McIntosh should star for Redskins’ defense

By Connor Byrne  |   Wednesday, May 03, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Washington Redskins
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On Saturday, the Washington Redskins moved up into the second round of the NFL Draft in order to select former University of Miami linebacker Rocky McIntosh. The Redskins' brain trust, led by owner Dan Snyder, VP of Player Personnel Vinny Cerrato, and head coach Joe Gibbs paid a huge price to the New York Jets in order to acquire the 35th overall selection. Washington shipped the 53rd overall pick, the 189th overall pick, and a second-round pick in next year's draft to the Jets just so they could move up to select McIntosh.

And for good reason.

During his time with the Hurricanes, McIntosh was highly regarded by everyone on the team because of his skill and leadership. He emerged as the captain of the vaunted 'Canes defense, leading their unit to prominence year in and year out.

At 6'2" and 237 pounds, McIntosh has more than good enough size to be a starter on the NFL level. He also ran a stellar 4.61 40-yard dash, which clearly demonstrates his athleticism. McIntosh's versatility also sets him apart, since he can play both outside linebacker positions as well as the inside linebacker spot.

After the loss of three-time Pro Bowler LaVar Arrington, the Redskins found themselves in a quandary this offseason. Washington was in dire need of Arrington's replacement, and they likely found him in McIntosh. Arrington wasn't able to get along with the Redskins' coaching staff at the end of his tenure in Washington, but it shouldn't be a problem for McIntosh. He's the ultimate team player who is more than willing to closely listen to his coaches, and apply their teachings to help his game.

In Washington, McIntosh will have some of the best coaches a young NFL player could possibly dream of. Obviously, Gibbs is among the elite head coaches in league history, and has developed a reputation of being a tremendous influence on young players. The Redskins' defensive coordinator is one of the finest in the game, Gregg Williams. His aggressive schemes, which make everyone on his side into better players, should work wonders for McIntosh, who loves to attack the line of scrimmage. Lastly, McIntosh's position coach, Dale Lindsey, has been regarded as one of the league's best linebackers coaches for years.

The most important thing on McIntosh's side is the history of superb linebackers to come from Miami. The Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis, the Carolina Panthers' Dan Morgan, the Denver Broncos' D.J. Williams, and the New York Jets' Jon Vilma are the biggest names that come to mind. All starred as key players on the Miami Hurricanes' defenses of years past, and all have been key contributors for their teams in the NFL. Lewis is a surefire future Hall of Famer, Morgan is the heart and soul of Carolina's defense, Williams is a promising youngster for the Broncos, and the young Vilma is quickly emerging as one of the best linebackers in football. If McIntosh can be as good as any of those four, the Redskins will have gotten themselves an outstanding player.

The Washington Redskins were criticized by some in March for letting Arrington go, but they had a plan all along. Arrington was no longer an upstanding member of the team, so Washington was left with no choice but to end ties with him. Now, the 'Skins brain trust has found themselves a legitimate playmaker and leader who could produce major results for years to come. If he does, look for Gregg Williams' fierce defense to be as potent as ever in 2006.

--Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.
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