papasmurfbell Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForceEight Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 He's going to want way too much money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeshopper Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 He's going to want way too much money. Wasn't that the problem before? Between him, Rice, and McGahee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForceEight Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpearSrai Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldno82 Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 But McLain always wanted to be a featured back didn't he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForceEight Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 So how many teams have a starter quality backup at RB?Almost all of them, these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Really. BufC.J. Spiller Not starting quality so far.MiaDaniel Thomas Not a starter.NEStevan Ridley Not a starter.NYJLT Not starter anymore. CincyBernard Scott Not a starter.CleMontario Hardesty Not a starter.JaxDeji Karim Not a starter.TennJamie Harper Not a starter.DenLance Ball not a starter.OakTaiwan Jones not a starter.SDMike Tolbert not a starter.DalSammy Morris not a starter.NYGJacobs no longer a starterPhilthyDion Lewis Not a starter.ChiKahlil Bell not a starter.DetMaurice Morris not a starter.GBJames Starks not a starter.MinnLorenzo Booker not a starter.AtlJason Snelling not a starter.TBKregg Lumpkin not a starter.ZonaLaRod Stephens-Howling not a starter.SFKendall Hunter not a starter.SeaJustin Forsett not a starter.StLCarnell 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpearSrai Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yagersports Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmax Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldno82 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmax Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunno Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yagersports Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yagersports Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenMad Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 No thanks. I would rather pick someone up in the draft who at least has some potential as a RB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpearSrai Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papasmurfbell Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Sure. I have seen it with plenty of players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpearSrai Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Sure. I have seen it with plenty of players. Sarcasm. Haloti Ngata finishes a long run better than McClain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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