Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍

Matt Roth could play the DL

Beastlyman2003

Beastlyman2003

Waterboy
Matt Roth-DE-6'4 280lbs.

Just wondering, this guy is the consensus most POWERFUL player in the draft. The anaylists say that he isnt just "wieght-liffting" strong but powerful like hes been "chopping red-woods since he was a child".By all accounts, he plays the game like "he hates the opposition". So why is it that people say that he couldnt be a defensive lineman? I think if we traded down picked up extra picks, got him late in round one and in the second take odell thurman, we would have infused the defense with young, fast, playmakers for years to come? :hmmm:

what are some thoughts?
 
The only time I saw him was in the seior bowl and he was in the backfield on almost every play. I had really never seen anybody run over an o-lineman so consistently in a while. I guess it was only one game but the guy looked like a serious player as much so as Pollack except stronger. Probably not as quick but impressive. Darnell Dockett had a similar game the year before and he slid all the way to Arizona in I think the 3rd round. I couldn't believe he dropped that far and he proved to be a great value for them. I doubt Roth drops that far enough to go #47 but if we trade down I think he would be a great pick in mid twenties. He may be too small for a 3-4 DE I wonder if he's been projected as an olb. If I had to guess whoever gets this guy should be pleased.
 
Beastlyman2003 said:
Matt Roth-DE-6'4 280lbs.

Just wondering, this guy is the consensus most POWERFUL player in the draft. The anaylists say that he isnt just "wieght-liffting" strong but powerful like hes been "chopping red-woods since he was a child".By all accounts, he plays the game like "he hates the opposition". So why is it that people say that he couldnt be a defensive lineman? I think if we traded down picked up extra picks, got him late in round one and in the second take odell thurman, we would have infused the defense with young, fast, playmakers for years to come? :hmmm:

what are some thoughts?
Click to expand...

Our defense calls for the DEs to clog up holes and take on multiple-blockers. Roth is more of a penetration-type DE, his skills are largely about getting past the other team's O-Line, not trying to push them backward. He might have the strength to possibly succeed, but it would be essentially asking him to unlearn all his penetration skills.
 
This doesn't directly answer your question, but check out the comparison at the end:

Matt Roth is a three-year starter at defensive end for the Iowa Hawkeyes, having spent the majority of his freshman season playing special teams. He moved to defensive end after starting at linebacker and fullback in high school and has developed into one of the best defensive players in the nation. Over the past three seasons, Roth has proven to be one of the best pass rushers in college football, haunting opposing quarterbacks with 30 sacks in that time period. In addition to being an outstanding pass rusher, Roth is an excellent run defender as well. He is a very strong player with excellent instincts and a non-stop motor. He is a very intense player with a real "mean streak" on the field. At times he will let he will be too intense on the field, which sometimes leads to penalties. He has an outstanding work ethic and is continuously striving for perfection. Matt Roth may be the best all-around defensive end in the draft. He is the type of player you want on your football team and should be among the top defensive players drafted--A sure first round pick on draft day.
NFL Comparison: Jason Babin - Nearly a carbon copy--Same size, great pass rusher, solid run defender.
Click to expand...

Link

The key is whether he is already at his peak playing weight, which means he would be fine at 4-3 DE or still has room to grow in his 1st two years in the league to get to 290+ and maintain effectiveness in which case technique aside (he sounds more like a one gap player) his size could be adequate at 3-4 DE. If he is like Babin who was playing at his max weight at 280 lbs then he either needs to be a 4-3 DE or drop weight like Babin did and become a 3-4 OLB.
 
ever since a week or so ago, when someone posted matt roth's bio in another thread, i've really started to hope we go for this guy. i love the thought of two tattooed OLB'rs that terrorizes the AFC south for years to come in texan uni's. i think (hope) roth is a big time possibilty for us if we go with a CB/WR in the first round. or if (again i'm hoping) we trade down, i think roth could figure into that eqaution.

