0 c 1;: fi .F,'.. C. w ,^,, thy., t - . .t 8A - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com * 'Epiphany' inspires Roh to play better defense By KEVIN RAFTERY Daily Sports Editor The Michigan football team had just defeated Western Michi- gan in the season opener and Craig Roh couldn't help but cry. The junior defensive end was used to being one of the Wolver- ines' main weapons - he'd start- ed every game of his collegiate career and had been a rock for the Michigan defense. But after this game, the only rock he felt was rock bottom. He recorded zero tackles and seemed invisible on the field. "I didn't perform that great (against Western Michigan)," Roh said on Tuesday. "I just had a breakdown after that game." But it was more than just his poor performance against the Broncos that triggered the "emo- tional release." It was the culmi- nation of a difficult few weeks. Roh had been taking a lot of heat from defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who is making it his priority to shape Roh into a great player. Mattison knows Roh's potential and is not afraid to let himknow when things need to improve. "I've been pretty hard on him," Mattison said. "I think at one point he said, 'Coach, I don't think I've ever heard that everything I did wasn't good before.' "And I just said, 'Well, it isn't. Not for the level that I want you at. " Not exactly what Roh had been used to hearing. "I'm a perfectionist," Roh said. "I would like to think that every- thing I do is perfect, and football is one area where I could be per- fect. And once Mattison came in, I wasn't perfect anymore. I was just completely un-perfect in every way, shape or form." It was during camp when Roh first realized how different this season would be than years past. He was still adjusting to playing defensive end - he played line- backer all of freshman year and in eight games his sophomore year. Roh had only five games at defensive end under his belt enteringthis season. The position change, along with a new coach- ing staff, challenged Roh to his breaking point. "(I was) breaking down, like with my parents probably," Roh said. "After games, or just during camp. Camp was tough. We went almost every day in full pads. Peo- ple would be lying if they told you (camp) was fun. But it's necessary, and it's made this whole team mentally tough. But sometimes it's not always fun." Following the Western Michi- gan game, Roh once again didn't post any statistics in a 35-31 win over Notre Dame. But during that game, he felt something change. "The Western game I felt like I didn't play well," he said. "The Notre Dame game, I felt energet- ic, had fun. "That was like the epiphany." Epiphany? "I just kind of had an epiphany about football and life," Roh said. "That's kind of what I detected. It was just a change, and I thank Mattison, I thank God for it. It entailed something that just real- 6 ly relates to Christian belief that But the game against the Fight- him to maintain a more posi- I'm not perfect, that it's OK to ing Irish was just the beginning. tive attitude in practice and has be not perfect because God has a Roh saw the game, and life, in a helped him become a better foot- plan for me. different light. He started having ball player. "It's like God has put football fun playing football again. And never was that more evi- into my life because He wants me And he wasn't the only one who dent than midway through the to play. He wants me to enjoy it, noticed. third quarter against Eastern and after that, it was like any crit- "All of the sudden, he just kept Michigan last Saturday. icism I get from Mattison doesn't working andw kept working, and Roh was positioned on the left tear down my entire world. (Mat- you could see it happen I think a side of the line as Eagles quarter- tison) is just trying to make me a week ago in practice," Mattison back Alex Gillett faked a handoff better player, and because of that said. "I saw a different guy. A guy and rolled out to the right, looking I came in with a much more posi- that said, 'Okay, I'm gonna buy to pass. tive attitude, even when he does into everything.' " Gillett never had a chance. Roh get down on me." Roh said his epiphany helped read the play perfectly and busted through the line. He grabbed hold of Gillett's shoulder and ripped him to the ground for his first sack of the year. Finally, a sense of relief. Roh raised both fists in the air as teammates ran over to congratu- late him. "That was a release for sure," he said. "I'm just having so much fun playing football right now." Despite the epiphany, Roh remains focused on what lies ahead. "It's a journey," he said. WANT TO JOIN THE DAILY SPORTS STAFF? Smart move. 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