Ready for a new Rolle with switch to safety

FLAGSTAFF - There's one thing you don't expect after you enjoy one of the greatest games ever for a defensive back:

A position switch.

That's not only what has happened to the Cardinals' Antrel Rolle. It's actually what he asked to do.

Rolle returned three interceptions for touchdowns - two that actually counted - Nov. 18 at Cincinnati playing as a third cornerback against the pass-happy Bengals. He ended up leading the NFL with three such returns in 2007.

Now, he's making the switch to free safety.

The reason: Rolle had enough of a roller coaster ride at corner since being picked in the first round in 2005 (No. 6 overall) that he was losing playing time.

He lost his starting job last year in training camp when free agent Rod Hood and holdover Eric Green outplayed him.

That made everyone question why he was drafted so high. But his huge game vs. the Bengals showed he should be on the field somewhere.

So Rolle figured he needed to make the switch.

"Last year was the first time I'd ever not been a starter in my life. I took that hard. I took that personal. I told myself no matter what happens from this point on, I'm never going to be on the sideline again.

"Toward the end of last season, I just gave it a lot of thought. I felt that position would best suit me. I was able to see the whole field, see the formations, see everything and make a good break on the ball."

Rolle joins Adrian Wilson at safety with Green and Hood remaining at corner, backed up by rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

"Antrel moving to safety really helps us a lot," Green said. "Being a corner, he knows what it's like to be out there on the island. With his ball skills, his ability to run and cover a lot of ground, will help us out a lot."

The Cardinals are hoping he's an upgrade over the departed Terrence Holt, who struggled, especially after Wilson went down with a season-ending heel injury.

As a safety, "You have to have cover skills," Rolle said. "You have to be able to hit. You have to be able to read the defense."

That means much learning in training camp and in exhibition games.

"As of right now, where I am I feel very good about it," Rolle said.

Rolle's roll will be particularly important considering the Cardinals like to use Wilson up near the line of scrimmage, where he can rattle opposing quarterbacks.

"As a free safety, you're the deepest guy on the field," Rolle said. "You can't let anything get past you."

Rolle still figures to play a corner's role when the Cardinals put an extra defensive back on the field.

That's what happened Nov. 18, when he enjoyed the kind of game even Hall of Famers only dream about.

"We used three corners pretty much the entire game," Rolle recalled.

Rolle said he studied Carson Palmer and the Bengals extensively. The result: interceptions that resulted in scoring returns of 55 and 54 yards.

"A game like that is surprising. At the same time, I knew I could do it because I prepared well."

In addition, in the game's waning moments, Rolle made another interception near midfield to preserve a big Cards' win.

What's more, he again danced down the field and into the end zone for what should have been a third score, a would-be first for an NFL defensive player.

But teammate Antonio Smith was called for a penalty for blocking Palmer; players are not supposed to hit a quarterback unless he's in a defensive position.

That's what the Cardinals believe was the case; the Cardinals interpreted the fact that the NFL declined to fine Smith as an admission that the penalty was a bad call.

Rolle can't help but be disappointed.

"You can't win 'em all. But I wish I'd won that one.

"It's still going in my record books. It might not be in the NFL record books, but it's still going in my record books."

(eastvalleytribune.com)