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Title: Crowder is in command Post by: DolFan619 on August 28, 2008, 12:06:53 pm http://www.miamiherald.com/multimedia/Special_Reports/sports/footpreview08/dol4.html
Crowder is in command By DAVID J. NEAL dneal@MiamiHerald.com All the basic human body parts are in working order and quite muscular; uniform numbers that start with the No. 5; the middle linebacker position; and an enjoyment of the tremendous violence inherent in that position. This exhausts the similarities between Zach Thomas and Channing Crowder, the first man since 1995 not named Zach Thomas to start the season as the Dolphins' defensive quarterback. Thomas, whom Crowder calls once each week or so because he considers Thomas the smartest linebacker in the game, was released in February. He works in Dallas now. In many ways, what was his defense is now Crowder's. Crowder will be the defensive player wearing the helmet that allows coaches to send in calls without doing a Marcel Marceau act. Thomas, especially after games, always seemed to carry the weight of the world -- or at least the defense -- on his shoulders. Now, that weight is Crowder's, although it will be interesting to see how he decides to carry it. Crowder doesn't engage in such open and serious self-flagellation as Thomas, one of the many differences between them. Thomas was a fifth-round pick after four years at Texas Tech. Crowder was a third-round pick after just two years at Florida. Thomas is married. Crowder is single with a Rottweiler. Off the field, Thomas' low Texas drawl pours out words at a staely pace. Crowder speaks in torrents of sentences and thoughts usually designed to amuse him and/or his listener. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said you know it is going to be a good day when Crowder is the first person you run into in the morning at the Dolphins' facility. "He's funny, energetic; you talk about a true linebacker mentality," fellow middle linebacker Akin Ayodele said. "The guy loves football, loves to hit, runs around wild and can play the game." Although Crowder said all the usual things about leadership being earned through performance, he knows it is his time to assume some of the leadership lifting done for 10 years by Thomas and defensive end Jason Taylor, who was traded to Washington. "I know there have been some things he wants to do," linebacker Joey Porter said. "But when you have a great player like Zach Thomas in front of you, playing beside you, you're not going to get to voice your opinion or do the things you really want to do or say. But now, there's an opportunity. [Crowder is] the man we're counting on in the middle. . . . We're out there practicing, he's going to say whatever he can to get under your skin and make you play better." Crowder started 10 games at middle linebacker last season and took some of Thomas' duties during the 11 games Thomas missed. With the change this year under new defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, Crowder said he is spending an extra two to 2 ½ hours a day with inside linebackers coach George Edwards to get the calls down. Crowder's dreadlocks, tattoos and his well-earned, proudly worn reputation as willing to throw down with anybody, anywhere gets him pigeonholed. When he joked before last year's game in London that he didn't know anything about London, many people took him seriously because it fit their stereotype. But Crowder is smarter than your average Bear. Or Packer. Or fan of either. He was a good enough high school student to make National Honor Society. He is a student of comedy who can school you on Family Guy, a show based on an AK-47 assault of pop culture and historical references, and the greatness of the late Richard Pryor. But he was never a student of football until he got to the Dolphins. "Coming into the league, I just played off athletic ability," Crowder said. "At Florida, I just sat over the center and ran downhill and made tackles. Just watching how [Thomas] prepared, every day, every day, in and out, just with that passion for the game, passion for that aspect of the game that people don't think about. They think linebackers just run up and hit. But he knows the play before it happens. I got that from him. "Coming in with him and Junior Seau -- I've been saying it my whole career -- was a blessing, coming in with two guys like that to learn from." Thomas' head and legendary files contain more information on NFL quarterbacks and offensive coordinators than J. Edgar Hoover's files had on the Kennedys. "He won't send me his files," Crowder said. "I've called him three times in the last two weeks, trying to get him to send me his notebooks." When someone said Thomas' current NFC based should allow him to give up his AFC notes, Crowder agreed: "I'm saying! AFC! He's been in it 45 years!" With or without the files, it is a big office for Crowder to fill. Title: Re: Crowder is in command Post by: DolFan619 on August 29, 2008, 12:47:53 am http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-channing082808,0,5762874.story
Dolphins' Channing Crowder trying to replace Zach Thomas Associated Press 12:36 PM EDT, August 28, 2008 DAVIE - Channing Crowder has never been shy in the spotlight. Take for instance, Crowder saying his Miami Dolphins ``must not have a lot of talent'' if they can't put a player's picture on their billboards. Or when the linebacker admitted before a game in London that he couldn't find the city on a map, adding he didn't know they spoke English in England. Then there was the time the former Florida Gator said running back Ronnie Brown couldn't read because he went to Auburn. No matter the occasion, the always honest and animated Crowder has never been short on jokes. But even he can admit there's nothing funny about his latest task: replacing his mentor, Zach Thomas. ``That's something serious,'' Crowder said. ``That's a lot of responsibility and it's hard to joke about that. Although maybe me being Zach's replacement is kind of funny, huh?'' With Thomas joining the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, Crowder realizes it's time he plays up to his potential. So he talks to the only source he could think of to replace the seven-time Pro Bowler a few times a week -- Thomas himself. ``He's given me all kinds of tips,'' Crowder said. ``But if he ever asks me for any help, I ain't telling him (nothing).'' Crowder showed just how good he can be during a 24-0 preseason win over Kansas City on Saturday night. He had five first-half tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Crowder even offered an odd celebration after knocking the ball loose from Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle. He hopped to his feet, crouched low and made a digging motion, which he said was trying to mimic starting an old car. Crowder named the move ``The Flywheel,'' and hopes to be showing it some more. ``It's like those old cars back in the day that had to be cranked back up,'' he said. ``We got a new defense, and we're still learning it. When you first start cranking the wheel, it's hard. But when you get the momentum going, and you get oil moving, it starts going much smoother.'' Crowder has never been shy in the spotlight. While at the University of Florida, he wrestled alligators and wild boars on the outstretches of rural Gainesville ``for fun.'' He wears his dreadlocks long and his jersey high and tight, showing off muscles some heavyweight fighters couldn't match. But Crowder is known best for his free-flying rhetoric. He's a rare piece in Miami with the new, tightlipped Bill Parcells-led regime. There's rarely a question he won't answer honestly or leave his audience laughing. ``He loves to talk. He never gets tired of hearing himself talk,'' defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. ``Regardless of how much we get tired of hearing him talk, he never gets tired of talking. He's pretty much always the same. He is crazy.'' Even Crowder realizes he's an odd locker room commodity. ``On my locker, my name is in paper. It's not even a real plaque so they can get rid of that thing real fast if I talk too much,'' Crowder joked. Crowder, who has a history of knee injuries, has averaged more than 90 tackles in his first three seasons and is in the final year of his rookie contract. The 24-year-old has started more games for Miami (37) than any defensive player other than the 32-year-old Holliday. The Dolphins are hoping Crowder's experience playing alongside Thomas can lead the young Miami defense. ``He's played in a lot of games. He understands what the coaches expect from him,'' inside linebacker Akin Ayodele said. ``We can look at him and say, 'You're our mike, you're our leader, let's go, what you got?' He speaks out, but he also makes the plays to back it up.'' |