Rocky McIntosh

After being redshirted in 2001, McIntosh started six games at strongside linebacker as a freshman.[1] He played his first college game on August 31, 2002, in a win over Florida A&M University. On September 21, 2002, he started a college game for the first time and recorded four tackles (three solo) and two stops for losses in the win over Boston College.[2] McIntosh had a season-high ten tackles (six solo) and a tackle for a loss in the win at the West Virginia University. On January 3, 2003, he played in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl (the 2002 BCS National Championship Game, as part of the Bowl Championship Series) and recorded eight tackles (two solo), including two for losses.[2] The Hurricanes lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes 31–24 in double overtime. In his first season, McIntosh recorded 43 tackles (24 solo), eight tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and two pass break ups.[1]

During his sophomore season, McIntosh was limited by a knee injury that slowed him throughout preseason practices.[2] He underwent arthroscopic surgery[6] and missed the first game against Louisiana Tech. On November 15, 2003, he made a season-high eight tackles (five solo) in the win over Syracuse University.[2] On January 1, 2004, he played in the 2004 Orange Bowl, where the Hurricanes won over the Florida State Seminoles. McIntosh played in 12 games and made 23 tackles (16 solo), including one for a loss of three yards and one pass break up.[1]

As a junior in 2004, McIntosh played in ten games and started nine games at both strongside (six) and middle linebacker (three).[1] In the season opener against Florida State University, he recorded 11 tackles, including a half sack and two quarterback pressures. On September 23, 2004, he had a career-high 17 tackles, including two tackles for loss, one quarterback pressure and two pass breakups in a win over the University of Houston.[2] McIntosh did not play against Wake Forest University due to a shoulder injury and played a limited role in the loss to Virginia Tech the following week. In that game, he recorded eight tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. His shoulder injury returned and he did not play in the 2004 Peach Bowl, where the Hurricanes beat the Florida Gators.[2]

He ranked second on the team with 111 tackles (37 solo), including 13 tackles for a loss, eight quarterback pressures, four sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups. For his efforts, he was voted honorable mention All-ACC and was selected as the Hurricanes Linebacker of the Year.[1]

During his senior season, McIntosh started 11 games and led the Hurricanes in tackles with 89 (50 solo), and had 5.5 sacks and ten tackles for a loss. After the season, he earned All-ACC honorable mention as a senior.[1]

McIntosh was drafted in the second round (35th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. The Redskins traded a sixth round pick in 2006 and a second round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft to the New York Jets in order to swap second-round picks.[6] He had minor knee surgery on June 14, 2006,[8] and was signed to the Redskins on July 30, 2006.[9]

In 2006, McIntosh played in 16 regular-season games with two starts and totaled 23 tackles (17 solo) and 25 special teams tackles. His first professional start was on December 24, 2006, in a 37-31 overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams. In both of his two starts, McIntosh recorded double digit tackles.[1]

McIntosh (#52) pursuing Green Bay Packers running back, Vernand Morency.

In 2007, McIntosh set career highs in games played (14), started (13), tackles (105), solo tackles (70), sacks (3), forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (1). He recorded his first quarterback sack on Trent Green in a 16-13 overtime win against the Miami Dolphins on September 9, 2007.[1] On December 16, 2007, McIntosh tore both the ACL and MCL ligaments in a 22-10 victory over the New York Giants after bending his knee awkwardly in a pile in the first quarter.[10] He was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2007.[1] McIntosh was recognized as the Redskins’ nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award recognizes a player for community service activities as well as excellence on the field.[1]

After being put on injury reserve the previous season, McIntosh set career highs in games played (16) and games started (15). He recorded 87 tackles, two sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles. On September 21, 2008, he made a season-high 12 tackles, one forced fumble and a half-sack in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. McIntosh had his first career interception on November 16, 2008 in a loss against the Dallas Cowboys. In that game, he also recorded eight tackles and two pass breakups.[1]

McIntosh tackling Mike Karney while playing against the Saints in the 2008 season.

In 2009, McIntosh played in 16 regular season games with 15 starts and finished the season with 94 tackles (64 solo), two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He recorded seven tackles (two solo) and his first interception of the season (second of his career) in a loss against the Atlanta Falcons on November 8, 2009.[1]

When the Redskins switched to a 3-4 defense, McIntosh was converted from an outside linebacker to the right inside linebacker alongside London Fletcher, who was the left inside linebacker. He started fifteen games during the 2010 season and recorded a new career high of 110 tackles as well as two sacks.[11]

On August 4, 2011, McIntosh re-signed with the Redskins for one year.[12] McIntosh started eight games and recorded 65 combined tackles, one sack, and one pass breakup.[13]

McIntosh signed with the St. Louis Rams on June 14, 2012.[14] For the Rams' 4-3 defense, he returned to being an outside linebacker as he was before the Redskins' switched to a 3-4 defense. Rocky earned a starting spot and finished the season with 44 tackles,1 sack, and 1 interception.[15]

McIntosh signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions on August 17, 2013.[16] Though he made the 53-man roster after final roster cuts before the start of the 2013 season, he was waived by the Lions after they claimed safety DeJon Gomes off waivers on September 2.[17] He resigned with the team three days later.

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Key

• GP: games played
• COMB: combined tackles
• TOTAL: total tackles
• AST: assisted tackles
• SACK: sacks
• FF: forced fumbles
• FR: fumble recoveries
• FR YDS: fumble return yards
• INT: interceptions
• IR YDS: interception return yards
• AVG IR: average interception return
• LNG: longest interception return
• TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
• PD: passes defensed