*edit* this is the pic i saw that made me think "i want that guy on my team" :thumbup

mattRoth3.jpg
 
Roth is no Jason Babin. I think he will be a 4-3 DE with a high motor, like Grant Wistrom was out of Nebraska. But I do not see the Texans sliding down for Roth.
 
Beastlyman2003 said:
Matt Roth-DE-6'4 280lbs.

Just wondering, this guy is the consensus most POWERFUL player in the draft. The anaylists say that he isnt just "wieght-liffting" strong but powerful like hes been "chopping red-woods since he was a child".By all accounts, he plays the game like "he hates the opposition". So why is it that people say that he couldnt be a defensive lineman? I think if we traded down picked up extra picks, got him late in round one and in the second take odell thurman, we would have infused the defense with young, fast, playmakers for years to come? :hmmm:

what are some thoughts?
Click to expand...

I love Roth's work ethic, intensity, & mean streak. I'd love to have him on the Texans. But, at 280lbs., he'd be a real light DE in the 3-4. However, there are countless numbers of players that play bigger than they are & are quite productive. Maybe, Roth could be the exception in the 3-4 defense.

As for taking Odell with our 2nd round pick, I'd rather pick up Justin Tuck & convert him to OLB. He's fast as a hiccup at 268lbs.. Imagine what he could do if he dropped down to about 250.
 
NFL Comparison: Jason Babin - Nearly a carbon copy--Same size, great pass rusher, solid run defender.
Click to expand...

Roth is no Jason Babin
Click to expand...

eh? it's fine if you think roth should play DE at the next level, but to deny the similarities is pretty tough.

he seems like he may have an easier transition to OLB than babin with inference from this qoute from his DE coach. "(About switching from LB to DL)At first he did not love it, but then I think he saw an opportunity to play, to rush the quarterback and to also drop back in coverage at some time."

sounds like a pretty good 3-4 OLB prospect to me...
 
jr0ck said:
eh? it's fine if you think roth should play DE at the next level, but to deny the similarities is pretty tough.

he seems like he may have an easier transition to OLB than babin with inference from this qoute from his DE coach. "(About switching from LB to DL)At first he did not love it, but then I think he saw an opportunity to play, to rush the quarterback and to also drop back in coverage at some time."

sounds like a pretty good 3-4 OLB prospect to me...
Click to expand...

Just because a random NFL draft site compare's him to Babin doesnt mean squat. Besides, they always try to associate them with a player from the last couple of drafts.

Here is a nice quote on roth from NFL.com

"Even in practices, the coaches have to pray he stays under control. They will generally blow the whistle early on plays, so Roth does not hurt any of the offensive players. There are times when he plays with such intensity in practices that the coaches must sit him down, even for walk-throughs."

Yeah, thats nice. A player who hurts his own guys on a walk throughs.

"Roth began his Iowa career as a middle linebacker, recording 19 tackles (12 solo) in 12 games as a reserve in 2001. He shifted to the defensive line in 2002, as the coaches felt he played with too much reckless abandon to be effective as a linebacker."
 
Babin is quite a bit faster than Roth is. Babin ran 4.6's and Roth runs in the 4.8's
 
Babins speed is exactly what makes the difference. Roth looks like he will be a good NFL player but would need a year or two in our system to pick it up let alone learn how to play LB in the first place. I happen to be one of the people that think the Babin deal was great and that he will become the disruptive LB we need him to become. I think we look elsewhere and let Babin/Peek become the players we think they can. If they dont then go another way.
 
I wonder what Roth's speed would be like if he dropped 20 lbs though? Just hypothetical.

Sounds like if he could be disciplined as a player he would be somewhat of a throwback defender terrorizing the offense on every play.
 
I like Roth a lot, and he's going to be a good DE for somebody, but it's not going to be us...He doesn't have the build of a good 3-4 DE, and he doesn't have the speed we want as an OLB...
 
Who cares what babin ran at the combine. You should know better than to assume that means he's faster on the field.

Roth will be great for whoever drafts him. I say he's everybit as good as babin, possibly better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top