Matt Roth, DE

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Height:6-3
Weight:272
40 Time:4.77
College:   Iowa

Senior Stats:
49 tackles total, 15 tackles for a loss, 3 forced fumbles, 8 sacks and 8 QB pressures.

Matt Roth is another player that Nick Saban faced while he was coaching at LSU, although he did not fare as well as Ronnie Brown did while playing against the Tigers. Before the "Capital One" Bowl last year, Roth gave LSU a two-finger salute. While some coaches would have been offended by that, Saban is reported to have just laughed.

Roth was known as one of the premier pass-rushing defensive ends in college football last year and was originally projected to go in the late first round by many analysts. He is known for his toughness, his non-stop motor - and his temper. The report on NFL.com says "Matt is a colorful character who plays the game as if he is on a "search and destroy" mission". It also says that coaches at Iowa would blow the whistle early on plays in practice, because they were afraid that Roth would hurt the offensive players.

Positives: Intense, tenacious, tough and mean. He never takes plays off and never gives up on pursuit. He is more quick than fast and has a very quick first step off the snap, often giving him a jump on offensive linemen. He also has good instincts and reaction to plays. While primarily a pass rusher, he also plays the run well.

Negatives: His intensity can get him into trouble, causing him to over-pursue plays. Also, he may need to bulk up a bit on the next level and develop more pass-rush moves. He won't find it as easy to overpower NFL offensive linemen as he did in college.

Comments: If there is a unifying theme to the players taken in the first day of Miami's draft this year, it's toughness and intensity. You have to like guys like Roth, who succeed on toughness, will and desire because they become the Zach Thomas's of the league.

Roth will probably not start his first year, but he could challenge David Bowens for playing time. I don't think that Saban is trying to replace Jason Taylor - I think he's trying to complement him on the other side of the line.

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