Importance of Rolando McClain

[GimmeTheBall!]

i think this forum tend to overrate average players like Ro. We half been so far in the hole that when we see adequasy we think Pro Bowll but in truth some of our stars like "Ro" would be hard-pressed like dried dates to make it to the startling lineups of other teams.
Let us safe our hurrahs for real stars, not average players who run hot and cold.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Also about the "bruiser" lacy (which he truly be) i say hit him at his most vulernible spot: his ankles. I half not studied physicks and do not know about the dinamics of speed and collissions and the powers they gift off but i do know that the ankles are the fulcrum of the magnus opus and you can trip ANYBODY easily if you hit at the ankles. I gift this piece of advise free and at no charge to the Cowboys D. I hope i get a free cap in return and maybe a parking spot.

 

[xwalker]

I heard yesterday on the radio that the Cowboys were undefeated when he didn't play.

He didn't play against the Jags, Rams and the final Skins game. Those teams were a combined 13-35 this season.

 

[Fmart322]

So it's true!

I'm not saying I didn't want him to miss the game.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I heard yesterday on the radio that the Cowboys were undefeated when he didn't play.

not a cause and effect. win did not win because he did not play, we won in spite of it. he's our best LB.

 

[Fmart322]

I know.

 

[SacramentoKing]

Pretty sure his decline in play is just fatigue... next season he will start out strong again.

 

[Bullflop]

I've climbed off the Ro McClain hype train - he's good sometimes but I feel like he became a bit streaky and undependable after a really strong start.

WITH THAT SAID - I agree completley. If he has a major strength, it's against the running game. We will have enough problems wiht Rogers in the game - I would just as soon find a way to shut down lacy with 7, and McCLain is a big piece of that.

It's tough for a MLB to maintain a top-notch performance level when he's constantly getting injury upon injury.
Seems to me the layoff from football didn't do him any favors. He should do better once he's healed and had time to develop his physical conditioning to a point that favors his remaining healthier. It may take some time.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Kind of like saying we won most of our games this year with Sean Lee on the sideline. Ro McClain is a beast of a player and one you want on our defense every chance you can get, if he does not play we will just man up like Spencer, Carter, and the rest of the vets have been doing. Hitchens was really a great fourth rd pickup for this team and we are lucky he has that Sean Lee football mentality. At the end of the game there are no excuses. Enjoy the ride fans this is the playoffs and I am fully behind whomever is on the field.

We are also in the playoffs this year without Demarcus Ware
Passing game is better this year without TO
Running game is better this year without Emmit

 

[Direwolf63]

Said nobody here. His play is still solid, but he is not a player without some problems. Right now the combination of Hitchens and Carter is playing very very well. McClain is great against the run, but he has injury concerns, a couple of tackle issues per game, and is just an unknown. There is not doubt that he was outstanding to start the season, which was a great surprise, but he's come back down to being very good. I like him and hope it lasts, and agree with the thread that we need him for this game because tackling Lacy is really a good matchup for him. But I'm not going to build a mythical picture of a guy who is right on the edge of being Novarro Bowman either. He's a good player who has more bad history than good, clearly has shown some ability and can help us win.

The bottom line is that the team needs it's best 11 guys on the field. He may have flaws, but when he's healthy, McClain is one of those 11 guys.

When he's sick or hurt, then we need the next best guy. Next man up, as they say.

 

[Direwolf63]

I heard yesterday on the radio that the Cowboys were undefeated when he didn't play.

While this fact may be technically correct, it is irrelevant. This defense is better when McClain is on the field.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I heard yesterday on the radio that the Cowboys were undefeated when he didn't play.

You mean undefeated without McClain AND Sean Lee.