Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie impresses as kick returner By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger May 21, 2010, 12:00PM Denis Poroy/Associated PressHead coach Rex Ryan likened Antonio Cromartie's long stride to that of Secretariat.When it comes to learning the Jets' complicated defense, cornerback Antonio Cromartie maintained it's not that complicated for him. "The system actually was easy to pick up: I’ve just got to cover my man," Cromartie said Thursday after the third day of the Jets' OTAs. Something else that seems to come easy to Cromartie? Returning kicks. Cromartie fielded several kickoffs in yesterday's practice, showcasing his speed and ridiculously long stride -- which coach Rex Ryan joked was "only about five yards long." "It's crazy, isn’t it?" Ryan said. "I’ve never seen a stride like that. It’s amazing. Secretariat maybe stretched like that. He gets out there." Cromartie said he has been returning kicks since high school, so it comes naturally to him. He ran track at Florida State, and said he reverts to "track form" when he gets in the open field. "I'm trying to do whatever I can to help out as much as possible," Cromartie said. "I know how to use my speed, slow it down and when to accelerate." Cromartie, whom the Jets acquired in a trade this offseason, returned 19 kicks in four seasons with the Chargers for an average of 23.3 yards. As a starting cornerback, Cromartie wouldn't be a full-time kick returner, but Ryan did say the team might use him in certain situations. "I think if the game is on the line, you may see him," Ryan said. "(Special teams coordinator Mike) Westhoff thinks he’s going to get him the whole time. I’m like, 'Yeah Mike, as far as you know, you can have him back there.' If Deion Sanders could do it why not Cromartie?
If we got Cromartie returning kicks and Wilson returning punts, sounds like we've finally got a stable, consistent plan. Having the jobs established early will help them get into the groove sooner.
Deion was a freak of nature. Cromartie is a tremendous athlete but I'm not sure if he can ever be in peak physical condition like Deion was. Also, our defense is more dynamic than the defenses Deion played in, so Cromartie may get more tired out.
Rex made it pretty clear in that last presser that Cro would get very limited time returning kicks. Like maybe if all the other KRs are hurt.
rex can use him the same way dallas used Deion Sanders....I don't see why? As long as Cro works on his conditioning he'll be alright
Tell Rex that. Because he didn't seem to like the idea of using a starting corner to return kicks. There's even a quote in your article to that effect:
neon deon remindes me a lot of santana moss. he's never met a sideling he didn't like. the only real thing crom and neon have in common is a fear of tackling anything.
Am I the only one who cringes when you take top-tier talent and have them return kicks/punts? Just like having Revis back there last season, there's no reason to have Cromartie back there this season.
let me ask you something....if we had Deion in his prime would you want him to return punts and kickoffs?
Deion only returned kicks the first 4 years of his career, and he quite frankly wasn't very good at it. He only averaged 22.7 yards a return during his career, which would have placed him 24th in the NFL last year, as a point of reference. When he really became the elite corner that he was, they stopped using him as a returner to protect their investment. Not saying Cro is nearly as good as Deion, but the same principle applies here. He is far more valuable to this team as a corner. We don't need to see him hobble off the field like Jason Sehorn on a return.
Cromartie 10 ints playing man to man rookie year...If he returns to form....not saying he would be the next deion but if he is successful in this system he will be rather close. we talking about a pure man to man guy that will have a lot of opportunities to make big plays...Big plays made Deion....Quote me now but I believe this guy will have 13 picks and have a better year than he did his rookie season....With that said, would you want a guy like that returning kicks....Deion did it so why can't Cromartie.....I rather take the risk the same way Dallas took the risk letting deion return kicks
Kicks, no. But he was used as a PR a lot more later in his career with varying degrees of success. I never really saw the use of it. You don't risk an elite talent like that by using him as a bowling pin.
If I can remember, Deion may not have returned kickoffs after his first 4 years but he did return punts....I'm sure he did. I'll be shocked if I'm proved wrong
Read Honcho's post. Deion returned a total of 7 KRs with the Cowboys, and he had mixed results as a punt return man with Dallas and Washington. The beauty of Deion's game was that he was unstoppable as a cornerback.
Yes, he did return punts the first 4 years as well, then stopped. Then his 3rd year in Dallas, after much complaining/campaigning they let him return punts, which he was much better at than kicks. I agree with abyzmul though, I don't see the point in having such an important part of your defense risk injury by returning punts. In certain situations where you need to hope to break a TD, I can see putting an explosive guy like Deion back there, but there's really no point in risking it routinely. Look at the Bears with Hester. He was the best returner in the league, and they stopped using him back there because they wanted him to be a bigger part of the offense.
school me on Deion. I remember him as a kid being a heck of a punt returner...What was Deion's bread and butter as a corner and how would you compare him to Revis? http://www.nysportspace.com/profiles/blogs/proof-darrelle-revis-will-win looking at that link. I'm not that sold on Deion. Although I know he was one of the best t play the position
Santana only regressed as a return man when he was asked to do more as a receiver, and therefore to not get hurt. The worst thing that a team can do to a return man is to tell him he actually has to play a position. The same reckless mindset that turns gunners like Wallace Wright into NFL players are what make great return men.
