By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Amari Cooper is the best wide out in the country, and its not close.

People are accustomed to thinking about hard-nosed running between the tackles and beating opponents into submission when they think about Alabamas offense. However, this years offense, under new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, has taken on a little bit different look. Not necessarily in that the Tide are throwing the ball more often (theyre averaging 3% less passes per play as compared to last year), but rather that they are fully utilizing Amari Cooper.

In the past, Alabama has favored a more balanced passing game as far as how often you target certain receivers. This year? Not so much. In 2013, Cooper accounted for 18% of his teams receptions. So far this season, he has caught 45% of Alabamas completions. To put that in perspective, Julio Jones only accounted for 31% of the Crimson Tides receptions his senior year. For a more current comparison, take a look at Nelson Agholor, widely regarded as one of this years best receiver candidates, aside from Cooper. In Southern Cals similarly balanced offense, Agholor is catching just over 30% of hid teams passes.

The numbers dont tell the whole story though. Cooper is putting up these video game numbers while playing in the most difficult division in college football. Only one player, Rashard Higgins, has more receiving yards than Cooper, and with all due respect to Colorado State, I cant even imagine the sort of damage Amari Cooper would do to the defenses of the Mountain West. Double-team him, triple-team him, it doesnt matter. He shredded Floridas Vernon Hargreaves, arguably the best defensive back in the country for his best game of the year. It wasnt a fluke, either, as he was the lone offensive bright spot against Ole Miss Senquez Golson, currently second in interceptions in all of FBS football.

Alabama takes on LSU this Saturday in Baton Rouge. Its well documented that Death Valley is one of the most difficult places for travelling teams to play. It always seems like the Mad Hatter, Les Miles, and his band of voodoo dolls get all the bounces and all the luck. Luck wont stop Amari Cooper though and unless Patrick Peterson can go back and suit up for the Tigers, there might not be anything that can. Assuming Lane Kiffin and Blake Sims keep getting their superstar playmaker the ball, the Tide will roll.

Alabama might be the hottest team in the country right now. Amari Cooper is the best wide out in the country, and its not close. Its a little bit of an outside shot, but Cooper could very well be the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard, 23 years ago. Its not often that players like Amari Cooper come along and rarely do receivers take over games as consistently as Cooper, particularly in the SEC. Theres still a lot of football to be played, but it shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone if Alabama rides this once-in-a-generation talent straight to the college football playoff.