Recommended Film Review: Rolando McClain

[jobberone]

I don't have game rewind so I couldn't review his games even if I wanted to. But Cosell watches tons of tape and is very respected at what he does.

http://www.sfgate.com/raiders/article/Raiders-McClain-project-didn-t-work-out-4078986.php



And for the record, I have no big problem with trying McClain. I think his attitude has been as bad as it gets, so for that reason I'm wary. But he did have talent so maybe it's worth a try even if it's a longshot. But I can't think of many 259 lb MLBs who excelled in this defense where quickness is of the highest importance. Maybe Urlacher. But I'd feel better about this if we were still in the 34.

BTW, I wonder if people know he also told his teammates, when asked "Do you even care" that he had "four million reasons not to care."

http://blog.sfgate.com/raiders/2012/12/12/rolando-mcclain-back-at-practice/

He also didn't get arrested for the window tint. He got arrested because he signed his name on the citation "*** y'all". And then insisted that that was indeed his name.

His production and measureables speak differently.

 

[xwalker]

He measured 6-4 at the combine. Even at that number and weight of 250 his lateral agility is favorable at 4.38 shuttle and 7.16 3 cone, the latter pretty good and the former respectable. His explosion number, if that means anything to you, is 68 (reps+vertical+jump) is close to 70 which is also very good.

If he does lose a little weight those numbers may get better and that'd be a really good thing.

He looked good enough in the 2012 game footage and that was probably at 260 or more. If they want him to have better endurance, then a weight loss might help, but if he only plays in the base defense, then I'm sure that 260 would be fine.

 

[jobberone]

Considering our running defense problems last year, I think I would like the middle of our defense to be a little stouter especially since our DT's will probably play a little lighter (at least at the 3 tech). I would like to see him stay at the 260 range and just rotate more to stay fresh.

I don't see him playing the Mike or at least starting there. I can see him at the Sam. Even at 250 he played the run well. He could probably play at 240+. He has long arms at 33-34 and big hands which helps him play OL well.

 

[starfrombirth]

I don't see him playing the Mike or at least starting there. I can see him at the Sam. Even at 250 he played the run well. He could probably play at 240+. He has long arms at 33-34 and big hands which helps him play OL well.

Right but with the emphasis of the 3 tech penetrating, the job of taking on the olinemen and the running game falls on the lb's more which is why I would like to have a little bigger frame and muscle for the majority of snaps. Like I said earlier tho, just rotate him more which goes along with the whole "wave" mentality that Rod has been espousing. But hey, we won't know until we know right?

 

[jobberone]

He looked good enough in the 2012 game footage and that was probably at 260 or more. If they want him to have better endurance, then a weight loss might help, but if he only plays in the base defense, then I'm sure that 260 would be fine.

I don't have a problem with that at all. What little I've seen he sheds blockers well which we didn't have last year like I'd like. I keep saying Sam because you need speed, range and really good coverage skills for the Mike in our D. He's not got Durant's measureables but he's much better than any LB we have at shedding blocks and in run support although Durant ain't bad at it.. Still it's what you do on grass that matters and he'll get a chance to play Mike or Sam. They'll almost certainly cross train him and Durant as they have the most experience. One of these guys will help: Sapp, Hitchens and Holloman.

 

[jobberone]

Right but with the emphasis of the 3 tech penetrating, the job of taking on the olinemen and the running game falls on the lb's more which is why I would like to have a little bigger frame and muscle for the majority of snaps. Like I said earlier tho, just rotate him more which goes along with the whole "wave" mentality that Rod has been espousing. But hey, we won't know until we know right?

I like this. We don't have a player like him. He's a thumper.

 

[Redball Express]

This guy and Bobby Carpenter have nothing in common in regards to on the field play. As a matter of fact, the dumb and lazy comments by the OP is more appropriate for Barbie than it will ever be for Ro! Carpenter wishes he produced like Ro. I haven't looked up the stats, but Ro's best season might be compatible to Carpenters CAREER! He will start sooner than later for Dallas.

From your mouth to Tom Landry's ear..sir.

 

[jnday]

I don't really see where this signing is worth five pages of debate or arguing. He has the physical tools and talent to be a very good LB. his talent may fit a 3-4 scheme better, but the Cowboys needs an upgrading of talent at the LB positions. McClain has some maturity issues or attitude issues, maybe both. Those issues seem to be the reason that he never played up to his draft position. Maybe the kid has grown up or maybe he needs the money. He could have decided that he really wants to play pro football. The bottom line is this, the team is taking a chance on a very talented player that has never played up to his full potential. There is very little investment involved , so if these unanswered questions about him prevents him from making the team, there is not much lost. It is a gamble , but a small one. I would guess that he will not live up to the expectations placed on him when he came out of college, but even if he just becomes a role player that upgrades the LB positions in some small way, it is worth the gamble at this time. What is the problem with this signing? I don't really see one.

