Recent ‘Cane past on McIntosh’s side in D.C.

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, August 03, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Washington Redskins
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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.

Recent Miami linebackers to make impacts in the NFL include Ray Lewis, Dan Morgan, Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams. All four of those players have made key marks at some point in their careers, while carrying on a proud tradition of LB's from "The U."

Lewis, who has been with the Baltimore Ravens for 10 years, is destined to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when his career ends. The 31-year-old has established himself as the most dominant defensive player in football for the last decade, racking up seven Pro Bowl appearances, a pair of Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and a Super Bowl MVP.

And while Morgan hasn't been on Lewis' level, he's been an impact leader for the Carolina Panthers in his five-year career. Also a defensive captain, the 27-year-old has made two trips to the Pro Bowl.

Vilma, meanwhile, is quickly developing into a fierce defender. The New York Jets' middle linebacker, he has been one of few bright spots on a porous defensive unit. In Vilma's first two seasons, the former 12th overall pick has 276 total tackles and four interceptions. Last season, the 24-year-old piled up a league-leading 169 tackles and forced four fumbles. His superb play led to a Pro Bowl appearance.

Finally, Williams is the last in a recent line of former Miami defensive stars to become accomplished pros. As a rookie in 2004, the ex-first-rounder finished with 114 tackles for the Denver Broncos. The 242-pounder did experience a sophomore slump last year, however, with just 55 tackles in 14 starts. Now on the rebound, Williams is hoping to regain his swagger as a third-year pro.

After seeing that laundry list of acclaimed NFL-ers from Miami's football factory, it's fair to say McIntosh has a tough act to follow. While it's not equitable to believe he'll best all four of his Hurricane colleagues, it's reasonable to think he'll at least fall somewhere in between. The only difference between McIntosh and the 'Canes' quartet is that he's the only one not to be chosen in the first round. The lowest selection other than McIntosh is Lewis, a former 26th overall choice.

The 6-foot-2, 237-pounder has the athleticism and quickness to be an outstanding defender at the NFL level, as long as he avoids injuries and remains consistent. The only knock on McIntosh entering April's draft were those two things, injuries and consistency. Obviously, staying injury free and remaining steadfast in greatness are two key elements that make for terrific pros.

Although McIntosh is currently penciled in as the Washington Redskins' backup "will" linebacker, behind Warrick Holdman, it's safe to say that with a good training camp and preseason, he'll crack the starting lineup on Gregg Williams' top-notch defense. The 31-year-old Holdman has drawn the ire of 'Skins fans, since his best days are manifestly behind him.

"Right now, Warrick and Rocky have a good, heated battle going on," said Williams.

Everyone will find out if McIntosh is a true player soon enough. For now, though, the element of the past is on his side. And if he is the performer Washington thought it was getting, beating out Holdman shouldn't be an issue.

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

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