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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2013098708_apfbnbrownsmadmatt.html

Browns' LB Matt Roth a mad man on field

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio —

Eyes fixed ahead, Browns linebacker Matt Roth, full of tattoos and controlled aggression, stomped across the carpet in Cleveland's locker room looking as if he was ready to start a fight.

Not in here. Roth saves his brawling for the field.

As he walks by, everyone gets out of Roth's way.

"I'm scared of him," joked Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, "and he's one of my friends."

Roth is the Browns' resident tough guy, whose mission on the field is to hit anything in front of him. In last week's win over Cincinnati, Roth matched a career high with two sacks, the last coming when he relentlessly chased down Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Needless to say, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Roth, claimed by the Browns last November year after four-plus seasons in Miami, is a bit of a character. Some of his teammates think he's funny. Others think he's a little crazy. There's no debating that he's a physical force.

An undefeated state wrestling champion in high school, Roth is a guy you want on your side. He's big and he's bad.

"That's the main reason I'm glad training camp is over 'cause I don't have to deal with Matt Roth and everybody else on every other team does," Browns tight end Benjamin Watson said. "That guy, I really haven't seen anybody block him - tight end, tackle, running back. When he wants to get going and he wants to bust through there and make a play, there's very few people that can stand in his way."

Roth's job is simple. His assignment each week is to take the other team's tight end out of the game, and he'll do whatever's necessary to complete the task.

Is there a tight end that can block him?

"I haven't see him," Roth said, chuckling. "But you know, that's my deal. It's a mismatch. I go to the tight end side and rough those guys up. That's who I am."

This Sunday, Roth's challenge is to make life difficult for three hours on Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez, who has faced Roth four previous times.

Gonzalez expects another rough day.

"He doesn't have too many moves," Gonzalez said in a conference call. "Just bull rushing' and a guy that likes to get after it. He has a high motor. He's one of those guys you better be prepared for or he'll embarrass you."

Browns tight end Evan Moore spent part of his summer getting beat up daily by Roth in camp. Moore was getting abused so badly during contact drills and got so frustrated that he couldn't block Roth that he finally asked his teammate for some advice.

"I asked him, 'What am I doing wrong? I can't block you,'" Moore said. "He said, 'No tight end will ever block me. You're not doing anything wrong. It's just not going to happen.' So I said, 'Well, you can't guard me, so I guess we're even.'"

Roth has a unique coverage style. It's called bump and can't run.

"My whole philosophy is if I can knock them on the ground, I don't got to cover them," he said. "It makes my job easier."

Coach Eric Mangini loves what Roth brings to his defense. Mangini wants the Browns to be tough and physical, and Roth has tough and physical down to a science.

The Browns are the only AFC team that hasn't given up a rushing touchdown this season, and Cleveland hasn't allowed a player to run for more than 100 yards in six consecutive games. It's a carryover from last season, when the Browns' rushing defense improved from the moment Roth arrived.

A former defensive coordinator, Mangini knows Roth is more than a handful.

"He's hard to block with a tight end, he can challenge any tackle that they put out there and he's just angry," Mangini said. "It's a good angry."

Roth knows people think he's a little, well, off. He doesn't mind.

"My mom won't like it," he said. "But I'll take it."

With the Browns clinging to their 23-20 lead in the fourth quarter last week, Roth pursued Palmer across the field and dropped him for a four-yard loss. The sack forced the Bengals to punt, and they didn't get the ball back as the Browns were able to run out the final 4:41.

Roth didn't celebrate his sack with a dance. Instead, he flexed like a body builder - not creative, but effective.

"I don't get too fancy out there," Roth said. "The flex is more my style. I learned over the years you don't want to burn up too much energy, so that's the way to go."

He may want to try something new next time.

"We made fun of his flex," Thomas said.

Not to his face.

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Roth has a unique coverage style. It's called bump and can't run.

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LMAO



Ever since Mangini said that Roth is kinda like an "enforcer" in hockey, I just picture the Hanson brothers from Slap Shot every time I hear his name

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"My whole philosophy is if I can knock them on the ground, I don't got to cover them," he said. "It makes my job easier."

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That's my nomination for player quote of the year.

Just one more example of the Browns "toughening" up. KInda like "you (the other team) are going to play our way - smash mouth on O AND D. Not much you can do when you're on the ground. We aren't playing your way."

I like it.

We need to sign him to a 3-4 year deal, I do believe he might be a FA after this year.

Now that was a good read.

I think we are seeing a front office and staff that is really working well together... I think Mangini has just enough input into the players he wants, the kinds of players he wants, while Heckert and Holmgren have more input and get to ultimately pull the trigger.. I think the fact that we are picking up guys like Hillis, Ward, Roth.. while keeping guys like Vickers, Thomas, Cribbs is exactly what Mangini wants, these are the kinds of guys he loves.. and we now have Heckert to make sure the tough guys we pick up can actually play... I'm liking it..

