Rolando McClain to practice with the first team at middle linebacker

[Playmaker247]

In his debut with the Dallas Cowboys, a preseason game against his old mates, the Baltimore Ravens, Rolando McClain made a favorable impression. He led the team with six tackles and even forced a fumble, popping the ball out of Justin Forsett’s hands late in the second quarter.
Now he’s going to be given a serious shot to claim the starting middle linebacker role. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said this week McClain will practice at that spot with Justin Durant moving to the weakside position in an alignment that could offer a preview of the starting lineup for the Sept. 7 opener against San Francisco.

“At the end of the day, we need to find our best three linebackers and the best combination of guys to start for us in base,” Garrett said.

Durant had been the Cowboys’ first-team linebacker during training camp, when he performed well in that role. But Durant, a reliable if not spectacular player, isn’t as talented as the gifted McClain, a former top 10 pick whose career derailed before he was traded to Dallas in July.

“He’s certainly warranting an opportunity to compete for one of those spots in there,” Garrett said of McClain.

Now he will get that chance.

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...rst-team-at-middle-linebacker-this-week.html/

 

[Dwight]

That's pretty good news. He has the talent; I just hope mentally he will be okay.

 

[big dog cowboy]

“At the end of the day, we need to find our best three linebackers and the best combination of guys to start for us in base,” Garrett said.

Sounds like a plan. Frankly I don't care who lines up where. We just need playmakers to make some plays. I don't expect to suddenly start seeing a bunch of 3-and-outs. We just need to concentrate on starting to slow people down and let the offense take over.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

They've must of know this for a while, because when Durant was interviewed during the Ravens game, Dennis was asking him about moving to the WLB and McClain taking over at MLB.

Regardless, it doesn't matter who is in the middle if the DL can't occupy blockers and keep the LBs clean. The biggest problem McClain had this past weekend, (and Durant too), was that the OL was on top of them almost immediately on running plays.

 

[xwalker]

In his debut with the Dallas Cowboys, a preseason game against his old mates, the Baltimore Ravens, Rolando McClain made a favorable impression. He led the team with six tackles and even forced a fumble, popping the ball out of Justin Forsett’s hands late in the second quarter.
Now he’s going to be given a serious shot to claim the starting middle linebacker role. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said this week McClain will practice at that spot with Justin Durant moving to the weakside position in an alignment that could offer a preview of the starting lineup for the Sept. 7 opener against San Francisco.

“At the end of the day, we need to find our best three linebackers and the best combination of guys to start for us in base,” Garrett said.

Durant had been the Cowboys’ first-team linebacker during training camp, when he performed well in that role. But Durant, a reliable if not spectacular player, isn’t as talented as the gifted McClain, a former top 10 pick whose career derailed before he was traded to Dallas in July.

“He’s certainly warranting an opportunity to compete for one of those spots in there,” Garrett said of McClain.

Now he will get that chance.

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...rst-team-at-middle-linebacker-this-week.html/

It will be most interesting to see if Durant is 1st team Will over Carter.

Durant had originally moved to the Will before the Lee injury.

 

[DCBoysfan]

It will be most interesting to see if Durant is 1st team Will over Carter.

Durant had originally moved to the Will before the Lee injury.

I believe Carter will be the LB in Nickel.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

As some of us talked about the other day, this was a foregone conclusion. When Jerry talks up a guy this much, it's going to happen.

For years around here, people have complained about jobs being handed out based on draft position or contract or physical talent, not production. Yet that's exactly what we're doing here.

I get it, he has the most upside. Still hate gifting the job to a guy with such a demonstrated lack of football character.

 

[jterrell]

As some of us talked about the other day, this was a foregone conclusion. When Jerry talks up a guy this much, it's going to happen.

For years around here, people have complained about jobs being handed out based on draft position or contract or physical talent, not production. Yet that's exactly what we're doing here.

I get it, he has the most upside. Still hate gifting the job to a guy with such a demonstrated lack of football character.

ROFL. Good grief....
He's been handed a job?
He was 2nd team and led the team in tackles while another spot was so terrible the team felt compelled to bench the guy.
The stated goal is getting the best 3 players on the field.
McClain is not being handed anything but a start in a pre-season game after a good showing and the 2nd team guy.
What he does with that will determine whether he gets to remain there.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

So he's outplayed Durant, who by all accounts has had a great camp and a great attitude?

Like I said, I get it. He's the most talented. So our lack of talent and depth is forcing us to roll the dice on a troubled player. Still don't like it.

