Now many Charger fans will always remember Cromartie's non-tackle in the Jets playoff game...which they should!

But with that said, Cromartie has quietly developed into one of the better CBs in the league and was just selected for the Pro Bowl.

Given that the Chargers are actually in need of CBs....did they give up too early on Cromartie? Why did Cromartie develop into a better player with the Jets? Was it just learning the positions or do the Chargers have a problem getting the most out of their players...i.e. Cromartie, Sproles, Brees, Turner, VJ and so on....and Meachem who has been a bust.

No.  It looks like the mistake is using the pick we got for Cro on Mouton instead of O-line.

+10000

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--- SoCalThrilla wrote:

No.  It looks like the mistake is using the pick we got for Cro on Mouton instead of O-line.

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I would agree with this.

And yet, I'm not sure which lineman taken after Mouton we should have selected with that pick. Just looking at the first four OL taken after the Mouton pick and two were injured this season and two are on IR (which, I know, is unrelated to their skill-set). The fifth guy taken was cut by the Raiders (though signed by the Rams). Is there any OL in particular we should have grabbed with that #29 pick?

Though, I suppose, anyone would have contributed more than Mouton over these past two years. You're right, SoCal, these drafts ARE crapshoots.

SoCalThrilla wrote: No.  It looks like the mistake is using the pick we got for Cro on Mouton instead of O-line.

Marcus Gilbert, the first OT taken after Mouton would be an upgrade over both Clary, Harris, and wouldn't have forced us to paying Gaither what we paid him.

Justin Houston had a 1st round grade from a talent standpoint, just a 5th round grade from a mental standpoint, which is probably why he fell to Round 3.  Taking him would have been awesome to pair up with Ingram.

Cobb would've been nice but I don't think anyone could have predicted he would be the breakout player that he is.  We really need to start tapping the GB scouts and personnel guys phones as they hit far more than they miss with players like Cobb and Clay who everyone looks at as reaches when they are picked.

Ryan Mallet would've made a lot of sense to groom behind PR.  As it stands now, we have nothing behind him.

I was pretty high on John Moffitt who Seattle took from Wisconsin in Round 3.  We could be set at the OG position for quite some time with him and Vasquez.

shoehater wrote: I would agree with this.

And yet, I'm not sure which lineman taken after Mouton we should have selected with that pick. Just looking at the first four OL taken after the Mouton pick and two were injured this season and two are on IR (which, I know, is unrelated to their skill-set). The fifth guy taken was cut by the Raiders (though signed by the Rams). Is there any OL in particular we should have grabbed with that #29 pick?

Though, I suppose, anyone would have contributed more than Mouton over these past two years. You're right, SoCal, these drafts ARE crapshoots.

SoCalThrilla wrote: No.  It looks like the mistake is using the pick we got for Cro on Mouton instead of O-line.

Yes, AJ should have never drafted him in the first place.

And one more. While he was here, he was infinitely more interested in populating the state of California with as many Cromarties as was humanly possible than he was in winning football games. He had all the potential in the world, was an absolute physical freak, and was a first rounder. He was simply not living up to the potential while he was here.

joser619 wrote: +10000

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--- SoCalThrilla wrote:

No.  It looks like the mistake is using the pick we got for Cro on Mouton instead of O-line.

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LOL! Some good responses....but still, the fact remains, Cro is a Pro-Bowl caliber CB and has the ability to take top receivers out of the game. Those guys are hard to find and I wonder why the Chargers weren't able to get that out of him during his stint in San Diego. I think it's a good question...Is it coaching???

They got it out of him during the 2007-2008 season when he had those 10 interceptions. The problem was after his one fluke season, he became almost as arrogant as AJ into thinking that he's the greatest corner in the NFL and even made laughable predictions such as having 15 interceptions the following season.

All the talent in the world but NO brains nor work ethic whatsoever. I don't regret them ever trading him. But I DO regret them taking Mouton with the 2nd round pick that they had from the Cromartie trade.

Good riddance to that clown.
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--- Chargerhonk wrote:

LOL! Some good responses....but still, the fact remains, Cro is a Pro-Bowl caliber CB and has the ability to take top receivers out of the game. Those guys are hard to find and I wonder why the Chargers weren't able to get that out of him during his stint in San Diego. I think it's a good question...Is it coaching???

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Course, as we've seen this year, being selected to the Pro Bowl doesn't mean you're actually a great player. I would also add that Cromartie did get beat for a TD last Sunday by a mid-season pickup Charger wide receiver.

Chargerhonk wrote: LOL! Some good responses....but still, the fact remains, Cro is a Pro-Bowl caliber CB and has the ability to take top receivers out of the game. Those guys are hard to find and I wonder why the Chargers weren't able to get that out of him during his stint in San Diego. I think it's a good question...Is it coaching???

i dont miss Cromartie, he has all the talent in the world but a peanut for a brain

this

kiwibolt wrote: i dont miss Cromartie, he has all the talent in the world but a peanut for a brain

Honk, you can't be serious about this.

