LB Brian Rolle (Official Thread)

[Buckskin86]

College football locals: Immokalee grad Brian Rolle feels comfortable at NFL Scouting Combine
JUSTIN ALBERS, Special to the Daily News
Naples Daily News
Posted February 28, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS ? Immokalee High grad Brian Rolle is one step closer to fulfilling his dream.

Rolle, a former Ohio State linebacker, performed well in the majority of drills at the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium.

He finished in the top 12 among linebackers in everything except the 60-yard shuttle. His 40-yard dash time of 4.56 was third best for his position, and his 28 reps in the bench press were good for fourth. Rolle tied for third in the three-cone drill with a time of 6.89.

?I thought I?d kind of be wide-eyed by the whole experience, but my emotions were right where I wanted them to be,? Rolle said. ?I just felt like I came out and executed to the best of my abilities and did well at it.?

Even though he?s small for a linebacker -- Rolle stands 5-foot-11 and weighs only 218 pounds -- scouts love his passion for the game and the fact that he stayed at Ohio State for all four years.

Rolle, an All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection, recorded 206 tackles and four interceptions in his career as a Buckeye.

?I just love watching him play,? NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. ?He?s a guy that you?re going to have a hard time cutting because he doesn?t fit into any one spot. He really has strong safety size but linebacker instincts.

?But where do you play him? I tell you what -- you get him to camp, you?re going to find a place. You?re going to want him on your special teams, you?re going to want him running down and smacking people. I?m not sure he?ll ever be a full-time guy in your defense, but maybe in the nickel or the dime you can run him on the field and use his speed.?

Because of Rolle?s lack of size, there has been some discussion as to what position he will fill at the next level. Some people have suggested Rolle can be an NFL safety instead of a linebacker, but ESPN analyst Todd McShay doesn?t see that as a realistic possibility.

?I don?t think he can play safety. I think he?s best suited to be a backup and go chase punts and kicks,? McShay said. ?I love the way he attacks the game. I love his passion and his instincts, but he?s going to have to overcome some physical limitations.?

When Rolle met with NFL teams over the weekend, he said size wasn?t even a topic of discussion.

For Rolle, it?s all about finding a system that fits his skill set. He compared himself to Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims, a player with similar size to Rolle who fits well in the Eagles? defense.

?People get the wrong idea and they think ?Oh, all the teams don?t like this guy,?? Rolle said in a phone interview Monday. ?Every team I met with -- I fit what they do. For the teams that are looking at me, I?m the perfect size.

?I?m not going to downplay myself because I know my ability. I feel like I am worthy of a high draft pick. And when I do get drafted, I?m going to be a great special teams player as well. It will be a wise investment for any team that drafts me high.?

Rolle plans to take a couple days off before continuing his training program in preparation for next month?s draft. He'll also prepare for the Buckeyes' Pro Day on March 11.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/feb/28/college-football-locals-immokalee-grad-brian-rolle/

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Which is my point...Rolle ran at the combine so the scouts have his time and they can compare it relative to all the other combine times. If he turns around and runs a 4.5 I doubt it will make a difference because scouts know the track is faster.

I see what you're saying. I think the numbers he put up today certainly helps but again, his lacking size is what is going to hurt him so much in the draft.

 

[Colvinnl]

Hines measured 6-1, 214 pounds while Rolle is 5-11, 218. Wild.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Hines measured 6-1, 214 pounds while Rolle is 5-11, 218. Wild.

Some of the better LBers in the NFL are upwards of 250 lbs and about 2 more inches. Rolle doesn't have the frame to put on 30 pounds more without sacrificing skills.

Don't get me wrong, Im a BIG Rolle fan and I hope he gets drafted, Im just talking his draft status and what the scouts will be looking at with him.

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

He'd be a hell of a safety.

 

[TresselstillownsTSUN]

I think one of the Cover 2 teams will take Rolle in the middle round IMO. He could play Will or Mike IMO in that scheme. He proved at OSU he could carry the middle at Mike, and could take the pounding. At worst he'd be a great nickle backer.

 

[buck2006]

Rolle had a great day and will get him drafted which I was not so sure of till yesterday, but with his height he will not go before 6th or 7th round as a ST guy at least at first.

 

[Buckskin86]

NFL combine could boost six prospects
March, 3, 2011
By Steve Muench

The combine has been over for a couple of days now and talent evaluators have had a chance to put prospect performances in perspective, especially those whose workouts could help raise their draft stock.

