Since emerging as a starting weak-side linebacker in 2007, Rocky McIntosh has proven to be a steady contributor for the Redskins’ defense.

Now the team is looking for McIntosh, who is entering his fourth NFL season, to help create and convert more game-changing plays.

That’s something the Redskins’ defense has needed in recent years.

One thing that could contribute to a potential breakout season for the 6-foot-2, 232-pound University of Miami product is the Redskins’ restructured defensive line that, on paper, appears to be a strong point this year.

A key factor that should help McIntosh and the linebackers is the addition of the highly sought-after free agent Albert Haynesworth, who the team expects to draw considerable attention from opposing offensive lines.

On run plays, McIntosh should benefit from Haynesworth’s presence when the burly defensive tackle takes up multiple blockers, leaving McIntosh untouched to make the stop.

When the opposition airs the ball out, Haynesworth should draw enough attention to improve McIntosh’s positioning in pass coverage--and even blitz when necessary.

When asked if he felt that the upgraded defensive line would help his production, McIntosh was convinced that it would.

“Definitely, it’s not going to do anything but help us all throughout the year,” McIntosh said. “We were pretty good last year and we expect to be even greater this year.”

Playing between a promising defensive line and a consistent secondary, McIntosh and the Redskins’ linebackers should provide an imposing presence to a defense that was ranked fourth overall last year.

McIntosh is one year removed from an arduous rehab of his reconstructed knee, which he injured late in the 2007 season.

He recovered quickly enough to be a solid contributor last year. In 16 games, he tallied 87 tackles, two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles following his rehab.

McIntosh said he does not feel pressure heading into the season and he has confidence in his defensive teammates.

At the same time, McIntosh knows that coaches expect him to continue to blossom into the playmaking linebacker that they drafted in the second round (35th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.

“Everybody has a role in this defense,” he said. “You challenge me to do anything and I’m going to step up to it.”
When asked if there was anybody on this year’s schedule that he was excited about playing, McIntosh mentioned the New York Giants.

The Redskins, of course, open the 2009 regular season against the Giants on Sept. 13 at the Meadowlands.

“I can’t give anybody any fuel for the fire,” McIntosh said. “But the Giants won a couple games on us last year, so hopefully we can put something together and beat those guys.”

(redskins.com)

Redskin OLB Rocky McIntosh is having a great offseason. Hopefully it will lead to a contract extension as he is in the last yr of his deal.

Another former 1st round pick who has rebounded is William Joseph. After moving on from the Giants, William's found a home with the Raiders.

Despite drafting a center, you can bank on Chris Myers having his best year in Houston this season. Chris is a great fit in that scheme.

Phillip Buchanon has made a smooth transition from Tampa to Detroit as their top cb. He is on a mission this year to have his best season.

Santana Moss is working hard with Jason Campbell to ensure they are a successful combo this year. Another year in Zorn's system will help.

Sinorice Moss is determined to have a breakout season for the Giants. It looks like he is now getting a fair opportunity to show his skills.

The Bills need to take better advantage of Roscoe Parrish's skills this yr. He was underutilized in 08. He's much more than a punt returner.

It's time Jon Beason gets more recognition. The "Beast" is as good as it gets in the NFL. He tore it up in 08 & will be even better in 09.

(rosenhaussports twitters)

A charitable organization called Neurofibromatosis, Inc. is running their third annual National Doodle Day auction, which raises funds to help them provide support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis. (Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on the nerves. If you, like me, are a bit of a hypochondriac, it sounds absolutely terrifying.)

CLICK HERE TO BID ON ROCKY’S DOODLE!

Anyhow, for this auction, various celebrities have dashed off quick doodles which are being auctioned off on eBay. It sounds unremarkable when described like that, but the roster of artists actually has some big names on it, including a few DC and Baltimore-area celebrities, sports and otherwise: Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau, Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken, Jr., Chef Duff from Ace of Cakes, Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals ... and Rocky McIntosh and Chris Wilson of your Washington Redskins.

"I was at the draft day party, and they said it was for charity," Wilson told me. "That's my Running Man character. Back in high school, that was kind of my logo. I used to draw it on my shoes when I played basketball. Jordan had his Jumpman, I had my Running Man."

Bids are still fairly low on Wilson and McIntosh, so it's a good way to acquire an interesting piece of Redskins memorabilia while helping a worthy cause. (Chef Duff, meanwhile, is a much bigger draw than even I would have expected, and I'm a fan of his show who used to live a few blocks away from his bakery. Go figure.)

Wilson and McIntosh and all the rest join an impressive roster of past doodlers, including Cindy Crawford, a pre-Presidential Barack Obama, Scarlett Johansson, and the girl who played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years. None of their doodles, though, can hold a candle to the one created by Food Network personality and general threat to public health Paula Deen.

Even Deen's doodles love pie and butter, y'all! Chris Wilson's Running Man would have to do some serious mountaineering to burn off the pounds that Deen's doodle is pushing.

