DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Shaun Rogers - Article - Workin hard

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Sports Spotlight: Pro Bowler Rogers lays it all on line
BY TODD PORTER
TODD.PORTER@CANTONREP.COM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

Finally, when it was over, Shaun Rogers — all 6-foot-5, 360-pounds of him — could rest. He could relax both his mind and his body for the first time on a sticky hot fall day near the beach.

Big guys and beaches get along together about as well as bleach and blue jeans. But Rogers knew his team needed an effort like the one he laid out at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

So when the Browns hung on, and after the ball bounced their way and out of Jacksonville tight end Matt Jones' hands, Rogers put his left knee on the grass and rested. Maybe it left a crater.

Cleveland inched closer to .500 Sunday after the Browns dug themselves a hole big enough to bury Rogers and the rest of his teammates in it to start the season. Their 23-17 win didn't come without hesitation. It didn't come without struggle.

Heck, the struggle began in a locker room in Washington, D.C., when tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. called out his general manager and the entire organization. Winslow made himself a distraction. He made it about him.

Rogers provided the example Sunday of how not to. CBS play-by-play voice Dick Enberg said Rogers' nine-tackle day that included a sack, three QB hurries and a blocked field goal, earned him some Pro Bowl votes. It probably did.

Rogers didn't care.

"I'm just trying to win a game," Rogers said. "It's not about those votes right now. It's about wins and losses for us. We're trying to put ourselves in a position to get to the playoffs. That's what we're trying to do."

Play after huffing and puffing play, he brought it.

He brought it when he blocked a Jacksonville field goal and then chase down the loose ball 25 yards down the field. The big fella took a spot, OK, maybe two spots, on Cleveland's bench and bellied up next to the oxygen tank.

"You know, that dude is an animal," said Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, who, at 245 pounds isn't your typical QB. "We had a few plays designed to try and use his strength against him, and he just put more strength into it. ... He's an animal.

"He's the biggest guy on the field, and might be the biggest guy in the whole league."

Big isn't always better.

The Browns needed Rogers to be big and better Sunday.

The former Pro Bowler, signed by Cleveland to shore up its interior line against the run, had much to be proud of Sunday.

"I'm (most) proud of a team win," Rogers said. "I'm proud the scoreboard read the Cleveland Browns win. That's all I'm proud of."

I wonder if Kellen Winslow Jr. felt the same way Sunday night. Wonder if he felt that way at any point. Winslow probably has legitimate beefs with the Browns and the team's staph infection problems.

But some of what Winslow expressed, and his teammates have agreed, was rooted in frustration. Frustration from watching the team win without him. Frustration from not becoming a force this season like he was last.

Rogers?

He was proud of a team win.

"He has a motor and when it's geared up and turned to full speed, I don't know very many guys who can block him," Garrard said. "When he wanted to force his will, you could see what he can do."

That's a lot of will to enforce.

But dig this about Rogers: He is a man of few words, especially when it comes to himself.

These are the days when the Browns need that kind of player. These are the days when everyone needs that player.

Rogers' blocked field goal was a huge play in Sunday's game. It forced Jacksonville to try for a touchdown at the end of the game, instead of positioning itself for a game-tying field goal.

And it was the 12th time in his career that he blocked a field goal or punt.

His secret?

There isn't one, unless dinner counts.

"There's a lot of big guys in this league. I wouldn't say it's technique," Rogers said. "I just happened to be the guy who got my paw up there. It's a collective effort."

Much was made of Rogers before he came to Cleveland. He's always been one of the best nose tackles in the league. Some have described him as a malcontent, a player who hasn't played his best football since he made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2005-06.

Some have suggested coming to Cleveland has rejuvenated him.

"I always go back to the statement that I never thought I played bad football," Rogers said. "I'm happy to be here."

The Browns went through a weird week, but that's becoming the norm in an odd season. Now they've won three of their last four.

Sunday, the Browns watched a 360-pounder bring it every play. They watched him set a tone and an example.

"We tried to emphasize we needed this one to stay in the pack in the AFC and we needed to win," Head Coach Romeo Crennel said. "Hopefully they took that to heart and they keep it at heart for the rest of the season."

When Rogers is the heartbeat of the Browns, that's a large pulse. Big enough and loud enough to carry a team.

Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com

The "Beast" is indeed a good man, and a great teammate.

Keep it goin' Shaun,...!!

Team first.

That's the way it should be. Good article. Glad to have him on our side.

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Much was made of Rogers before he came to Cleveland. He's always been one of the best nose tackles in the league. Some have described him as a malcontent, a player who hasn't played his best football since he made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2005-06.

Some have suggested coming to Cleveland has rejuvenated him.

"I always go back to the statement that I never thought I played bad football," Rogers said. "I'm happy to be here."

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The Lions had to be absolutely nuts to let us have this guy. If he was playing like this, for them, I don't see it happening.

So yeah, I definitely hope he keeps it up considering he's our best defensive player. I love how he hits opposing QBs, and even though he doesn't usually sack them, a Rogers squash really takes its toll.

He definitely has made one of the biggest impacts this year.

It's just nice seeing a positive article. I've seen Corey Williams improved a lot over the season as well. Those two guys were a good pick up and they're only gonna get better throughout the season.

Thank you Detroit......got any more so called lazy players ya wanna get rid of....

Shauns a Beast

Amen.... all we need is a little improvement in our LB'ing corps and new a legitimate nickle CB and we'll be a pretty good defense.

