The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 -11A
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, September 9, 2009 - hA
Speedy Roh a perfect fit
for new 'quick' position
By RUTH LINCOLN
Daily Sports Editor
During fall camp, Michigan
standout tailback Carlos Brown
was running a route when he
quickly glanced to his left.
Brown couldn't recognize the
6-foot-4, 238-pound freshman who
was running by his side - and actu-
ally keeping up.
"He turned around and looked
at me, and I said, 'That's Craig Roh
running with me right down the
field?' " Brown recalled. "It's ridic-
ulous. He's real fast."
Within defensive coordinator
Greg Robinson's system, Roh plays
a hybrid defensive end/linebacker
position, also known as the "quick".
The Scottsdale, Ariz. native, who
runs a 4.75 40-yard dash, has gar-
nered much attention with his
speed and athleticism.
After battling with redshirt
sophomore Brandon Herron for
much of fall camp, Roh began to set
himself apart. Last Friday, Robin-
son told Roh he would get the start-
ing nod in Saturday's game against
Western Michigan.
"It was so many emotions at the
same time - excitement, nervous-
ness, just a lot of emotions," Roh
said of Saturday's start. "Coach
Robinson, he was very straightfor-
ward. He called me and Brandon
Herron over, and that was that."
Roh turned heads Saturday
when he broke into the offensive
backfield. He finished with four
assisted tackles, including one for a
six-yard loss. The most impressive
play came when Roh and defensive
tackle Ryan Van Bergen combined
for a sack and a nine-yard loss.
"Oh, I seen Craig Roh out there,
you know, sticking his nose in
there, and he did good for today and
all he can do is get better," senior
defensive end Brandon Graham
said Saturday. "He's got a motor,
and he just want to do everything
right. We know he's going to make
his mistakes, but he's going to keep
going out there."
Roh's position requires a fast
defender who can pass rush from
the edge and drop back in coverage.
As with many positions in Robin-
son's system, it demands constant
movement.
The "quick" spot is a new posi-
tion for Roh, who played defensive
end in high school and verbally
committed to Michigan last Sep-
tember under former defensive
coordinator Scott Shafer.
In his senior year of high school,
Roh tallied 16.5 sacks and received
the Arizona Gatorade Player of the
Year award. A rivals.com four-star
recruit, he received offers from
Southern California, UCLA, Arizo-
na State, Nebraska, California and
Stanford.
Roh's biggest criticism remains
his wiry frame, and as Michi-
gan coach Rich Rodriguez said
at National Signing Day, he
expects Roh to "grow to 250-some
pounds."
But it's Roh's speed that makes
him adaptable. The switch to the
"quick" position in Robinson's sys-
tem seems like a natural fit.
"I would call him raw," Van Ber-
gen said of Rob during fall camp.
"I think he needs to kind of learn
that there's a lot more scheming
involved in college football. The
athleticism he possesses ... he can
be an excellent player."
Think you're better than
QB FORCE? Prove it.
Michigan football walk-on
tryouts - Monday, Sept.14,
4 p.m., Schembechler
Hall. You must pre-register this
week at Schembechler.