(blog.redskin.com)

Rocky McIntosh, who was excused from the first day of minicamp in order to attend a funeral, was back on the field and working out with the linebackers.




(rotoinfo.com)

Since they cut veteran Marcus Washington, the Washington Redskins have searched for a successor to fill his spot at strongside linebacker. They will try to fill that void from within the organization, moving weakside starter Rocky McIntosh there during the upcoming minicamp and organized team activities.

Top draft choice Brian Orakpo, a defensive end at Texas, might get a shot, too.

"We're going to try to put Rocky at strong side," coach Jim Zorn said Sunday. "You may even see Orakpo line up [there] ... so we can see whether he's got the potential to do that."

(washigtontimes.com)

Apparently, that $5.96 million in cap space is burning a hole in the Redskins’ loin cloths.  (That’s an image we could live without.)

The ‘Skins are talking to linebacker Rocky McIntosh about a new deal. 

According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, who recently was hired to represent McIntosh, a meeting occurred Thursday morning at Redskins Park regarding a possible contract extension.

McIntosh is entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal.  He’s due to earn a base salary of $535,000 in 2009.  The second-round pick from the 2006 draft appeared in 16 games last season, starting 15 of them.

(profootballtalk.com)

Washington Redskin’s linebacker Rocky McIntosh was in the spirit of giving recently. On Saturday, he participated in the 12th Annual Airbus Kaps for Kids Walk-a-Thon organized by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater DC.

The two girls pictured in front, Elle Howdershell and Chloe Romero, have stayed in the Ronald McDonald House that provides care for children who are getting treatment for some serious diseases.

Now that’s fab!

(dcfab.thefabempire.com)

During his first two years as a starting linebacker for the Washington Redskins, Rocky McIntosh was as quiet as can be.

Middle linebacker London Fletcher served as the defense's unquestioned leader. Marcus Washington always chatted and danced on the strong side. McIntosh, on the weak side, was all business, on and off the field.

But McIntosh has shed some of that shyness this offseason. Fletcher hasn't attend conditioning workouts at Redskin Park, Washington was released in February because of injuries and a high price tag, and veteran backup Khary Campbell remains unsigned.
McIntosh, heading into his fourth season, suddenly is the senior linebacker at Redskin Park.

"I never played that role in the past, but I'm vocal when I have to be," he said. "I've got the most playing time here, so I can definitely be a help to
guys."

McIntosh said he hasn't heard from Fletcher or Washington since the season ended, but he sees Campbell since they're Northern Virginia
neighbors.

"Those are my guys," McIntosh said. "I learned from them. They set the tempo, Khary with special teams and Marcus on defense. ... It would be great to have them back and try to build on what we did last year."

The Redskins ranked fourth on defense in 2008; McIntosh, who suffered a major knee injury in December 2007, played all 16 games, starting 15. He ranked second on the team with 88 tackles.

Campbell called McIntosh one of the Redskins' "do-it-all guys."

Said McIntosh: "I'm an OK guy, an average guy, but I'm not great. As a defense, we weren't great. We were No. 4, but why not be No. 1? I didn't make it to the Pro Bowl, and we didn't make it to the playoffs. That's what's you're striving for."

McIntosh has loftier goals for 2009.

"Last year, I was rehabbing to get back, and I went straight into training camp [without a break]," McIntosh said. "This time around has been a lot less stressful. This year, I want to be a very explosive guy. I want to blow guys up every play. In college, that's the way I was, a little bit more relaxed out there, creating a bigger impact."

McIntosh is doing that at Redskin Park. After nearly three years of staying "behind the curtains," McIntosh had become more involved in community service and in players association matters. He also commandeered an empty work space in the public relations department, acting as a quasi-intern to learn what happens behind the scenes.

"Rocky's overcome adversity," Campbell said. "When you're able to do that, [you] tend to be more confident and have fun."

But McIntosh, who was involved for two years in a South Carolina commercial real estate company, didn't attend a recent three-day seminar for NFL players at Penn's Wharton School of Business just for fun.

"Football isn't going to last forever," said McIntosh, who has degrees in English and criminology and will consider graduate school or law school when his football career ends. "I want to make sure that I keep my mind rich. ...

"You've got a little window when you're not working on football during the offseason, and I take advantage of that. Don't just go home and sit on your butt. Be productive somehow."

(washigtontimes.com)

When Rocky McIntosh invited me to go paintballing with him and his friends on Saturday, a few thoughts went through my mind.

First, I wondered how good an idea this was. There's a brief history of Redskins and paintball, and between Redskins players being badly outnumbered in a charity tournament and the team's 2007 first round pick missing minicamp with a paintball injury to the groin, not much of it can be considered very good.

Second, I found myself wondering exactly why Rocky McIntosh -- who has become a regular on this blog for his holiday antics, his office antics, and his refusal to give Intern Bridgette a straight answer to basic interview questions-- was described to me as a non-talker. Really.

