If Rolando McClain Wins the Mike LB Job

[morasp]

McClain was very active and physical but from what I saw he still has a ways to go. On several running plays when the ball was snapped, Lee or Durant would already be headed for the gap and making a tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage, McClain was reading and reacting and making tackles 4 or 5 yards down field.

 

[Risen Star]

We have the worst set of linebackers in the league. I'm still not liking the Hitchens pick.

You don't like Anthony Hitchens?

You're being unreasonable.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Even as the fake GM of this team, he has no business telling the head coach who starts and where.

Your problem is you've dealt with Jerry's nonsense for so long that you forgot how a sane football team is run.

The GM acquires the talent. The head coach utilizes it.

Jocks to socks is his mantra..lol!

 

[TimHortons]

much of a Dallas success rests on the shoulders of Rolando McClain, right now.

That sums up our front office and defensive talent evaluation right there

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Anybody else uncomfortable with taking Durant-who by all accounts is outplaying the competition at MLB and moving him? If keep him where he's playing best and make the guys who can't beat him out move, or sit.

Coaches claim he's a natural at the Will. And McClain is easily our 2nd best LB and only a Mike. So it's about best 3 on the field.

 

[Idgit]

Coaches claim he's a natural at the Will. And McClain is easily our 2nd best LB and only a Mike. So it's about best 3 on the field.

Yeah. That's kind of the trade off. If Durant happens to both be the best MLB and WLB, and McClain can't realistically play one of the other positions at that level. For my part, though, I still think you want your best player at the Mike and let the other guys compete for time elsewhere.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Yeah. That's kind of the trade off. If Durant happens to both be the best MLB and WLB, and McClain can't realistically play one of the other positions at that level. For my part, though, I still think you want your best player at the Mike and let the other guys compete for time elsewhere.

But isn't the Will the pride and joy of the Tampa 2?

 

[speedkilz88]

But isn't the Will the pride and joy of the Tampa 2?

When TB had Derrick Brooks it was the weak.

When Chi had Brian Urlacher it was the middle.

Seattle has Irvin, Wagner, and Wright. I would guess Wagner is the main guy.

 

[xwalker]

Yeah. That's kind of the trade off. If Durant happens to both be the best MLB and WLB, and McClain can't realistically play one of the other positions at that level. For my part, though, I still think you want your best player at the Mike and let the other guys compete for time elsewhere.

Based on watching 8 games from 2012, McClain is a better LB at taking on and shedding blocks than Durant. Much better.

The MLB has to take on OL blocks much more than the WLB.

IMO, McClain is either going to be the best LB on the team in the base defense OR he will flake out and not be on the team.

I don't know who will end up as the 2 Nickel LBs.

 

[xwalker]

But isn't the Will the pride and joy of the Tampa 2?

In Chicago Urlacher was the best LB and he was the MLB.

 

[ConstantReboot]

You don't like Anthony Hitchens?

You're being unreasonable.

I don't like the pick. Could have gotten someone better.

 

[Idgit]

But isn't the Will the pride and joy of the Tampa 2?

You're talking to an old MLB here.

 

[perrykemp]

That sums up our front office and defensive talent evaluation right there

Just another of Jerry's gang on defense. As of now it looks like a grand total of 3 -- maybe 4 players drafted by the Dallas Cowboys will be starting on defense. That includes Wilbur, Claiborne (alternatively Scandrick when he returns) and Wilcox.

 

[xwalker]

Just another of Jerry's gang on defense. As of now it looks like a grand total of 3 -- maybe 4 players drafted by the Dallas Cowboys will be starting on defense. That includes Wilbur, Claiborne (alternatively Scandrick when he returns) and Wilcox.

Yes, but almost all of the offense was home grown as either draft picks or UDFAs which are like 8th round picks.

Actually, if Leary is the starter over Bernadeau, then all 11 offensive starters are home grown if the base offense is 2 TEs or 3 WRs or if Copeland if the FB.

 

[CCBoy]

You're talking to an old MLB here.

Idgit, you were a linebacker also? I played at the USAFA and then Texas A&I. My eyes required glasses and I no longer was pilot qualified, and went back to Gil Steinke at A&I. Ben Martin replaced Bill Parcells at USAFA.

