Aqib Talib: The next Cromartie? - New England Patriots Forums

VJCPatriot · 01-25-2008, 04:27 PM

6-2, 180 lbs. He looks like a very athletic cornerback with the size and tools to get it done. But how will he be as a pro?

Here's how his college career has broken down, showing improvement in each year:

Year GP TKL PBU INT YDS
2004 DNP - - - -
2005 11 54 8 2 45
2006 10 42 22 6 82
2007 13 66 13 5 195
Totals 34 162 43 13 322
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sco...aqibtalib.html

Now check out the you tube clips, the 1st clip and the 3rd clip on the page.
http://www.mynfldraft.com/NFL-Draft-...008/Aqib-Talib

The 100 yard interception return in the 1st clip is certainly impressive.
It started with a great aerial snatch.

The interception return in the 3rd clip though is even more impressive imo.
It's a shorter return, but watch as Talib senses he is about to be tackled before he hits paydirt. He then leaps up into the air, inches from the sideline, and launches himself, somersaulting though the air, and into the endzone for 6. To me, that's just freakish athleticisim.

The size and athleticism are there to match up against the taller WRs that are starting to proliferate the NFL. Could Aqib Talib, have what it takes to be a Patriot?

PonyExpress · 01-25-2008, 04:48 PM

Cromartie is a once in a generation athlete. His predraft workout was legendary. E. Accorsi said it was the best he had ever seen after 40 years in the NFL. There is no chance Talib will be the next Cromartie. He can be a very good cb though. He needs to show his agility/explosion/speed at the combine. Let's see how athletic he really is.

Remix 6 · 01-25-2008, 04:55 PM

Talib: 6"2
Cromartie: 6"2

Cromartie: 4.37
Talib: 4.5

hes not nearly as quick, fast or explosive as Cromartie nor does he have the hops of Cromartie

Cromartie is the Randy Moss of defense. At nearly 6"3..with a 40+ inch vertical and 4.3 speed all after a knee injury his senior year. NASTY

Also Talib is like 180-185 pounds. Cromartie is 205-210

VJCPatriot · 01-25-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PonyExpress

Cromartie is a once in a generation athlete. His predraft workout was legendary. E. Accorsi said it was the best he had ever seen after 40 years in the NFL. There is no chance Talib will be the next Cromartie. He can be a very good cb though. He needs to show his agility/explosion/speed at the combine. Let's see how athletic he really is.

Well, we'll just have to revist this when the Combines start.
I just thought I'd start the ball rolling since there was very little talk on Talib, and he seems to have some qualities that we'd be looking for in a position of need, CB.

One thing I do wonder about though, if Cromartie's workout was so legendary, why wasn't he taken until pick #19 of the NFL draft?
Were there certain questionmarks about him at the time, or was he a late riser in the draft?
Deion Sanders had a fantastic workout and went 5th overall, Champ Bailey went 7th overall.

makoute · 01-25-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Well, we'll just have to revist this when the Combines start.
I just thought I'd start the ball rolling since there was very little talk on Talib, and he seems to have some qualities that we'd be looking for in a position of need, CB.

One thing I do wonder about though, if Cromartie's workout was so legendary, why wasn't he taken until pick #19 of the NFL draft?
Were there certain questionmarks about him at the time, or was he a late riser in the draft?
Deion Sanders had a fantastic workout and went 5th overall, Champ Bailey went 7th overall.

He was coming off a pretty bad injury.

Cannon Arm · 01-25-2008, 05:42 PM

I posted this two days ago!

Quote:

When I see clips of Talib on YouTube, I think Antonio Cromartie. My goodness does this boy have hops. He is a ridiculous athlete. I look at him and think, damn, what could Belichick do with a guy like that. I know that Bethel Johnson was similarly gifted athletically, but Talib has great hands. He's a guy who can not just knock down passes, but grab them for the INT. He actually wasn't a half bad receiver when Kansas used him that way as kind of a trick guy since the other team wouldn't have film or scouting reports on him because of how infrequently he played at receiver. He also isn't soft and will tackle players and hit them hard and he even picked up sacks. He could add weight and be more of a safety.

So, yeah, he could be like Cromartie.

PonyExpress · 01-25-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Well, we'll just have to revist this when the Combines start.
I just thought I'd start the ball rolling since there was very little talk on Talib, and he seems to have some qualities that we'd be looking for in a position of need, CB.

One thing I do wonder about though, if Cromartie's workout was so legendary, why wasn't he taken until pick #19 of the NFL draft?
Were there certain questionmarks about him at the time, or was he a late riser in the draft?
Deion Sanders had a fantastic workout and went 5th overall, Champ Bailey went 7th overall.

Cromartie started only 1 game at cb as a sophomore, missed his whole junior year with a knee injury, did ONE workout and was still drafted #19. That should pretty much tell you he is one of most freakish athletes in the history of sports.

Remix 6 · 01-25-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PonyExpress

Cromartie started only 1 game at cb as a sophomore, missed his whole junior year with a knee injury, did ONE workout and was still drafted #19. That should pretty much tell you he is one of most freakish athletes in the history of sports.

coaches and scouts also literally called him the next Deion Sanders..thats high praise. He was an impact guy @ FSU in his short time playing there and hes still carrying that over to NFL

Talib gets beat deep too often for my likings. I prefer McKelvin or even Jenkins

VJCPatriot · 01-26-2008, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remix 6

Talib gets beat deep too often for my likings. I prefer McKelvin or even Jenkins

Is that because he gambles too much and gets burned or does he simply not have the footspeed to keep up with the swiftest receivers?

If you were to rate his speed on a scale of 1 to 100 what would it be?
Closer to 80ish or 90ish?

Remix 6 · 01-26-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Is that because he gambles too much and gets burned or does he simply not have the footspeed to keep up with the swiftest receivers?

If you were to rate his speed on a scale of 1 to 100 what would it be?
Closer to 80ish or 90ish?

i dont know how i would rate it but its slower than all 3 of our corners.

he runs in the 4.45-4.52 range but it doesnt translate on field. hes a much better cover2 CB. so its his speed..not gambling.

if we want a zone corner..the man is clearly McKelvin Jenkins or Cason who might be the best zone CB because he understands it so well and makes no false steps