When I first started working here, different people would offer advice for what to expect from the various players and coaches. Not much of that advice was consistent from one person to the next, but the one thing everyone agreed on was that McIntosh was a quiet guy who really kept to himself. This opinion seemed to be borne out when McIntosh went so far as to disguise himself as Khary Campbell in an attempt to avoid the media, so this outgoing version of Rocky McIntosh is continually surprising.

And third, I wondered what I was supposed to do with the 25 pound weight vest he had handed me.

What I did NOT wonder, although as it turns out I maybe should have, were who his friends were. If you had asked me at the time, I'd have said that I assumed it was Rocky's peers -- presumably not other players, otherwise he would've mentioned it, but friends of about his age, background, and so on.

I can safely say that I wouldn't have come up with the actual answer:

A fourteenth birthday party.

At this point, though, it's just Rocky being Rocky.

The kids picked teams, and Rocky was selected first overall; as I waited to see where I would be taken, I realized that the feeling of waiting to be picked never, ever changes, no matter how old you get. Much to my surprise, I was picked well before last, to be teammates with Rocky and the birthday boy.

The downside of this is that I have no amusing stories of Rocky shooting at me. On the upside, I can tell you that everyone else took tremendous pleasure in shooting him. Even after he was eliminated from a round, the kids would pop out just to take a few shots at him as he walked off the field -- the back of his jacket and pants were continually covered with paint from shots fired as he departed.

As for me, I was used as target practice for just about everyone with a paintball gun. One of the boys' fathers, a more experienced paintballer, offered me two pieces of advice before we started: don't get hit in the throat, and don't get hit in the exposed hands.

I lasted through one game following this advice, getting eliminated by a videogame-perfect headshot. (For those of you desperately interested, the photo evidence is here.) After that, though, it was direct hit to the finger -- drawing blood and raising a welt that still hasn't settled down -- followed in rapid sequnce by direct hit to the throat and multiple hits to the legs, all of which caused bruising.

So for those of you wondering if maybe Rocky's size made him a bigger target in paintball and negated any advantages his athletic abilities might have given him, I can confidently and painfully say that you're wrong. My abject lack of athletic ability caused me to get shot much more than Rocky's size did him.

We made it through with no terrifying injuries, and McIntosh was at Redskins Park today continuing his offseason conditioning without pause. The birthday boy seemed thrilled to have had him there, and assured me that he would still have picked McIntosh first even if he had all to do over again, and the rest of the guests were continually impressed at McIntosh's enthusiasm for the game -- his full-out dive into a hut during a game of capture the flag earmed particularly rave from the assembled teenage boys.

That said, here's some video evidence of Rocky getting himself eliminated at exceedingly close range by some much smaller competition.

(blog.redskins.com)

Redskins WLB Rocky McIntosh says his reduced snaps late in the 2008 were not the result of his chronic knee problems.
"It has nothing to do with the knees, it's just guys are getting tired and everybody rotates," he said. McIntosh played 16 games, but didn't improve on his 2007 numbers. He'll be an injury risk as long as he's in the NFL.

(rotoworld.com)

The Redskins may continue to bench Rocky McIntosh after the third-year player watched most of Sunday's loss from the sideline.
McIntosh, who returned from a torn ACL and MCL in August, is having knee problems again. But he was healthy enough to start against the Bengals and may have been benched for his performance. McIntosh's numbers didn't decline much this year, but he hasn't made many difference making plays.

(rotoworld.com)

Linebacker Rocky McIntosh's impressive return from reconstructive knee surgery has been a major boost for the Redskins. McIntosh, who tore two ligaments in the 15th game last year, has piled up 40 tackles, just one fewer than team leader London Fletcher, a former Rams linebacker.

"The first couple of preseason games, it took him a little bit just to get the confidence back in his knee. But he's been playing well for us now," Fletcher told reporters in Washington this past week. "He's playing the run real well, making plays in the passing game, and creating turnovers. He's definitely a big part of our success."

Although he's in just his third season out of the University of Miami, McIntosh is one of the most respected leaders on the team, according to his teammates and coaches. Just don't expect McIntosh, who often turns down interview requests, to promote himself.

"We all work for each other," McIntosh said. "It's like a chain: Everybody's got to work or the chain is going to pop or break down. We've all got to work together.

(stltoday.com)

As he prepared to leave the locker room at Redskins Park the other day, weak-side linebacker Rocky McIntosh was in no mood to answer reporters' questions. McIntosh was not upset; he would just prefer never to be interviewed.

"Nah man, can't do it," he politely repeated several times in a scene that has become familiar at the complex. "You know that's not me. I'm not that guy. Why do you want to talk to me? I haven't done anything, anyway."

Actually, McIntosh has done a lot. He played well again in Sunday's 23-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, continuing his impressive return to the lineup after reconstructive knee surgery ended his 2007 season.