 

[dstovall5]

Awesome read Walker! I'm hoping this move pays off for us because that would be huge for our defense to have an asset we weren't even counting on.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't see him playing the Mike or at least starting there. I can see him at the Sam. Even at 250 he played the run well. He could probably play at 240+. He has long arms at 33-34 and big hands which helps him play OL well.

That could be jobber, but the weakest part of his game is his pass rush... he has no moves and relies on brute force, which obviously worked for him to a certain degree! LOL!

I don't we've heard where the Cowboys do project him... But I wouldn't be surprised (given the Lee injury) that he gets a shot inside first, if for no other reason that he's got about 2,500 snaps as an inside backer.

 

[jobberone]

That could be jobber, but the weakest part of his game is his pass rush... he has no moves and relies on brute force, which obviously worked for him to a certain degree! LOL!

I don't we've heard where the Cowboys do project him... But I wouldn't be surprised (given the Lee injury) that he gets a shot inside first, if for no other reason that he's got about 2,500 snaps as an inside backer.

I'm not saying that's the only place for him on this roster but I'm throwing it out there. He'll get reps at the Mike and the Sam; they'll try and put the best guys on the field for down and distance. Either Durant or Holloman are likely to play the Nickel. Right now it's Durant at the Mike, Wilber at the Sam and Carter at the Will. One reason to put him at the Sam is he is a thumper. I think he can play the Mike but his coverage could be more of a liability there than the Sam.

And yes Durant and McClain have the most experience followed by Carter then.....

One thing no one (I think) has pointed out is if he sticks then McClain might knock a young gun off the roster. They like Sapp (which is not saying Sapp would make the roster anyway).

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Keeping his weight down would be good, but I'm not sure that 240 is realistic. He has a really large frame. His draft weight of 249 if probably more realistic.

Unless our play from the 1 significantly improves, a beefy guy in the middle would help.

 

[jday]

After reading about his off field recklessness and general knucklehead behavior, I was expecting to see an undisciplined player on the field. My expectation was something similar to Ernie Sims with a little 2013 Bruce Carter thrown in. In other words, a guy that didn’t really play within the scheme, overruns plays or possibly didn’t play with max effort. Basically a dumb or lazy player.
What I found was actually quite different than my expectations.

My first review was week 1 against San Deigo. He played all of the defensive snaps in this game. It was difficult to find fault with his play throughout the game. He did everything really well. He played assignment sound football against both the run and pass. He was good at shedding blocks. His size and long arms make it much easier for him to shed blocks than most LBs going against Olinemen. He played primarily zone coverage. He looked comfortable in coverage and I didn’t really see any gaffs in his play. He is big. The LBs lined up beside him looked like Safeties in comparison from the All-22 view. He is listed at 6-4, 259. My guess is that he might have been playing a little heavier than that.

I pulled up the 2012 stats for McClain. It had him as a starter weeks 1-7 and 10-12.

I wanted to see why he might have been benched, therefore, I pulled up week 7.

In week 7 he was only playing on base downs and was out in the Nickel and sub packages. Again his play was rock solid. There were no signs of lazy or dumb play. He again played assignment sound football.

I wanted to go back and see when he first got pulled from the Nickel.

In week 6 he was again only playing in the base. He was again a solid player. There was not much to complain about.

Week 5 was a bye.

Week 4 was against Payton Manning and the Broncos in Denver. He was still playing all snaps in this game and had yet to get pulled from the Nickel. He looked good in the 1st half of the game but started to look a little sluggish in the final few plays of the 2nd quarter. In the 3rd quarter he appeared to quickly get tired and his play looked flat. In the 2nd half of this game he appeared to be at fault in coverage for a TD early in the 3rd and then again later in the half. This half of this game was were things just went bad for him. My guess is that a 6-4, 260+ LB running around in the thin air of Denver was just too much and he couldn’t handle it. I’m not certain if they really removed him from the Nickel in later games specifically because he had coverage issues but more just to limit his snap count.

