News: BTB: Can Cowboys' Terrell McClain Be A Starting Defensive Tackle?

[Mansta54]

Marinelli will have him ballin, he'll turn him into a outstanding player. Marinelli is cable of doing that, that's what he does.

 

[pgreptom]

We. Are. Screwed.

LOL. I can't disagree. I think everyone knew a defensive alignment change would take 3 years to build. We are year #2. So far we have a starting DT. Up for grabs... DE, DE, and DT. I hope we find at least one more starting DE in the draft. I really like Crawford's chances.

 

[pgreptom]

Broaddus just tweeted out starting defensive line will most likely be Crawford Melton McClain and selvie.
With bass Hayden and Kearse rotating in as well.

The only problem with this is the draft hasn't come yet. Everything I've read has Crawford starting at the 1, not at DE. I really think we target DE in round #1.

 

[RS12]

Last year we had the worst DL in pro football. We need to address all 4 positions heavily in the draft. It would surprise me if we don't.

Prepare to be surprised. I'll think one impact guy and maybe a rotation guy or two. I still expect an OL early and a skill player because the value will be too great to pass up.

 

[speedkilz88]

The only problem with this is the draft hasn't come yet. Everything I've read has Crawford starting at the 1, not at DE. I really think we target DE in round #1.

It's unlikely he goes to the 1. They had him at SDE last season when he got hurt.

 

[Primetime42]

Recent free agent acquisition Terrell McClain stated that he's angling for a starting position in Dallas. How likely is this scenario?

Yesterday, ESPN's Calvin Watkins authored a blog post in which newly-signed free agent defensive lineman Terrell McClain notes that, since he is entering his fourth year - and, perhaps because he's signed a comparatively lucrative second contract - he's gunning for a starting position. As he tells it, he's:

Just trying to find a place to fit in [after] I got released. But now that I'm going into my fourth year, it's time for me to get back on that horse and become another starter. Just try to see if I can fit in the NFL like I did my rookie year.
​

What McClain is referencing here is the fact that, in 2011, as a rookie, he started twelve games for the Carolina Panthers (registering a sack, 19 tackles and a fumble recovery). In the two intervening seasons, however, McClain logged a grand total of zero starts. This has lead many pundits to consider him as a rotational player at best; indeed, Watkins intimates that, with the acquisition of Henry Melton, who mans the same position - under tackle or three-technique - that McClain plays, it would appear that McClain's chances of starting are fairly slim.

This may indeed prove to be the case. But I'd like to direct your attention to Pro Football Weekly's draft profile of McClain when he came out in 2011, as I thought it offered an interesting narrative about the player, especially as it pertains to this situation. Characterizing McClain as a nose tackle, PWF's draft guru Nolan Nawrocki wrote the following:

Positives: Has large hands. Very strong - squats 600 pounds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 29 times at the Combine. Quick and athletic. Can push the pocket. Flows down the line. Flashes disruptive ability and stood out in one-on-one drills at the East-West shrine game.

Negatives: Lacks Ideal height. Has a fleshy body and carries nearly 25 percent body fat. Inconsistent. Takes plays off. Loses sight of the ball. Top-heavy, plays too narrow-based and is on the ground too much. Needs to develop copunters - struggles when his initial thrust is neutralized. Questionable mental and physical toughness and compete level. Average production.

Summary: Does not look like a dominator but has surprising strength, quickness and flexibility and shows the ability to play behind the line when he wants to do so. That said, concerns about his inconsistency, makeup and toughness could temper his appeal. Has starter-caliber physical traits if a strong positional coach is able to light a fire under him and keep it burning.
​

As with most draft profiles for mid-round guys, there is some good and some not-so-good here. But what really caught my eye was that last sentence. Its clear that, coming out of college, McClain had the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. What he needs is the kind of coach capable of getting it out of him. And that's exactly the "strong positional coach" he now has in Dallas.

The description of his positive characteristics, particularly his quickness and ability to disrupt, do indeed make him sound like a Kiffinelli three-technique. At the same time, his raw strength (and, extrapolating from his squat numbers, his ability to anchor) might make him a suitable candidate for the one-tech. That was, after all, the position scouts tagged for him when he was coming out for the draft.

In fact, that's what a close observer of his work last year in Houston suggests. After McClain was signed, our fearless leader, Dave, sought out a writer from the Texans SB Nation sister site, Battle Red Blog, for a quick report on McClain, and was gifted with the following:

He's not as quick twitch as a prototypical 3-tech, and not as stout against the run as a prototypical nose tackle, but he had a nice blend of both...if I had to bet [they'd] put him as a cocked nose in your system since he isn't the all-world three technique they want there.
​

There you have it. Unless Dallas drafts the likes of a Timmy Jernigan, is it too much of a stretch to say that McClain might very well make a bid to start alongside Melton? Have doubts? Think about it: his primary competition is Nick Hayden.

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Aside from the obvious '1-tech and nothing else' guys, I don't think looking at any of them as 'starters' does any good. Anyone other than a complete stud like Melton (if he loves up to the hype) or Donald (if theoretically we had him) has to just be looked at as a rotating player. A piece to the puzzle. These guys will be in-and-out constantly. We need contributions from ALL of them.

We were doomed from the start last year when guys just began dropping like flies.

 

[speedkilz88]

Without knowing who they get in the draft. (I think they sign Spencer at some point)

Crawford__Melton__McClain__Spencer
Mincey____Bass___Hayden__ Selvie
Rayford_Okpalaugu_Kearse__

 

[AmishCowboy]

Without knowing who they get in the draft. (I think they sign Spencer at some point)

Crawford__Melton__McClain__Spencer
Mincey____Bass___Hayden__ Selvie
Rayford_Okpalaugu_Kearse__

If Spencer was healthy I could live with that