McIntosh's strong performance helped Washington limit Philadelphia to 254 yards of total offense -- including only 174 yards after the game's opening possession -- in its fourth consecutive victory. With strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington slowed by recurring hamstring problems again this season, McIntosh and middle linebacker London Fletcher have provided the group's foundation.

In his third season, McIntosh has emerged as a leader on defense, coaches and players said, especially during the winning streak. Washington (4-1) hosts the St. Louis Rams (0-4) on Sunday at FedEx Field.

McIntosh is respected in the locker room for his selfless approach and dedication during his offseason rehabilitation from the knee surgery. Of course, he would rather not talk about that.

"I'm just out there to help my teammates," said McIntosh, who each week declines many interview requests. "We all work for each other. It's like a chain: Everybody's got to work or the chain is going to pop or break down. We all got to work together. That's the way I see it."

Credited with 31 tackles, including 25 unassisted, McIntosh ranks second on the team to Fletcher in both categories. He also has two of the team's three forced fumbles (Fletcher has the other).

He was solid against the run and in pass defense in the victory over the Eagles, recording five unassisted tackles and breaking up one pass. The Eagles had hoped for a bounce on offense because of the return of All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook, who sat out the previous game after spraining his right ankle.

With McIntosh winning many of his individual battles on the edge, the Eagles struggled to run wide. Philadelphia had only 58 yards rushing on 18 carries, and Westbrook finished with 33 yards and a 2.8-yard average. "We practiced the whole week like he was going to play 100 percent," McIntosh said. "He got in the game, he made some plays, but we didn't make no adjustments. We just stuck to our game plan out there and executed."

Washington ranks 13th in the league in total defense, giving up an average of 303 yards per game. The Redskins are ninth in rushing defense with an 85.4-yard average.

"Rocky is becoming a very, very fine football player," defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. "In the run game, he's always been a big hitter, but his pass coverage is starting to improve. He's becoming much more confident, and not just as far as assignments.

"He's always been [solid] assignment-wise, but the nuances and the subtleties of the game are starting to become second nature to him. You see growth taking place, but also his ability to be a leader. Not necessarily a 'rah-rah guy,' but just a supportive guy out on the field. So there's a lot of growth in Rocky."

McIntosh also was among the Redskins' defensive catalysts during a 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. He led Washington with 10 tackles, including seven unassisted, and was credited with half a sack. Although McIntosh reluctantly acknowledged that "it feels cool" to contribute to the Redskins' early success, he strongly believes "everybody on defense is a leader in some sort of way. There's certain things guys admire about each other."

Many Redskins players admired McIntosh for the tireless work ethic he displayed in rehab after he was injured Dec. 16. McIntosh tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee in a 22-10 victory over the New York Giants at Giants Stadium. He had surgery shortly after the swelling subsided and began the long recovery process.

Despite sitting out the last two games in 2007 because of his damaged knee, McIntosh finished second on the team in tackles with 105, including 70 unassisted, according to statistics compiled by the team. Fletcher finished with 128 tackles.

In training camp in July, McIntosh impressed at times when the first-team offense and first-team defense competed in 11-on-11 drills, but, on the recommendation of the Redskins' medical staff, Coach Jim Zorn and Blache exercised caution. They held out McIntosh from the team's first two preseason games, and McIntosh returned to the lineup on Aug. 16 against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium.

"Obviously, the first couple of preseason games, it took him a little bit just to get the confidence back in his knee, but he's been playing well for us now," Fletcher said. "He's playing the run real well, making plays in the passing game and creating turnovers. He's definitely a big part of our success."

McIntosh, who had a history of right knee problems while at the University of Miami, has put his most recent procedure behind him. "The injury, that's a long time ago," he said. "You can't worry about that. The NFL [stands for] 'Not For Long.' You can't worry about that."

And McIntosh also cannot focus on his individual success in previous games, he said, because "I don't really go by that. I'm going to go out there and do what I've got to do each week; the past doesn't matter. However, [the coaches] want me to do it, special teams, defense, wherever they want me to go, I'm going to go do it."

McIntosh has not disappointed, linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti said. "Rocky's doing the things that we expect of him, and he's taking steps every week and getting closer to being the guy he wants to be," Olivadotti said. "It's not about our expectations as coaches; Rocky wants to be a good player.

"He'll continue to prepare and he'll continue to get better. Rocky's going to play physical for you, and he's going to do good things, but he's like anybody else. We need to work on some stuff, but he's playing at a level that can help us win. It's just kind of been a progression the whole way."
McIntosh intends to continue climbing. "Some little part of the brain, you could say, 'I'm happy,' " McIntosh said. "But the rest is just not satisfied."

(washigtonpost.com)

In the next two weeks, the Redskins will need all the playmakers they can muster, with NFC East road games at Dallas and Philadelphia just ahead.

Rocky McIntosh, for his part, has been taking steps in that direction.

