bring back Le'Ron McClain

[papasmurfbell]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-preston-ravens-0214-20120213,0,7238792.column

 

For Ravens, replacing Ricky Williams is simple: bring back Le'Ron McClain

 

Shortly before free agency opens on March 13 , Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome should send linebacker Ray Lewis on another recruiting trip and tell him to welcome back running backLe'Ron McClain.

 

McClain and the Ravens are a marriage waiting to happen again.

 

The Ravens need a backup to starting halfback Ray Rice, and McClain is about to become an unrestricted free agent after spending a season with the Kansas City Chiefs. All we need now is a pastor, a contract and couple of witnesses to make it official.

 

The Ravens have the opening because former backup running back Ricky Williams announced his retirement even though, according to a team source, the possibility remains he might return.

 

But if that doesn't happen in reasonable time — like by March 13 — the Ravens and McClain's agent should start trading cell phone messages.

 

Newsome's motto in free agency always has been "right player, right price." With McClain, the Ravens can get a two-for-one deal. They sign McClain as the backup to Rice, but they also have him as an insurance policy if starting fullback Vonta Leach gets injured.

 

Sounds like an easy game plan, right?

 

Of course, we don't know McClain's salary demands, but you can bet they won't be too high. McClain left Baltimore because he wanted far more carries than the 28 for 85 yards he had in 2010 with the Ravens.

 

He thought he could become the featured runner in an offense, but it didn't happen in Kansas City, where he had only 15 carries for 51 yards last season, mostly playing fullback.

 

I assume his eyes have been opened and his ego humbled.

 

Yet, I don't fault him for leaving. McClain is a fierce competitor, and he got a taste of at least sharing the lead role with Rice in 2008 when he started 16 games and had 232 carries for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.

 

Running backs and receivers are all the same. They all think they are great. They all want the ball. McClain was no different, but now he has probably figured out that he is either a role-playing halfback or a starting fullback.

 

In Baltimore, he could almost do both.

 

Around town, there is already talk about the Ravens signing New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who has a history with Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron when they were together in San Diego.

 

Tomlinson is too much like Rice. The previous set up of last season was better: the Ravens had Rice for early in the game and a downhill, change-of-pace closer like Williams for the fourth quarter.

 

McClain can play that role, which he did part time in 2008. He could certainly bolster the Ravens' short-yardage running offense which struggled late in the season. Imagine the 260-pound McClain running behind the 260-pound Leach on third and 1 .

 

Or better yet, imagine Rice in a full house backfield running behind Leach and McClain as lead blockers. McClain gives the Ravens a lot of options because he also has good, soft hands as a receiver out of the backfield.

 

It's a win-win situation for both the player and the team. McClain still lives in Baltimore, where he does a lot of offseason charity work. He knows the offense, is familiar with Cameron and gets along well with Rice. You put him together with the other two members of the starting backfield, and Rice has two, big, ornery Southern dudes as body guards.

 

That's major league protection.

 

McClain never fit in with Kansas City. The Chiefs talked about being smash mouth, but that was just lip service. McClain knows the situation in Baltimore. This is a tough town with a team that has a tough personality.

 

When McClain used to come out of the tunnel at away games with the Ravens, he'd run to the opposite end of the stadium and flap those wings, taunting opposing fans and letting them know the Ravens had arrived.

 

There were times when he went a little overboard, like the spitting incident with Miami linebacker Channing Crowder in 2010, but he worked as hard as Rice during the offseason in his last two years here, and he always had swagger.

 

He intimidated people.

 

He was — and still deserves to be — a Raven.

 

[ForceEight]

He's going to want way too much money.

[deeshopper]

He's going to want way too much money.

 

Wasn't that the problem before? Between him, Rice, and McGahee?

[ForceEight]

Essentially. And we only have more players to pay now, not to mention the actual starter (Rice). I don't really understand why anyone thinks we should pay a backup so much money when we'll have to pay Rice one way or another, or lose him. This is an opportune time to draft a player.

[papasmurfbell]

Of course, we don't know McClain's salary demands, but you can bet they won't be too high. McClain left Baltimore because he wanted far more carries than the 28 for 85 yards he had in 2010 with the Ravens.

 

He thought he could become the featured runner in an offense, but it didn't happen in Kansas City, where he had only 15 carries for 51 yards last season, mostly playing fullback.

 

I assume his eyes have been opened and his ego humbled.

 

 

Also There is no Willis anymore. It would be Ray and McClain as the main backup.

 

It would be my plan a yr later. I thought they should have made him Ray's backup this past yr.

[SpearSrai]

But could Leron be the starting tailback if Rice went down? He seems like a good #2 of a 1/2 punch, but not a legitimate #1 backup.

[oldno82]

But McLain always wanted to be a featured back didn't he?

[papasmurfbell]

But could Leron be the starting tailback if Rice went down? He seems like a good #2 of a 1/2 punch, but not a legitimate #1 backup.

So how many teams have a starter quality backup at RB?

 

But McLain always wanted to be a featured back didn't he?