I know it doesn't mean a whole lot, but he was a pain in my Ohio State ass, and those kinds of boys are always welcome in my huddle.

Whats not to love......................

BTTB

I love this guy. I cant believe that after all the years spent trying to find an enforcer, Bill Cowher type of linebacker that we just picked one up that the Dolphins didnt want. His play is the major reason for the improvement in our defense and the fact that we can now stop the run.

Roth is a player i really hope we sign longterm at the end of the year..the guy is for sure a good workable part for this Defense..he is a good player.

Saw a spot on STO... a Jamir Howerton interview, wherein team mates were saying that Roth was a "BeastMachine"... shows up to work, says little, goes all out- and handles his bidniss. EVERY DAY.

THIS is the kind of Browns player I've been starved for since The Return.

I've gone on and on about the importance of instilling a culture in Cleveland... be that a culture of flash, sizzle, lunchpail or mauler. I never cared which one was picked... just do it, and stick to it. any can work, so long as you make a plan and dedicate yourself to it.

I couldn't be happier to see the genesis of a hardnosed, tough, "trade you, blow for blow" type of personna for this team.

Guys like Matt Roth, Peyton Hillis, Marcus Benard, TJ Ward and Lawrence Vickers are exactly the kind of players the Browns need to compete in the AFCN. As long as our FO continues to bring guys like this into the fold, the future looks quite promising for our team.

Look at it this way: in a 16-game season, HALF of the games we play are against division rivals. Steelers and Ravens (and to a certain extent, the Bengals) are tooled to beat up upon opposing teams. It will never be pretty, it will never look elegant- but it will result in a win. Game after game, season after season.

If a team can't handle the opponents they see twice per season every year, they don't stand much of a chance at sniffing the playoffs. It's what killed our 2007 shot at the playoffs... our last best chance to make a true run for the Big Dance.... and it will keep us out of the hunt for years to come, if we don't start populating our team with hardasses at a good number of positions. I don't mean hardasses who show up for their once-per-week SportsCenter highlights- I mean guys who can swing big hickory weekly- and well into the cold months of the season.

Matt Roth looks to be one of those guys.

As long as Heckert keeps finding guys like Matt Roth, I'll be satisfied that we're moving our team in the direction it should be going. I want my own Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Troy Polomalu and Todd Heap representing orange & Brown every week....

...because that's what it's going to take to climb out of the league's cellar.


For years, this team has been victimized by being a member of the most hardass division in the entire NFL- bar none. It's about time we started populating ourselves with some junkyard dawgs who don't care how hard they've been bitten... so long as they bite back even harder.

The AFCN is the best example of Old School, hardass football modern fans will ever see. It's high time we Browns fans get to see our team grow a spine... and start bullying the bullies.

'nuffsed on this subject.


1. Sign Matt Roth to a long contract.
2.Feed him raw meat.
3. Point him at his target, and unhook the leash.
4.Give him a "ScoobySnack" when his target is hauled off the field on a gurney.
5. Repeat as often as is necessary.

To date, the Tom Heckert/Mike Holmgren braintrust has done exactly what they should... populate this team with players who can hold their own against some of the most fearsome players in the league. Wanna play against a badass? Get a bigger, badder badass.


I like it.
Matt Roth's a keeper.


.02,
Cle,dawg

Clone Roth, Hillis, and Vickers. A bench full of those guys and the Cribbs from last year would dominate! I would let them call the offense as well. Their mindset is what Daboll needs to really go after opponents. Kinda half-ankled, pantywaist weaker sister offense has just infuriated me. But I am now in a 53-step Browns fan orange & brown addiction program (early present for Christmas) and recovering. Taking it one Sunday at a time.

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Look at it this way: in a 16-game season, HALF of the games we play are against division rivals.

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You mean because we don't show up for the other 4?

Not to be a nitpicking tool, but 6/16 = 3/8 (37.5%).

That being said, the content of your post is on the money. It's nice to actually see a team identity molding, particularly with this emphasis on physicality and balls to the wall effort. That's the kind of culture I can buy into and actually matches the work ethic of the city. We just need to keep adding our pawns, rooks, bishops, knights, and our queen to the board...

I guess if we beat ourselves twice a year in non-divisional games, you could say that half of our games are against AFCN teams.

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I guess if we beat ourselves twice a year in non-divisional games, you could say that half of our games are against AFCN teams.

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...then you get my point.

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ok, ok.... so I had a couple before writing it.

anyone else to correct me gets flagged for 'piling on'....


(we need a "facepalm" smiley around here...)

!!!

My Man!


thanks, DC