The third-year linebacker out of Miami continues his comeback from a serious knee injury suffered last year on Week 15 at the Meadowlands.

The last three weeks, he has exhibited that he can be a force in the Redskins’ defense.

In Sunday’s 24-17 win over Arizona at FedExField, McIntosh may have played his best game as a Redskin.

Statistically, he led Greg Blache’s defense with 10 tackles.

He also forced running back Edgerrin James into a fumble recovered by Carlos Rogers in the first quarter and combined with Andre Carter to sack Kurt Warner with just under 11 minutes left in the game.

The week before, when the Redskins outscored New Orleans 29-24, McIntosh forced a fumble by Jeremy Shockey and in the Sept. 4 opener versus at the Meadowlands he posted eight tackles.

He may be rounding into shape at just the right time.

Certainly, he’ll be tested next week when matched up, as the flow of the game dictates, versus Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.

“This is a game that can really get us going,” the 6-2, 232-pound McIntosh said.

“The Cardinals are a good team,” he added. “You have to say that about any team with Pro Bowl-caliber wide receivers, with a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback and running back. A win over that team is a big win.”

But McIntosh knows the intensity level will be elevated the next two weeks.

“Your motivation has to be really high for NFC East games,” he said. “But really, any time you’re playing in the NFL, you’d better be motivated to do your job.”

The Redskins’ best moment last season came when they traveled to the Meadowlands in mid-December and handled the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl, 22-10.

But for McIntosh, that trip to Giants Stadium was a personal disaster as he went down with a knee injury that required surgery and a long rehab.

The way he’s played through the first three games of 2008 suggests he’s back on an upswing.

(redskins.com)

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)

Hoping to elude reporters the other day at Redskins Park, weak-side linebacker Rocky McIntosh devised a plan. As the team walked off the field after practice, McIntosh and linebacker Khary Campbell briefly disappeared behind a tent in which trainers tend to injured players.

McIntosh and Campbell switched jerseys (McIntosh wears No. 52 and Campbell has No. 50), and McIntosh reemerged on the right side of the tent and attempted to blend in with the crowd headed toward the locker room. Although some of McIntosh's pursuers were momentarily duped, Zack Bolno, the Redskins' executive director of communications, and reporters who cover the team daily were not fooled. Perhaps glasses and a fake nose and mustache would have worked better.

"I was Khary for a little minute but you guys got me," said McIntosh, his face creased by a wide grin. "I've got to find something else for you."

McIntosh has reason to be in a playful mood these days. He returned to the lineup last week for the first time since a serious knee injury cut short his 2007 season, starting in the Redskins' 13-10 preseason victory over the New York Jets on Saturday at Giants Stadium.

Being back in the stadium in which he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee caused some uncomfortable moments on the field during pregame warmups. Once the game began, it was like old times for McIntosh, the Redskins said, and he could take another big step Saturday against the Carolina Panthers.

Redskins starters are expected to play most of the first half at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, as Coach Jim Zorn plans to use the game as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. McIntosh, who is from Gaffney, S.C., about 50 miles from Charlotte, proved he was ready while joining the first-team defense for a portion of the Jets' two first-quarter possessions.

McIntosh is on track to be part of the opening lineup when Washington and the New York Giants kick off the NFL's regular season Sept. 4 at Giants Stadium, and the Redskins said that is good news for them.

"He was glad to be out there [against the Jets] and we were happy to have him back," strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington said. "He was flyin' around like he was having a good time doing it, flyin' to the ball and having fun, and that's the Rocky we all know."

Against the Jets, McIntosh, entering his third NFL season, and fourth-year cornerback Carlos Rogers, who also was making his preseason debut after having reconstructive knee surgery last season, were finally back in the mix against an opponent. The Redskins have exercised caution with the talented young players, limiting their exposure in contact drills since the beginning of training camp.

McIntosh and Rogers impressed at times early in camp when the first-team offense and first-team defense competed in 11-on-11 drills, but, on the recommendation of Washington's medical staff, Zorn and Vinny Cerrato, the team's executive vice president of football operations, took a wait-and-see approach. And even when Cerrato and Zorn removed the handcuffs last week, McIntosh and Rogers were closely monitored in their short stints against the Jets.

On Dec. 16, McIntosh tore the ligaments in his left knee in a 22-10 victory over the Giants at Giants Stadium. He had surgery shortly after the swelling subsided and then began the long recovery process.

McIntosh did not know how he would react to his return to the field on which the injury occurred. But he figured he would experience a range of emotions "just being back there," he said. "When I was out there in warmups, I thought about it a little, but you can't hold on to nothing like that. Just move on. Once it was game time there was no worrying about your leg.

"You got to go out there and play defense. All the other guys are playing, so you got to play, too. Just going out there and just being out there, you've got to play full speed. That's what I'm going to go out there and do no matter how I feel or what point I am [at in his recovery]. As soon as you step in between those white lines it's either hit or be hit. I don't want to be hit."

