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Give GM credit: McClain a great addition
September, 14, 2014
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It's time to give the most harshly criticized general manager in the NFL a little bit of credit.
Rolando McClain, who had an interception in the Cowboys' win over the Titans, is beginning to show his potential on a defense in need of playmakers.
The addition of middle linebacker Rolando McClain looks like one of the smartest personnel moves that Jerry Jones has made in a long time.
After two games, the low-risk trade with the Baltimore Ravens appears to be a tremendous bargain for the Dallas Cowboys. In exchange for swapping a sixth-round pick for Baltimore's seventh-rounder, the Cowboys acquired a replacement for injured star Sean Lee who has Pro Bowl type of talent.
McClain, who was on the road to being one of the biggest wastes of talent in league history, is finally fulfilling his potential after two retirements. Not coincidentally, a Dallas defense that ranked dead last a year ago has been surprisingly solid through two games.
"He just wants to come in and be a part of the team, but I'm going to tell you something: He's a natural-born football player," Jones said after watching McClain lead the Cowboys with seven tackles, a sack and a spectacular interception in Sunday's 26-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. "He's mean. He's interested in a good way on the football field, and he's really making a difference out there on our defense."
The decision to add McClain, who doesn't exactly fit head coach Jason Garrett's right-kind-of-guy mold, was without question an act of desperation. It also made a lot of sense, considering the loss of Lee and lack of playmakers on the Dallas defense.
It looks smarter every time McClain, who has quickly and quietly established himself as a defensive leader, steps on the field.
"Man, he brought that passion, that excitement," receiver Dez Bryant said. "He wants to execute. He wants to dominate. That's exactly what we need. As long as he keeps bringing that, them guys are going to fall in behind him. You're going to continue to keep seeing that kind of performance from that defense."
Added Garrett: "He plays with a demeanor and spirit that you want. It's great to have that from a middle linebacker because he gets contagious really quickly."
McClain was one of the biggest bright spots in the Cowboys' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, leading Dallas with 12 tackles and making big hits from sideline to sideline. How many 6-4, 260-pound linebackers can chase down speedy San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick trying to turn the corner on the option?
McClain's importance to the Cowboys increased this week with linebacker Justin Durant sidelined by a strained groin. McClain is part of the nickel package now, basically playing every snap the defense is on the field.
And McClain made plays all over the field again, highlighted by a momentum-halting pick that would have been an amazing play by a cornerback, much less a run-stuffing middle linebacker. After defensive tackle Henry Melton deflected the pass at the line of scrimmage, McClain changed directions, dove, kept the ball from hitting the ground with his right hand and made the juggling catch that was so good it required a replay review for the referees to believe it.
"He's a big cat," said safety Barry Church, who also had an interception. "He's agile on his feet. He made a heck of a play."
Jones made a heck of a move to recruit McClain out of retirement, rolling the dice that a guy who had been arrested three times and retired twice since the Oakland Raiders made him the eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft could revive his career in Dallas. And help revive a defense that was historically horrible last season and expected by many to get worse.
"I wouldn't say it was a huge leap for him," McClain said. "Tape don't lie. I was in the league three years as a starter, the whole time I was there besides being suspended. I played some good football at times. Tape don't lie.
"I'm thrilled he did give me a call. There weren't many teams that I would have left the couch for, and this is one of them, and I'm glad that he did."
So is NFL's least popular GM, who got this one right.
September, 14, 2014
By Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It's time to give the most harshly criticized general manager in the NFL a little bit of credit.
Rolando McClain, who had an interception in the Cowboys' win over the Titans, is beginning to show his potential on a defense in need of playmakers.
The addition of middle linebacker Rolando McClain looks like one of the smartest personnel moves that Jerry Jones has made in a long time.
After two games, the low-risk trade with the Baltimore Ravens appears to be a tremendous bargain for the Dallas Cowboys. In exchange for swapping a sixth-round pick for Baltimore's seventh-rounder, the Cowboys acquired a replacement for injured star Sean Lee who has Pro Bowl type of talent.
McClain, who was on the road to being one of the biggest wastes of talent in league history, is finally fulfilling his potential after two retirements. Not coincidentally, a Dallas defense that ranked dead last a year ago has been surprisingly solid through two games.
"He just wants to come in and be a part of the team, but I'm going to tell you something: He's a natural-born football player," Jones said after watching McClain lead the Cowboys with seven tackles, a sack and a spectacular interception in Sunday's 26-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. "He's mean. He's interested in a good way on the football field, and he's really making a difference out there on our defense."
The decision to add McClain, who doesn't exactly fit head coach Jason Garrett's right-kind-of-guy mold, was without question an act of desperation. It also made a lot of sense, considering the loss of Lee and lack of playmakers on the Dallas defense.
It looks smarter every time McClain, who has quickly and quietly established himself as a defensive leader, steps on the field.
"Man, he brought that passion, that excitement," receiver Dez Bryant said. "He wants to execute. He wants to dominate. That's exactly what we need. As long as he keeps bringing that, them guys are going to fall in behind him. You're going to continue to keep seeing that kind of performance from that defense."
Added Garrett: "He plays with a demeanor and spirit that you want. It's great to have that from a middle linebacker because he gets contagious really quickly."
McClain was one of the biggest bright spots in the Cowboys' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, leading Dallas with 12 tackles and making big hits from sideline to sideline. How many 6-4, 260-pound linebackers can chase down speedy San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick trying to turn the corner on the option?
McClain's importance to the Cowboys increased this week with linebacker Justin Durant sidelined by a strained groin. McClain is part of the nickel package now, basically playing every snap the defense is on the field.
And McClain made plays all over the field again, highlighted by a momentum-halting pick that would have been an amazing play by a cornerback, much less a run-stuffing middle linebacker. After defensive tackle Henry Melton deflected the pass at the line of scrimmage, McClain changed directions, dove, kept the ball from hitting the ground with his right hand and made the juggling catch that was so good it required a replay review for the referees to believe it.
"He's a big cat," said safety Barry Church, who also had an interception. "He's agile on his feet. He made a heck of a play."
Jones made a heck of a move to recruit McClain out of retirement, rolling the dice that a guy who had been arrested three times and retired twice since the Oakland Raiders made him the eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft could revive his career in Dallas. And help revive a defense that was historically horrible last season and expected by many to get worse.
"I wouldn't say it was a huge leap for him," McClain said. "Tape don't lie. I was in the league three years as a starter, the whole time I was there besides being suspended. I played some good football at times. Tape don't lie.
"I'm thrilled he did give me a call. There weren't many teams that I would have left the couch for, and this is one of them, and I'm glad that he did."
So is NFL's least popular GM, who got this one right.
