Rolando and Leadership

[DallasInDC]

Rolando McClain: "Best thing about this win is that when we came back in the locker room, guys weren't satisfied. We expect to play better."

Amazing how this unmotivated malcontent has established himself as the leader of this D (and one of the overall team leaders) especially in such a short period time. Considering we had Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff, Carr, Lee none of which created an identity for this D and yet Rolando who was labeled a quitter by many has motivated the D to become a hard hitting dedicated, selfless family that is willing to fight the battles together until the end. I for one am so excited to have him on my team!

 

[Lifetimeboyzfan]

Credit goes to the organization too for creating the environment we currently have. He wants to play here!

 

[gimmesix]

Rolando McClain: "Best thing about this win is that when we came back in the locker room, guys weren't satisfied. We expect to play better."

Amazing how this unmotivated malcontent has established himself as the leader of this D (and one of the overall team leaders) especially in such a short period time. Considering we had Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff, Carr, Lee none of which created an identity for this D and yet Rolando who was labeled a quitter by many has motivated the D to become a hard hitting dedicated, selfless family that is willing to fight the battles together until the end. I for one am so excited to have him on my team!

It's hard to create an ID on defense when practically your entire defense (including the leaders) is hurt.

I think people are too quick to discredit Lee, Ware, etc., for not being able to somehow motivate the piles of garbage we were bringing in each week into being more than piles of garbage.

Getting McClain has been a stroke of genius, especially with Lee out, but I have no doubt that this defense would be motivated if Lee had not been hurt because it is now young, relatively healthy and hungry.

The really good new is that we could end up having both of those players on the field next year.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

something about him and his story just warms my heart!! Everyone deserves a second chance - America loves a come back story. But what you do with it is what matters and so far, he's taking this opportunity to its fullest and I hope it continues!

 

[rbr651]

Second chance? How about third chance. He's a proven quitter and has a long way to go before he's considered a leader.

 

[Idgit]

Durant, too, went on record saying the defense wasn't happy with how they played yesterday.

Interestingly enough, the Giants offensive players were giving our defense some general props in the post game conferences.

 

[Jenky]

Rolando McClain: "Best thing about this win is that when we came back in the locker room, guys weren't satisfied. We expect to play better."

Amazing how this unmotivated malcontent has established himself as the leader of this D (and one of the overall team leaders) especially in such a short period time. Considering we had Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff, Carr, Lee none of which created an identity for this D and yet Rolando who was labeled a quitter by many has motivated the D to become a hard hitting dedicated, selfless family that is willing to fight the battles together until the end. I for one am so excited to have him on my team!

I heard there were too many smiles in the locker room.

 

[DallasInDC]

It's hard to create an ID on defense when practically your entire defense (including the leaders) is hurt.

I think people are too quick to discredit Lee, Ware, etc., for not being able to somehow motivate the piles of garbage we were bringing in each week into being more than piles of garbage.

Getting McClain has been a stroke of genius, especially with Lee out, but I have no doubt that this defense would be motivated if Lee had not been hurt because it is now young, relatively healthy and hungry.

The really good new is that we could end up having both of those players on the field next year.

I have to disagree. Listening to the interviews from the defense players, they all refer back to Rolando, whether it's something he said that motivated them, or the way he approaches the game or practice. It is obvious that they are very motivated by his presence and are willing to follow him into battle. The others I mentioned were leaders because they were the best players on the team, not because they were able to get the players to max out on their potential. Rolando is big reason this team is playing balls out football.

 

[DallasInDC]

Second chance? How about third chance. He's a proven quitter and has a long way to go before he's considered a leader.

If I could, I would give your post a dislike. I am certain his teammates think otherwise (several of whom have already acknowledged him as a leader on the team).

 

[Sportsbabe]

I have to disagree. Listening to the interviews from the defense players, they all refer back to Rolando, whether it's something he said that motivated them, or the way he approaches the game or practice. It is obvious that they are very motivated by his presence and are willing to follow him into battle. The others I mentioned were leaders because they were the best players on the team, not because they were able to get the players to max out on their potential. Rolando is big reason this team is playing balls out football.

The thing you can say about him that you can't say about a lot of people is that when he's about his business "he's about his business", period.

All that peripheral stuff is irrelevant. He would definetly be a Parcells type guy.

 

[gimmesix]

I have to disagree. Listening to the interviews from the defense players, they all refer back to Rolando, whether it's something he said that motivated them, or the way he approaches the game or practice. It is obvious that they are very motivated by his presence and are willing to follow him into battle. The others I mentioned were leaders because they were the best players on the team, not because they were able to get the players to max out on their potential. Rolando is big reason this team is playing balls out football.

It's no different than the way Dallas' players have talked about Lee's leadership in the past and even when he was lost to injury this year. I really like what McClain has done, but I really think Lee is being discredited just because an injury-plagued defense was so bad. Even the best generals can't win battles when all of their troops aren't in the trenches.

Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr, who has only played seventeen games with Lee since Carr got to Dallas in 2012, doesn’t need to play a full season with Lee to attest to his leadership traits.

“He’s a true leader,” Carr declared. “He’s a guy that knows the playbook, knows the opposing teams. He can get guys going, just his attitude out there.”

In this summer of discontent, Lee has taken on a new role. Not even twenty-four hours after suffering a devastating knee injury, the Penn State alumnus was back to work at Valley Ranch, teaching the younger linebackers.

“He brought his iPad into work and starting working with the other younger linebackers, getting them ready to step up in his place,” Church said.

