COOPER: “I can’t get into that. I am just worried about myself and worried about my football shift.”