Myron Rolle Would Upgrade Strong Safety
February 1st, 2010
Joe is of the belief that secondary will be a primary focus of the Bucs come the draft.
First, there is a hole to fill at strong safety. It’s dubious that linebacker strong safety Jermaine Phillips will be back. Combine his age, his inability to keep his arms intact and his recent domestic disturbance, it all points to Phillips being shown the door.
Then there is Sabby the Goat. On what is generally regarded as a strong defensive backfield, easily the glaring hole is Sabby the Goat at strong safety. Combine his constant mistackles and his boneheaded plays, the position screams for an upgrade.
Sabby the Goat was making the same stupid plays in the last game of the season as he was in the season opener.
Joe has just the person to replace him:
Myron Rolle.
Sure, the Florida State product hasn’t played football since the 2008 Citrus Bowl. And when he did play he didn’t put up big-play numbers, with only one interception and one fumble forced in three years.
What Rolle does do is cover well and tackle well. Oh, and he’s smart, did Joe mention that? Rolle spent the past year at Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar. He’s studying to be a neurosurgeon.
Rolle would be an upgrade on so many levels to the Bucs’ secondary it isn’t funny. The Bucs would never have to worry about Rolle slugging a cabbie, never have to worry about Rolle trying to rearrange the face of a fellow teammate by wielding a helmet, never have to worry about Rolle blowing off a piss test to determine if he is smoking hippie lettuce or using other banned substances.
Rolle would also continue the solid Bucs tradition of players being active in helping the community such as Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks made so famous. Rolle already has started a number of foundations to help sick youths in the Native American community as well as the Bahamas.
Rolle’s smart play would be a perfect compliment to another smart teammate, Ronde Barber.
Here’s what NFL.com and Sirius NFL Radio analyst Pat Kirwan had to say about Rolle after watching him at the Senior Bowl:
A lot has been written about Rolle, the Rhodes Scholar who aspires to be a doctor. That is not exactly the typical career path for a hard-hitting safety. Rolle was out of football this year while studying overseas, but he proved he belonged here. He showed little rust and a chiseled body. He looked a lot smoother than people expected in transition from backpedal to close and in his turn-and-run ability.
Any team in search of a safety has to like what they saw of Rolle in Mobile. As one head coach said to me, “I don’t think there will be a problem with adjustments on the back end if Myron is back there.”
Be honest now, the draft is over two months away and the Super Bowl has yet to be played. But does anyone think right now, today, Rolle wouldn’t already be an upgrade over Sabby the Goat? This guy Rolle’s intangibles are off the charts.
Need to know more about Rolle? Watch the video below and try to tell Joe you wouldn’t want this guy starting for the Bucs instead of Sabby of the Goat?
Joe doesn’t think using the Bears second round pick the Bucs acquired in the Gaines Adams trade on drafting Rolle would be too much of a reach.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:10 am
Anyone with the last name Rolle has turned out to be pretty decent in the NFL
February 1st, 2010 at 10:37 am
I’m conflicted about Rolle. I know without a doubt he is the perfect football player. Great player, very smart, tough, and a great leader. The thing is, the guy is so smart and he has made it clear his number one goal is to become a brain surgeon. Have you ever seen how mangled NFL defensive players fingers get? How long untill this guy realizes he can’t be a brain surdgeon if he plays in the NFL? First broken finger, he is going to start doubting his decision. As good as he is, I think he has a 3-5 year career at most. I’m not sure that is worth the pick.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:45 am
This guy would be JUST what Tampa needs. He also is smart as heck. One reason Raheem won’t draft him is that Myron is smarter than him.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:53 am
I am a huge FSU fan and Bucs fan. I watched every game Rolle played in and was extremely happy when I heard he was going to oxford and skipping his senior year. Rolle is an excellent person and may run for office someday but he is not a good football player. He takes bad angles and tries to avoid contact. He is a chaser not a sticker. He would make the Bucs worse at Safety.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:56 am
myron is a pretty geeked out name……kind of like wilbur, hymie, or stuart….so yes me might be a brainy act that possesses more intelect that the great radio morris….adam from ny
ps the kid can ball…dont pass him up if he is the best talent on the board at pick time
February 1st, 2010 at 11:24 am
JDouble:
Interesting points.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:26 am
I always felt Myron was somewhat overrated , and most of his notority came from his academic achievments, rather than his play on the field.
I wouldn’t mind is we could land him in a middle round however.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:26 am
I agree. I had them taking Major Wright in the later rounds (4th maybe), but Rolle would be better. He is/was considered a top 2 round talent before leaving and then being injured. He will probably go in round 3-4. Add to that the fact that he is very smart, he would be a great pick.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:28 am
I forgot to answer the question: does anyone think Rolle would not be an upgrade over Sabby….
