Willis McGahee

[eandb17]

When I think about it I just can't wrap my mind around why we should keep McGahee. We have a top 5 RB in Rice and a very explosive and tough FB in McClain. Recently we have only been using him for short yardage situations. Why should we use him instead of McClain who is arguablly better? My opinion is that we should just trade McGahee for a veteran CB. Any thoughts?

[EdReedFTW]

[quote name='eandb17' date='26 June 2010 - 05:51 PM' timestamp='1277589086' post='426839']
When I think about it I just can't wrap my mind around why we should keep McGahee. We have a top 5 RB in Rice and a very explosive and tough FB in McClain. Recently we have only been using him for short yardage situations. Why should we use him instead of McClain who is arguablly better? [b]My opinion is that we should just trade McGahee for a veteran CB[/b]. Any thoughts?
[/quote]

[FlaccoFlicker]

yeah my thoughts are we should keep Willis on this team and McClain,our FB is supposed to be used in the short yd range that's why they build them so big lol.

[McBurks]

He's in his prime right now and we need a legit back up if Ray Rice ever gets injured.He's not going anywhere.

[Ed_Reed20]

I wouldn't call Le'Ron McClain "very explosive". He has good feet and is a nifty runner for someone his size but he isn't explosive.

As for McGahee, he proved numerous times last season why he's a valuable player. Against Oakland, with Rice struggling to find running lanes, Willis came in and tore the Raiders apart.

Willis is staying in Baltimore.

[FlaccoFlicker]

Willis just stiff armed the OP.

[flynismo]

[quote name='eandb17' date='26 June 2010 - 05:51 PM' timestamp='1277589086' post='426839']
When I think about it I just can't wrap my mind around why we should keep McGahee. We have a top 5 RB in Rice and a very explosive and tough FB in McClain. Recently we have only been using him for short yardage situations. Why should we use him instead of McClain who is arguablly better? My opinion is that we should just trade McGahee for a veteran CB. Any thoughts?
[/quote]

There is no argument on who is better between McGahee and McClain. McGahee is, and it's not even close.

And we probably won't get much value for McGahee.

[BirdWatcher]

[quote name='FlaccoFlicker' date='26 June 2010 - 06:57 PM' timestamp='1277593052' post='426856']
Willis just stiff armed the OP.
[/quote]


Good one. That actually made me laugh out loud.

[theFRANCHISE]

If McGahee is traded, I believe there would still be financial ramifications because of how his contract is structured. Even in an uncapped year, there are still safeguards put in place to prevent cap-dumping and other such maneuvers to keep teams from cheating players out of their money or putting teams in a position that would handcuff them when the cap returns.

If a team was really interested in McGahee, a trade offer would've been put on the table and likely made public by now. But there's been silence all offseason -- damning evidence that McGahee's value is highest in Baltimore. That doesn't mean he's a bad player, it just means that he means more to this system and this team than he does elsewhere. Furthermore, running backs are a dime-a-dozen (even the "special" ones), and it's easier for other teams to replace their current RBs than to give up a pick and/or player for an aging veteran like McGahee.

McClain is a good RB, but he's better as a FB. McGahee is a great RB but he's better as a spell RB than as a full-time starter, given his recent injury history.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='eandb17' date='26 June 2010 - 05:51 PM' timestamp='1277589086' post='426839']
When I think about it I just can't wrap my mind around why we should keep McGahee. We have a top 5 RB in Rice and a very explosive and tough FB in McClain. Recently we have only been using him for short yardage situations. Why should we use him instead of McClain who is arguablly better? My opinion is that we should just trade McGahee for a veteran CB. Any thoughts?
[/quote]
But don't you see the importance of McGahee? He's a great change of pace back, and he can break off long runs. What if Rice gets injured? Teams would kill for a backup like McGahee. Especially when he has McClain paving the way for him.

I used to think McClain was a natural power RB, but trust me, after watching how good he is at opening holes and creating space for Rice and McGahee, no. No, he isn't a natural power RB. FB is where he belongs. I'd much rather have McClain blocking for McGahee than Edgar Jones blocking for McClain. It's the blockers that make the running game work.

Secondly, how could we possibly trade him for a CB? Who do you want? Which teams are interested? Not only is trading him a waste of talent and not only do I not see us getting much for him, but there are so many other factors in trading that make it so difficult. It won't happen.

[JEEPercreepermd]

I think that Willis is a great asset to our team! Should Ray Rice go down (knock on wood) he could still come in and provide a solid ground game for the Ravens. It seemed like he was in shape last year, and had a better attitude. Also, since he has seen limited carries the past two years, he probably has much more gas left in the tank than most RB's his age. I haven't seen enough of Parmele to have faith that he could carry us through a few games if need be.

[Milton145]

Why in the world would you want to trade McGahee? He can still play, as someone mentioned earlier, if Rice is struggling, Willis can step in. He led our teams in TDs last year. He's great at popping it in from the goaline and like I mentioned earlier, tear [i]<it>[/i] up if Rice is having trouble.

[1/28/01]

Awesome topic [/sarcasm]

14 TD's, insane one two punch, goalline situations, Cane, awesome, team player, 14 TD's, awesome and a Cane!!!!

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' date='26 June 2010 - 09:21 PM' timestamp='1277601713' post='426915']
Awesome topic [/sarcasm]

14 TD's, insane one two punch, goalline situations, Cane, awesome, team player, 14 TD's, awesome and a Cane!!!!
[/quote]

You can add actor to that list too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_glo4xdMn4&playnext_from=TL&videos=CvjJYzMX9P0

[hawkprey]

Since McGahee runs differently than Rice, his presence alone makes other teams shift their focus from "maintaining Ray Rice" to "maintaining the Raven's backfield".

