When the Arizona Cardinals traded cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb, more than a few eyebrows were raised because of the high price to obtain Kolb. Our community even to this day is not sold that the deal was good in terms of value. DRC is a former Pro Bowl player who has yet to reach his highest potential.
That talent and potential is once again at the forefront. SI.com writer Jim Trotter recently talked to Nnamdi Asomugha, who also recently joined the Eagles, who also had high praise for DRC.
According to Trotter, who shared this via Twitter, Asomugha "is awed by the physical skills" that DRC has. Said Nnamdi:
"(DRC) is the fastest, most talented cornerback that i've ever played with or, probably, that i've seen."
That is an incredible compliment considering the level of talent that Nnamdo himself has.
A lot of people will look at this quote and point to what a bad trade the Kolb will have been in the end.
The thing is that what Nnamdi said really is not anything new. There is no denying DRC's physical talent. He has elite speed, he has the ball skills and he has the physique to play at the highest level.
What was not said in that comment are the same concerns we Cardinals fans have had to deal with while watching him.
Notice Asomugha says all this about DRC, yet even with all that talent, he only managed to be on the field for 19 defensive snaps in Week 1 against the St. Louis Rams. The issue is not the speed and talent, it is the mental side of DRC.
Since coming into the league, he has sluffed off in practice drills, slacked off in film study and lost attention and focus in practice and in games. He also, with the exception of last season, has a habit of coming on strong and finishing seasons with spectacular play.
The question is at this point whether or not he will ever get over the mental lapses. That is where Nnamdo and fellow Philly corner Asante Samuel are attempting to help him with. Trotter notes that Nnamdi says that DRC is still young and that they (he and Samuel) are trying to help him with his development.
At this point I wonder if he will ever live up to the enormous potential he has. The work ethic one has is the hardest thing to change. That is what he lacks to become an elite corner in the league.
Is Nnamdi right? I have no doubt. However, as Cardinals fans have learned, he is as frustrating a player as he can be electrifying.