BMoreHon Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I was at the game so I didn't hear what happened to Rice and McGahee. Did the NBC guys shed any light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForceEight Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Rice is fine. They said he could have come back. McGahee is an enigma. However, I think he'll be better next week and/or beyond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavensNest8483 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 mcgahee looked like he hadn't played all yr, very rusty. However, were going to need him to come back strong especially next week. I love mcclain but eventually teams are going to figure him out . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STLRaven Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 mcgahee looked like he hadn't played all yr, very rusty. However, were going to need him to come back strong especially next week. I love mcclain but eventually teams are going to figure him out . The 'Skins tried last night by stacking the box when they saw Neal and McClain lining up, but those two are almost too much to handle. Neal is enormous and McClain is too powerful of a runner to not eek out ~3 yards on each attempt if the line hits all of the blocking assignments. As for McGahee, I think he's a one-handed monster sometimes. Dropped passes, fumbled balls... not really the makings of a game that was supposed to get you out of a doghouse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc. Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I agree, STL. Le'Ron is not someone that "gets figured out." He pounds away and gets down the field. You 'figure out' how to contain a fast, outside back. And you 'figure out' how to shut down a receiving back. But you can't really "figure out" a guy that just runs right at (and then over) people. As I said in my quick thoughts, all my Steelers fan friends who were watching the game were continually commenting how much McClain reminded them of Jerome Bettis - every time he touched the ball. And that wasn't making them happy or excited. It was scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavensNest8483 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I agree, STL. Le'Ron is not someone that "gets figured out." He pounds away and gets down the field. You 'figure out' how to contain a fast, outside back. And you 'figure out' how to shut down a receiving back. But you can't really "figure out" a guy that just runs right at (and then over) people. As I said in my quick thoughts, all my Steelers fan friends who were watching the game were continually commenting how much McClain reminded them of Jerome Bettis - every time he touched the ball. And that wasn't making them happy or excited. It was scary. He dances a little bit at the line of scrimmage and the bengals somehow figured him out. He is a solid rb, but not the second coming of jerome bettis sorry. I think the fact we use 3rbs has helped mcclain, especially when we run him as a fb, like the td run. I would like to see willis make more of an impact b/c I don't think mcclain can carry us to the super bowl by himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc. Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 He dances a little bit at the line of scrimmage and the bengals somehow figured him out. I disagree. None of our runners had success against the Bengals because our entire OL was playing like crap. Joe was getting hit. Ray had no room. Le'Ron had no room. And as for dancing a bit at the line? No one dances more than Willis these days. Le'Ron is very much like Jerome Bettis... perhaps most in the fact that he always falls forward. That means that even if he is hit at the line, he is going to pick up two yards. If he gets hit a yard past the line, too late, he already has 3-4. Le'Ron has been hindered most often by play-calling that asks him to run outside. The outside pitches and wide runs don't work with him, but he is asked to do them 3-4 times a game. Perhaps that's where he is helped most by Willis and Rice - they go outside while he goes inside - but we are not the Denver Broncos. Not just anyone is successful behind our line. I have more than enough confidence in Le'Ron to let him run it 95% of the time if he wants the carries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmax Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Add me to the list those who think "Bring the Pain" McLain reminds me of Jerome. He just doesn't look as much like a human bowling ball...but he gets the same result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundercleetz Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Here is a thought for next year: Do we convert McClain to a HB fulltime next season? Right now he is at 260+ pounds. For a fullback, he needs that weight. However, if he were to be a half back fulltime, he could probably stand to lose some of that gut without losing any strength and power, and at the same time gaining some shiftiness and quickness. So would it be in our best interest to maybe put McClain on a HB training regime, get him down to a solid 250, and just pound him away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc. Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 It's a question that needs to be considered. My biggest fear would be losing him as the FB. He is a great fullback. And as good as Neal is, he cannot play forever. Nor can we keep him forever. We would need to revert to step one in finding a fullback again... which would be a shame. But Le'Ron is one hell of a ball carrier. Regardless... we have some time to figure it out. If he continues to have slippery fingers... maybe not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STLRaven Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Here is a thought for next year: Do we convert McClain to a HB fulltime next season? Right now he is at 260+ pounds. For a fullback, he needs that weight. However, if he were to be a half back fulltime, he could probably stand to lose some of that gut without losing any strength and power, and at the same time gaining some shiftiness and quickness. So would it be in our best interest to maybe put McClain on a HB training regime, get him down to a solid 250, and just pound him away? I'd be worried about his separation speed either way - he's not built for speed, he's built for power. The power he does very well... but what would concern me is his (probable) inability to break loose once he bowls over the linebackers. He's not a track star, that's for sure. He's more of a field kind of guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colincac Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I don't really see the point, its unlikely we use him as our #1 HB at any time, so I think its better to let him keep that weight and be a good versatile option HB/FB. Neal might leave after this year, or maybe one more, so we need to keep our options open at FB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spen Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I like the blocking from Neal too. I see no reason he cannot continue to play a couple more years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundercleetz Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I'd be worried about his separation speed either way - he's not built for speed, he's built for power. The power he does very well... but what would concern me is his (probable) inability to break loose once he bowls over the linebackers. He's not a track star, that's for sure. He's more of a field kind of guy. I do not think that is the worry with using McClain as a HB, not every HB in this league has breakaway speed. McClain would be used like a Jerome Bettis or a LenDale White. The worry with McClain is by him losing a little weight and becoming a HB, he loses his effectiveness as a FB. I am not sure if we can afford that. I guess what we do with McClain will depend on what happens with Willis McGahee this offseason, and whether Neil comes back for another season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomcat21223 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 McClain might not have break away speed, but I would rather have 6 10 yard runs compared to one 60 yarder He has turned into a very good power back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeenAround Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Rice, McGahee and McClain = Kick, Morris and Csonka I'll take it. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.