 

[Jstopper]

As some of us talked about the other day, this was a foregone conclusion. When Jerry talks up a guy this much, it's going to happen.

For years around here, people have complained about jobs being handed out based on draft position or contract or physical talent, not production. Yet that's exactly what we're doing here.

I get it, he has the most upside. Still hate gifting the job to a guy with such a demonstrated lack of football character.

Are you serious? This isn't about his draft position because we didnt draft him, and its not about a contract because he is being paid peanuts. He's not being gifted anything, he has been doing work in practice, and he blatantly was doing work in the Ravens game. He has earned this chance to get a starting spot. "Lack of football character." Yeah the guys had problems before but he has been saying and doing all the right things here, and I am looking forward to him showing he has grown up and is ready to be a baller. Geez tough crowd.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

So he's outplayed Durant, who by all accounts has had a great camp and a great attitude?

Like I said, I get it. He's the most talented. So our lack of talent and depth is forcing us to roll the dice on a troubled player. Still don't like it.

Durant will start somewhere. That is a lock, in my opinion. He was only playing the middle due to the injury to Sean Lee. Prior to that, he had been moved to Will.

For the record, I think you are making a valid point. I think this move has less to do with what McClain has shown and more to do with what other players haven't shown.

 

[DallasEast]

They've must of know this for a while, because when Durant was interviewed during the Ravens game, Dennis was asking him about moving to the WLB and McClain taking over at MLB.

Regardless, it doesn't matter who is in the middle if the DL can't occupy blockers and keep the LBs clean. The biggest problem McClain had this past weekend, (and Durant too), was that the OL was on top of them almost immediately on running plays.

It may have just been me, but it seemed like Durant was uncomfortable during that interview. He was choosing his words wisely. Either that or Dennis' breath was really kicking.

 

[CF74]

McClain is a beast and when he gets his lungs dude will be unstoppable. I want to see him, Durant, and Carter on the field at the same time with sprinkles of Wilbur and Hitchens...

 

[gimmesix]

I believe Carter will be the LB in Nickel.

I don't think he will because he has coverage issues.

I'm actually disappointed with this news (if Durant takes over at Will) because I had hoped Carter would develop this year into the player who excited us a couple of years ago. I thought another offseason in the scheme would get him there.

I'm happy that Durant is playing as well as he is, but if the Carter was playing like he did the second half of 2012, there would be no doubt about who should start.

 

[gimmesix]

McClain is a beast and when he gets his lungs dude will be unstoppable. I want to see him, Durant, and Carter on the field at the same time with sprinkles of Wilbur and Hitchens...

One of the good things about having Durant at Will is that he seems to know the calls to make, which is one place where McClain seems a bit uncomfortable right now.

 

[jblaze2004]

so its almost official, Bruce Carter being benched that is. Can we call Rob Ryan and the saints and see if they want to give us somebody or a draft pick for him lol


Bruce carter = another Jason Williams (who we drafted in 2009 nfl draft) = kevin burnett?

All of them have the physical ability to be game changers but I guess didn't have it mentally. Not writing off bruce carter yet but its not looking good. Watch he go to another team (3-4) and catch fire again.

 

[jazzcat22]

That's pretty good news. He has the talent; I just hope mentally he will be okay.

I think right now it's more about him getting the reps and getting back into football shape for every down play. Learning to call out the defenses and just get comfortable with it. That's the mental part he needs to get down.
I think he has shown enough he is mentally ready to take on playing again, or seems to be. Let's hope so, like you say.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

so its almost official, Bruce Carter being benched that is. Can we call Rob Ryan and the saints and see if they want to give us somebody or a draft pick for him lol.

That's actually not a bad idea. MacMahon and others have been talking like the coaches are just about out of patience with him.

It would be risky with as iffy as McClain is and as little depth as we have, but if the coaches are really that sick of him, maybe.

 

[morasp]

As some of us talked about the other day, this was a foregone conclusion. When Jerry talks up a guy this much, it's going to happen.

For years around here, people have complained about jobs being handed out based on draft position or contract or physical talent, not production. Yet that's exactly what we're doing here.

I get it, he has the most upside. Still hate gifting the job to a guy with such a demonstrated lack of football character.

I already posted it somewhere else but he needs to work on his pre snap recognition. When I watched Durant he was already moving to the gap at the snap just like Lee does. McClain seemed to be more read and react.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

carter should be benched .

wilbur-mcclaine-durant