Here's a look at six players who, in my eyes, gave themselves a boost with their showings in Indianapolis.

Ohio State OLB Brian Rolle
Rolle is undersized at 5-9 and 229 pounds, and he gets engulfed by offensive linemen at times, and based on his film we didn't believe he had the speed or fluidity to transition to safety. However, that could change after he ran 4.56 at the combine. He is a bit stiff in the hips, but his versatility and excellent special-teams contributions in college could make him an intriguing fifth-rounder despite his limitations.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/blog?name=nfl_draft&id=6177497

 

[Buckskin86]

BRIAN ROLLE - LB
Height- 5?9?
Weight- 229lbs
Arms- 31?
Hands- 10 3/8?
40 time- 4.56 seconds (3rd best among LBs)
225 reps- 28 (4th best among LBs)
Vertical- 33.0 (12th best among LBs)
Broad jump- 9' 7" (tied for 9th among LBs)
20 yd shuttle- 4.26 (8th best among LBs)
3 cone- 6.89 (tied for 3rd best among LBs)

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/combineresults.html

 

[bassbuckeye07]

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/combineresults.html

Arms 31??? good Lord....oh thats length

haha at me

 

[Buckskin86]

Scouting report: Ohio State ILB Brian Rolle
Russ Lande Sporting News

Russ Lande and his War Room scouts present this scouting report on Ohio State ILB Brian Rolle:

NFL position: ILB

Height: 5-9 5/8

Weight: 228

40 time: 4.54

Current projection: Third-round pick

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 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.

Bottom line: Rolle can be a three-down linebacker, playing in all packages. He has exceptional athletic qualities that will allow him to play right away at the next level. Rolle has the talent to become a solid starter in a 4-3 scheme.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...port-ohio-state-ilb-brian-rolle#ixzz1GIZnaTUC

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football pro day: Rolle shows scouts his versatility
Saturday, March 12, 2011
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Since he can apparently run as well as a defensive back, maybe Brian Rolle will become one?

Yesterday at Ohio State's pro day, Rolle, a linebacker by trade, posted a stellar 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds.

And then, after doing linebacker drills, he jumped into the defensive back drills, as well.

"He did pretty good," safety Jermale Hines said of Rolle's moonlighting. "B-Rolle is a pretty athletic guy; I knew he'd do well."

It was all part of trying to add value, Rolle said. He has been downgraded by NFL scouts for his size (just under 5 feet 10, about 230 pounds), so why not give them something else to think about?

"Most definitely, if I could play more than one position, then I think I just moved (up) on guys' (draft) charts," Rolle said. "(They might think), 'We don't have a guy who plays three downs at linebacker; he can play in the back end, or whatever it may be.'"

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...lle-shows-scouts-his-versatility.html?sid=101

Brian Rolle took part in the defensive back drills as well as linebacker drills. He said he wants to give scouts as much to think about as possible. He also said teams have talked to him about special teams, which he's all for. He said he did pretty well in the DB drills for never really doing them before.

"I think it's very serious," he said regarding the defensive back drills.

"That shows that I'm willing to compete. Not just do LB drills and be locked into one thing. I did DB drills just to show that if they want me to play outside backer for two downs and then come in as a nickel back or strong safety, then I'm up for it.?

?I've never done it, and I went out there and I feel like I did a tremendous job. I got a bunch of compliments, so I feel that I did well.?

?It was easy for me as an athlete. I pick up on things very easily. So once I saw Devon Torrence do it, he was the first guy in every drill, I just picked it up right then.?

However, when he sees himself down the road, there is one place he'd rather see himself than any other.

?In my perfect world, I want to play Mike linebacker. That's what I've grown accustomed to here the last couple of years. But I know that nothing's perfect. If they want me to play the Mike, the Sam, the Will, or defensive tackle and gain 100 pounds, I'll do that.?

