Late in the game, with St. Louis facing a crucial third-and-one, Rocky McIntosh heard his name shouted on the sidelines. So, after the defense broke the huddle, he sprinted onto the field. Not knowing the play, he set himself; the ball was snapped; and he stuffed the running back for no gain.
And Marcus Washington was sold on the rookie.
“I didn’t have to see anything else,” Washington said. “If a guy can run off the sidelines with his helmet unbuckled and make a play without hearing the play, that’s pretty impressive.”
The Redskins expect McIntosh to make more than one memorable play this season. Through two games, he’s already made a few: he leads the Redskins with 21 tackles, including 17 solo. Of the four games he’s started in Washington (two last season), he’s posted double-digit tackle totals each time.
However, McIntosh is playing even faster and more decisive this season. Like fellow linebackers London Fletcher and Washington, he fills holes quickly. They’ve fast become the most effective unit on the Redskins. Washington provides the energy; Fletcher the speed and leadership; McIntosh brings more speed and young legs. This could be one of the best linebacking corps in recent Redskins’ memory.
The Redskins took some heat for McIntosh last season because they traded a second-round pick to move up in the 2006 draft to select him. Then he barely played. And then they tried to obtain Bears weakside linebacker Lance Briggs in the offseason.
But McIntosh has proved everyone he was worth the wait.
“He’s getting better every week,” Fletcher said. “The sky’s the limit for that guy. He has so much physical ability and talent. When he really understands what’s going on, it’s going to be wild.”
Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams said watching McIntosh makes him smile — and cry. Williams catches McIntosh sometimes looking at the wrong keys or not fully grasping certain situations. But McIntosh’s speed can bail him out — sometimes.
“I felt he had a chance to do this, staying healthy,” Williams said. “He’s done very well; he needs to keep on going.”
But McIntosh isn’t about to boast about his play. It goes against his nature. He credits his play to the players around him, equal parts charming and boring. For McIntosh, boring works.
“I never like the limelight, but if it falls upon me, so be it,” he said. “I think, ‘Don’t let my teammates down and be accountable.’ I look up to those guys and want to be as great as they are.”
