Eric Crocker Shines In Portland Secondary

Published on June 5, 2014 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Portland Thunder News Release


PORTLAND, OR - Portland Thunder defensive back Eric Crocker wasn't expecting to play this season in Portland.

The day of the Arena Football League expansion draft, Crocker was resigned to getting ready to start the 2014 season back in San Antonio when DJ Stephens, a wide receiver and one of his best friends on the Talons, texted him, asking if he knew anything about being drafted number one overall.

"I do now!" exclaimed Crocker, who got more excited when he learned who the Thunder coaches were.

"I'd played against Coach Sauk["˜s offense] when he was in Utah and those games were some battles. I felt like I'd played well in them, and especially with them picking me number one overall, I felt like they really believed in me and wanted me to succeed - I didn't always feel that way in San Antonio."

As a rookie with the Talons in 2012, Crocker recorded 70.5 tackles, 13 passes broken up, and three interceptions in a great defensive backfield that also featured current teammate and fellow expansion draft selection Dwight McLean.

After the AFL season, Crocker spent the offseason working at a Macy's in San Antonio, stocking shelves and eking out a living while waiting for football season to start again. After switching agents, however, Crocker went from "Arena Football teams are really interested in you" to "You have workouts with the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, etc." in the span of a few hours.

"It was crazy - I was like, "˜Wait, these teams know who I am?'" said Crocker. While the Saints invited him to their rookie camp, the New York Jets offered a contract after his workout for them. "It was like a dream come true. Just being around guys l looked up to like Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis...it was really cool."

While Crocker didn't get to spend much time with Revis, who went to Tampa Bay during that offseason, he learned a lot from Cromartie. The two are similar in size and stature.

"I'm probably one of the closer corners to him as far as build, but that guy's a physical freak. We do have some similarities with having long arms and long legs, though, and he helped me a lot with different techniques," Crocker said.

His run with the Jets, however, ended just prior to the 2013-14 NFL season. He'd be returning to the AFL, this time as a veteran expected to help lead his team.

"What I bring to the secondary and defense is a never quit, keep fighting attitude," said Crocker. "My rookie year, we started off 3-3, and then we won 11 straight games. I know at any time it can click for us. I try to keep guys positive - in this game, the offense is supposed to win. So if you give up a couple touchdowns, it's not the end of the world. It's going to click - just stay in there and keep getting better in practice and studying film."

The secondary gets together after each game at their apartment and watches game film, critiquing each other. Fourth-year AFL veteran McLean tends to lead, helping Crocker and rookie Varmah Sonie see where they need to be the next time on plays where they got beat.

He's succeeded in Portland this season as a player, though he hopes that individual success will soon translate into wins for the Thunder. He leads the team with six interceptions, good enough for sixth in the league.

This week, however, those skills will be put to the test against the AFL's best offense, the Arizona Rattlers. The Rattlers score on roughly one-quarter of all plays from scrimmage and lead the league in scoring, yards per play, passing efficiency, and nearly every other offensive statistic.

"The rapport those receivers have with their quarterback - the timing is so precise. You really can't make any mistakes. One false step - it's difficult to recover against them because they get the ball out quick."

Crocker does know that beating the Rattlers is possible, however - in 2012 with San Antonio, Arizona beat the Talons 68-34 early in the season, but the Talons redeemed themselves in July with a 62-61 upset win.

The Thunder hope their next surprise will come at the expense of the Rattlers this Friday, with the rest of the AFL watching.

For all the latest news and discussion on the Portland Thunder, follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/PDXThunder), Twitter and Instagram (@PDXThunder).

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