Antonio Cromartie Will Not Run More Kicks Out Nine Yards Deep

by John B on Sep 14, 2011 2:00 PM EDT

Mike Westhoff has made it clear to Antonio Cromartie that running out a kick deep in the end zone as he did Sunday is unacceptable.

Cromartie also has new marching orders, courtesy of special teams coach Mike Westhoff, who demanded: Do not return a kickoff that lands nine yards deep in the end zone. Cromartie did that in the first half, and he brought it out only to the 13-yard line.

"I can't go 109 no more," Cromartie cracked, alluding to his league-record, 109-yard return on a missed field goal from his days with the Chargers.

That pretty much says it all about Cro. He is an incredible athlete with absolutely no feel for the game of football. Why does a coach need to tell a sixth year guy it is a bad idea to run it out nine yards deep? Would he even have to tell a rookie like Jeremy Kerley?

There are certain spots where it might make sense. I thought Miles Austin should have tried to run out Nick Folk's kickoff nine yards deep in the final half minute. The Cowboys needed to try and break something big. It was unlikely they were going to be able to move it into field goal range starting at their own 20. When Cro did it, it was crazy.

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Comments

Perfectly said, this is not a rookie mistake,

it’s a mistake someone who shouldn’t be returning kicks would make. We have too much talent at that position to put Mr. Softy back there. He should spend the time he would use on Kick Returns in practice learning how to press a man at the line with Revis.

by Timmaht on Sep 14, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

If you take a look at his wayward lifestyle,you have to come to the conclusion that CRO is not the sharpest tool in the

shed.Westhoff has to deal with him accordingly.

by Putnan Prince on Sep 14, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Hah, that’s an understatement.

by Timmaht on Sep 15, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

If my memory serves me

On his returns, it seemed like he ran out fast the almost stopped when no giant hole opened up. He has great straight line speed but didn’t show any moves.

by CervezaVerde on Sep 14, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

give him some credit.

the coaches also didn’t think he should have picked up that ball which he brought back for like 45 yards that lead to the field position for nick folks win against the colts. with crow, you never know. everyone’s pretty hard on him and i think he’s a great CB (better than the others in the league). he’s probably 2 or 3 behind revis.

by Rei34 on Sep 14, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

He's hit or miss at a position where "miss" means 6 points on the board.

I’d rather have consistency rather than big play ability at cornerback.

by Exystence on Sep 14, 2011 3:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cro is easy to harass...

And playing next to Revis is always going to make someone look not as good. I kinda like Cro. He does bonehead stuff, but I don’t know that he’s more likely to be a bonehead than Sanchez. Haha.

by cult hero on Sep 14, 2011 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

He's also going again #2 receivers, so he really should look just as good if

he wants people to believe he was worth the money.

by Timmaht on Sep 15, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

"I can't go 109 no more"

Cro.

Section 128. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

by ManalapanJet on Sep 14, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

He's still clinging to that?

Does someone need to remind him that he did that to a FG unit and not an actually kickoff unit?

Next he’s going to remind everyone of how he intercepted Peyton Manning

by Jobumoplata on Sep 14, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

9 yards deep. hmmm

1 yard per kid.

You are banned from Stampede Blue.
You can browse the blog, but you can't participate.

I don't think you took me seriously. If you want it unbanned, email an admin. But, for now, your Stampede Blue privileges are done.

by Joe Fisher on Sep 14, 2011 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I see what you did there.

And I like it. Rec’d.

Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!!
Twitter: cmauceri524

by CharlieIsles on Sep 14, 2011 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you and "Go Isles!"

You are banned from Stampede Blue.
You can browse the blog, but you can't participate.

I don't think you took me seriously. If you want it unbanned, email an admin. But, for now, your Stampede Blue privileges are done.

by Joe Fisher on Sep 14, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I also see what you did there.

And I don’t like it. Bad, bad memories. Meanie.

Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!!
Twitter: cmauceri524

by CharlieIsles on Sep 15, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Amazing athlete....extraordinary learning disabilities

Remember the FSU 30 for 30 Education scandal? Cro was referenced as one of if not the most educationally/learning impaired student in the program’s history

The guy is flat out stupid

by KidCanada on Sep 14, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

There's a difference between learning-impaired and stupid

Not saying that he’s not stupid (I mean look at his history), but you should be aware that there’s a difference :S

by Exystence on Sep 14, 2011 3:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed. I meant in this case that he was both but I definitely could have said it more considerately

by KidCanada on Sep 14, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, you pretty much nailed it. The guy is flat out stupid.

Sunday 9/11/2011, 8:20 EDT

Can't Wait.

by Spainter38 on Sep 15, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

As long as he follows the new orders I don't have a problem with it..

Should he have ran that one back, no probably not …However I wasn’t on the field and I don’t know what he saw, none of us do. Maybe he thought he saw something where a hole would develop…I don’t know, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on one return. He is a guy that if he has a hole can take it the distance and put six points on the board. If he had his new strict orders not to run it out and he did anyway then I would have a problem with it. He didn’t…I don’t know what he saw on the field, the guy is a good returner so I’m not going to get bend out of shape over it.

by RhodesRocks on Sep 14, 2011 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

I don't blame him for trying though. Its the instinic of a player to want to hit a homerun.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Sep 14, 2011 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

I would much prefer any combination of McKnight, Kerley or Wilson taking care of kick/punt return duty. Cro will have the occasional big play but the rest of the time It’ll just mean our offense starting from the 10.

by SioneBAAOOOHA on Sep 14, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

o c'mon

Cro does have football sense to play in defense u have too. its just that he has a lot of confidence in himself that he can do it be successful. I mean its not like he hasnt done it before

by Emmanuel Agu on Sep 14, 2011 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

I'm gettin real tired of this guy's BS.

Seems like a PI could be called on him literally every play. They shouldn’t let him return a kick-off until he can properly and consistently execute a jam.

The last thing I want to see him do right now is return a kick for a TD, to be honest. I honestly believe that he’ll think that he can play as shitty as he wants at corner bc he can make up for it with a big return.

I love his return ability, don’t get me wrong. I think he’s absolutely electric. But that means very little if he’s gonna be the designated red-headed step-child (“DRS”) on defense every freakin week.

by Crackback on Sep 14, 2011 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

He lined up at WR as well

Well for one play

by CervezaVerde on Sep 14, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you have to be smart to make it in the NFL?

Charger fan here. I don’t want to pick on a guy with a learning disability (if in fact that’s true), but Cro is a phenomenal athlete who happens to play football at a position I don’t think he’s capable of understanding. The Bolts got a good season and a half out of him, and then he was dismal – out of position, always biting on double-moves, running 64 yds side-to-side to get 10 forward, lack of focus, and forget tackling. You guys would know better than I would – is Rex smart enough to coach up a guy that dense? Is anyone?

by PacoGerte on Sep 15, 2011 12:09 AM EDT reply actions

Am I missing something?

Or is there a reason Kerley isn’t used on KR? Cro has exceptional straight line speed, but no moves to shake defenders. I like everything I’ve seen of Kerley in the PR game, and I can’t for the life of me understand why he’s not used on kickoffs as well.

Sunday 9/11/2011, 8:20 EDT

Can't Wait.

by Spainter38 on Sep 15, 2011 12:11 AM EDT reply actions