That group of Falcons ended up playing Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl and the Javelinas went to and won the NAIA National Championship two straight seasons.

Martin for the Academy, and Eldridge Small for A&I, you just didn't want to have to get caught on the sidelines trying to pin those two in. Oh, and on kick defense, running into David Hill or Ernest Price was like hitting a brick wall.

I got to hit Randy Johnson in a Spring Training game at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus, against a bunch of former, retired, Little All Americans and former Pros. I had to play some at defensive end as well. They tried us both at linebacker and defensive end. We had to be flexible that way.

 

[risco]

As McClain works his way into "football shape" he's flashing those abilities that made him a top LB in college and a top pick in the NFL.

The good:

- McClain will become the heart of the defense and he will give the LB corps a solid player that can handle the duties as the signal caller on defense. He hits like a Mack Truck and can cover the middle of the field. Last night he showed up in the stats column in a full qtr's worth of work.


The bad:

- McClain becomes the Mike, and that means you have a decision to make with Durant. By all accounts Durant has had a great camp, he is the best LB on field right now. I think he would play the Will, which means that puts Carter on the outside looking in. No, you don't move him to the Sam, because he hasn't played that position all camp and Wilbur is more than capable to play that position because of his pass rush abilities.


I'm all for this team getting better no matter what. The coaches have said the best 3 will be on the field.

May the odds be in their favor...

Just find my post regarding R. McLain. I still stand by it.

 

[Idgit]

Idgit, you were a linebacker also? I played at the USAFA and then Texas A&I. My eyes required glasses and I no longer was pilot qualified, and went back to Gil Steinke at A&I. Ben Martin replaced Bill Parcells at USAFA.

That group of Falcons ended up playing Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl and the Javelinas went to and won the NAIA National Championship two straight seasons.

Martin for the Academy, and Eldridge Small for A&I, you just didn't want to have to get caught on the sidelines trying to pin those two in. Oh, and on kick defense, running into David Hill or Ernest Price was like hitting a brick wall.

I got to hit Randy Johnson in a Spring Training game at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus, against a bunch of former, retired, Little All Americans and former Pros. I had to play some at defensive end as well. They tried us both at linebacker and defensive end. We had to be flexible that way.

You bet. Though just in high school. I was a better wrestler than a football player, though. Blew out my knee my junior year with a cleat stuck in the turf, and that was that for football. But you can kind of tell that linebacker mentality in a guy, even over the internet, right?

These are great stories, btw, CCBoy. Love the insight.

 

[CCBoy]

That sums up our front office and defensive talent evaluation right there

I don't that I would end up in the camp to bad mouth Rod Marinelli and his coaches imputs at present...

 

[perrykemp]

Yes, but almost all of the offense was home grown as either draft picks or UDFAs which are like 8th round picks.

Actually, if Leary is the starter over Bernadeau, then all 11 offensive starters are home grown if the base offense is 2 TEs or 3 WRs or if Copeland if the FB.

Offense is great. They've built a great group -- although I'd argue that you should expect the offense to be pretty good when they've invested 4 out of the last 5 (Dez, Smith, Frederick, and Martin) 1st round picks on the offense.

 

[CCBoy]

You bet. Though just in high school. I was a better wrestler than a football player, though. Blew out my knee my junior year with a cleat stuck in the turf, and that was that for football. But you can kind of tell that linebacker mentality in a guy, even over the internet, right?

These are great stories, btw, CCBoy. Love the insight.

Sorry about your injury history, I blew out an ankle a week before Fall Practices began in a pickup basketball game with my LInebackers coach's basketball college class. My ankle blew up immediately to cantelope size. I understand.

Talk about riding time, I had a hugely barrel chested 2nd Lt who was an All American for UNLV, guard. We did an evening of 'wrestling' while on assigned unit guard duty on the DMZ. I couldn't get my arm around for my hand to his stomach nor a hold on his wrist with the timber for a forearm. yea, I was stationed in Korea at the time. We found two tunnels from the North and two N Korean soldiers were fired upon and killed in their discovery.

When he ran the first wind sprints on the tarmack, it was like the parting of the Red Sea at the finish line, lines in PT.

As to respects for your heart's position, there will always be respect there, my friend.