With warmups completed and the jitters gone, McIntosh lined up in his familiar spot alongside Washington and middle linebacker London Fletcher. Rogers replaced McIntosh, who was credited with only one tackle but was involved in several plays, when the Redskins used their nickel package on the Jets' first possession.

"He stepped right up there and took people on," Zorn said of McIntosh. "I don't think he shied away from anything. I think it'll take two to three games to get the instinct back. But when the play comes right at him, that's easy to read. He's right on top of it and he's enjoying it."

McIntosh "got in a lot more action" than Rogers did, Rogers said. He "got in on some tackles, so he had a big test for his knee."

In their offseason rehab, McIntosh, who had a history of right knee problems while at the University of Miami, was considered to be further along than Rogers, who tore his right anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in a 52-7 loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 28. McIntosh and Rogers pushed each other through grueling exercises to strengthen their knees.

"Unfortunately, we had those knee injuries," McIntosh said. "Just us having the same injury, we were out there trying to work hard, [competing] against each other. Everybody heals differently. He still has a couple of months on me. That's a lot of rehab time, a lot of healing."

Despite sitting out the last two games in 2007 because of his damaged knee, McIntosh finished second on the team in tackles with 105, including 70 unassisted, according to Washington's charts (tackles are not an official NFL statistic). Frustrated about missing the end of the regular season and the playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, McIntosh was "just more motivated to get back to where I am now."

So motivated, in fact, that McIntosh tried to eliminate anything that would distract him from returning as quickly as possible. Speaking with reporters was high on his list of distracting activities, McIntosh said in a rare interview during camp.

After the Redskins' final practice before facing the Jets, Bolno unsuccessfully tried to arrange a group interview with McIntosh, who fended off Bolno from the field to the weight room as Bolno pleaded with him to meet with reporters. Bolno estimated he spoke with McIntosh numerous times before McIntosh agreed to be interviewed earlier this week. The jersey switcheroo with Campbell was all McIntosh's idea.

"Just going with the flow, man," McIntosh said of his upbeat approach. "Just coming out here and practicing and getting to run around and things like that. Just trying to be like the rest of these guys and come out here and play."

At the time of his injury, McIntosh had made major strides in his first season as a starter. Players coming off reconstructive knee surgery sometimes need a full season -- or more -- to revert to form physically. Just in case, McIntosh has focused on becoming a smarter player.

"I'm definitely critical of myself," he said. "Everything can be better, reads and my mental game. I just want to go out there and be perfect."

In addition to McIntosh's season-ending knee injury, Marcus Washington was slowed throughout 2007 because of recurring hamstring problems and sat out four games. With McIntosh back and Washington's hamstrings cooperating, the Redskins' linebackers could be among the NFC's strongest units, defensive coordinator Greg Blache said.

"Could be, but nobody is going to give it to us," Washington said. "We're going to have to work for it. It's going to start in practice and, of course, it carries over into the game. It's definitely going to take some work, but having Rocky back helps."

(washingtonpost.com)

After playing Saturday for the first time in eight months, Washington Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh did something Monday he also hadn't done in ages. He talked to the media after attempting to sneak away by switching jerseys with teammate Khary Campbell.

"It was fun, definitely exciting just to be out there," McIntosh said of his brief action Saturday against the Jets at Giants Stadium, where he tore his ACL in December. "When I was out there in warmups, I thought about [the location] a little bit, but ... once it was game-time, there's no worrying about your leg. You gotta play full-speed."

McIntosh was beaten for a touchdown by tight end Dustin Keller, but strongside linebacker Marcus Washington has liked what he has seen from his weakside counterpart.

"They've been holding him back a little bit to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself, but when he's out there, he's Rocky," Washington said.
Coach Jim Zorn said he liked McIntosh's aggressiveness.

(washingtontimes.com)

Zorn added that linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who had a somewhat less serious knee operation in December, will also make his 2008 debut against the Jets. Their mutual returns bode well for Rogers and McIntosh to be in the lineup for the Sept. 4 season opener at the New York Giants.


(washingtontimes.com)

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache is confident that WLB Rocky McIntosh (knee) will be ready for a "large role" when the season starts.
Still, a large role may not mean an every-down role and H.B. Blades could see frequent snaps on the weak side during the first few weeks. McIntosh would be a poor bet to play 16 games because of his chronically bad knees.

(rotoworld.com)

Jason La Canfora, of the Washington Post, reports Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said LB Rocky McIntosh (knee) is progressing in practice but will not play for at least two more weeks.



(kffl.com)

Linebacker Rocky McIntosh has maintained a low profile during training camp at Redskins Park, having repeatedly declined to speak with reporters.

All subjects are off-limits with McIntosh, who has been especially reluctant to discuss his progress in rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery. But after practice yesterday, McIntosh, in a rare interview since a season-ending knee injury in December, said it is nothing personal, but that he is busy.

