PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Steelers sixth round pick has made a decree at his family house in Baltimore.
"I told them today I don't even want to see the color purple," said new Steelers edge rusher Quincey Roche.
"I got somebody dropping me off a Terrible Towel tonight. I don't even want to see the color purple anymore."
Roche admits he comes from a big-time Ravens family, so if nothing else, he understands that bi-annual and sometimes tri-annual matchup.
"I was on the opposite side of the rivalry," Roche said. "I know a lot about the Steelers. I watch them every year. It's a huge blessing to be in the same room with guys like TJ Watt."
Roche put up some pretty impressive numbers himself 14.5 tackles for loss in his lone season with Miami with three forced fumbles (tied for ACC lead). Before transferring for one season with the Hurricanes, the 6'3", 245 pound Roche had 39.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks in three years at Temple. The defensive end also forced six fumbles, recovered five and blocked three kicks.
"My goal every time I step on the field is to be disruptive," Roche said. "However that may be. That may be getting a sack-fumble. That may be pressuring the quarterback. That may be getting a TFL, making a big play on the running back. Helping my teammate make a big play, special teams blocking field goals. My goal is to be disruptive."
Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler says he's impressed with how Roche has rushed the passer and knows one way for Roche to impress his new coaching staff.
"If you draft a linebacker, he has to contribute to the special teams and make those special teams good in order for him to buy time to make the team, number one," Butler said. "Then work towards trying to become a starter in the National Football League. You don't get that time to do all of that stuff as a linebacker in the National Football League unless you show you are valuable to the team. How do you do that? You play good special teams."
This especially when you get drafted in the sixth round, much lower than he expected. Saying it was a tough three days on the couch, but believes it all paid off.
"I'm excited," Roche said. "I've always watched this defense. This is right up my alley, hard-nosed, rugged football. Even though I went low in the draft, it worked out. There aren't too many programs in the league that would have been a better fit than the Steelers. I can't wait to start improving and get to work."
