Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie shows his style

For Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie maybe it’s all in the attire.

The Philadelphia Eagles defensive back had a great game Sunday, but it’s hard to determine if he made a bigger splash before the game.

As shown in a photo captured by the EaglesInsider the Lakewood Ranch product came to the game dressed in a pink suit with pink eyeglass rims.

CHECK THIS OUT: http://twitpic.com/asioih

Maybe that’s all he needed.
The cornerback got two picks off Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, had four pass deflections and recorded a tackle. He has already doubled his interception total from last year, which was (you guessed it) zero.

DRC also had a career low 28 tackles for Philadelphia last year perhaps because the Eagles had him covering the slot. Now he is on the outside where he can use his size and speed.  In his three seasons at Arizona before joining the Eagles last year, DRC had 13 interceptions and 136 tackles with eight sacks.

DRC had quite a pre-season. First he was fined for an illegal hit that had many raving about his new toughness and then he injured his shoulder against New England.

On both picks, DRC used his 6-2 size, speed and jumping ability to snag the passes. But you gotta believe that pre-game attire got him going.

 

 

Rodgers-Cromartie has reduced role in Eagles opener

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie saw a reduced role in his playing time in the Philadelphia Eagles season opener against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The Lakewood Ranch product, who has been used to playing nearly every down on defense since he came into the NFL as a first round draft pick by Arizona (16th overall) in 2008, played in less than a third of the defensive snaps.

Rodgers-Cromartie is part of a cornerback tandem that now includes the highly touted Nnamdi Asomugha, who came over from Oakland and long time Eagle Asante Samuel.

DRC’s reduced playing time was due in part to the fact that the Eagles were in their nickel package on only 20 of 66 defensive snaps. But apparently that is his role right now.

DRC was on the field for 19 plays. He got beat one time for 18 yards on a third and 10, but otherwise accounted well for himself. The 25-year-old covered the slot on 18 of those snaps.

Samuel had a penalty that gave St. Louis a first down and missed an easy opportunity for an interception late in the game. He was at left corner the entire game.

Asomugha was flagged for a 41-yard pass interference call and got beat for a 31-yard completion another time. Those were the only two times St. Louis threw against him.

DRC fitting in nice in Philadlephia

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has only been with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles, a few days but he is happy and already feeling settled in, according to his father Stan Cromartie.

DRC is not worried about the long-jam some might see at the Eagles cornerback position. They signed Nnamdi Asomugha a few days after getting DRC and already have Asante Samuel.

DRC is not worried about the competition and the team seems to believe he would be the better guy to move into the slot when the Eagles go to their nickel package (5 defensive backs). He also volunteered to take the slot.

With Asomugha and Samuel covering the corners, DRC’s speed, size and athleticism make him all the more valuable. It’s a better fit than what he had in Arizona and he apparently knows it.

As a nickel back you won’t be starting, but you see a lot of playing time. At 25, DRC is younger than Samuel and Asomugha (both 30). It also might add some years to his career.

Samuel still hasn’t reported to camp because of personal reasons and some speculate he might be traded. If only for money, it makes more sense to keep DRC because his contract doesn’t carry the same dollar signs as Samuel and Asomugha.

Samuel allowed 3.2 yards per pass attempt in his direction last year and was first in the league in his success rate (78 percent), which is the percentage of passes that don’t manage to get at least 45 percent of the needed yardage on first down and 60 percent of needed yardage on second down or 100 percent of needed yardage on third down, according to Football Outsiders.

Of course, there are lots of factors that go into these numbers, like which cornerbacks are covering the other team’s number one receivers. The quality of a team’s overall defense and who a quarterback is picking on. But it makes for good conversation.

DRC not worried about sudden crowded cornerback situation at Philadelphia

Less than 24 hours after Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie was traded to Philadelphia he learned the Eagles acquired another cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha, considered by many to be the top free agent in the 2011 sweepstakes.