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/proday/ProDay2011.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuoXT_PobqE"]YouTube - Brian Rolle Pro Day 40 yd Dash[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5dZ8CZQI7w"]YouTube - Brian Rolle Pro Day Interview[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

LB Brian Rolle looked good. He was very quick and athletic in the linebacker drills and displayed the explosive burst and speed that make some NFL teams believe he can overcome his 5-10 height to become a productive starter in the NFL. Because of the athleticism he showed on film, Rolle was put through the safety drills and didn?t look out of place. For a kid with such a thick lower body, he showed better flexibility, hips and change-of-direction ability than many expected.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/fee...osts-stock-with-strong-pro-days#ixzz1GU6Y4g15

 

[Buckskin86]

2011 combine workout: Brian Rolle - NFL Network

Eagles work out Ohio State LBs Brian Rolle, Ross Homan
Eagles look at linebackers Aaron Wilson
March 14, 2011

The Philadelphia Eagles conducted a private workout today for Ohio State linebackers Brian Rolle and Ross Homan, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Rolle is an All-Big Ten Conference selection, a 5-foot-9, 229-pounder who runs the 40-yard in 4.51 seconds.

He bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times at the NFL scouting combine and posted a 33-inch vertical leap.

Rolle has been performing in linebacker and defensive back drills for NFL scouts.

He drew interest from the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the East-West Shrine game.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com...ut-Ohio-State-LBs-Brian-Rolle-Ross-Homan.html

Sleeper: Brian Rolle, Ohio State
No one from OSU is truly a sleeper, but when you're a linebacker and measure out at a mere 5-10 and 229 pounds, your NFL future is usually bleak. But Rolle could be the exception; he's a relentless competitor and potential special teams dynamo. Some team will love the intangibles – team captain – and grab him late in the draft.

http://www.csnphilly.com/03/13/11/N..._eagles_loud3r.html?blockID=439877&feedID=704

Rolle, who played alongside Homan at linebacker, said his feelings about Tressel haven't changed in the wake of the scandal. Tressel covered up information that ultimately led to the suspension of six players -- five of whom will sit out the first five games of the 2011 season -- for selling OSU memorabilia or trading it for free tattoos.

"I know what kind of person he is and I have nothing but respect for him -- a lot of respect for him," Rolle said. "Nothing that he does, or has done, will change the way I look at him."

The scandal could serve as a season-long distraction, depending on how severely the NCAA punishes Tressel. Since the players' violations occurred before the start of last season, and Tressel was alerted to possible infractions in April, the Buckeyes may be forced to vacate all 12 of their wins from last season, including the Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas.

The Buckeyes won that game after Tattoogate surfaced on Dec. 23. The six suspended players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were allowed to play in the bowl game, with all but one playing a big role in the victory.

"I'll tell the guys (on the 2011 team) to look at it like we did going into the Sugar Bowl," Rolle said. "I feel like we did a good job then (with distractions).

"Even though they may not have the kind of leadership like the (senior) class just leaving, I think the guys will do a tremendous job of staying together.

"Outside, people are going to talk and try to make it a problem, but as long as players keep it inside the program and don't talk about it and don't let it be a distraction, I feel the leadership is there."

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com...Tressel?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

 

[Buckskin86]

at practice yesterday....

http://photo.the-ozone.net/details....umber=21&ReturnRowCount=12&ReturnPageNumber=2

Undersized defenders who could overachieve in NFL
Russ Lande Sporting News

Brian Rolle, ILB, Ohio State. Rolle (5-10, 220) stayed on the field for all of the Buckeyes' varied defensive packages. He has an undersized frame with exceptional athletic qualities that will allow him to play right away at the next level. Speed, lateral range and explosiveness should give Rolle a chance to start at either middle or weakside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. He has natural body control, balance, agility and change-of-direction skills. He closes consistently with instant acceleration as both a run and pass defender. As a run defender in the box, Rolle will lose the ball some due to his lack of size. He will also guess wrong at the snap, but often has enough speed and range to make up for his initial misread. Rolle struggles when teams run right at him. He gets engulfed quickly by offensive linemen and struggles to disengage.

Fortunately, he has exceptional lateral quickness to slip blockers entirely. Rolle can be a physical, even violent, tackler all over the field. Where he's a real asset is in pass coverage. Rolle gets depth really fast and shows strong anticipatory skills as a zone defender. He'll even hide behind the umpire, often tricking the quarterback to throw into his zone. Rolle closes lanes fast and can cover running backs or slot receivers in man-to-man coverage with ease. On the downside, he gives away a lot of size against tight ends. Overall, Rolle is a good third- or fourth-round prospect with the talent to become a good starting middle linebacker in a 4-3.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/fee...rs-who-could-overachieve-in-nfl#ixzz1IH3AIKUr