LB Brian Rolle (official thread)

[Taosman]

He's the new "Rolle" model for Buckeye LBers defending the spread.

[BigJim]

He is on a "Rolle" in getting the job done.

[Tlangs]

its good to know that per the BTN telecast he is an "OLB"

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Tlangs

its good to know that per the BTN telecast he is an "OLB"

OLB = Outstanding linebacker.

[calibuck]

He's shown extremely well to date, a very pleasant surprise. Love the activity, so we'll see whether he brings the entire package tomorrow against Wiscy. Would expect to see some some collisions between Rolle and Clay. Rolle gives away a bunch of weight, and Clay will be running downhill, so I'm hoping that Rolle is left standing after the collision. If that happens, then OSU will win in a breeze. If not, then bet he does swing to OLB and bring in a heavier Mike (Sweat? Spitler? Sabino?) to take Clay on in the hole.


It's not so much the size of the dog in the fight, but the amount of fight in the dog......at least that's what my wife tells me.

[Buckskin86]

LINEBACKER CARRIES ON PROUD TRADITION OF THE NO. 36 JERSEY ROCK & r l l e
Saturday, October 10, 2009
By Tim May



It was a chance meeting that put Chris Spielman face to face with Brian Rolle this past spring for the firsttime. Spielman had stopped by the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to speak with Ohio State linebackers coach Luke Fickell. Rolle happened to be watching film in the linebackers' meeting room. "I said to him, 'Man, it's great to meet the other 36,' " Rolle recalled. "And he said to me, 'That's right. I am the other 36.' " That is, one of the other 36s.

But what's in a number? Well, from 1975 through 1987, Ohio State's premier linebacker wore No. 36. Consensus All-American Tom Cousineau (1975-78) went on to become the No. 1 pick in the 1979 NFL draft. Consensus All-American Marcus Marek (1979-82) is still the leading tackler in OSU history. Consensus All-American Spielman (1984-87) won the Lombardi Award in 1987 before going on to a Pro Bowl career primarily with Detroit in the NFL. He's headed into the College Football Hall of Fame next year.

Rolle is in his third year wearing No. 36. The junior from Immokalee, Fla., sought that number when he signed with the Buckeyes in the winter of 2007. He wanted it mainly because he'd worn it in high school, inheriting it from older brother William, who had gone on to play at Illinois State.
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"I always wanted to be like my older brother, and I wanted to wear his number," Rolle said. "Fortunately enough, I was able to wear it my last three years in high school and hopefully all four years I'm here."

But OSU coach Jim Tressel and Fickell let it be known from the start that the No. 36 came with strings attached.

"I don't know that we took that down to him in recruiting and said, 'Hey, you could be the next 36,' " Tressel said. "But when we assign it, we say, 'Now, see this wall in coach Fickell's office that's got pictures of all the linebackers? Look at all the 36s.' "

Rolle took quick notes.

"It is an honor, first of all, to wear this number," Rolle said. "And then the way I look at it, I have to set an example for anybody else in the future who might want to wear that jersey.

"The guys who came before me set standards for the No. 36, which is why I am honored to be wearing it. Now I look forward to going out there, having fun and making plays, just as they did in their day."

LINEBACKER CARRIES ON PROUD TRADITION OF THE NO. 36 JERSEY ROCK & r l l e | The Columbus Dispatch

[calibuck]

Please correct and/or add to what "I" saw today against Wiscy......Saw Spitler at the Mike, with Rolle and Homan flanking...did see Rolle take on a big TE and Clay, albeit not head-on, but angled, and snuff them...

Did not see the head-on, actually with anybody taking on Clay, but at the side, and from Coleman to Russel, to Chikwa taking him down. Good team tackling. Guess maybe the coaches saw it the way we at the Planet saw it?

PS, good adjustment by the D at halftime. We looked like the old Brownie (Cleveland style) defense of the 60's and 70's, 'Bend but don't Break'.

Great job by the Buckeyes defense. I'm sure that the offense will come in for its share of criticism, but with a lead, Tress will shut down the O to keep the key turnovers to a minimum. But I digress....

[Buckfan09]

Brian Rolle is exactly what the buckeyes needed this year.He is a playmaker at LB. I think he fits in the mold of A.J. Hawk. He is fast, smart, and clutch when the team is need of a big play.

[buckeyes_rock]

Originally Posted by Buckfan09

Brian Rolle is exactly what the buckeyes needed this year.He is a playmaker at LB. I think he fits in the mold of A.J. Hawk. He is fast, smart, and clutch when the team is need of a big play.

I absolutely love watching B Rolle! The kid is a gamer! People worried that he wasn't big enough...well his heart sure is!

[NateG]

Great Job on the recovery. Was good to see the leading tackler get a TD!

[Buckskin86]

He's how Buckeyes' defense Rolles
By DAVID JONES, The Patriot-News
November 04, 2009

It?s natural that a freshman or sophomore linebacker might have to sit behind someone of the caliber of James Laurinaitis or Marcus Freeman. The former was last year named the best defender in the Big Ten; the latter was named one of the six best linebackers in the league.

But when spring rosters rolled around in March 2009 and then again before August camp, Brian Rolle still found himself just shy of the first unit at Ohio State . If the paper order held, he?d be subbing in for Austin Spitler in the middle or Ross Homan on the wide side.

That was unacceptable to the ebullient kid from the swamps of southwest Florida . Rolle wasn?t just going to start. He made up his mind he was going to lead.

?I just like being the voice of the defense. I want to make the calls. I want to be the guy who can help our defense rise above anything.?

Which is what anyone from the Rolle clan of Florida always seems to be. Not a linebacker necessarily like Brian, but an omnipresent difference-maker.

Brian is a cousin of one proximity or another to Arizona Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle and former Florida State safety and current Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle (who was actually raised in New Jersey).

?I talk to Myron often,? he said. ?And I talk to Samari every so often.?

He's how Buckeyes' defense Rolles | David Jones with The Patriot-News - PennLive.com

[Buckeye86]

I think Mr. Rolle is in for a huge week... he has the quickness sideline to sideline to absolutely smash those bubble screens that M*ch*gan is going to run a bazillion times against us

[MililaniBuckeye]

I'd love to have Speilman look Rolle in the eye right before The Game and simply say, "Steph says 'Go get 'em, 36'"...