Ex-Iowa star's switch to LB allows Porter to move to right side

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins03sbsep03,0,2763249.story

Roth's progress pleases Sparano

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

September 3, 2008

Matt Roth has been searching to find his place with the Dolphins ever since the franchise drafted him in 2005.

If only he had moved two feet backward and a few feet to his left a little sooner.

Roth was recruited to Iowa as a linebacker but quickly grew out of the position and was moved to defensive end. Fast-forward seven years and this former second-round pick has been asked to reverse the position switch, and has managed to do so successfully.

He's been active in the opposition's backfield as a strong-side linebacker during the exhibition season. The Dolphins are banking so much on that trend continuing they're experimenting with outside linebacker Joey Porter making a full-time move to the right side.

Roth's success hinges on his being stout enough to hold up against the run.

"I feel like this outside linebacker spot is much like an end, but it suits me very well. I feel like I can really do well at this position," said Roth, who admitted he was disappointed in his first season as a full-fledged starter last year.

While he contributed a career-high 44 tackles to accompany 3 1/2 sacks, Roth was limited by a groin strain that developed into a hernia as the season progressed.

He bulked up to 285 pounds to play end this season, but when rookie Kendall Langford began to blossom, Dolphins coaches decided to experiment with Roth. Each week the experiment as a linebacker got extended.

Monday, coach Tony Sparano announced it was a full-time move, which has Roth competing with Charlie Anderson for the starting spot opposite Porter.

"It's a challenge every day because it's all new to me. I'm liking it, though," said Roth, who admitted at first he was resistant to the switch.

He's since realized there are positive aspects to the move.

"I don't have to wrestle 600 pounds every down," Roth said, referring to a 3-4 end's task of taking on two offensive linemen. "The tight ends are hard blockers, but it's nothing like tackling a guard coming down on you."

This isn't the first time the Dolphins' staff has transformed a defensive end into a stand-up outside linebacker. They've done it with college ends like Cowboys Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware. Dallas' Greg Ellis and Dolphins outside linebacker Quentin Moses also made the switch under the staff.

"He's better than I thought, but he's not a scholar at it by any means," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "He's talking a lot more and catching on to it. It's funny to see him dropping back in pass coverage."

While Roth's shortfalls in pass coverage might be funny now, it might not be a laughing matter if he gets smoked on a passing play by Jets tight end Dustin Keller or speedy tailback Leon Washington.

The Dolphins will likely keep Roth on the field on first and second downs and replace him on obvious passing plays.

"There's still some things in the game situations that are going to be the first time he sees it and the first time he reacts to it," Sparano said. "But I feel comfortable that our coaches will prepare him well."

Two added, two cut

Safety Tyrone Culver was added to the 53-man roster, replacing cornerback Joey Thomas, who was waived. Also waived was receiver Jayson Foster, who was added to the practice squad Sunday. Replacing Foster on the practice squad is defensive tackle Anthony Toribio.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/669337.html

Miami Dolphins' Roth adds job description: Sam I am

By DAVID J. NEAL
Miami Herald

A reality of modern labor: nobody stays in the same work space from the day they're hired to the day they're retired. At some point, you will be asked to change positions and, likely, change careers.

For Matt Roth, a position change might have delayed a future career change. Roth's adaptability to the outside strong-side linebacker (''Sam'') spot in the Dolphins' 3-4 defense after three seasons at defensive end might have pumped new life into his Dolphins career.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano doesn't hesitate to call the Roth transplant a success, at this point.

''I feel like he's turned the corner and that's where he needs to be right now,'' Sparano said. ``There's still some things in game situations that are going to be the first time he sees it and the first time he reacts to it, but I feel comfortable that our coaches will prepare him well, and that Matt will do whatever it takes to prepare himself.''

Roth said, ``I think I did really well at the Sam and found a home right away. I think they were pretty happy with me there. I knew I could play another two or three positions. Yeah, it's definitely good to be flexible and play as many positions as you can.

``I thought it would be somewhere you could make your mark.''

FACTORS AGAINST HIM

Dramatic as it might seem to say, this could have saved Roth's roster spot. Consider: Coming off last season, Roth was two Dolphins regimes removed from being a second-round pick; had spent three undistinguished seasons at defensive end, his last one hampered by a groin injury; the incoming Dolphins front office tended to like more heft along the line than Roth's 275 pounds at 6-4; one of their major, free-agent signings was 6-3, 305-pound defensive end Randy Starks; plus, their second and fourth picks in the 2008 draft were 290-pound defensive ends Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford.

So the writing on the wall wasn't exactly a marriage proposal. But there was one thing -- Roth's size and ability to run fit the profile of a Bill Parcells linebacker.

In retrospect, it's not surprising the Dolphins would try to move Roth, who remains in the 275-280 range, to outside linebacker. And, so far, especially with the emergence of Merling and Langford, it has all worked out for the Dolphins and Roth.

It's not as if the world of linebackers was entirely unknown to Roth. Linebackers set up only one block south of the defensive line and Roth had been a consensus All-American linebacker. Then again, that was back at Villa Park Willowbrook High in Illinois.

''I knew they were going to make it a longtime home for me,'' Roth said. ``I thought it would match up with the way I play. It was a little nerve-wracking, but with the scheme and all that, I felt it could really fit me.

``Get up the field, make plays, disrupt things, go after the passer.''

What Roth had to adjust to was dropping into pass coverage, which he estimates he'll be doing half the time. It could be more often than that. Joey Porter is the weak-side outside linebacker and defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni said long ago that Porter would be used at his strength, pass rushing.

''In the beginning, it's foreign,'' Roth said. ``The last couple of games, definitely, feel really good getting into coverage.''

So, if on Sunday, you find yourself alone in the flat with the Jets' shifty Leon Washington, you'll feel able to handle it?

''Yeah, I feel good,'' Roth replied.

``It's set up that way so that it's zone coverage.''

What about four weeks ago?

''Four weeks ago, I probably would've asked if I could've went on the blitz,'' he said, chuckling.

SAFETY ADDED

The Dolphins signed safety Tyrone Culver, a sixth-round 2006 draft pick of Green Bay in 2006 who missed all last season with a shoulder injury, and waived cornerback Joey Thomas. They also added defensive tackle and Miami Central graduate Anthony Toribio to the practice squad and dumped wide receiver Jayson Foster from the practice squad.