Rolando McClain knew he had fourth-down stop right away

waving monkey

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Linebacker Rolando McClain didn’t even wait to see where the official marked Rashad Jennings down on a fourth-and-2 late in the fourth quarter. He knew he stopped Jennings short of the first-down marker, essentially ending the game with 40 seconds left.

“I ran off the field,” McClain said, smiling.

But the initial spot would have given the Giants a first down and extended their drive. They only needed to get into field goal range to have a chance to tie the game and force overtime.

However, after further review, the officials determined that McClain had stopped Jennings just shy of a first down,

McClain said he knew where the sticks were and had one goal in mind: “Just tackle the ball carrier.”

It’s another impact play by McClain, who has resurrected his career with the Cowboys after flaming out as a top-10 pick with Oakland. McClain finished with a team-high 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss, after not playing in Week 10 against Jacksonville in London.

McClain leads the Cowboys in tackles and tackles for loss.

“He’s an impact player and I mean that both ways,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “We’re a better team when we’ve got him, and boy, he impacts the opposing team when he’s out there playing against them. He’s a load. You feel better about your middle and you feel better about just the overall physicalness of your defense when you’ve got Rolando out there.”

Added safety Barry Church: “He’s one of the best linebackers we’ve had, if not the best. The sky’s the limit for that guy and our defense. He’s one of the leaders of our defense and he controls the middle well.”


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/11/24/6313122/rolando-mcclain-knew-he-had-fourth.html#storylink=cpy
 

tyke1doe

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I doubt Sean Lee makes it back at full strength, and I'm not counting on him playing 16 games if he does.
But, man, if he can suit up next to Ro and play a full season, this linebacking corp is going to be ridunkulous!
And then if DeMarcus Lawrence can provide a pass rush from the edge, and, maybe, add a corner in the draft, this defense could be rocking even better next year.
 

tyke1doe

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I knew it too. I wonder why the officials didn't.

Officials have to make slip-second decisions under pressure situations whereas fans have time to process plays without the add pressure of making real-time decisions.
That's why I think it's ridiculous when fans say the refs are favoring a particular team over another. I'm not a football ref, but I do umpire baseball games. If you're involved in your craft, you are simply trying to do your best and make the call as quickly as you can based on the perspective you have given your vantage point. Everyone thinks a strike is a ball or a ball is a strike when they're standing at a different angle than the ump behind the plate. Everyone thinks you're bias when they have the advantage of processing information from their angle. It's another thing when you're on the field/behind the plate and you have to make split-second decisions. And, YES, I have made mistakes in calling a ball a strike or a strike a ball. It happens.
But as far as the NFL, that's why we have instant relay, and rightly so. Refs are human too and can make mistakes. Doesn't mean that mistakes are deliberate (and, for the record, I'm not accusing you of saying the mistakes were deliberate. Just wanted to address a broader point based on your post. :)).
 

LandryFan

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I doubt Sean Lee makes it back at full strength, and I'm not counting on him playing 16 games if he does.
But, man, if he can suit up next to Ro and play a full season, this linebacking corp is going to be ridunkulous!
And then if DeMarcus Lawrence can provide a pass rush from the edge, and, maybe, add a corner in the draft, this defense would could be rocking even better next year.
Exactly what you said...we really need a good corner, though.
 

LandryFan

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Officials have to make slip-second decisions under pressure situations whereas fans have time to process plays without the add pressure of making real-time decisions.
That's why I think it's ridiculous when fans say the refs are favoring a particular team over another. I'm not a football ref, but I do umpire baseball games. If you're involved in your craft, you are simply trying to do your best and make the call as quickly as you can based on the perspective you have given your vantage point. Everyone thinks a strike is a ball or a ball is a strike when they're standing at a different angle than the ump behind the plate. Everyone thinks you're bias when they have the advantage of processing information from their angle. It's another thing when you're on the field/behind the plate and you have to make split-second decisions. And, YES, I have made mistakes in calling a ball a strike or a strike a ball. It happens.
But as far as the NFL, that's why we have instant relay, and rightly so. Refs are human too and can make mistakes. Doesn't mean that mistakes are deliberate (and, for the record, I'm not accusing you of saying the mistakes were deliberate. Just wanted to address a broader point based on your post. :)).

Yep, refs are human. I think they do their best, they're just not always correct. None of us are.
 

JakeCamp12

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Exactly what you said...we really need a good corner, though.

We need 2 good corners, I am not counting on Mo next year, and I think Carr is at the end of his time here in Dallas. We will also need a linebacker to replace Carter.
 

tyke1doe

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Yep, refs are human. I think they do their best, they're just not always correct. None of us are.

True. I've seen some awful calls. And I've probably made some too. :laugh:

Which is why I'm probably more sympathetic towards refs. But if they had called that Ro McClain stop a first down, I might have gone ballistic. :)
 

LandryFan

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True. I've seen some awful calls. And I've probably made some too. :laugh:

Which is why I'm probably more sympathetic towards refs. But if they had called that Ro McClain stop a first down, I might have gone ballistic. :)

Thus, the beauty of instant replay. Too bad they didn't get it right on that fumble, though. But in the end, they got the biggest one right.
 

LandryFan

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We need 2 good corners, I am not counting on Mo next year, and I think Carr is at the end of his time here in Dallas. We will also need a linebacker to replace Carter.

I do agree that two corners are needed, I just don't see getting two quality corners in one offseason. If we can land one and pair him with Scandrick, we will be pretty solid until more pieces can be added. If we could somehow get two in one offseason, then we'd really be ahead of the curve in building the D into something potentially special.

As for LB'ers, I think we'll have Lee, Ro, and Hitchens starting, along with Durant to rotate in (I think Durant comes back next year...JMO).
 

Wood

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We are approaching the point that conversation should start about placing transition tag or even franchise tag for McClain. The McClain situation might end up helping Dez get long term deal that would free up using one of tags for McClain.
 

Aven8

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Maybe when Lee gets back he will now be much like Romo, where he doesn't feel like he needs to do it all, especially now with big Ro manning the middle.
 

LittleBoyBlue

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I knew it too. I wonder why the officials didn't.

Me too. I was just concerned we would get shafted!


I think that it's just a bang-bang-play. To them. In real time, the player shot past 1st down marker. When reviewed, it clear he didn't.
 

Avery

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Problem is that Lee will somehow dislocate his face eating a burrito.
 
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