Was at the game in Jax and Rodgers put a swim move on his man that was beautiful to behold....he played his butt off and I was glad to leave the stadium with the sound of happy Browns fans singing"here we go Brownies here we go!woof woof...the Jacksonville fans were a disspirited bunch I wanna tell ya.

A couple of comments ... # 1 glad to see that Mr. Rogers is getting all the credit he deserves , what a game by the big guy .

# 2 .. wish he would take Wimbley aside and start working with him ! Your will and some good moves !

I was watching Wimbley on many plays sunday and I do believe the coachs had or made sure Wimbley & Mcginnist were told to play the run first and not to let the runner outside of them, our def seemed to push all of Jax. running plays into the middle. I do think last game Wimbley might get a bye as far as pass rush goes, We knew they wouldnt be able to run between the tackles so we made sure our outside Lb kept contain on the corners. Wimbley was also used as a spy on Garrard, staying around the line of scrimmage trying to make sure he didnt get loose to much. Wimbley might not have made the plays but he pushed or contained the RB & QB back into the middle where others tackled. Wimbley in my opinon had a solid game. Just my take on it.

I agree; half of Wimbley's "lack" of apparent success is scheme -- or lack of one -- driven.

I concur. Teams that overload the line of scrimmage and move people around before the snap (Giants, Pittsburgh, Baltimore) would LOVE to have a guy like Wimbley.

I thought you were one of the guys that said his desire to attack and experience in the Tampa 2 would be a hindrance to his playing in a 3-4...

Nice work by Rogers all year... I saw him actually leave his feet and go flying at Gerrard. It was beauty. To see a big man like that play that athletically... amazing. The roughing call he got was ticky-tack and I'd take that penalty any day of the week along with the effort he brings.

You do know that he can dunk right? And by dunk I don't mean just push that ball in. I mean DUNK like Phi Slamma Jamma style D.U.N.K!

i'm sure some people laughed when matt millen said if shaun rogers is healthy, he's going to be the defensive player of the year, i don't think those people are laughing anymore, if he keeps playing like this, there is no reason he puts that trophy on his shelf...

i don't know if shaun's words to the media are true, or not, because athletes are completely full of it 90% of the time, but i love hearing stuff like that, i don't care about stats, i don't care about personal accolades, i just want to win. i love that attitude. i think there are people in that very locker room who could live by those words.

a funny thing someone said to me at work today

"ya know, you guys struggled to put the ball in from the goal line on sunday, maybe you should should hand it off to that big guy in the middle of your defensive line? it worked for us in '85"

i laughed, and then paused and said "wait a minute, why the hell not?"

shaun rogers makes fridge perry look like a twig.

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I saw him actually leave his feet and go flying at Gerrard. It was beauty

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Yes. That was amazing. His motor has been running all year long and sometimes in overdrive. Some one mentioned (in Gameday, I believe) that he probably was in more at Jax than normal and I thought the same while watching.

Good point on Wimbley holding his responsibility on the edge and, at other times, spying Garrard. It was a very satisfying game defensively which I honestly didn't expect to see much of this season. While it still seems to me that every time I saw AD in on a tackle it was considerably beyond the LOS and he was coming up on the play, it was a nice team effort lead by Shaun's incredible performance.

Yes, Rogers was definitely in on more plays.

DQ looks like he's starting to get freed up a little and is having some impact as well.

Well you can't plug DQ right under Rodgers ..he is too small to be able to get around the mass at the LOS..plus when Wimbley get sealed off DQ WILL get caught in all that..well he does anyway
What needs to be addressed is Wimbley's inability to cut off the flow to that side and MAKE the back cut back into the line.

Probably me..I said to someone that LL is playing DE better than Smith is..which is not a slap at Smith..I thought he was better in the middle than on the end.

Ah yeah. That sounds right attack. If that's the case I think it would make more sense to just use Smith as the rotational player between NT and end. Keeping Rogers fresh is paramount lol.

On an aside I was hangin out with this girl last night and she was saying she wanted a Rogers jersey. I about died.

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On an aside I was hangin out with this girl last night and she was saying she wanted a Rogers jersey. I about died.

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Marry her.....Marry her now......Marry her today......

So far I have been right on two things:

1) Jamal Lewis- A lot of people didn't like this guy but he was always one of my favorite runners and in truth he is probably the most professional football player we have (maybe Willie Mc)

2) Shaun Rodgers- I always thought he was one of the best D-linemen in the NFL and has the versatile to be a DE/NT. I approved of this move back then and while I thought the contract was a early....it sure looks good now.

but a question for the sake of talking...Do you think if we got a player like lets say Haynesworth(Not saying we should or are) would Rodgers be a better DE or NT?

I actually think he would be a better DE because he is real good at shooting gaps, blowing stuff up, and would help with pressure cause he might be able to free our LBs....Plus I am pretty sure that most tackles wouldn't be used to handling a player of Rodgers size. Anyone else got an opinion on this..whether he could be a better DE than NT?

Do you think if we got a player like lets say Haynesworth(Not saying we should or are) would Rodgers be a better DE or NT?

I think since Haynesworth has more laterial mobility than Rodgers I would leave Rodgers at the nose.

I know what you mean.. but playing on the edge Rogers would have to move more often toward the outside , which could zap his stamina more.
Personally I would terrorize OC's by having:
DE-Willams 320
NT-Rodgers 370+
DE-Haynesworth 320
Rodgers ability to collapse the LOS, plus being able to rush the QB and flatten him out like a pancake is too intriguing..