How much of a difference would of McClain made?

[cml750]

Hitchens made a few plays but they were running right down the middle for the most part. I think McClain(or Sean "Glass House" Lee) would have stuffed a lot of that. Thoughts?

 

[Derinyar]

I think a huge difference. Our biggest problem was LBs not tackling. McClain does that in spades. Plus pushing the weaker of Hitchen/Wilber off the field probably also helps.

 

[cml750]

I think a huge difference. Our biggest problem was LBs not tackling. McClain does that in spades. Plus pushing the weaker of Hitchen/Wilber off the field probably also helps.

Agreed!!! Of course it would help a lot if we had any sort of defensive line to actually stuff things at the line of scrimmage.

 

[bark]

He would have made a diff esp against the run

 

[fffiasco]

I think being without Coleman also made a big difference in the run defense.

 

[Kaiser]

He would have made a lot of difference. Hitchens will be fine later in his career but McClain will make a huge difference - and if Carter can play the Will I think Wilber is a better player at Sam than Durant is at Will.

 

[8FOR!3]

Yeah obviously McClain's ability to stop the run would have made a huge difference. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[cml750]

I think being without Coleman also made a big difference in the run defense.

You need to change your avatar pic after the crap Rat pulled on this team.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Seems he's the QB of the defense.

 

[kevm3]

That defense looks night and day with McClain out. We were getting shredded by the run. Props to the defense for stepping up at the end though.

 

[AsthmaField]

Big difference, I think. McClain is a monster inside against the run.

Durant would have really helped too.

I think McClain will be back next week and I think there's a chance Durant comes back too.

Other good news is that Hitchens looks like he will be a player with some experience and Carter looks to be getting his head out of his ***.

 

[Boyz981]

I think a huge difference. Our biggest problem was LBs not tackling. McClain does that in spades. Plus pushing the weaker of Hitchen/Wilber off the field probably also helps.

A little help from the D-line would help the LB's some... Too many lineman getting to the 2nd level. But the rookie did have 13 tackles, 1tfl and a nice PD at the goal line.

 

[Ren]

He would have made running on us a little harder but his biggest contribution would be to push Wilber out of the lineup

 

[Idgit]

He's been our best defensive player the first two weeks. I think having him would have made a difference.

This still would have been a tough game, coming on the heels of the Titans road game.

 

[Cowboyz88]

It's really scary to think he's clearly our best defensive player, and he wasn't even on the team in July.

Outside of him, the offseason attempts to improve the defense were, sadly, terrible.

 

[cml750]

A little help from the D-line would help the LB's some... Too many lineman getting to the 2nd level. But the rookie did have 13 tackles, 1tfl and a nice PD at the goal line.

I gave Hitchens a small prop in my original post. He did make some plays but they were gaining way too much up our gut.

 

[btcutter]

It's kinda sad that we are calling a guy who quit football for almost two years our best defender.

 

[gmoney112]

It's really scary to think he's clearly our best defensive player, and he wasn't even on the team in July.

Outside of him, the offseason attempts to improve the defense were, sadly, terrible.

To understand why our offseason was bad in terms of defensive talent, you have to take into account the salary cap. It's the determining factor every offseason, andit killed us this year. I don't think anyone wanted Ware to leave and two JAG's signed, but it was all we could do.

The good news is next offseason, with a few expected releases and restructuring Tyron, we'll have the cap room to sign a real playmaker on D.

 

[cowboys1981]

It gives us a second LB we can count on. Carter has done good this season. Hitchens was big on that stop.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's kinda sad that we are calling a guy who quit football for almost two years our best defender.

I remember when a grocery-packing QB became the best player on a Ram's offense in a pretty short period of time.