Rocky McIntosh

                                      

The Redskins traded up to the #35 pick and nabbed LB Rocky McIntosh from Miami-FL [if you scroll to the last blog entry I made, I called this pick].  This makes the FOURTH Miami Hurricane on the Redskins roster....joining Clinton Portis, Sean Taylor and Santana Moss. 

I obviously love the pick.  With Arrington now in NYC, the Skins need a quick, pass rushing backer....and of the guys that could've been in the 2nd round, I liked McIntosh.  Here is what others are saying about the pick.

ESPN INSIDER:  LaVar Arrington is gone, Warrick Holdman is inconsistent, at best, and Nic Clemons shouldn't be playing an every-down role. That makes outside linebacker a clear need, and Washington did well to add McIntosh. He doesn't have great size, but he has the quick feet to slip blocks in space and has sideline-to-sideline range. He also has excellent closing speed, so look for aggressive defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to blitz him early and often.

FOXSPORTS.COM:  McIntosh addressed a numbers problem for the Redskins at linebacker. McIntosh is instinctive and versatile enough athlete to make plays against the run and cover tight ends in Gregg Williams' defense, but durability is a concern. 

PAT KIRWIN:  In two years, he had 200 tackles (23 for a loss) and nine sacks. I think he is one of the finest special-teams players in the draft. He will make an immediate impact on special teams and a few defensive packages. He defines toughness.

SI.COM:  A motivated linebacker who leads by example, McIntosh is a solid athlete with the skills to play at the next level. Needs to fine-tune his game and, most importantly, stay healthy to have any chance of breaking into a starting lineup.

NFL.COM:  McIntosh quickly flashed his athleticism and consistently made plays all over the field. He is a very quick, smooth athlete who plays very well behind the line of scrimmage and can adjust to make plays out in space. He has the quick burst off acceleration and playing speed to catch fast running backs in pursuit before they can turn the corner on outside runs. He has the playing speed to cut behind blockers and chase down plays from behind. His versatility is what makes McIntosh so valuable because he will be a force against the run at him, runs away and in all types of pass coverage. He needs to bulk up and add 10-15 pounds to play stronger at point of attack and must improve his use of hands vs. low blocks in order to move through traffic well in the NFL. Overall, McIntosh is the type of linebacker who often gets a little overlooked because he is slightly undersized and does not make a lot of big, flashy plays, but in the end, he is going to develop into a very good all-around linebacker who can stay on the field for all three downs and is consistently productive vs. the run and the pass.

LARRY3422 [from AOL's Redskins Message Board]:  On ESPN it was reported that since 2000 no team in the NFL has had fewer draft picks than the skins.  Let's face it the skins don't believe in the draft never have never will.  Actually they treat the draft as a farm system like a baseball team.  Let other teams draft these guys, let the players proof themself then sign the player during his free agent years.  Not a bad plan because by then you know what you are getting. 

ROCKY MCINTOSH:  I thought I was going to go a little higher. I guess everyone does. But they traded up to come and get me and I appreciate that.