Detroit Free Press
December 7, 2006
Rogers is done for the season
He's 3rd defensive lineman on IR
BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Shaun Rogers' absence has hurt the run defense.
Now that defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is on injured reserve and out for the season, the Lions will see if he needs more surgery, prepare him for an off-season program and try to motivate him to fulfill his potential.
"The thing we've got to do is get him in top shape," coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday. "I think, hopefully, he sees the direction we're going and he can be a force in this thing."
Rogers can be one of the most dominant players in the NFL at his position. He is listed at 6-feet-4, 345 pounds, and he can move like a much smaller man. He went to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.
But he is inconsistent, and his commitment and conditioning are in question.
Marinelli helped mold defensive tackle Warren Sapp into a star as Tampa Bay's defensive line coach, but he didn't get much of a chance to work with Rogers.
Rogers missed most of training camp and the exhibition season because of a shoulder injury. After playing the first six games, he was given a four-game suspension for using a banned substance to help control his weight. He took the opportunity to have minor surgery to correct a nagging knee problem.
The hope was that Rogers would come back from the suspension healthy and finish the season strong. But Rogers missed two games after he was eligible to play again. The knee swelled when he worked out last week. The Lions, tied with Oakland for the worst record in the NFL at 2-10, put him on IR on Wednesday.
Rogers declined to comment.
"He's definitely going to be a guy that's missed, but you have to think about his career," defensive tackle Marcus Bell said. "We can't just try to rush him back."
The Lions are without three of their four starting defensive linemen. End James Hall (shoulder) and tackle Shaun Cody (toe) were already on IR. Both left the lineup about the same time Rogers did.
Marinelli refuses to use injuries as an excuse. But look at the numbers.
With Rogers, the Lions allowed 94.3 rushing yards per game. Only two opponents reached 100 rushing yards.
Without him, the Lions have allowed 159 rushing yards per game. All but one opponent has reached 100 rushing yards -- and that opponent, New England, lost its leading rusher, Laurence Maroney, early in the game.
"He's one of the top guys," Minnesota offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson said. "He runs like an end, but he's as big as all can be. That's obviously a disappointment for their team, putting him on IR. He's a great player, a leader of that defense."
I posted this because as i drove home this evening up in beautiful michigan <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> the talk on the radio is that the Lions didnt shut him down over his injury it was that they felt thatthe roster sopt was better off used for evaluating couple younger guys and that they want to cut bait with Rodgers and move him while he still has some value.
So....Obviously what i was thinking was...well you guys know this by heart <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> but what do you think??
Do we gotta take a look at this guy if they release him. I would think that he could make a nice replacement for Orpheus. Prototypical 3/4 DE build. Run stopper.
They were saying that a 3rd or 4th could get him. Any thoughts??
