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LB Brian Rolle (Official Thread)

Eagles banking on Rolle to strengthen weak side
By Eric Edholm

The Eagles now have unfurled their third weak-side linebacker of the season in sixth-round rookie Brian Rolle. The team tried Moise Fokou there the first two games then turned to fourth-rounder Casey Matthews at the WLB spot. The reason for the switch was more that Matthews was struggling inside, although Fokou was far more natural on the strong side, where he finished last season and currently resides. But with Matthews being exposed there in Week Three, the team has turned to Rolle, who was far more competitive in a nickel role. Asked why he made the switch, defensive coordinator Juan Castillo didn't hesitate to pump up Rolle. "You know, I've seen his athletic ability," Castillo said, "he's an explosive player, and he makes plays." Despite his lack of height being an impediment, the one thing the 5-foot-10 Rolle doesn't lack is confidence. The rookie played in a lot of big games at Ohio State and at least has the temperament to handle the assignment. The Eagles don't think starting will be too big for him.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/09/30/eagles-banking-on-rolle-to-strengthen-weak-side
 
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Posted: Mon, Oct. 17, 2011
Eagles defense not a running joke
Paul Domowitch, Daily News Sports Columnist

LANDOVER, Md. - Brian Rolle majored in sociology at Ohio State, not mathematics. But the rookie linebacker knew exactly how well his unit did against the run in yesterday's 20-13 win over the Redskins.

"Forty-two rushing yards," Rolle said proudly after the game. "People say we can't stop the run. But against a team like this that likes to run the ball and has a great scheme, we did very good.

"Going into the fourth quarter, they had just 28 rushing yards. That's something we pride ourselves on."

For much of this season, it also has been something they didn't do very well. Plagued by bad tackling and difficulty getting off blocks, the Eagles entered the game ranked 30th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (140.2) and 27th in yards allowed per carry (5.0).

But they started to get their act together in the second half of last week's 31-24 loss to the Bills, holding them to 51 rushing yards on their final 17 carries. They continued the improvement yesterday, holding Ryan Torain and the Redskins to 42 yards on 14 carries.

Torain, who rushed for 135 yards against the Rams 2 weeks ago, finished with just 22 yards on 10 carries yesterday. Against an Eagles' defense that had given up 32 runs of 8 yards or more in the first five games, he didn't have a run of more than 6 yards.

The Redskins' biggest run play was a 12-yard scramble by quarterback John Beck, who replaced starter Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter after Grossman heaved his fourth interception of the game.

"The guy they brought in, he was a little better at reading coverages, and when we put them in passing situations, he handled it better," Rolle said. "He also ran the ball pretty well for an old man [Beck is 30; old is relative]. I give him high praise for that. I didn't think he would take off with it. He took off and did pretty good."

cont...

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/column...defense_not_a_running_joke.html#ixzz1b2Z7fHrW
 
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Rolle Playing With A Heavy Heart

By Chris McPherson

Posted Oct 25, 2011

Linebacker Brian Rolle was in an airport on Sunday afternoon returning from a bye week trip to Columbus, Ohio when he received the news that no one wants to hear. Rolle's sister called to inform him that his father, Sanchious Eugene, had passed away at his home in Fort Myers, Fla.

"I just pray about it. I can't bring him back, can't change it. I'm glad to have friends around me that care and support me," Rolle said. "I'll deal with it when I get there (this weekend). Here, I'm trying to keep my mind on Sunday. I'm trying not to think about it too much because if I do it's going to be a bad week for me."

Rolle said after practice on Monday that he had only met his biological father three times. Rolle's parents split when he was young. Rolle's father suffered a stroke and a brain aneurysm about a week and a half ago which left him in a coma and then suffered a massive stroke Sunday morning.

While returning from Columbus, home to his alma mater Ohio State, Rolle did not get to see Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray set the franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 253 against the Rams. But Rolle is more than familiar with Murray having watched the third-round pick play at Oklahoma. In fact, the two met each other when they visited the NovaCare Complex for a pre-draft visit.

?I heard he set the Dallas record for rushing. I know he's a great guy. I watched him at Oklahoma. I know he's an exciting guy to watch,? Rolle said. ?He's a great back and I look forward to going against him this week.?

Two weeks ago, the Eagles held the Redskins to a season-low 42 yards on the ground. Rolle, who will make his first prime-time start this Sunday, said the defense wants to maintain the attack mentality that it had against Washington.

"We got to have it. These last 10 games are going to determine how much we want it and how much we want to make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl," Rolle said. "We're going to take it one week at a time and go into this week with the mindset of 'by any means necessary.'"

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/n...vy-Heart/6e0c8065-4939-4f40-98c3-0be3d582ba98
 
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Nice little strip and return for TD on MNF.
 
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