In the box, Antrel Rolle continues to prove himself as versatile run-stopping safety

When Antrel Rolle made tackles with the Cardinals, they were down the field at the end of long runs, screen passes or receptions made in his area.

Through five games with the Giants, Rolle has been credited with making 31 stops, many of them down low near the line of scrimmage — tackles that mean something, tackles that stop a play before it gets going.

“Tackles that have my neck sore today,” the Giants safety said on Monday, one day after the Giants’ 34-10 victory over the Texans. “But I’ll take it. As long as I see a ‘W’ at the end of the day, I’m all for it.”

A former cornerback at the University of Miami and through his first three seasons in Arizona, Rolle made the move to safety before the 2008 season. Last year, he recorded four interceptions and several big hits on receivers making catches in his area. He had one of each against the Giants — an interception to secure Arizona’s victory and a huge hit on Kevin Boss — in Week 7.

But Rolle has never played as much down low as the eighth man “in the box” as he has with the Giants, who have put him near the line against run-heavy teams.

The Colts (160 yards on 43 attempts) surprised the Giants with their run attack; the Texans didn’t, and Rolle was there to help contain the previously top-ranked rush offense to just 24 yards on 15 carries by making tackles on cutback runs by Arian Foster.

“That’s a part of the scheme,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “The ball (carrier cuts) all the way back, and there is Antrel to make the tackle and still keep it at a very short gain.”

In the second quarter, Foster appeared to have room on a cutback to the right side after the offensive line got a decent push. But Rolle made the stop for a gain of only 3 yards. A few plays later, he dodged fullback Vonta Leach to contain a counter play that gained only 1 yard. And one more time, he was there to eat up Foster on a cutback when he seemed to have plenty of space. Later, Rolle made a stop on a pitch to Steve Slaton.

Even when he didn’t make the tackle, Rolle was a factor. On the first play of the Texans’ third drive, he timed his blitz perfectly, ate up a blocker and cleared a path for Jonathan Goff to make a stop in the backfield.

“He has that ability to read run-pass so well early in the down,” defensive end Justin Tuck said, “that we feel comfortable bringing him in the box.”

Said Rolle, “I enjoy playing football. I don’t care what it is. You could put me in the box all day every day. I might not be so happy at the end of the season when I see zero picks. But if I see zero picks, 14 wins and a Super Bowl, I’ll take that over picks any day.”

By an unofficial count, Rolle has been targeted on only seven passes by opponents this season. Still, he claims he thinks, “Let’s get it,” when presented with a game plan that requires plenty of run support instead of pass coverage.

“The interceptions, I’m really not worried about that,” Rolle said. “If it happens, it happens. ... If they tell me to go out there and play nose tackle, I’ll play nose tackle.

“I don’t care where I am on the field. I just try to be the best at that position.”

Click here to order Antrel Rolle’s proCane Rookie Card.



(nj.com)