Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco calls Chargers cornerback 
Although the two haven’t met in game action since Cromartie’s rookie year of 2006, a game in which Ochocinco recorded a career-high 260 yards in a Chargers victory, the two are extremely familiar with each other’s games. Cromartie and Ochocinco spent several weeks training with each other this summer in Los Angeles. The Pro Bowlers traded tidbits about what they saw in one another and how they could improve.
“We had some good workouts,” Cromartie said. “I think that’s what the offseason is all about. We just went out and had fun and worked out. We were on the field doing one-on-ones. When you can help each other, it elevates both of your games.”
During one-on-one route-running drills, ones that Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was regularly a part of, Cromartie told Ochocinco that he was often tipping his hand when he was about to break by ducking a bit. Ochocinco saw that Cromartie was looking into the backfield a little too much.
“He helped me get better at my game,” Ochocinco said. “I’m really looking forward to some of the info he gave me and using it against him and see how much I’ve improved in my route running.”
Cromartie and Ochocinco will see plenty of each other Sunday. Ochocinco spends a lot of his time lined up on the left side of the formation, which means he’ll be across from Cromartie on the right defensive side. Ochocinco said that he didn’t bring up his big performance against the Chargers in 2006 during their workouts this summer because he said, and Cromartie confirmed, that Cromartie wasn’t responsible for much of the yardage.
“It was blown coverages,” Ochocinco said. “It wasn’t like I just beat him. There were blown coverages, mistakes that happened in the secondary. He just happened to be on that side at the time.”
Plus, in Cromartie’s four seasons, Ochocinco has seen the 2007 Pro Bowler grow immensely. Sunday’s matchup is one that the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson sees as a challenge.
“I’ve seen him shut down the field, period,” Ochocinco said. “I’ve seen him with my own eyes. I’ve been watching film. You’re going to get beat in this game, but when you keep getting beat to a minimum like he’s done, he can be rated as one of the best.”
That’s what Cromartie aims to be, and he believes this season has been the best of his four-year career. His 10-interception campaign in 2007, one in which he set a new team record for interceptions in a season, drew more attention than what he’s doing this season, but Cromartie sees himself as a much more complete player.
“I think I’ve been a lot more consistent than I’ve been since I became a starter,” Cromartie said. “I’ve gone out and tried to work my techniques and not just use my athletic God-given ability. I’ve tried to be more consistent in everything technique wise. That’s really helped me.”
Cromartie said with the help of secondary coaches Steve Wilks and Cris Dishman, he’s focused more this season on improving his weaknesses rather than further improving his strengths. Cromartie sees that paying off in technique, assignments and run support.
“I feel like I’ve been a better all-around corner,” he said.
Cromartie hasn’t gotten a ton of media attention for his 2009 campaign like he did in 2007, but Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner said Wednesday that it can often be a very good thing for a cornerback when people outside the team aren’t noticing him.
“When you’re playing corner and everyone is talking about you, it’s usually because they’ve completed passes on you or thrown touchdowns on you,” Turner said. “That hasn’t happened with Cro. He’s getting action. They’re throwing the ball his way. He hasn’t had opportunities for interceptions. We’ve played guys that are very good at protecting the ball, but if someone misses a throw or makes a bad decision, he’s been in a position where he’ll get his interceptions. He’s playing at a real high level and a real high level of consistency.”
Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis was also very complimentary Wednesday when asked about Cromartie.
“I think he really does a great job in playing the football,” Lewis said. “He has great confidence in his speed and athleticism. You can’t play cornerback without that.”
Cromartie expects Sunday to be a fun matchup because of his relationship with Ochocinco and because of the Bengals’ leading receiver’s personality. He said there will likely be a few good-natured exchanges between him and the gregarious Ochocinco before the game but that will quickly cease once the ball is put in play.
“Once the game starts going, the trash talking stops,” Cromartie said. “I’m looking forward to Sunday because it’s a great opportunity for our team to keep this thing going and I know I’ve got to play well and help us do that.”
