LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

Winning a college award doesn't automatically translate into being an excellent pro prospect, but in this instance -- McClain qualifies. In addition, most on this board feel he's a legitimate Pats prospect for round one -- and I agree.

Only a junior, he hasn't declared as yet. But as a current top 20 prospect who may go as early as top 15, and once Bama' wins the national championship (;) ), he'll most likely enter the draft.

Many may say he's an out-of-reach prospect for the Pats, and that may be true. But being Saban-coached, I see him as a versatile player that Belichick would covet for his 3-4/4-3 defense.

Several worthy quotes from the article...this one stands out as an example of his leadership ability:

Bama’s Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award | TuscaloosaNews.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

If he's really 6'4 258, he would make an ideal fit as the strongside inside linebacker for the Pats. However I think the Pats need a passrusher more than another ILB to pair up with Mayo. although those 2 together would possibly make for the most intimidating ILBs in the league.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/...do-mcclain-the

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

Like others, I would kill to get McClain. And it's achievable depending on how much Belichick likes him or any other top 15 prospect. We have 1,2,2,2 and 1,1,2 this year and next plus we likely have the significant trade value of a Franchised Wilfork. Discussions aside on whether trading #75 is wise, it is a distinct possibility and he would bring significant value.

Sadly, with the demise of Thomas, the invisibility of Burgess (FA anyway) and the liklihood that Guyton is a great versatile backup but not a true starter, we seem to need 3 starting LB and 1 starting DE. And that's assuming Pryor/Brace can man the middle.

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

I'm trying to think of a more polished and complete linebacker that's come out in the last 10 years.

Curry was exceptionally highly thought of, but wasn't brilliant in space.....Beason was good but not great in College.....Hawk, hmmm, maybe.....Sims was under-sized.....Derrick Johnson perhaps.....Vilma and Williams - weren't they seen as a product of each other?.....

I think the only two that you can definitely say were more highly thought of, rounded and complete than Mclain, are Dan Morgan and Patrick Willis.

He is going to be an absolute stud.

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

And now I can hear Ochmed drooling about the prospect of getting Terrence Cody. . . . :)

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

The Pats need another pass rusher more than ILB, I agree. But McClain is a better prospect than any pass rusher in the draft, IMHO.

I'd like to see us get a veteran pass rusher outside of the draft, and then go after McClain.

The other thing that is apparent to me is that McClain is just an amazing leader, and we need leaders on defense. He is a guy who hates to lose, who comes to play all the time, and who makes the players around him better. Those are the kind of guys I'd like to see on our defense.

If he's within reach, I think he's one of the guys who is worth going after. His value would be greater than what he just brings as a player, which is huge by itself.

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

Also with McClain and Mayo inside that would allow us to blitz more as they can cover from sideline to sideline....They are both very good at reading and reacting with the speed to get there.....I wouldn't sell the entire draft but i really want the Pats to get McClain as i feel that will help shut down other teams running games....(that is of course we resign vince too)

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

Two issues however...

1. He is looking like a Top 10-15 pick.

2. Is NE willing to spend another high pick and invest in another ILB when we just got Mayo? (with Guyton and McKenzie developing as well)


Personally I like McClain alot. Great character. Fiery passionate player. Exactly what our D needs. But OLB/DE seem like way bigger issues than ILB at this point


What's the point of stopping the run if we have no one to pressure QBs and they throw on us all day.




Free agency should be very telling what kind of position we look at, but right now we atleast have a servicable player at ilb

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

Your points are valid. But I'm beginning to think that McClain would bring more to our defense than any pass rusher in the draft, especially because of his combination of physical skills and intangibles. As you say, our defense needs a fiery, passionate leader who never lets up and demands that his teammates do the same. We need that kind of "heart" very badly right now. Mayo is the "head" of this defense, but we need a heart to go with the head. I think he's a Troy Polamalu kind of guy who will make the entire defense better.

I don't know if McClain is out of reach. If he's still on the board within 10 spots of where we pick in the 1st, I personally think the trade up cost would be worth it. We traded up 11 spots in the 1st round in 2002 for Dan Graham, so there's some precedent.

If we address some of our pass rush needs in the offseason prior to the draft, it will take pressure of needing to take a pass rusher with our 1st pick. This has been BB's style. Last year, for example, he went out and got Bodden, Springs and McGowan and re-signed Sanders to bolster the secondary, but still drafted Chung and Butler. I could see us signing a FA or possibly trading for a pass rusher such as Ray Edwards or Mathias Kiwanuka, for example.

Again, your issues are valid, and I don't know if we can make it happen. But I'd sure like to see it happen. Next to Ndamukong Suh, I think McClain may be the best defender in this draft (assuming he declares).

Re: LB Rolando McClain wins Butkus Award
 

McClain is great, if he is available it is a no brainer. Just because the Pats need help at OLB/DE doesn't mean they should reach. McClain, Mayo and Wilfork could create a dominant interior defense. Forcing teams to run outside and alter their game plans.

McClain, Mayo, Guyton, McKenzie - best set of ILBs in the NFL

TBC, Crable, Thomas (signed OLBs going into 2010) - worst set of OLBs in the league

Sigh...