Final Thoughts: The Game plan If McClain Can’t Go

[waving monkey]

IRVING, Texas – As usual, here’s my final list of notes on this road trip to St. Louis.

My big points this weekend involve how the Cowboys plan to deal with their injury issues heading into the weekend, as well as what type of gameplan I think you can expect when these teams take the field inside the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday.

• I do not have a good feeling that Rolando McClain will be playing in this game, which means rookie Anthony Hitchens will get the start at middle linebacker, along with veterans Bruce Carter and Kyle Wilber. Something else to keep an eye on is the depth at the linebacker spot with McClain and Justin Durant being out. As a group they are light in numbers, so I would expect Keith Smith to be called up from the practice squad to help with depth and take some snaps on the special teams, as well.

link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...Can’t-Go/bbe85312-60c6-414d-8c63-bdab4aa48f5f

 

[AsthmaField]

I also think that McClain most likely won't play.

I think he probably could, but the team will want him to not risk hurting it further and will want him to get ready for next week. Like a lot of people here, I think they feel like this is a good game for him to miss if he has to miss one.

 

[guag]

I'd like to be able to say that we can handle the Rams without him, but you can never be sure with this team in these types of games.

Regardless, he needs to sit if there's any doubt. I personally believe that McClain's presence in the middle of this defense has bumped this defense up a notch -- so if he's out, I think we might get an idea of just how much of an effect he has on the overall defense.

 

[tm1119]

Blitz. That would be my game plan. Don't even put these LB's in space. Stop the run and blitz the young QB. Their WR's aren't that scary either, let our CB's jam them at the line. Make it as difficult as possible for Austin Davis.

And of course keep running Demarco

 

[Rob Mexico]

Same as if McClain can go, stop their running game and get to the third string QB on defense, chew the clock with the running game and convert third downs on offense.

 

[MissouriCowboy]

Rams wideouts are not that good and lack speed. Austin is shifty and has speed but man lacks hands.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Play lots of Nickle with Carter and church in bring in heath deep

 

[Bullflop]

By all present accounts, McClain isn't taking the field Sunday. As luck has it, it'll be up to Mr. Hitchens to do whatever he can to work the middle. It'll be a risky deal, no doubt, but that's obviously what we're faced with.
Let's just hope he lives up to the faith this staff is placing in him. He was surely drafted with this in mind. We'll soon see if it pays off. It's a shame Lee and McClain are both unavailable but it looks like we'll soon find out what this kid can do so early in his career.