"I'm just trying to be a guy, man," McIntosh said. "I'm just out here trying to help the team out, get better. Anytime you step between those white lines, you've got to give 100 percent, and that's what I do. That's what I'm doing out there. Right now, that's all I have time for. You know what I mean?"

McIntosh, who is beginning his third season, tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee in a 22-10 victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 16. He had surgery after the swelling subsided and has been working "as hard as I can" since to return to the starting lineup.

McIntosh, who had a history of right knee problems while at the University of Miami, fared well in his offseason rehab, the Redskins said, and is considered to be further along than cornerback Carlos Rogers, who tore his right anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in a 52-7 loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 28.

McIntosh and Rogers are not participating in 11-on-11 drills and have been ruled out of Sunday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts in Canton, Ohio.

But McIntosh is optimistic about rejoining the first-team defense soon.

"I don't see no bad stuff" on the practice film, McIntosh said. "So you just have to take it from there and see where it goes."

McIntosh finished second on the team in tackles last season with 105, including 70 unassisted. Because of his current physical limitations, McIntosh, who was in his first season as a starter in 2007, has focused on becoming a smarter player, he said.

"Last year, I just came out there and wanted to pound everybody," he said. "From last year to this year, I know this game is more mental. I've been working on the mental game. Just forget all that physical stuff. Just be where you're supposed to be and you're going to make plays."

(washingtonpost.com)

LB Rocky McIntosh (knee) hasn't done a whole lot lately, coming back from major knee surgery, and Zorn said that indeed "right now we're holding him back, but he's getting better." Zorn said overall he's not overly concerned with the injury situation, considering most are minor, but does not like the fact that rookies are losing valuable learning days in practice.

(ffmastermind.com)

Linebacker Rocky McIntosh is someone the Redskins will keep a close eye on during training camp. Before his knee injury last season, he had emerged as a key player on defense. McIntosh wisely attached himself to veteran London Fletcher, who is the heart and soul of the Redskins' defense. If defensive coordinator Greg Blache can get McIntosh, Fletcher and Marcus Washington back together, it will be a formidable group.

(espn.com)

The continued display of the positive things that athletes are actually doing in the community that does not get any headline press!

Yesterday Redskins LB spoke with the athletes of the Brian Mitchell football camp along with Scotty Graham (former Viking and Steeler and current NFLPA Director). They shared with them the importants of team work, getting good grades and being MEN!

But the highlight of the day was having all three (BMitch, Graham and McIntosh) participate in the practice with them as they help instruct the players on the field.

Rocky McIntosh can run and hit, but the Washington Redskins' weak side linebacker doesn't like to talk about those skills. In fact, McIntosh, who declined several interview requests for this story, would rather not talk publicly at all.

McIntosh's season ended with a torn left ACL in December, but that received little attention during a three-week period that included safety Sean Taylor's death and quarterback Jason Campbell's knee injury. His teammates, though, noticed his absence.

"The surprising thing about Rocky is that even though he's a quiet guy, he'll talk a little smack out there," strong side linebacker Marcus Washington said. "That's a football player expressing a different side of his character on the field."

On the field is where McIntosh itches to be, but the Redskins' medical staff has allowed him to participate only in a limited fashion during the ongoing organized team activities. Monday marks six months since he hurt his knee, putting him on schedule to return when training camp begins July 20.

"The problem with Rocky is never trying to get him to do stuff," linebacker coach Kirk Olivadotti said. "It's making sure that he's not doing too much. He's doing everything we ask him to do, if not a little bit more."

Indeed, McIntosh has sneaked into the defensive huddle for some drills in which he's not supposed to be involved. The coaches haven't ordered him to the sideline every time.

"I can definitely relate to what Rocky's going through," said Washington, who missed most of last offseason trying to recover from his own physical ailments. "Sometimes an athlete is his own worst enemy because he tries to come back too fast. You're so used to being in there, the rest of the guys are on the field and you want to be a part of it. When they've got to hold you back, that's definitely a good sign. I just told him to be smart. We'd like him to be out there now, but I told him, 'We'll need you when the season starts.'"

After playing mostly on special teams as a rookie in 2006, McIntosh became a starter last year. He totaled 68 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in the first eight games. He had only 19 tackles in the next five games before the injury ended his season, but Olivadotti said the dropoff didn't bother him. After all, it took the triumvirate of Randall Godfrey, Khary Campbell and H.B. Blades to fill his spot.

"Rocky had opportunities early last season that were kind of obvious," Olivadotti said. "As the season went on, he was still doing a lot of things that were real good, but some of his opportunities weren't so out in the open. He played real physical all year."

That's something McIntosh likes to do.

"He was starting to really fit his name because he was flying around and rocking guys," Washington said. "Even when he wasn't in the right spot, he got there with a bit of an attitude."

The Redskins have been impressed with McIntosh's attitude since he was sidelined.

