March 22, 2017

Highlighted Year: Ray Crockett, 1991

Cornerback, Detroit Lions




Age: 24
3rd season in pro football & with Lions
College: Baylor
Height: 5’9”   Weight: 181

Prelude:
Crockett played at cornerback and free safety in college and was chosen by the Broncos in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL draft. Despite lacking ideal speed he moved into the starting lineup during the 1990 season and improved over the course of the year. An excellent athlete who could be reckless, he had a breakout season for the much-improved Lions in ’91. 



1991 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 6 [2, tied with five others, 1st in NFC]
Most interceptions, game – 1 on six occasions
Int. return yards – 141 [3]
Most int. return yards, game – 96 (on 1 int.) vs. Dallas 10/27
Int. TDs – 1 [2, tied with many others]
Sacks – 1
Fumble recoveries – 0
Forced fumbles – 1
Tackles – 86

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions – 0
TDs – 0

Lions went 12-4 to finish first in the NFC Central. Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas Cowboys (38-6). Lost NFC Championship to Washington Redskins (41-10).

Aftermath:
Crockett, playing with an injured ankle in 1992 followed up with four interceptions and 52 tackles. He spent one more season with Detroit before departing for Denver as a free agent in 1994. Crockett spent seven years with the Broncos and started at LCB in the 1997 and ’98 seasons when Denver won NFL titles.He finished up with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001 and ’02. Overall, Crockett intercepted 36 passes, 16 of them as a member of the Lions.He also was credited with 15.5 sacks.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1 comment:

  1. Being a Bronco fan, I remember the FA and trade transactions that they made in 1994 to help out a declining defense. Ray's signing was the only one of those that worked out. He did a good job for them for seven years.

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