Roger McIntosh
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McIntosh Makes Good Impression in First NFL Start

Dec/26/06 12:20 AM
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 24 -- In a game that did not have meaning in the standings for the Washington Redskins but was important for their continuing evaluation of personnel, rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh made his first NFL start Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

McIntosh, 24, had worked out during the week at the strong side in practices when it appeared Marcus Washington would be out, but assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams did not commit during the week that McIntosh would start. Before the game, the team announced that Jeff Posey would replace Washington in the starting lineup, but when the game began, Williams shifted weak side linebacker Warrick Holdman to the strong side and started McIntosh.

In the first half, McIntosh made two nice plays. The first came when he tackled running back Steven Jackson behind the line on a screen pass. The second came when he closed space on an end-around to Kevin Curtis, turning what appeared to be a potential big gain into a seven-yard play.

McIntosh finished the game credited with eight solo tackles, tied for second with Andre Carter to strong safety Vernon Fox's nine.

(washingtonpost.com)

Rocky McIntosh Update

Dec/13/06 09:51 AM
Redskins LB Roger McIntosh says he had no idea why he was relegated to special-teams duty without getting to work with the first-team defense prior to Week 14. The coaches had told him to keep studying his playbook before giving him his first extended action with the base "D" vs. Philly.

(profootballweekly.com)

McIntosh Makes His Defensive Debut at Linebacker

Dec/11/06 11:55 PM
Washington Redskins rookie Rocky McIntosh played with the first defensive unit in its base package for the first time this season. McIntosh, the Redskins' top pick in the April draft, has been a consistent performer on special teams but until yesterday had not been able to crack the defensive rotation at weak-side linebacker.

McIntosh made his first impact play a week ago on special teams when he blocked a punt against Atlanta.

"I think he was good," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "He had that youthful bounce that young guys have."

Redskins rookie was friend of slain Hurricanes player - LB McIntosh played with Pata at Miami, recalls him as leader

Nov/09/06 08:27 AM
ASHBURN -- Early yesterday morning, Rocky McIntosh was awakened by his dogs. They needed to go outside.

McIntosh, a rookie linebacker for the Washington Redskins, dutifully climbed out of bed and let the dogs out. On his way back to bed, around 12:30 a.m., he checked his cell phone and saw he had several text messages.

When he read them, he was shocked.

McIntosh on Special Assignment Until His Opportunity

Nov/05/06 10:55 AM
Rocky McIntosh has spent a half-season on the bench before, only then nobody noticed. The Washington Redskins' rookie linebacker was a freshman at Miami in 2002 and did not begin playing regularly that season until the final four games. Once he grabbed that starting job, however, McIntosh never let go, starting in the national championship game that season. He is waiting patiently for his time to come again.

Thus far, McIntosh has not been given a chance to play, paying his dues on special teams while stuck behind struggling weak-side linebacker Warrick Holdman on the defensive depth chart. Learning assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams's complex scheme has been challenging for many veteran free agents, so for McIntosh to progress slowly was expected. For him to have not played on defense at all -- even in pass-rush or third-down situations -- has surprised some around the league, though.

A ROCKY START

Nov/04/06 09:34 AM
While some Redskins fans advocate second-year quarterback Jason Campbell as a solution to the team's struggles, other high-priced youth has yet to be served in Washington.

Washington traded a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, plus a second-round selection in 2007, to take linebacker Rocky McIntosh with their 2006 top pick (No. 35 overall). But McIntosh, who led Miami with 89 tackles as a senior, has been limited to special teams duty, even as seventh-year pro Warrick Holdman has had an up-and-down season.

But patience is nothing new for McIntosh, who didn't start regularly for the Hurricanes until his junior season.

"That's what I've got to do now, just wait 'til my turn comes," McIntosh said. "(With Washington), I know where I fit into the team and how I can make the team better, and right now that's special teams. ... It's fun. You get to run as fast as you can down the field and hit somebody."

Gibbs said McIntosh's special teams play is improving each week.

"I think our guys over there like everything they see," Gibbs said.

(dailypress.com)

Rookie Progress - Rocky McIntosh

Oct/14/06 11:45 PM
Rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh had a busy week of practice filling in for Washington, and is beginning to make progress in his adjustment to the team's defensive scheme, linebackers coach Dale Lindsey said.

McIntosh was the Redskins' first draft pick in April, and is slated behind starter Warrick Holdman at weak-side linebacker on the depth chart. With Washington out much of this week, he worked regularly at strong side, his position in college, Lindsey said.

"I've watched him on special teams the last few weeks, and the light is coming on about how to cover a kickoff and do certain things," Lindsey said. "And I think the light is coming on for him at linebacker, too, and that's typical. About four games into their first year they get a feel for the flow of the game. Everything's on target for him."

Lindsey said he could envision McIntosh getting more playing time in the coming weeks, but is pleased with the starters.

"The two guys in front of him are playing well," Lindsey said. "If we didn't have that we might have tossed his butt in there and thrown him to the lions, but we don't have to."

(washingtonpost.com)

NFL: REDSKINS: Getting Rocky Ready: Another 'Cane In Mix

Sep/27/06 08:05 AM

Apologies to Penn State, Ohio State and USC. It's just that you could make a case for "Linebacker U" now being a team associated with the University of Miami.

Yes, the Hurricane program has been traditionally known for its flash and brash, its fleet-footed wide receivers, running backs and defensive backs. Just look at the Redskins' roster, sprinkled with great "Made in Miami" athletes such as Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Sean Taylor.

Yet it seems as though Miami has also turned out more quality linebackers than any other football program in recent memory.

The most notable is Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl XXXV MVP. He is considered one of the best to ever play the position.

Rocky McIntosh Update

Sep/12/06 10:01 PM
Heart of the matter

Rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh didn't start Monday night, but assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams hinted that it's only a matter of time before the second-round pick from Miami becomes a regular on the field.

"You have to be able to pay your dues and slow your heartbeat down and not be all caught up in the hoopla," Williams said. "The first regular-season game for a rookie is also kind of shattering to their confidence, but since he comes from a big-time program that plays with an attitude anyway, he'll have an easier adjustment.

"He's come a long way. I'm very impressed with his toughness, and very impressed with his resiliency as a rookie to block out distractions, me included."

(roanoke.com)

Rocky's Road to Redskins Starter Won't Be Smooth

Aug/16/06 11:35 PM
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - When Sean Taylor was the No. 5 overall pick in the draft two years ago, he was made to toil with the Washington Redskins (website - news) second-string and third-string units throughout training camp, even though his talent as an instant-impact player was obvious. He didn't make his NFL first start until the third week of the regular season.

Recent 'Cane past on McIntosh's side in D.C.

Aug/16/06 11:34 PM
Washington Redskins rookie linebacker Roger McIntosh enters his first year in the National Football League with plenty of history in his favor. The second-round pick, who was signed to a four-year deal recently, attended the University of Miami, where he captained a terrific defensive unit. Much like past Miami Hurricanes linebackers, the 23-year-old has a chance to be a big-time playmaker at the pro level