Rodriguez Makes the Tackle on his First NFL Play in Preseason Opener
STILLWATER – Lots of fun watching former Cowboys linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez in his Detroit Lions debut and No. 44 in Honolulu blue and silver wasted not time in getting the party started as he came up on the first Lions kickoff of the game and fought through the blocker and then planted the Falcons return man Avery Williams. After that big start on the kickoff with the Lions leading 7-0, Rodriguez actually started at linebacker and played most of the first half at the position. He added another tackle on running back Tyler Allgeier in the second quarter.
Rodriguez learned some lessons although he never seemed to have any of those infamous “welcome to the NFL” moments. He did discover that the offensive linemen in the league and big and athletic. You could see in certain situations he had a hard time getting off the blocks.
He had one play where he did and had the angle as the running back looked like he was coming outside where Rodriguez could lower the boom. The back seeing No. 44, cut back inside where several Lions defenders were waiting, so Rodriguez spilled the play like he is supposed to. On the sidelines, he and linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard shared a laugh over it because Sheppard could tell how badly Rodriguez wanted the hit. He finished with the two tackles and one solo.
Rodriguez did handle his coverage responsibilities well. You have to remember that he was a safety in high school and in his first season as a starter at Oklahoma State.
The Falcons won the game 23-20 and there was a former Oklahoma State Cowboy on the other side. Jordan Brailford played defensive end in the second half and finished with four tackles, two of those were unassisted tackles and he had a half-sack mixed in there. Brailford has been with Washington, Minnesota, and Cleveland and was acquired in the offseason by the Falcons.
Next week the Lions go on the road to play at Indianapolis and the education of Malcolm Rodriguez will continue.