"Rocky never got down," Campbell said. "He never complained about not being able to play in the playoffs. I know how Rocky feels because I had an ACL, too, [in 2003]. I was back in six and a half, seven months. But there's coming back the first day and there's working every day after that. There are going to be times when he has swelling, when he has discomfort. But Rocky's a tough guy. He'll deal with it fine."

(washingtontimes.com)

The Redskins are back on the field for the first time since May 8 and the big news is that Rocky McIntosh is back at his usual weakside linebacker spot for the first time since he tore an ACL against Chicago last Dec. 2.



(washingtontimes.com)

Cornerback Carlos Rogers and linebacker Rocky McIntosh are not expected to participate fully in the May 2-4 mini-camp. Both are continuing to recover from knee ligament surgery last year. Rogers is coming off a knee ligament injury suffered in Week 8 last season. He underwent surgery to repair the knee in November. His availability for training camp and preseason is also uncertain. Rogers has targeted the 2008 season opener for his return, though. He said in early March that he was "making progress" with his rehab. McIntosh's rehab has a shorter time frame, team officials said. He could be ready to participate in individual drills during mini-camp, but he may sit out team work. McIntosh could be fully healthy by training camp.

(PFW.com)

“Rocky could not be doing much more than he is, and continues to make strides in coverage as well. He is progressing so well that had Marcus’s injury been long-term, there is a good chance he would have switched to the strong side because he has the closest ability and skillset to Marcus. Very shrewd by the Skins not to deal him for Lance Briggs, вЂ˜cause he’s already better than Briggs against the run and will probably be better against the pass, too, by the middle of the season.”

(washingtonpost.com)

ASHBURN--Rocky McIntosh remembers watching a 1992 football game on television between Florida State and Miami.

To a 10-year-old in Gaffney, S.C., both of those universities might as well have been on the other side of the world. Their aura and their mystique intrigued McIntosh, though, and then he witnessed a play that would change him.

Florida State wide receiver Tamarick Vanover came over the middle to receive a pass. Miami linebacker Michael Barrow came over the middle to receive Vanover.

The collision was violent and powerful, and McIntosh says that is when he decided he wanted to be a linebacker for the Hurricanes.

And he did. When he joined Miami, that bone-rattling highlight stuck with him.

"I definitely wanted the coaches to go out and find old tapes of those guys," McIntosh said. "I liked watching it to get hyped up for the game we were about to play."

For nearly all of the last season, during which a once-feared defense plummeted in the league rankings and teams consistently exploited the same weaknesses, the inability of prized rookie Rocky McIntosh to get on the field raised the kind of red flags players and talent evaluators want to avoid.

The Redskins traded two draft day picks to the New York Jets in 2006 to acquire McIntosh, so why wasn't he playing? Wasn't he better than incumbent weak-side linebacker Warrick Holdman, who was consistently beaten in coverage and to whose side teams pounded their running games?

During last season, after each game he could not unseat Holdman, McIntosh would demur, saying only he was trying to improve and help the team. He trusted the decisions of the coaching staff, he said, and if playing special teams was where they thought he was at his best, then so be it.

With the Washington Redskins' history of playing their top draft choices fairly soon and only retread Warrick Holdman ahead of him at weakside linebacker, Rocky McIntosh figured to see plenty of action as a rookie last season.

That didn't happen. Asked every week last season when the second-round pick would play, assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams danced around the subject.

"It was pretty hard not playing," said McIntosh, a three-year starter at Miami. "I was down a little bit, but I gave it my best shot on special teams. The first time we played Philadelphia [rookie linebacker Omar Gaither] blew right past me, and he was making plays. The second time we played them, I kind of snuck up on him and got him real good."

While Gibbs offered a measured analysis of how his players were doing, Williams made it sound as if half of the team was headed to the Pro Bowl, and his gushing over linebacker Rocky McIntosh - a player with two career NFL starts - was especially lavish.

"Rocky may be the top guy on the defensive side of the ball that has flashed this spring," Williams said.

McIntosh was a slow developer as a rookie last year, but, as Williams said, he has had a good spring.

(hometownannapolis.com)

McIntosh, who is expected to start at weakside linebacker, was also with his wife and their first child, who was born on Wednesday. The 2006 second-rounder is expected to return to action today.

(washingtontimes.com)

GAFFNEY -- Fresh off his NFL rookie season, Roger "Rocky" McIntosh is only too happy to be in his first offseason.

The Gaffney native is especially glad to be back in the South, where the weather is warm -- warmer, anyhow -- than up north where his Washington Redskins play.

"Oh man, don't even start talking about (cold weather). I spent three days trying to dig out my garage, my driveway, my sidewalk before I came here," McIntosh said Thursday night. "I'm glad to be back down here. It's pretty warm.

"The only thing I really wanted on draft day was to end up somewhere pretty warm, but I'm in Washington … so it is what it is."

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)

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)

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."

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.

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.

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 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)

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.

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)

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.

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