The Eagles already have cornerback Asante Samuel and three being a crowd, particularly at cornerback, it appears somebody is going to be traded or become a nickel back, which neither Rodgers-Cromartie or Samuel wants.

It appears despite being a multiple Pro Bowler, Samuel is the odd man out. The Eagles want to get young in the secondary and he is 30 years old while Rodgers-Cromartie just turned 25 last April.

Stan Cromartie, Dominique’s dad, said he doesn’t think the Cardinals traded for his son to be a nickel back, but admits you never know.

Dad has heard Samuel could go to the Cardinals. The New York Jets, who lost out in the Asomugha sweepstakes, is reportedly interested in him.

Stan Cromartie said his son is taking everything in stride. He doesn’t rattle and most of all realizes this is all part of the business. Samuel has been given permission not to report to camp and has not shown up yet.

Philadelphia General Manager Howie Roseman and head coach Andy Reid have dodged questions about how the Eagles are going to deal with three starting caliber quarterbacks.

Philadephia has a new defensive coordinator in Juan Castillo and he is said to prefer young guys who are not set in their way and can learn from him. That certainly fits Rodgers-Cromartie and not Samuel.

Another plus, Rodgers-Cromartie also has a much lighter contract to handle than Samuel.

Rodgers-Cromartie okay wth trade to Eagles

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is okay with going to the Philadelphia Eagles if his much talked about trade takes place, according to his father.

Stan Cromartie, former Southeast High basketball great, said he talked with Dominique's today and his son realizes it's a business and has no apprehension.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who played for Lakewood Ranch High, is reported to be going to Philadelphia for quarterback Kevin Kolb. The Eagles are also asking for a first round draft pick, which is one of the reasons the deal is being delayed, Stan Cromartie believes.

"I talked to my son's agent Eugene Parker a little while ago and he told me that the first person the Eagles asked for in a potential trade for Kolb was my Dominique," Stan Cromartie said. "Arizona feels they are already giving Philadelphia a number one pick in Dominique because that is what he was (selected 16th overall in the 2008 draft).

"Dominique just wants to play football. He understands this is a business and anything can happen at anytime. The Cardinals want a QB and the Eagles say they want Dominique. I don't think Arizona will give up another first round pick.

"Whatever happens, Dominque is grateful to Arizona because they made his dream come true. Wherever the ship falls, he is ready to play football. Deion Sanders played for five NFL teams."

Rodgers-Cromartie signed a five year, $15.1 million contract that includes $9 million guaranteed with Arizona. He was Pro Bowl selection in the 2009 season, but was unable to play because of an injury.

Rod Harper and Nate Allen working out at IMG

Rod Harper and and Nate Allen, two Florida grown products now with the Philadelphia Eagles, have been working out at IMG in Bradenton.

Harper, the Southeast High product, who overcame enormous odds to earn a roster spot on 2009 Super Bowl champion New Orleans, spent last season on the Eagles practice squad after the Saints released him following an injury.

A receiver-return man, Harper has proven his resiliency and could be just an injury free season away from establishing himself in the NFL.

A second round pick in 2010, Allen earned the Eagles starting job at safety and was arguably on his way for challenging for Rookie of The Year honors until he suffered a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve last December.

Former USF standout Nate Allen honored

Former USF standout defensive back Nate Allen has been named the NFL's Rookie of The Month for his perfomance in September.

During his first month of professional football, the Philadelphia Eagles safety picked off two passes, had three passes defended, 12 tackles and a sack in three games.

The Eagles took Allen in the second round of the NFL draft with a pick they acquired when they traded heralded quarterback Donovan McNabb to Washington. He is the first Eagle to have an interception in his first game since Eric Allen in 1988

Allen will be able to thank McNabb personally when the Eagles face the Redskins this Sunday. Allen, who was a quarterback a Cape Coral High, agreed to become a safety when he got to USF so he could get on the field quicker.