I then pulled up week 8. It turns out that he didn’t really lose his starting job, but that they opened in the Nickel defense. In this game there was a point where he got into it a little with an OL and shoved him. Just looking at him standing among the Linemen, he looks like a DE. He is a really big 4-3 LB. They were in Nickel most of this game, therefore he didn’t play a lot. When he did play he was again solid and played assignment sound football.

Summary: McClain is a really big 4-3 LB. He gets off blocks by Olinemen about as well as anybody with his size, strength and long arms. He generally played zone coverage and looked comfortable doing it. When he did play man he looked good doing that also. He looks like a really solid MLB in the base defense that has the talent to be a 3 down LB but at his size will get worn down if used a 3 down player.

Based on what I saw in the game footage, I don’t think his play on the field is the reason that Oakland gave up on him.

Great read...thanks for the evaluation.

 

[CCBoy]

My opinion will be formed by how he plays for this team and not some other team.

His past is what it is. He was taken at a premium spot. We should all feel this since Claiborne fits nicely into this category.

He has luggage. Lack of motivation, change of heart, not really into football.

He wears the star, so I will give him a miniscule amount of benefit of the doubt.

But this is about show me, don't tell me.

Potential and genius are two of the most overused, and perhaps least accurate words employed around this team.

Knock the steaming snot out of somebody and lead the defense.

Everything else is simply revisiting more of what other cast offs have brought this team.

A huge pile of nothing.

So McClain, come big or stay at home.

Still waiting on Jerry Jones to toe the line?

 

[CCBoy]

Well then, isn't he manna from Heaven and just what the doctor ordered?

I mean an 8th over-all pick who spent less than four seasons with the team who drafted him, joined a new team then retired, only to come backl and begin working out at his college facility and then the new team is just one of those pesky aspects which means nothing.

Winicki, you do more to ease my conscious than winning the lottery, old boy.

...and perhaps explain away a bi polar analysis upon Charles Haley and his peeing on a coach's car prior to arriving in Dallas. Then 'seeing the light' after a locker room incident where Chad Hennings picked him up off the ground and slammed him into a wall locker.

 

[CCBoy]

I like this. We don't have a player like him. He's a thumper.

I like a club set to match with Lawrence. Church doesn't have a problem with hitting something moving, and the CB from Baylor is a head hunter...paying for real estate entered does seem to be entering the window for this Dallas defense. More examples of mixing it up could be added here as well.

 

[starfrombirth]

...and perhaps explain away a bi polar analysis upon Charles Haley and his peeing on a coach's car prior to arriving in Dallas. Then 'seeing the light' after a locker room incident where Chad Hennings picked him up off the ground and slammed him into a wall locker.

I'd like to read more about that... That sounds more like a Randy White story but Chad was a really big boy!

 

[TwoDeep3]

Still waiting on Jerry Jones to toe the line?

Not sure about that CC. I think Jones is a lost cause.

Here's the deal. A guy takes life by the throat and becomes a billionaire. That is a powerful aphrodisiac, and it stands to reason he would be filled with self worth and hubris.

I can do anything because I'm smart attitude.

But what confounds is the idea he doesn't see his foundering and bumbling ways affect the team. I have never seen an organization managed in a way the employees have access like the Cowboys.

Jones the GM should be distant and a hard butt who looks with skilled eyes and thinks long term and not with emotion. But some of the contracts he hands out suggest that is his way, emotional.

I believe the more the press pushes this narrative about him getting a real GM the more he digs his heels in.

If Dallas were to win a championship under this regime, it will be by th4e stroke of luck and not some sage maneuvers by the Jones boys.

As to your second post, Jones did bring in Haley.

The only thing I can say is sometimes the sun shines on a dog's arse.

 

[Cumart21]

Threads on this player have rivaled those of Matt Johnson. I can't wait for training camp so there's actual news to read.

 

[CCBoy]

I'd like to read more about that... That sounds more like a Randy White story but Chad was a really big boy!

Randy White's career ran with Dallas, 1975 to 1988, as a player.

The incident with Chad Hennings took place in the lockerroom early on in their careers together. Charles Haley when he first arrived, attempted to get into the face of a number of players. When he made a mistake and confronted Chad Hennings, face to face, as described...he became elevated off the ground and slammed directly into a locker. From that point, Charles was still aggressive, but within boundaries with other players. Erik Williams, Leon Lett, Jim Jeffcoat and others were there as well.

Both Chad and Charles arrived with the Cowboys in 1992.

Randy White played with Bob Lilly, Larry Cole, Harvey Martin, and Ed 'too tall' Jones.