Already, fourth round linebacker Anthony Hitchens out of Iowa is a student of Lee’s, learning the intricacies of the Cover 2 defense the Cowboys employ under defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Such dedication to teaching the younger linebackers makes a significant impression on Hitchens.

“It means a lot,” Hitchens, who was there with the Dallas Cowboys Rookies Club to field ground balls, said. “He bought into this program. He wants to win. It means a lot to me being a young guy that he’s helping me out already. If I have any questions, I run right to him. He’s been here for a while, and so he knows all the pieces to the puzzle.”

Going forward, the Dallas Cowboys, particularly their defense, can’t get entangled in the absence of Sean Lee. Although doctored statistics from internationally leading sports outlets seem to indicate the defense’s futility without Sean Lee, the most important statistic remains: the win-loss column.

Since 2011, when Sean Lee became starting middle linebacker for the Cowboys, he has played 32/48 games. In those 32 games, Dallas went 15-17. However, in the 16 contests Lee missed due to injury, the Cowboys went 9-7. Evidence exists the Cowboys are capable of drawing together and winning games without Sean Lee.

They know it too.

“We all have to come together as eleven players out there now and bring that same intensity, match that same intensity that he brought to the table,” Carr stated.

Still, the defense and the team won’t forget their captain.

“I know somewhere throughout the whole season, I’ll have 50 on me,” Bryant said.
​

 

[Carolina Cowboy]

something about him and his story just warms my heart!! Everyone deserves a second chance - America loves a come back story. But what you do with it is what matters and so far, he's taking this opportunity to its fullest and I hope it continues!

Same here and I can't put my finger on exactly why. I love that he is atypical in size, ability, attitude and intelligence and seems like a genuinely good guy that wants to be in Dallas.

 

[DallasInDC]

It's no different than the way Dallas' players have talked about Lee's leadership in the past and even when he was lost to injury this year. I really like what McClain has done, but I really think Lee is being discredited just because an injury-plagued defense was so bad. Even the best generals can't win battles when all of their troops aren't in the trenches.

I am not saying Lee wasn't a leader, I am saying he doesn't motivate the team the way Rolando does. There is a difference when you get a response like the one you quoted from Car when he is asked about Lee's leadership and the unbridled emotion and change in voice inflection that I have heard in interviews over the past few weeks. And, there is no denying the raw emotion the defense is playing with is different than previous years

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Second chance? How about third chance. He's a proven quitter and has a long way to go before he's considered a leader.

Clearly the Cowboys players don't agree with you at all and that's just fine by me because he's helping them win and that's more important than rather you think of him as a quitter or not.

 

[EST_1986]

Second chance? How about third chance. He's a proven quitter and has a long way to go before he's considered a leader.

Oh grow up this guy is the undisputed leader of this defense.

 

[gimmesix]

I am not saying Lee wasn't a leader, I am saying he doesn't motivate the team the way Rolando does. There is a difference when you get a response like the one you quoted from Car when he is asked about Lee's leadership and the unbridled emotion and change in voice inflection that I have heard in interviews over the past few weeks. And, there is no denying the raw emotion the defense is playing with is different than previous years

I guess we'll have to disagree. I believe if Lee was out there playing healthy, the players would be saying the same thing about him. I'm not denying McClain's ability to motivate, but I've seen nothing to indicate that Lee isn't the same type of player from that standpoint.

The main difference is the parts around those players. We're very fortunate to have McClain come in and play Lee's role, but Dallas has done a good job of getting a bunch of young, hungry players to surround him with.

 

[Cowboyz88]

I used to complain about the "core" (Ware, Romo, Witten, Rat, Spears, Newman, Barber, Austin, etc.) for years and was summarily mocked.

To me, there was just something wrong/off with that group. They were here for years with minimal team success. They weren't/aren't bad players, but I never got an alpha male feeling from any of them — from a leadership standpoint.

Almost all of them are gone now, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we're a better team. I know many will freak out, but while I think Romo and Witten and grown into better leaders, I believe Dez is the leader on offense.

That said, I'd love to see Romo and Witten finally get the ring.

 

[Doc50]

Rolando McClain: "Best thing about this win is that when we came back in the locker room, guys weren't satisfied. We expect to play better."

Amazing how this unmotivated malcontent has established himself as the leader of this D (and one of the overall team leaders) especially in such a short period time. Considering we had Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff, Carr, Lee none of which created an identity for this D and yet Rolando who was labeled a quitter by many has motivated the D to become a hard hitting dedicated, selfless family that is willing to fight the battles together until the end. I for one am so excited to have him on my team!

I love that attitude.

He obviously is not a quitter, but has heard the critics.

He was always this kind of leader, and now has reason to dial it up a notch.

This team has something to prove.

Feels good.

 

[DallasInDC]

I guess we'll have to disagree. I believe if Lee was out there playing healthy, the players would be saying the same thing about him. I'm not denying McClain's ability to motivate, but I've seen nothing to indicate that Lee isn't the same type of player from that standpoint.
The main difference is the parts around those players. We're very fortunate to have McClain come in and play Lee's role, but Dallas has done a good job of

Don't get me wrong, I consider Lee to be a team leader. I guess the way I describe it is Lee (and Ware and Witten for that matter) are the type of leaders you follow into battle because you know they are the best at what they do and they give you a chance to be successful. They are smart, talented and perfectionist. They motivate in the sense that you don't want to let them down. Rolando on the other hand has an infectious personality that motivates you to storm that mountain With a belief you will be successful even though you only have 10 percent chance of success.

 

[jrumann59]

Its evident he does not make the calls in the huddle but he does make the post huddle adjustments it seems.