SoCalBronco
05-12-2007, 01:07 AM
Mile High Transition: Roderick Rogers
By Nick | May 11th, 2007
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http://www.theskyiscrape.com/nick/MVN/wisconsin_roderick_rogers.jpg
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
While most teams have the offseason mini-camps to deal with around this time of year, the Broncos elect to hold their mini-camp much later in the year at the middle of July, almost immediately preceding training camp. As such, there is generally a lull in action for over two months in between this date and the draft.
To help pass the time, I intend to launch a new series to analyze the slate of draftees and rookie free agents that are making their way to Denver to get a shot with the Broncos. It is not my intention in these profiles to strictly analyze their positives and negatives with regards to football itself. Such profiles are readily available on the Web, although I will reference some of them to form a base for discussion. My goal is to serve as a bridge from college to Denver by taking these stated positives and negatives in talent and translate them to how well they will fit in the Broncos’ system.
We begin with an intriguing prospect in Roderick Rogers, a safety from Wisconsin whose recovery from a knee injury in the bowl game may have lead to his undrafted status. Scott Wright of NFL Draft Countdown bulleted Rogers’ pros and cons as follows:
Strengths:
A very good athlete…Has excellent range…A playmaker with good ball skills…Has a burst to close…Dangerous in the open field…Excels in coverage…Nice leaper…A classic center fielder in the deep middle…Some special teams potential…Upside?
Weaknesses:
Does not have the type of bulk that you look for…Is not real physical or tough…A finesse type…He needs to get stronger…Sub par versus the run…Awareness and instincts are questionable…Takes too many risks…Durability and health concerns.
Scout.com concurs on describing Rogers as “an athletic center fielder”, but yet adds that he is “not very physical”. To Rogers’ credit, in an interview with Michael Abramowitz of TheFootballExperts.com, he explicitly states that he is aware that he needs to improve his physical play. In this interview he also compares himself favorably to the Eagles’ Brian Dawkins. However, his measurements of around 6-1, 190 pounds, combined with a good sense for the ball, would remind me more of the Ravens’ Ed Reed when talking stars at the position. Indeed, in a second interview with Walter Cherepinsky, when asked the same question he instead mentions Reed. (By the way, I highly recommend reading both interviews for a more in-depth look at the type of person Rogers is.)
I would hope that Rogers could provide even a fraction of the talent that Reed brings to Baltimore. Indeed, it’s painful to think that Denver selected Ashley Lelie in the 2002 draft only to have the Ravens take Reed five picks later. I would love to see a genuine ballhawk take over the free safety position in the near future. This is especially true in Denver when teams are afraid to throw in Champ Bailey’s direction and when Dre’ Bly is mainly considered a strict cover corner. In such a formation, it’s imperative that the free safety can step up and jump the route to intercept or bat down a pass.
The lack of physicality is a concern, as tackling is the first and foremost skill that a defensive player must master on each level of play. I like that Wright suggests some special teams potential in Rogers, as that could be a very good way for him to increase his physicality, not only in attempting to tackle the returner, but also to set up blocks on the other side of the ball. And of course, most undrafted free agents need to make their case on special teams to start their NFL career.
I like Rogers’ unique skillset that he brings from a strong conference like the Big Ten, and he can hone in his talent, he could fill a need that grows larger and larger in Denver as John Lynch and Nick Ferguson get older and older.
http://mvn.com/nfl-broncos/2007/05/11/mile-high-transition-roderick-rogers/
By Nick | May 11th, 2007
E-mail | Print | Share
http://www.theskyiscrape.com/nick/MVN/wisconsin_roderick_rogers.jpg
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
While most teams have the offseason mini-camps to deal with around this time of year, the Broncos elect to hold their mini-camp much later in the year at the middle of July, almost immediately preceding training camp. As such, there is generally a lull in action for over two months in between this date and the draft.
To help pass the time, I intend to launch a new series to analyze the slate of draftees and rookie free agents that are making their way to Denver to get a shot with the Broncos. It is not my intention in these profiles to strictly analyze their positives and negatives with regards to football itself. Such profiles are readily available on the Web, although I will reference some of them to form a base for discussion. My goal is to serve as a bridge from college to Denver by taking these stated positives and negatives in talent and translate them to how well they will fit in the Broncos’ system.
We begin with an intriguing prospect in Roderick Rogers, a safety from Wisconsin whose recovery from a knee injury in the bowl game may have lead to his undrafted status. Scott Wright of NFL Draft Countdown bulleted Rogers’ pros and cons as follows:
Strengths:
A very good athlete…Has excellent range…A playmaker with good ball skills…Has a burst to close…Dangerous in the open field…Excels in coverage…Nice leaper…A classic center fielder in the deep middle…Some special teams potential…Upside?
Weaknesses:
Does not have the type of bulk that you look for…Is not real physical or tough…A finesse type…He needs to get stronger…Sub par versus the run…Awareness and instincts are questionable…Takes too many risks…Durability and health concerns.
Scout.com concurs on describing Rogers as “an athletic center fielder”, but yet adds that he is “not very physical”. To Rogers’ credit, in an interview with Michael Abramowitz of TheFootballExperts.com, he explicitly states that he is aware that he needs to improve his physical play. In this interview he also compares himself favorably to the Eagles’ Brian Dawkins. However, his measurements of around 6-1, 190 pounds, combined with a good sense for the ball, would remind me more of the Ravens’ Ed Reed when talking stars at the position. Indeed, in a second interview with Walter Cherepinsky, when asked the same question he instead mentions Reed. (By the way, I highly recommend reading both interviews for a more in-depth look at the type of person Rogers is.)
I would hope that Rogers could provide even a fraction of the talent that Reed brings to Baltimore. Indeed, it’s painful to think that Denver selected Ashley Lelie in the 2002 draft only to have the Ravens take Reed five picks later. I would love to see a genuine ballhawk take over the free safety position in the near future. This is especially true in Denver when teams are afraid to throw in Champ Bailey’s direction and when Dre’ Bly is mainly considered a strict cover corner. In such a formation, it’s imperative that the free safety can step up and jump the route to intercept or bat down a pass.
The lack of physicality is a concern, as tackling is the first and foremost skill that a defensive player must master on each level of play. I like that Wright suggests some special teams potential in Rogers, as that could be a very good way for him to increase his physicality, not only in attempting to tackle the returner, but also to set up blocks on the other side of the ball. And of course, most undrafted free agents need to make their case on special teams to start their NFL career.
I like Rogers’ unique skillset that he brings from a strong conference like the Big Ten, and he can hone in his talent, he could fill a need that grows larger and larger in Denver as John Lynch and Nick Ferguson get older and older.
http://mvn.com/nfl-broncos/2007/05/11/mile-high-transition-roderick-rogers/