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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Here are some stats to back your point up I suppose? (each played 3 yrs)
SPIKES MCCLAIN
Sacks 1 / 6.5
Tackles 126 / 175
Games 35 / 41
PD 12 / 17
McClain's main problem has been his off field issues, but he's far outproduced Brandon Spikes on the field.
He has shown much better pass coverage, been more durable, rushed the passer much better, and has many more tackles.
That said, I'd probably still take Spikes due to the off field concerns, but let's be fair.
First, McClain has played 41 games. Spikes has played 35 games. Not a fair comparison because McClain has played a third of a season more.
Second, McClain had one good season. In 2011, he had 99 tackles, 5 sacks, and 14 PDs. You take away that year and McClain's production has been awful. I may have undersold his one good year, but you can't undersell how bad his other two years are.
Third, Spikes is far more consistent on the field. He also plays in a defense where you don't get a lot of personal glory with stats.
If the Ravens get the McClain of 2011 (where his stats were overrated since the Raiders offense was so bad), they might get a good pick up. If they get the McClain of 2010 or 2012, they might as well put Ray Lewis in a wheel chair and throw him in the middle of the defense. His off the field issues were a major factor to his release, but his poor on the field production was the death nail.
Comparing their 3 yr careers is pretty fair in my opinion. It was only last summer that many here were not too impressed with the first 2 yrs of Spikes' career either, and he really only took off last season as far as being consistent.
Like I said, I'd much rather have Spikes for the right price, but that may not be able to happen in New England beyond this year. In the meantime Baltimore securing McClain for 700,000 should hardly be looked at as a bad move.
So the Ravens added three underachievers to their defense. Huff, Spears, and McClain are all first round busts/disappointments. Maybe a change of location will help them revive their careers, but their name recognition is far better than their on the field production.
I am much much more concerned with our offense. That could really be pitiful if some players do not step up or things aren't done in FA and/or the draft.
Really would have liked him especially for that price. He's decent in coverage, which is more than I can saw about a lot of our linebackers.
Really would have liked him especially for that price. He's decent in coverage, which is more than I can saw about a lot of our linebackers.
Spears is cheap depth, period. Canty is the one who will start, and I think he is a decent, middle-range, experienced fill in at a low cost. We had a similar signing with Cory Redding a few years ago that worked out. Spears and McPhee will spell Jones and Canty, and Ngata will move to the NT spot. The D-line will be better than 2012 for sure.
Rolando McClain is a bargain-bin flyer. The guy has three seasons under his belt on a bad team and is only 23 years old. If he acts like a clown, he is flat cut (I hope and assume). Ozzie Newsome is an Alabama guy and I assume he has had a sit down with McClain and told him straight up how it is going to be. McClain has a chance with big effort/performance in 2013 to get his young career back on track (and get paid) in 2014. I see no risk and possible great reward (for the dollar). He will not be handed the job, or even necessarily a roster spot. We have a lot of young inexperienced guys with decent talent at the position plus will almost certainly draft ILB in the first 2-3 rounds.
Huff will start. He is another guy who was saddled on a bad/dysfunctional team. He played full time at CB last year vs FS and played decently. I think he is no worse than a wash as a substitute for 2012 Ed Reed, who literally could not tackle, and who was getting beat/burnt on his gambles as much as having them pay off.
Obviously the leadership loss of Lewis and Reed is the potential problem, but in terms of talent I think our 2013 defense is definitely going to be better, ignoring injury possibilities.
I am much much more concerned with our offense. That could really be pitiful if some players do not step up or things aren't done in FA and/or the draft.
Really would have liked him especially for that price. He's decent in coverage, which is more than I can saw about a lot of our linebackers.
Haven't watched too much Rolando McClain then, eh? He's not good in coverage. In fact, he's no better than what we currently have.
Haven't watched too much Rolando McClain then, eh? He's not good in coverage. In fact, he's no better than what we currently have.
Better than Spikes.
Better than Spikes.
That is debatable. Both are major liabilities in coverage and should never be on the field on obvious passing downs unless they are rushing the passer.
Sorry but if Bill let the overpriced FAs walk and signed younger players that were as good or better everybody would be calling it brilliant and great value. Newsome has reloaded much better than I thought he was going to be able to and they are stocked with draft picks still to come. I hate the Ravens as much as anybody but give credit where credit is due. I bet McClain lives up to his potential in Baltimore, unfortunately.
That's fine he's making league minimum. I also don't think Hightower is that good in coverage he has some potential but overall he was underwhelming in all aspects besides his blitzing last year. Either way he's a young player getting league minimum with some potential left he's 23.