Is Link's calculated approach hindering Coopers development?

[fatprop]

OK

We have an incredibly talented player in Mr Cooper who is being is hidden in defense by Link. For Queensland that maybe the best short term option, but what about the player?

In a perfect Wallaby and Reds world we would have a 10 in Cooper who takes his spot in the line and can be relied on by his mates in the defensive line.

How is hiding him away from his weakness improving him in the long term?

Dunno the answer, just thinking out loud?

 

[Scotty]

I am beginning to think that the only answer is to drop him until he sorts out his defense. Unless he improves his current standard, I wouldn't be picking him to play for the wallabies a the RWC.

Maybe Link has given up on the hope it can improve and hence going for the Merhtens solution.

 

[Novocastrian]

Simple answer is it's not going to improve him in the long term, but given that his defensive issues are basically ticker-related (he's not a small guy for a 5/8 and has had quite a few years in a pro program and has not improved) I don't think there's much that can be done other than hide him and hope he scores/creates more points than he leaks. Which I'm more than happy for the Reds to do, but don't want happening when it comes to the Wob's.

 

[Ruggo]

I agree and I am sure most Reds fans would also. The Reds have been lucky to have such a strong defender in Hynes to slot in but that is not there now and Cooper has not progressed at all. I blame Link and I blame Cooper himself. It is possible for the player to respectfully request that he pull his own weight and that is what Quade should be doing.

 

[Bullrush]

Didn't he make noises at the end of the EOYT about improving his defense and having big forwards run at him all day long or something??

Those must have been very short days.....

 

[vidiot]

I dunno, he seems to avoid getting caught up in the breakdown at all costs. I don't know whether it's ticker or his perception of how he is best off making an impact.

I think the problem is as much as anything technique. Sometimes he falls off after first contact as he yanks at the ball and/or back pedals, trying to keep free and on his feet. He would be well served by going lower, forgetting about the ball and putting shoulder to midriff or pelvis and hanging on.

Who knows, maybe now is the hour. We've seen the reds and cooper move to percentage rugby in beating the ponies.

 

[louie]

Beale had the same problems and link did the same. Never worked. Only way Cooper will get better is to work at it. Link needs to do something as it doesn't help the team at all

 

[Reddy!]

It can't be great for his confidence if all his team mates see him run to the back of the field when the opposition is on attack because he can't tackle...

I am actually surprised how much Link it hiding him this year (I don't even recall Robbie going to such drastic measures) it seems a little bit of an overreaction than actually going to the root cause of the problem.

Cooper is 90 odd kilos and should be able to apply some sort of tackling technique!

 

[Bullrush]

Technique schmec-nique.....if he doesn't want to tackle then forget it.....

Tackling is probably 98% heart and attitude....

 

[rugbysmartarse]

is cooper dropping into 15 all due to defense? Maybe link saw how KB (Kurtley Beale) was tearing up defnses in kick return and is trying to get that out of Quade as well?

 

[Tiger]

I noticed that the Brumbies still managed to find him in defence regardless of where he was hiding.

I think it's a mental thing - he doesn't want to get caught in the contact or the ruck. Not properly using his arms and committing to the tackle is part of that. How often do you see him get out of a ruck ASAP and run off to his position? Maybe he thinks he is too valuable in counter-attack to be stuck in a ruck. Or maybe he thinks that at the bottom of a ruck the opposition forwards will have a go at trying to injure him? Who knows - this is all just conjecture - but from what I see in the games I see a lack of intent or desire to commit to a tackle or the ruck.

Back to your point: I agree that hiding him does nothing for his development, but if it's a mental issue rather than a skill issue I don't know how to overcome that. Maybe he needs to spend some time in a simulated game situation where he is allowed to do nothing other than tackle and truck it up.

 

[Tank]

is cooper dropping into 15 all due to defense? Maybe link saw how KB (Kurtley Beale) was tearing up defnses in kick return and is trying to get that out of Quade as well?

I wouldn't think Cooper was as fast as KB (Kurtley Beale) though and kick return tearing up has a lot to do with speed doesn't it?

 

[Bullrush]

If you're Link though....how many games can you afford to lose at the expense of devolping a player for the Wallabies??

 

[Reddy!]

Technique schmec-nique.....if he doesn't want to tackle then forget it.....

Tackling is probably 98% heart and attitude....

Isn't that defence? Tackling is just tackling.

 

[Bullrush]

Isn't that defence? Tackling is just tackling.

Meh....tackling - defense....if you don't have the heart and/or balls to do it then no technique in the world will help you

 

[Ruggo]

I see some reasons for him hiding other than his ability to tackle. They don't want their chief play maker physically burnt out from constantly being targeted but the amount of hiding is just crazy. It is both attitude and technique rolled into one that is his problem. His attitute is that his thirst for the ball gets the better of him and this leaves him to go for the magic steal everytime in contact rather than showing the technique to get himself in a position to make a good tackle. I know he can do it as on limited occaisions he does show it. The game against the Sharks last year I remember him dropping one of the Sharks second rowers on his arse with a technically sound domminant tackle.

 

[Bullrush]

I see some reasons for him hiding other than his ability to tackle. They don't want their chief play maker physically burnt out from constantly being targeted but the amount of hiding is just crazy. It is both attitude and technique rolled into one that is his problem. His attitute is that his thirst for the ball gets the better of him and this leaves him to go for the magic steal everytime in contact rather than showing the technique to get himself in a position to make a good tackle. I know he can do it as on limited occaisions he does show it. The game against the Sharks last year I remember him dropping one of the Sharks second rowers on his arse with a technically sound domminant tackle.

Nah....QC (Quade Cooper) said himself that his defense needs to get better and it's something he would work hard at in the off-season. Awesome results to date....

As for the whole not wanting to physically burn him out etc....bullshit. Dan Carter and Johnny Wilkinson do more than carry their defensive workload - QC (Quade Cooper) should too if he wants to be considered as a serious, top-dollar rugby player.

 

[Joe Mac]

In his current form, I dont want him anywhere near a WB jersey. I watched the game on the weekend and he was terrible in defence. In fact, I cant ever remember a player in the professional era less effective in defence.

 

[DPK]

Cooper may well become a better tackler, but I think it is a stretch too far for him to learn to be a good defender. Barnes does this probably the best of the Australian sides; leading the line forward together, being a little Bonaparte before the opposition attack begins organising the defense and, last but certainly not least, being an exceptional tackler himself.

Then again, it helps to have good defenders like Horne and, to a lesser extent, Carter, in the backline to support him.

Giteau is also pretty good at this, but he rushes up lone wolf style sometimes too. Skilled organiser, though.

 

[El Gamba]

You also notice the difference that Daniel Braid made last year in dominating Quade's channel in defense. I'm afraid that Beau Robinson, despite his enthusiasm, has not got the same presence. It was also noticable that the Red's played a less mobile backrow with Horwill in the first few games. There was a disconnect in tactics when McKenzie picked a pack based on size rather than mobility and tried to play an up tempo game.
I also think that there is an element of McKenzie trying to get the best of both worlds as mentioned above. QC (Quade Cooper) does have great vision and is a great option on the kick return (he doesn't need top end speed, he needs to be able to create opportunities for those with top end speed). Unfortunately it does increase his tendancy to always look at getting away from the contact so that he can get back to 15.
I'd keep him at 10 in defense, pick a mobile backrow (Liam Gill would be a good start, young and "trainable") and ensure that the backrow, and then the second row as they spread, are organised to cover all of the channels.