Cro is a dirtbag who will have a great game or even a decent season. But, like Kiwi said, he has a peanut for a brain. His No. 1 priority is bangin' chicks with no protection. His No. 2 priority is not tackling. 

He's a wasted talent with no character who fakes injuries. Any team that takes him on is taking on a cancer. The Chargers aren't a Lions Club, but they have to have some sort of character standard. And whatever it is, Antiono Cromartie falls far below it. He might be acceptable to FSU, but he's dirt to everyone else.

Cro is a very good athlete with great cover skills who also is soft and could not tackle his way out of a paper bag.  He has the sex drive of a rabbit and the brain of a Cromagnum mind.  Agree with the wasted 2nd round pick we got for him.

HunterSTomlinson wrote: Honk, you can't be serious about this.

Well, he made the Pro-Bowl....and he's had a very good season. I don't follow the Jets but Cromartie could have helped the Chargers this season more than our current CB duo. Cro definitely has a peanut brain, there is no doubt about that.

Chargerhonk wrote: Was it just learning the positions or do the Chargers have a problem getting the most out of their players...i.e. Cromartie, Sproles, Brees, Turner, VJ and so on....and Meachem who has been a bust.

Cromartie - Had one great year and then traded and now has another good year. As everyone else has said he has all the physical tools, but immaturity issues. 
Sproles - was very good in San Diego that is why he was franchised.
Brees - was starting to take it to the next level when he was injured and then went FA. I think Sean Payton really helped Drew also.
Turner - Was very good in San Diego but should have been behind LT.
VJ - Was very raw when drafted and turned into a really good WR while in SD.
Meachem - Was an average receiver in NO with Brees and Payton.

So Brees was really the only player that jumped his skill set a lot after leaving SD in your list and that might have been some coaching, and also some normal learning curve experience.

I don't think with your examples show they didn't improve because of coaching. I am not saying the coach was great.

AvsnBroncos wrote:

Chargerhonk wrote: Was it just learning the positions or do the Chargers have a problem getting the most out of their players...i.e. Cromartie, Sproles, Brees, Turner, VJ and so on....and Meachem who has been a bust.

Cromartie - Had one great year and then traded and now has another good year. As everyone else has said he has all the physical tools, but immaturity issues. 
Sproles - was very good in San Diego that is why he was franchised.
Brees - was starting to take it to the next level when he was injured and then went FA. I think Sean Payton really helped Drew also.
Turner - Was very good in San Diego but should have been behind LT.
VJ - Was very raw when drafted and turned into a really good WR while in SD.
Meachem - Was an average receiver in NO with Brees and Payton.

So Brees was really the only player that jumped his skill set a lot after leaving SD in your list and that might have been some coaching, and also some normal learning curve experience.

I don't think with your examples show they didn't improve because of coaching. I am not saying the coach was great.

Cromartie has blossomed since going to the Jets, same with Sproles. Sproles has been utilized correctly and in his last year in San Diego, you wouldn't even know he was on the team at times.

VJ was drafted by the Chargers....he should still be a Charger. Brees injury is understandable, this has been beaten into the ground, nevertheless, he has won a Super Bowl since leaving and broken big time records. Everyone and their grandmother saw that Turner was young, big, and fast...and LT was old and on the decline......he should have stayed too....Nice analysis, but off the mark. Anyway, this thread is about Cromartie...I get it, he's dumb and has 10 kids...but he's a Pro Bowler....and we let him go....

I for one dont miss him, now the others? yeah, i miss their production.

i agree completely with everything here

AvsnBroncos wrote:

Chargerhonk wrote: Was it just learning the positions or do the Chargers have a problem getting the most out of their players...i.e. Cromartie, Sproles, Brees, Turner, VJ and so on....and Meachem who has been a bust.

Cromartie - Had one great year and then traded and now has another good year. As everyone else has said he has all the physical tools, but immaturity issues. 
Sproles - was very good in San Diego that is why he was franchised.
Brees - was starting to take it to the next level when he was injured and then went FA. I think Sean Payton really helped Drew also.
Turner - Was very good in San Diego but should have been behind LT.

VJ - Was very raw when drafted and turned into a really good WR while in SD.
Meachem - Was an average receiver in NO with Brees and Payton.

So Brees was really the only player that jumped his skill set a lot after leaving SD in your list and that might have been some coaching, and also some normal learning curve experience.

I don't think with your examples show they didn't improve because of coaching. I am not saying the coach was great.

Chargerhonk wrote:

 he's a Pro Bowler....and we let him go....

That's almost a copyright infringement brutha Honk.  lol
And we let em off the hook!!!!!