Carlos Rogers will miss start of season, Rocky McIntosh will not

by Skin Patrol on Feb 14, 2008 2:21 PM EST in Injuries

Hat tip to PFT. Per the Washington Times, bad news first:

Cornerback Carlos Rogers likely won't be healthy for the start of the season...

Director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer said yesterday Rogers, who suffered an injury in the Oct. 28 loss to the New England Patriots, won't return until September or October.

Meaning if we ditch Shawn Springs this offseason, it will be Fred Smoot all alone out there defending against the NFL's bests with little help. That's not an attack on Leigh Torrence or David Macklin or John Eubanks, but suffice to say I don't know if I want any of them starting games at cornerback over long stretches of the season. Magic beans solution is blog favorite Byron Westbrook, who will catapult onto the scene in a Batman outfit and immediately play at a Pro Bowl level.

Some aspects of this remind of a perfect storm that was 2006, where Adam Archuleta and a lack of reliable starting cornerbacks dramatically affected play calling and ultimately produced one of the worst defenses in the NFL. We've improved by losing Archuleta and gaining Smoot and LaRon Landry, but we've lost Sean Taylor and now, seemingly, Carlos Rogers (at least for a minute) and perhaps Shawn Springs. His future remains in doubt, though it shouldn't anymore! Make sure he is here or we will suffer the consequences. The article admits as much, pointing out that Rogers' extended injury could very well mean an extension of Springs' time in D.C.

And the good news:

[B]ut linebacker Rocky McIntosh will [be ready for the beginning of the season]...

McIntosh, who was injured in the Dec. 16 victory over the New York Giants, is expected back in July. These updates were contrary to what had been reported since the players were hurt...

...McIntosh's earlier return makes the signing of free agent linebacker Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears less likely.

McIntosh had a phenomenal year. In thirteen starts he amassed 87 tackles (3rd on team, 2nd in solos) with three sacks, five passes defensed and, per here at least, 3 fumbles (forced, recovered, I don't know). The main concern on McIntosh was articulated by the Post earlier this week:

...third-year linebacker Rocky McIntosh is coming off reconstructive knee surgery and, though making progress, remains a question mark. McIntosh also has a potential degenerative condition in both knees.

The question mark is abated if only slightly. I'm not a doctor, but a speedy recovery time from knee surgery doesn't lend itself to lingering degenerative knee problems. Then again, I shudder merely at the suggestion that McIntosh has a degenerative injury since that would obviously cut short his thus-far potential laden career.

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Comments

How cheap do you think...

we could get this guy?

Picture him next to London and Rocky... or London and Washington... or... (Image from here.)

He'd make a good backup, though I'm almost 100% sure someone (someone tell me he isn't the prototypical NE LB) takes a chance on him and gives him starter-type money.

How good has Zach Thomas been for 12 years after being the 154th player taken in the draft out of Texas Tech? Oh, I dunno... he only has more tackles than any linebacker in the NFL... Hall of Fame. (For the record, ESPN makes this claim though I can't find career tackles numbers for most of the old-time players in the Hall. I would assume Butkus and Nitschke and Sam Huff and Jack Ham all had a lot.

As far as how many tackles, it depends on who you believe. 1643 total, 1041 solo says Yahoo!. 1642 total, 1240 solo says ESPN. 1814 total says Wiki, which puts him behind Ray Lewis and some guy named Scott Studwell who is not in the hall of Fame. Go read the numbers on that page (obviously, with Wiki, it has to be taken with a grain of salt) and tell me those aren't HOF numbers.

There are 17 linebackers in the Hall, with the most recent being Andre Tippett and the original LT, both of whom retired after the 1993 season. I can see Derrick Thomas getting there in the next few years.

During the course of finding out who had the most, I found out that the NFL doesn't consider tackles and official stat. Interesting.

Anyway, the talk about the defense and Miami releasing Thomas today brought it up. It won't happen, but a guy can dream.

by TexSkins on Feb 14, 2008 7:44 PM EST 0 recs

I like

what Z. Thomas brings to the table and locker room however he is up there in age and I think has some injury issues. I'd say for the vet minimum or a little bit more would be a nice addition. Also does he fit our type of scheme? and don't we need to get younger at the LB postion?

by CptChaosSidekick on Feb 14, 2008 7:59 PM EST 0 recs

Older is right

Verdun-Wheeler 6-2 244 1 Georgia 03-16-1985 Blades 5-10 236 1 Pittsburgh 09-30-1984
McIntosh 6-2 232 1 Miami 11-15-1982
Sinclair 6-2 245 1 Illinois 07-24-1982
Wallace 6-3 243 2 Temple 05-24-1982
Campbell 6-3 232 6 Bowling Green 04-04-1979
Washington 6-3 248 7 Auburn 09-17-1977
Fletcher 5-10 245 9 John Carroll 05-19-1975
Godfrey 6-2 245 11 Georgia 04-06-1973

Thomas 9/1/73 would be in front of current roster LB Godfrey. Late in his career without a championship, he could be a good mentor to the younger guys trying trying to stay on the roster, the right price he would be a good part-time player.

by dr WNC on Feb 14, 2008 8:16 PM EST up 0 recs

Also

i'm not sure but you might want to check when tackle stats became official. I know LT's rookie yr was the last or first to make the "sack" an official stat. So for the official stat era I can see him being the front runner.

by CptChaosSidekick on Feb 14, 2008 8:01 PM EST 0 recs

When I was looking...

it said the "Packers didn't keep tackles until 1975" or something like that when I was looking for Nitschke. I don't think the NFL counts it as an "official" stat. Which I found shocking.

Also, I'd bet Godfrey is gone to JAX.

by TexSkins on Feb 14, 2008 8:33 PM EST up 0 recs

In addition, Miami's release of...

Joe Toledo and L.J. Shelton should be looked at before Thomas to aid the offensive line.

by dr WNC on Feb 14, 2008 8:31 PM EST 0 recs

I've been

campaigning for Byron for months now and I'm not giving up! He's probably a better punt returner at this point than Antwaan "dance" Randle El is, sad to say.

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Feb 16, 2008 2:52 PM EST 0 recs

Expand the "box"

The Redskins also have Eubanks, who's bio on the offical website talks about his Kick-off return ability.
http://www.redskins.com/team/profile.jsp?id=720
And before you get too concerned about his size, remember Hester is only 5/11 185.

In my opinion this is what Gibbs II has given the Redskins, top-notch 2nd and 3rd string players as well as special teamers, The added DEPTH to compete every year.

by dr WNC on Feb 16, 2008 7:34 PM EST up 0 recs