Crowder’s time to shine is now

By Hugo Guzman | Monday, March 17, 2008 | ( 0 )

Got something to say?

Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder is jovial guy. He always seems to be laughing or smiling and brings an air of joyful glee to the locker room and the sideline. And contrary to his reputation coming out of college, the Florida Gators product has avoided major off-the-field trouble throughout his three-year tenure in Miami.

Unfortunately, good will and character doesn't carry much weight with the South Florida faithful.

Despite starting for three straight seasons, compiling solid tackling numbers and filling in admirably for Zach Thomas when called upon, few current Dolphins players have received more fan criticism than Crowder. Most fans consider him to be little more than a pedestrian starter while others take a more extreme stance, labeling the son of former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Randy Crowder as an out and out bust.

Most of this disdain is tied to a several overriding factors:
1) Crowder was hyped up as the steal of the 2005 draft and was pegged a sure-fire Pro Bowl caliber linebacker after an impressive rookie campaign.
2) Crowder was tabbed by many as Zach Thomas' eventual successor but has failed to live up to those expectations thus far.
3) Crowder is viewed as a bit of a dimwit due some memorable misquotes during his three-year tenure

While Crowder may not be the most well-educated or sophisticated individual in the world, the last time I checked, cerebral acuity and book smarts are not a pre-requisite for NFL. After all, some of the greatest defenders of all time - Reggie White and his ethnic rant immediately comes to mind - routinely embarrassed themselves with the words that came out of their mouth.

As for the comparisons to Zach Thomas, that's really more of an issue with fan expectation than it is with any shortcomings on Crowder's part. Thomas is a borderline Hall of Famer at the middle linebacker position and that's just something that you don't come across very often.

Expecting Crowder to match Thomas' playmaking ability is simply ridiculous, especially considering that Crowder came from 3-4 alignment in college and has been asked to play both on the outside and in the middle throughout his NFL career.

The expectations placed on Crowder from the outset have been daunting, and the fact that he has not measurably improved his play since his rookie season is a cause for concern, but when you consider that Crowder is still only 24 years old it becomes apparent that his potential has not yet been fully tapped.

Now don't get me wrong. Crowder's play through three seasons does leave plenty of room for improvement. He has been prone to displaying poor tackling technique and taking poor angles at times. Moreover, his lack of playmaking ability - 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and no interceptions - is concerning. But on the flipside, Crowder has been a veritable tackling machine who led the team in tackles in 2007, eclipsed the 100-tackle plateau in 2006 and has become known for momentum-ending solo tackles against tough runners.

Perhaps most exciting is the fact that Crowder now has an opportunity to flourish as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 system that should mesh well with his physical dimensions and style of play. Hopefully, Parcells and Co. will tease out the latent Pro Bowl potential that lurks in Crowder's 6-foot-2, 245-pound frame. If they can, Miami will have gone a long way towards securing a foundational building-block for long-term defensive success.

Got something to say?