 

I assume his eyes have been opened and his ego humbled.

[ForceEight]

So how many teams have a starter quality backup at RB?

Almost all of them, these days.

[papasmurfbell]

Really.

 

Buf

C.J. Spiller Not starting quality so far.

Mia

Daniel Thomas Not a starter.

NE

Stevan Ridley Not a starter.

NYJ

LT Not starter anymore.

 

Cincy

Bernard Scott Not a starter.

Cle

Montario Hardesty Not a starter.

Jax

Deji Karim Not a starter.

Tenn

Jamie Harper Not a starter.

Den

Lance Ball not a starter.

Oak

Taiwan Jones not a starter.

SD

Mike Tolbert not a starter.

Dal

Sammy Morris not a starter.

NYG

Jacobs no longer a starter

Philthy

Dion Lewis Not a starter.

Chi

Kahlil Bell not a starter.

Det

Maurice Morris not a starter.

GB

James Starks not a starter.

Minn

Lorenzo Booker not a starter.

Atl

Jason Snelling not a starter.

TB

Kregg Lumpkin not a starter.

Zona

LaRod Stephens-Howling not a starter.

SF

Kendall Hunter not a starter.

Sea

Justin Forsett not a starter.

StL

Carnell Williams not a starter anymore.

 

Some of these young guys could in time prove to be starter quality but right now they aren't. So I have 24 backups that are not starter level so that would be 8 that have starter quality backing up. So that would be almost none of the teams have 2 solid backs. I guess you hadn't heard that the NFL is watered down with expansion and the talent isn't the same as it use to be.

[SpearSrai]

Considering the Giants just won the Super bowl with the last-ranked rushing offense in the NFL... I don't think it matters. Green Bay was 27th, and they went 15-1. And often played with a lead (which should up your rushing numbers). New England 20th.

 

#1 Denver #3 Carolina #4 Minnesota #5 Philly

 

For whatever it's worth...

[yagersports]

The problem with McClain, he's not a runner. He had one good HALF year. After he surprised the NFL, he was slowed big time in the second half of the year and opened the door for Rice.

 

As for being the backup, what has he done to show that he's capable of handling the responsibility? One good half year in 2008 does not make an adequate backup in 2012.

 

Allen might be the answer amd maybe we draft a backup. Some young speedster or hammer would be a nice compliment to Rice.

[vmax]

I definitely don't want to see Tomlinson. Let's get younger and faster.

 

The Ravens really need a tough, North/South runner who can compliment Rice and effectively carry the load should Ray go down.

Not sure if the 2013 McClain is that guy. He could effectively spell Rice....but not replace him.

 

I liked McClain...it's an interesting proposition. As mentioned, he would have to fit in with a tight CAP.

[oldno82]

I don't know...McClain is a possibility but I don't think he was as good as Ricky Williams. I'd like to see us get a real power back for a change of pace. McClain was like that one season but hasn't been since.

[papasmurfbell]

But he has never been given a shot to be that power back. Who has been his lead blocker? Here it would be Leach now.

[vmax]

Just a guess...maybe he doesn't have the explosion necessary to rapidly to hit the hole.

 

Yea papa...seeing Vonte "Battering Ram" Leach leading and LeRon "Bring the Pain" McLain smashing right behind just might be awesome.

In the playoffs when the O line was struggling Ray was squeeking through such small holes and clogged formations those 2 couldn't get through..

[papasmurfbell]

Hell RR didn't even do anything in the PO's. I would say it was more the OL and scheme than anything else. In that situation use MCClain to soften them up and then get RR back in to go yard.

[Dunno]

Considering the teams that played (and won the Super Bowl) I am inclined to think that the most important attribute for a RB in todays NFL is pass blocking.

 

Just go all in ... 3 or 4 FBs on the roster (who can catch), spend the cap savings on receivers and the OL.

[yagersports]

But he has never been given a shot to be that power back. Who has been his lead blocker? Here it would be Leach now.

 

He was given the opportunity, in 2008 and the coaching staff saw what he was capable of. He was slowed immensely as the season wore on. He's just not a runner.

[yagersports]

Has everyone forgotten how pitiful McClain was as a RB the second half of 2008? Honestly. He wasn't given the chance to be the feature back in KC and here in Baltimore because......he's not a good runner.

[RavenMad]

No thanks. I would rather pick someone up in the draft who at least has some potential as a RB.

[papasmurfbell]

 

He was given the opportunity, in 2008 and the coaching staff saw what he was capable of. He was slowed immensely as the season wore on. He's just not a runner.

He was also the lead blocker. If he has that taken off his plate then he could be better.

[SpearSrai]

 

He was also the lead blocker. If he has that taken off his plate then he could be better.

 

Are you implying that McClain has fatigue issues?

 

(See: touchdown run against the cowboys in 2008)

[papasmurfbell]

Sure. I have seen it with plenty of players.

[SpearSrai]

Sure. I have seen it with plenty of players.

 

Sarcasm. Haloti Ngata finishes a long run better than McClain.