08-01-2007, 09:47 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Dolphins' Roth ready for the ultimate challenge
Dolphins' Roth ready for the ultimate challenge | floridatoday.com | Serving Brevard County and Florida’s Space Coast
Quote:
After spending his first two NFL seasons as an understudy, Matt Roth is about to take on his first leading role.
Count Miami Dolphins teammate Vonnie Holliday as one of many in the organization who believes the young defensive end is ready.
"Here's a guy who I think mentally, psychologically, the guy's grown up," Holliday said. "He's matured, as a player, as a person, off the field as well. To watch him go out and be confident in what he's doing on the field, his assignment and make plays for us, it's good to watch. We're going to count on him to play a lot this year.
". . . I think he's accepted the responsibility and looks like he's ready for the challenge. He's definitely more confident and has more swagger to him. He's starting to look like a starter."
That's what the Dolphins were hoping for when they cut veteran Kevin Carter during the offseason. Roth played behind Carter for two seasons and saw his role in the defensive line rotation expand as the year went on. He finished with 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Carter, who signed with Tampa Bay, was effusive about Roth last season and even made a prediction that might have come true had he not decided to play at least one more season.
"Matt will be the reason I retire," Carter said at the time.
Roth smiled at those words.
"That's a nice thing to say, but he's a heck of a player," the third-year pro said. "He taught me a lot. I've got nothing but respect for Kevin. He's a great guy."
Filling Carter's shoes won't be easy, but Dolphins defensive coordinator Dom Capers believes there are plenty of aspects about the 24-year-old Roth's game to get excited about.
"The number one thing I like about Matt is he has what I like to refer to as a defensive temperament," Capers said Tuesday. "He has a motor that runs all the time. You might block Matt, but he's not going to stay blocked very long because he's going to get off and he's going to the ball with everything that he has. He has quickness. He has some athletic ability. He has the ability, for a man his size, to roll his hips and strike.
"He's got what I refer to as a 6-inch punch that defensive players have to have in order to get off a block. At his position, he'll be giving up 20, 30, 40 pounds against a lot of the people he's playing against."
In order to prepare himself for that challenge, the 6-foot-4, 272-pound Roth said he has added close to 10 pounds.
And he didn't get that way by eating more Wheaties.
Instead of following his regular offseason routine, Roth trained in mixed martial arts.
"I'm just a big UFC fan," he said. "I figured it would be something fun to do in the offseason instead of going out and hanging out. I figured it would be a good way to blow off some steam.
"It's something I've been interested in, the UFC and ultimate fighting. I like it a lot as a fan. I thought it was a fun and maybe it could translate into football."
Roth said he gave Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a try, but decided after several days he didn't want to risk an injury and stuck mostly to boxing. He trained with former Olympic boxing gold medalist Howard Davis Jr. and apparently did well enough that he said Davis wanted him to fight for him when he was done playing football.
"I told him I would just take it one day at a time," Roth chuckled.
Whether he is destined to fight in the octagon one day or not, Roth is certainly going to be counted on to play a much bigger role than he ever has for the Dolphins. He and linebacker Joey Porter figure to be the only two new starters on Miami's defense unless cornerback Andre Goodman is not able to make it back from offseason shoulder surgery.
He may not have Carter's overall bulk and experience, but what Roth does have is the belief that he can get the job done.
"(I'm) confident, real confident," he said. "I just need to get out there, get the season rolling and make plays and make them consistently. I'm excited."
That excitement hasn't been lost on Dolphins coach Cam Cameron.
"Anybody that plays as hard as Matt is going to help you," the coach said. "He's got a great opportunity to play significantly in this defense. He comes to practice everyday ready to play. He gives you everything he has, and those are the kind of guys we're looking for."
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Dolphins' Roth ready for the ultimate challenge
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