Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: By The Numbers
Sep 12, 2014, 11:57 PM | Updated: 11:57 pm
Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie anchored the Arizona Cardinals’ secondary together in 2008 and 2009, with the two combining to play eight seasons with the team. They were consistent ball hawks in Arizona and helped the Cardinals reach Super Bowl XLII.
This week, the defensive backs will be part of the secondary for Arizona’s opponent, the New York Giants.
Before Sunday’s tilt at MetLife Stadium, here’s a look at some of the numbers the two players put up while playing in the desert:
8, 16:
Arizona gambled on the two players before they even played a down, using the eighth overall pick on Rolle in 2005, and the 16th overall pick on Rodgers-Cromartie in 2008.
8:
Combined defensive touchdowns for Rodgers-Cromartie and Rolle, four each, in their eight seasons in Arizona. Rolle led the NFL in defensive touchdowns and interception return yards in 2007, after taking three picks back to the house.
99:
Rodgers-Cromartie returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in Week 13 of his rookie season against the St. Louis Rams. The cornerback tied a team record for longest defensive touchdown, set by Adrian Wilson in 2006.
10:
Their best season as a tandem came in 2009, when they combined for twelve interceptions and were both elected to the Pro Bowl. Rodgers-Cromartie led the way as he picked off six passes, adding three forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown.
294:
Rolle put his stamp on the team record books in only five seasons, racking up 294 tackles with the Cardinals. The numbers puts him 17th all-time in team history.
12:
The secondary was consistently healthy with the pair, only missing 12 games in 140 possible appearances over their time with the Cardinals, including the playoffs. Rodgers-Cromartie was especially reliable with Arizona, playing in all 54 possible games and starting all but five.
3:
Rodgers-Cromartie and Rolle were crucial in the Cardinals’ run to the Super Bowl in 2009, forcing three turnovers in the four playoff games. Rolle even got in on the playoff scoring, returning a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
131:
Rodgers-Cromartie had some issues with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII, as Holmes racked up 131 receiving yards while predominantly covered by the cornerback. Holmes caught nine passes in the contest, including the game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left.
223.4:
The Cardinals allowed 223.4 passing yards per game by the Cardinals in the six seasons with one, or both, of the defensive backs. The Cardinals’ secondary is showing its stout abilities without the tandem, allowing 221.6 passing yards per game over the last three seasons without Rodgers-Cromartie or Rolle.