What does the Matt Roth Signing Mean?

by Alfie Crow on Aug 12, 2011 4:31 PM EDT in 2011 Jaguars Free Agency

Yesterday, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed defensive end Matt Roth to a 1-year $3 million contract, and waived rookie punter Durant Brooks. Roth, who is a player I've said would likely wind up on the Jaguars radar, is expected to be a likely starter on the Jaguars defensive line. Roth, 6-4, 275 pounds, is in his seventh NFL season and has played in 87 games with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. He was originally a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2005 and was claimed off waivers by the Browns midway through the 2009 season. For his career, Roth has 274 tackles, 20 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

So, what does the signing of Matt Roth mean if he's expected to potentially start?

It could mean a myriad of different things.

It's possible the Jaguars are not comfortable with how Roth's former college teammate, Aaron Kampman, has progressed. Kampman is coming off his second torn ACL in as many seasons. Kampman has yet to practice with the team and did not make the trip to New England. It's expected the team would bring him along slowly, but they would hope he's ready for the regular season. With the addition of Roth, it could be a depth/fall back plan if Kampman isn't ready to go week one.

It's possible the team has been disappointed with the progress of some of the younger defensive ends like Jeremy Mincey and Larry Hart. Austen Lane was stonewalled last night, but the Roth signing was made before the game was even played. Hart in particular has been disappointing in training camp thus far and looks like he came in overweight. Mincey has been Mincey, which isn't necessarily bad or good. He's always been a try hard guy with some pass rushing ability, but he's ideally a rotational player.

Roth is also multi-dimensional, scheme wise. He's played as both a down end and a stand up 3-4 outside linebacker, playing fairly well at both positions. He could offer a twist in sub packages rushing the passer standing up from a linebacker position.

I tend to think the signing means moreso the first reason, with Aaron Kampman, than anything else.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I hate speculation

But I might agree with you on the Kampman thing, but then again maybe its not becuase of that. From what I saw last night the Jags need Dline depth BAD. In particular DE depth.

by Demetrius82 on Aug 12, 2011 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

If it is because of Aaron

that’s bad news. I hope the reason is the 2nd option of yours: the younger players (for example Hart).

by the way I’m a bit confused that he is played mostly in the 3-4. This a 4-3 defense (The Jags wouldn’t give Posluszny that much money if they wouldn’t be dedicated to that system). Is he fit here. He said he likes the 3-4 not so long ago:
http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2011/6/5/2208563/matt-roth-i-kind-of-like-the-3-4-defense

But to say good words too. I heard when he played in Miami his teammates elected him 3 times for the title “With who I wanna fight together in a bar(If I need to)”.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 12, 2011 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

They don't know what they are talking about

And Roth was just giving the company line. Roth is a better fit in a 43. He’s not a speed guy like Ware. He’s more of a Poz at DE if you get what I mean. Good measurables but still more of a technician than a workout warrior.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 12, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

what concerns me here

is that we waived Durant Brooks. I know it is only one game but are the Jags really content with Matt Turk as their punter?

by cbjags on Aug 12, 2011 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

I think they are in "wait and see" mode

If Turk doing one more stinker, he’s gone and the Jaguars will sign somebody at the final rostercuts.

By the way – in ’07 he did a 10 yard punt against the raiders, so yesterday was not the all-time low record for him…

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 12, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Durant Brooks will be there if you need him.

Follow me on Twitter
try beer

by Alfie Crow on Aug 12, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Signing Roth is a good thing...

having him on the roster along with Kampman, Lane and Mincy is very good….he’s more of a DE that was converted to OLB years back by the Dolphins. You can say well he’s here to spell Kampman (until he gets fully back) or you say Gene gave him a one year to see if he can produce (auditioning for a long term deal)…I think it’s a great addition to the Dline.

One life to live, live it to the fullest...

by SDubxl456 on Aug 12, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

great addition

and my sources tell me Kampman i perfectly fine theyre just taking it easy and Roth will likely start LE above Lane.

by UCLAllDay on Aug 12, 2011 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

is*

by UCLAllDay on Aug 12, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope your sources are better than my sources.

Follow me on Twitter
try beer

by Alfie Crow on Aug 12, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

i also

heard Kampman is good to go, and they’re taking it easy, same with MJD.

"thanks for hating"

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Aug 12, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Who are your sources? and why is this a secret?

Just say so and so told me he is going to be fine. What is the big secret? The Falcons might have an edge on us for next Friday’s game?

by Slawsc on Aug 12, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

nothing good,

just from what I heard from different people. Can’t name the sources, because I don’t remember who told me, and i didn’t say sources told me, just said thats what i heard.

"thanks for hating"

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Aug 13, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Really? Who’d you hear that from? ESPN?

Follow me on Twitter
try beer

by Alfie Crow on Aug 12, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they just want a deeper rotation

He very well might start, because at 6-4 275, he’s big enough to be a full time DE, but I think the goal is to do what Oakland, Tennessee and the Giants have done with their teams: gather a whole lot of good players along the defensive line so that they can swap starters out and let them rest whenever necessary.

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Aug 12, 2011 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

I can see that,

but I want to see him start at LE and switch to OLB in a 34, which we use once in a while. Using the hybrid defense would be great actually.

It would give Kampman less snaps, lets see we do this.

43
DE: Kampman
DT: Alualu
NT: Knighton
DE: Roth
OLB: Session
MLB: Posluszny
OLB: Smith

34
DE: Alualu
NT: Knighton
DE: Lane/Mincey
OLB: Posluszny
ILB: Session
ILB: Smith
OLB: Roth, Hart

I think that looks very good, and I know Posluszny came here for a 4-3, but the 3-4 won’t be used that often, maybe like 2-6 defensive snaps a game. Giving the opposing QB different looks, will fool him.

"thanks for hating"

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Aug 12, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I think signing him now was a $ thing

I have heard Kampman was helpful in recruiting him here. It seems obvious that if that is true this was on going for at least some time. Im thinking he didn’t get the offers he wanted and his expectations drooped to what we would pay.

by cathousecrazy on Aug 12, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

Actually,

Apparently Drew Rosenhaus sent an email to all 32 teams telling them Matt Roth would sign a one-year, $3 million contract with any team.

Head Editor of JaguarsBlog

Follow me on Twitter

by CaliforniaJag on Aug 12, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not about Kampman...

…Roth isn’t a good pass rusher, but is a good run defender. Good for the LE position, Kampman plays the RE position. Kampman is a pass-rushing specialist who is solid against the run, Lane is a good run defender, and a mediocre to bad pass rusher. I think he’ll be playing over Lane, as we saw last night Lane isn’t ready to start yet. And Kampman looks good, he looks to be at about 90%, he could be at 100, but he’s just limited as a precaution.

"thanks for hating"

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Aug 12, 2011 8:57 PM EDT reply actions

When did you see Kampman?

You’re relaying hearsay like you know Rhett. C’mon dude.

Follow me on Twitter
try beer

by Alfie Crow on Aug 12, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

i saw a video of him doing drills, and he was smiling, and doing them well, so if hes doing them well, and he’s smiling, he’s not in pain, and I heard he is good to go, from I think a jaguars.com article,.

"thanks for hating"

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Aug 13, 2011 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions