Some interesting reads on McClain:
The Sports Bank.Net Blog Archive Rolando McClain Leads Alabama Defense
"It’s like we are a band of brothers out there. We don’t want to let the guy beside us down. I think that’s the important thing and that’s what he has put in us, we don’t want to let the guy beside us down. You don’t want to be that guy that messes up a play, because everybody has to be accountable for what they do on the field and accountability is what he’s [Nick Saban] taught us."
Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Rolando McClain is the total package - ESPN
"But there are times in practice when the coaches take McClain out of a drill to give a younger guy some work. McClain takes the play off. On those occasions, more often than not, McClain will not trot over to the sideline, grab a water bottle and chat up his teammates. McClain will walk to the middle of the field to stand alongside head coach Nick Saban. Saban will watch the drill with his arms crossed. McClain will watch the drill with his arms crossed. When McClain, consciously or not, adopts Saban's posture, it is physical confirmation of what everyone within Alabama football already understands. Ro McClain is Nick Saban writ large -- and fast and explosive. 'Coach on the field' may be a cliché. With McClain, it fits. He may have a football-hot body but McClain is loved by his coaches and his teammates for his mind. 'It's unbelievable how much he understands the game,' fellow linebacker Cory Reamer said. 'The second part is how well he knows the defense. He really knows what Coach would like to go to in the situations we get it and he really does a good job communicating it.'
On offense, when quarterback Greg McElroy calls an audible, the center changes the blocking scheme for the offensive line, and the backs and wide receivers signal one another their changes. On defense, when McClain calls an audible, he makes the changes for the defensive linemen, the secondary and the linebackers. ... 'Some guys understand their position,'" Saban said. 'But I would venture to guess Ro knows what every player is supposed to do on every play on defense, and he knows like I know who didn't do right, and when he didn't do right, sometimes immediately.' "
McClain has yet to file with NFLDAB | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
" 'Naturally, you’ll think about the NFL. But it’s not even my focus right now. I really couldn’t care less about the NFL at this point,' McClain said. 'I still have another game to play, and that’s my focus.' "
Bama’s Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award | TuscaloosaNews.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
"McClain’s leadership was on display near the end of Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game against Florida, when he refused to allow teammate Terrence Cody and others to dump a cooler of Gatorade on Saban, as is common following championship victories. Instead, McClain told Cody the SEC title game wasn’t the team’s final goal and dumped all the sideline coolers on the Georgia Dome turf. 'I told them it’s a big win but it’s not the biggest win. I told them if we win the national championship, you can put whatever you want to put on him. But until then, we’re not going to drench coach with Gatorade,' McClain said. 'I dumped the water out and the Gatorade out. It wasn’t the right time for it. I didn’t want our guys to feel like the SEC championship was it for us. I didn’t want them to act like that was the last game or the biggest game because it’s not. We have the biggest game of our life out there. After we win it -- or, when we win it -- you can dump (on) coach then.' "
That's the kind of guy who will make this defense better.
Yes, we need pass rushers. Badly. But even more we need impact players with the kind of focus, intensity, commitment to team defense and smarts to give the defense a strong identity and foundation.