Actually, just about any safety picked in the first 5 rounds would be an upgrade at this point.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:08 pm
draft him!!!! im sold!!! if any players is studying to be a brain surgeon i want him.. plus the kid can tackle and is a top notch cover safety… he is a perfect fit for what Tampa fans are use to(brooks, dunn, and alstott)
February 1st, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I say draft him as well, but have to agree with B from O-town, Rolle is just too smart for Rah, he’ll never understand Rah’s bastardized version of the English language!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:14 pm
You see….this is what happens when people talk about things they don’t know anything about. Stick to fawning over Rachel Watson, Joe.
How does being intellectually gifted mean you will be a good NFL player? How smart was Lawrence Taylor, Jim McMahon or Refrigerator Perry? It didn’t seem to affect their performances. Our very own Kellen Winslow scored a near illiterate 12 on the wonderlic. I don’t think it affects his ability to get separation from defenders or catch passes. I don’t think Sabby is a bad safety because he is an idiot, but because he has no instincts for the position and is a poor tackler.
Myron Rolle was NOT a good college safety. I’m saying this as a FSU fan and alum. He has stiff hips, does not cover the field well and is marginal when it comes to playing. If his super smarts were so darn great for football, why then, wasn’t he a better COLLEGE safety? You think the pro’s are going to be easier for him?
He would be a fine pick in the 6th round. Maybe. For the hope that if he devoted 100% of his time to training and skill development he would show more than he did at FSU. Because, as a football player, he didn’t show much.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Yea, I’m a little leery of Rolle too. He wants to be a doctor, a surgeon, the highest paid profession around. NFL players make more money short term, but he can earn big bucks for the next 40 years as a Doc. I think his heart is in another place other then the Grid Iron, otherwise he would have went in last year. 5’th round pick at best just for his big brain. I’ll have a Royale with cheese, please.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Career stats from espn.com
1 forced fumble
1 career pick
Joe….that’s one pick. From a safety. That started every game for three years. Big FSU fan here, and lemme tell ya….as bad as Sabby is, Rolle is no upgrade. The only time I remember seeing Rolle on the screen was 30 yards downfield, chasing 5 yards behind ball carriers.
Joe, I urge you to look at Kam Chancellor, S from VT. This years Tanard Jackson in my mind. A kid that can play all 4 spots in the secondary, but projects as a SS. And will probably be there at our pick in the 4th
February 1st, 2010 at 10:02 pm
I see that we have a bunch of ignorant people on here making brain dead statements. Tampa has had nothing but probowl talent defensive players out of F.S.U. correct me if I’m wrong the last safety selected out of F.S.U. Dexter Jackson ended up being superbowl mvp. Greg Spires, Dexter Jackson, Derrick Brooks, and Geno Hayes as of late have contributed big time. John Gruden wasted a second round pick on a a kick return guy out of ap state who only saw action in three games. This Radio Raheem mumbo jumbo is getting real old. The guy lost all his veteran players and the Glazers didn’t let him spend enough money to buy a bag of chips. I see some productive moves he made look at the year K2 Had 10 draft picks this year should make a big difference. I remember a lot of people saying the same things about Derrick Brooks a while back. I say as long as the D line is soft as it is then trouble will continue to be an issue.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:40 am
Creamsicle:
Joe pointed out the lack of big plays by Rolle. Also look at FSU’s pass defense without him last season.
BigMac:
Rolle pretty much had to leave for Oxford last year. It was take it or leave it.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 am
You remember them saying that Derrick Brooks was an unproductive college player Bippy? No one is questioning Rolle’s size, and that WAS the question from the All-American Brooks. So, you really don’t know what you are talking about there.
Every player that was drafted out of FSU turned out well? Ever hear of Peter Warrick, PK Sam, Adrian McPherson, Brett Williams, Chris Weinke, Travis Minor or Travis Johnson?
I love the irony Bippy, that you say that there are ‘ignorant people on here making brain dead statements’ and you go right ahead with the idea that every player from a school is golden and that because the last safety drafted out of a school means that the next one will follow suit.
And for what it’s worth, genius, the last Safety drafted out of FSU was Pat Watkins by the Cowboys, in 2006. Not exactly a stud, but whatever. It’s not like all the people criticizing Rolle are also pointing out that they are FSU fans and have actually seen the kid play before. But I like your logic more. Let’s not make a judgment on how a kid actually plays, let’s just draft based on the school he went to.