After five years as the Redskins' starting strong-side linebacker, Marcus Washington was cut on Feb. 20 and almost surely won't return in the wake of the team's choice of Brian Orakpo 13th overall in last month's draft.
After five years as a top special teams performer, backup linebacker Khary Campbell has spurned the Redskins' minimum salary offer and won't be back.
And middle linebacker/captain London Fletcher has skipped the entire offseason at Redskin Park except for the mandatory May 1-3 minicamp.
Suddenly, Rocky McIntosh, heading into his fourth NFL season, third as Washington's weak-side starter, has been the senior member of the Redskins' linebacking corps. And that has meant that the typically reserved University of Miami graduate has begun to emerge as a leader.
"I never played that role in the past, but I'm vocal when I have to be," McIntosh said. "I've got the most playing time here so I can definitely be a help to guys."
Those guys include: 2007 draft pick H.B. Blades, who filled in when Washington was hurt last year; special-teamer Alfred Fincher, a 2008 training camp pickup; practice squad veteran Tyson Smith; well-traveled April addition Robert Thomas; Chris Wilson, who's making the switch from defensive end to linebacker; and rookies Orakpo and Cory Glenn.
At this time last year, McIntosh was still rehabbing after undergoing major knee surgery in December 2007, an injury that kept him out of the team's playoff loss at Seattle.
"Last year, I was rehabbing to get back and I went straight into training camp (without a break)," McIntosh said. "This time around has been a lot less stressful. This year, I want to be a very explosive guy. I want to blow guys up every play. In college, that's the way I was, a little bit more relaxed out there, creating a bigger impact."
McIntosh had a pretty solid impact for Washington's fourth-ranked defense in 2008, playing in all 16 games, starting 15 while finishing second with 104 tackles, 56 solos and two forced fumbles. Of the returning Redskins, only right end Andre Carter had more sacks than McIntosh's pair.
"I'm an OK guy, an average guy, but I'm not great," McIntosh said. "As a defense, we weren't great. We were No. 4, but why not be No. 1? I didn't make it to the Pro Bowl and we didn't make it to the playoffs. That's what's you're striving for."
