The NBC broadcast of the Packers vs. the Saints last night was pretty darn entertaining… it certainly got me fired up for Eagles football on Sunday. I enjoyed the clinic I got in blitz pickup and blitz recognition by both the Pack’s and the Saints’ offensive blockers. I liked the reads and the pocket decisions made by both Rodgers and Brees. Final score was Green Bay 42, New Orleans 34… yet somehow it impressed me as a “defensive” game… I don’t know exactly how to explain that, except for key defensive stops on both sides seemed to keep the game alive…
Which brings me to today’s topic: how comfortable are you with two rookies— Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle— calling the signals from middle linebacker for the Birds on Sunday?
Brian Rolle, #59 above, 5-9, 229, 4.53 in the ’40, a 6th-round pick in the April draft out of Ohio State, has won a job in the two-linebacker nickel package in the Eagles defense that will take the field against the Rams on Sunday in St. Louis.
Rookie linebackers Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle are both important members of the Eagles’ defense now…
Matthews, a fourth-round pick from Oregon, is the starting middle linebacker. In passing situations, Matthews will come out of the game and will be replaced by Rolle, a sixth-round pick from Ohio State.
Matthews, younger brother of Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews, became the starting middle linebacker on the first day of camp. The Eagles opted not to re-sign Stewart Bradley, who is now with Arizona, and moved Jamar Chaney to the strongside spot.
“It was tough coming in day one and trying to run the defense, but I feel I’ve progressed pretty well through camp,” Matthews said Wednesday. “I’m really excited and obviously looking forward to the opportunity to start playing in games that really matter. We know what we’re capable of doing and it’s just a matter of executing.”
To me, the bigger story is Brian Rolle making this team as an undersized linebacker (I always thought he’d make a much better strong safety)…and actually qualifying for nickel coverage MLB in his first season…
It’s less of a big deal to Andy Reid than to me…
“We’ve started rookies and have had rookies play a significant amount of time before,” Reid said. “I don’t have a problem with that. I’m OK with that, as long as they can play. That’s the important part of it and that goes for anybody, even veteran players. As long as they’re good players and they can play, then I’ll play them.”
Fair enough. But the thing about Rolle is his size… and apparently, size does not matter as much as it used to in the NFL at inside linebacker…
Rolle relies on instincts and aggressiveness that can pack a punch. Rolle is a fiery player that can really hit and has a nose for finding the ball-carrier.
Rolle for the longest time was considered to be a project for conversion from LB to strong safety. That possibility may still be in his future. For teams that line up their strong safety to assist in run support, Rolle would be a good fit. He plays downhill toward the football. For the past two years it has been said, if he is going to stay at LB, he needs to work on his hands…not for catching, but for disengaging from would-be blockers… i.e.,using his hands in space to get free from blockers who, in the NFL, will be much larger and stronger than he is…In the end, Rolle may make a good nickel back.
How most scouting reports see him is as a hybrid linebacker/safety and a guy who has a reputation as a tremendous special teams player.
Obviously the Eagles see a lot more in him as a nickel-package linebacker…
Strengths: Is an explosive athlete with exceptional speed and range… Has natural body control, balance and agility, even at full speed… Has rare closing ability vs. the run and as a pass defender. Is a real asset in zone and man-to-man coverage… Is a tough and physical tackler all over the field… Takes good angles to the ballcarrier in the open field.
Weaknesses: Is relatively short, and has only marginal weight and functional strength… Is inconsistent to read and react to runs from inside the box — often loses the ball or guesses wrong at the snap. Gets overpowered and engulfed by big offensive linemen at the point of attack. Has trouble shedding blocks once engaged…
All of that being said, Brian Rolle has obviously impressed the coaching staff of the Eagles with his strengths… and will be the guy that comes in to relieve Casey Matthews on obvious passing downs…
Andy Reid expressed praise for some of rookies expected to make major contributions Sunday. “What you saw with (starting middle linebacker) Casey (Matthews) was improvement every game he played,” the Eagles’ coach said. “That’s a little bit like what I’m saying about (starting center Jason) Kelce and … (linebacker Brian) Rolle is another one we’ve asked to do some things, they’re all getting better.”
It’s still mind-boggling to me how many rookies the Eagles are putting into such key positions come Sunday— positions with signal-calling responsibilities…But there’s a classic example of where the smart fan must place his faith in the coaching staff…and the vaunted Gold Standard of the Eagles personnel evaluators.
“People who say (size) is an issue, they must not have seen any film,” Rolle said, “because put on Von Miller (the draft’s top-rated linebacker, from Texas A&M) and put me on film, and everything he does, I can do just as well. So scouts and coaches – guys who actually watch film and evaluate me – I’m pretty sure they know I can play football.”
He’s got a great point… and if you read all the scouting reports out there on Rolle from last Spring, you quickly notice the scouts were all over the place, some so inaccurate it is humorous, such as the one I read which said “Rolle is a good tackler but lacks coverage skills”… Yeah, so Rolle ends up making the Eagles as a long-yardage passing down coverage linebacker… So much for what people write or say about you, it always boils down to what you can produce on the field of play in limited opportunities and situational chances… and Rolle came up big in those categories in the 2011 preseason.
Whether Brian Rolle has success in the NFL is going to come down to this question: What’s more important – height and weight, or heart and will?
Clearly, there are elements of desire, work ethic and intangibles that can transcend size limitations and allow smaller players to succeed.
Sam Mills was a 5-9 linebacker who made three All-Pro teams and averaged over 100 tackles a year in his 12-year NFL career. Zach Thomas wasn’t much bigger (5-11), and he was a five-time All-Pro in his 13-year career.
“I think if you get caught up in numbers, you can make a mistake and miss a really good player,” said Carolina coach Ron Rivera, a linebacker for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons.
Linebacker Ross Homan, Rolle’s teammate at Ohio State, said, “You watch him play, he plays like he’s 6-4, 255 pounds, so I think the height thing is a little bit overrated. He’s one (heck) of a player.”
“I’ve heard ‘you’re short’ my whole life,” Rolle said. “It is what it is. God wanted me to be 5-9 for a reason. I’m not going to shy away from playing linebacker just because somebody said I can’t do it.”
If Juan Castillo believes in Matthews and Rolle in the middle, then I’m a believer, too… and it’s apparent speed and quickness are becoming the new “strength” at the linebacker position in the NFL.
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