Former local star McIntosh back in groove with Redskins

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rocky McIntosh’s confidence level isn’t quite peaking yet. But it’s improving ever steadily.

McIntosh, a Gaffney native and Washington Redskins linebacker, played his second consecutive preseason game on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium — about an hour up Interstate 85 from his hometown.

And though his team lost 47-3 to the Carolina Panthers, McIntosh had reason to feel good about the evening.

McIntosh, in the midst of a return from knee surgery, played the entire first half and recorded a pair of tackles.

“It was cool just being out there and enjoying it,” McIntosh said. “Of course the outcome was bad, but it was fun just flying around out there.”
Naturally, he had some friends and family watching in the stands.

“I brought a small group here … nothing too big,” McIntosh said. “I’ve got a lot of people from South Carolina around here that still know me. So that’s cool.”

The Redskins have been cautious in their use of McIntosh so far this preseason. Saturday’s game was meant to be a big test for his surgically-repaired left knee, which McIntosh said went well.

“(The knee) better be feeling good. I got to go out there and play,” he said smiling. “It’s good. I’m just continuing to hope it stays that way.”
“(McIntosh) is coming along,” Washington coach Jim Zorn said.

There’s no holding back physically once the whistle blows for McIntosh — even after eight months away from competition.

“Whenever I go out there, I let loose,” he said. “There’s no holding back for me. Whenever you see me out there, that’s 100 percent Rocky.”

McIntosh made his initial return to action last week against the New York Jets. It was a bit of an eerie debut, as the game was played at Giants Stadium — the same venue that McIntosh sustained his season-ending knee injury in December.

“I’m just moving along as quickly as possible and trying to get into the fit of things … so I can help my teammates,” he said.

McIntosh tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee in Washington’s 22-10 win against the New York Giants on Dec. 16. The injury necessitated reconstructive surgery and ended what had been a solid second professional season for McIntosh.

He had established himself as the Redskins’ starting outside linebacker, recording 105 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 14 games played.

It’s been a long and arduous road back to action for the former Miami Hurricanes’ standout.

“Definitely, it’s been about 8?months. I had to work very hard just to be out here on the field,” said McIntosh, who was drafted by Washington with the 35th pick in the 2006 NFL draft. “I sacrificed a lot of time just to make it to this point. I’ve got to keep building on that.”

McIntosh opened last season with a pair of outstanding performances against Miami and Philadelphia, respectively.

He recorded 14 tackles, a sack and forced fumble in Week 1 against the Dolphins. In Week 2, he tied for the team high with 12 tackles, including a sack of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

“I was competing hard,” said McIntosh, who finished second on the team in tackles despite missing the final three games. “I’m definitely more mature. I want to get out there and show everybody who I am. It’s time to get to that Pro Bowl-type level. That’s what I want to do.”

(goupstate.com)