He averaged just as many ypc as Rice did.

Plus twice the TD's.

Plus the stiff arm.

[edreedfromtheu]

If you watched the first 5 weeks last year, you would know that McGahee was leading the entire league in touchdowns.

Then, he didn't see the field again for weeks. The Ravens hit a tough stretch.

If the passing game can improve, then perhaps McGahee isn't AS needed. But until we see if Flacco can make the next step as a quarterback... I'd say having McGahee, along with Rice and McClain... is vital.

[Malkavian Raven]

Get rid of McGahee...? Seriously...? The man isn't going anywhere, neither are Rice or McClain. We've got one of the top, if not the best, backfield tandems in the league. Rice is quick to the outside, great at finding cutback lanes and getting skinny through the lines. McClain is a bulldozer on short yardage downs and goal line situations. Now, you take a little bit of Rice and mix it with McClain... you got McGahee.

You go back to '08, when he went down in the AFC Championship game and you'll see the reactions from the sidelines and from the fans... and you'll see how important the man is to the organization.

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' date='26 June 2010 - 10:33 PM' timestamp='1277609584' post='426942']
If you watched the first 5 weeks last year, you would know that McGahee was leading the entire league in touchdowns.

[b]Then, he didn't see the field again for weeks. The Ravens hit a tough stretch.[/b]
[/quote]

I was really confused as to why we did not put Mcgahee on the field during those games....some speculated we were keeping him healthy for a trade. I say it was [size="4"][b]very[/b][/size] foolish to let him ride the pine after he became a scoring machine in the redzone

[Purple Punishment]

McGahee also has the best juke in history against Teddy Bruschi!!! I wish I could find that. He had him turned around backwards and he couldnt even find Willis. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[Alexir]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' date='27 June 2010 - 03:01 AM' timestamp='1277622061' post='426959']
I was really confused as to why we did not put Mcgahee on the field during those games....some speculated we were keeping him healthy for a trade. I say it was [size="4"][b]very[/b][/size] foolish to let him ride the pine after he became a scoring machine in the redzone
[/quote]

Yeah, i was pretty salty with the coaches' decision on that. We went from offensive juggernaut to very stale. Hopefully we learned our lesson and learned from the Saints who utilized Bush, Thomas and Bell.

[Rav'n Maniac]

This makes no sense at all. Our three headed monster is one of the most prolific, if not the best tandems in football. Why would you want to destroy one of our strengths for a vet CB. Anyway, we've already addressed the CB needs and I feel we have crossed our i's and dotted our t's. ( I know it's the other way around. It just made more sense to me saying it that way then what the OP is suggesting here).

[T-ray]

I still believe McGahee is very underrated as a runner. Beyond his injuries, I just don't see any weaknesses, other than not being given enough carries. He's a force to be reckoned with, and hopefully we see a little more of him this year. Sharing carries will negate his injury chances and keep him fresher, but we have to use him. In Buffalo, they got tired of him being injured, and who could run behind that O-Line?? I dare say that not even Barry Sanders could've been highly successful in that anemic offense.

[kze]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' date='27 June 2010 - 09:04 AM' timestamp='1277622280' post='426960']
McGahee also has the best juke in history against Teddy Bruschi!!! I wish I could find that. He had him turned around backwards and he couldnt even find Willis. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!
[/quote]

Here you go.

[img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh190/slompis/l_e95ca0a952fe4372d61155dc409aa2e4.gif[/img]

Willis is a starting running back in my eyes, and having him as a backup - wow. Just wow. Talk about having depth at the RB position.

EDIT: The juke was against Junior Seau, not Bruschi.

[DMT]

Awesome play

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='kze' date='27 June 2010 - 08:16 AM' timestamp='1277640976' post='426976']
Here you go.

[img]http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh190/slompis/l_e95ca0a952fe4372d61155dc409aa2e4.gif[/img]

Willis is a starting running back in my eyes, and having him as a backup - wow. Just wow. Talk about having depth at the RB position.

EDIT: The juke was against Junior Seau, not Bruschi.
[/quote]

Willis was in another universe that night.

[BloodRaven]

He's a machine at the goal line. 12 TDs in a 100 or so carries aren't pedestrian numbers.

[Corvus]

I think Willis is a pretty valuable part of our team. No, not to the level of either Ray or Joe or Mase or anything, but valuable nonetheless. In case anyone forgot, we are one of many teams utilizing a RB by committee. I don't doubt Parmele or McClain if he was utilized as a pure runner again wouldn't do well backing up Rice, but Willis has tons more experience than either toting the rock around. RB is also one of the positions with the highest risk for injury and Willis is great insurance for Ray. He also seems to have matured quite a bit since the end of the 08 season and seems to be turning into a locker room leader for our team. Willis will be very important if we are gonna make a super bowl run this year. Need I remind that he and Ellerbe essentially clinched our playoff berth last year?

[DMT]

He's still good, complements Rice, and his best value is through keeping him. I'm glad he's here

[ed.s52]

That was the most beautiful juke i have ever seen.

And OP, who could replace Willis. He is vital to our scheme and has more value to us than anyone else.If we do, for some misguided reason, do trade him, we would need another player to at least semi fill his role.

In my eyes, that would be Brian Westbrook, but we aren't going to trade Willis and if we do I would be dissappointed.

[Betweenthetackles]

[quote name='Corvus' date='27 June 2010 - 04:08 PM' timestamp='1277669333' post='427075']
I think Willis is a pretty valuable part of our team. No, not to the level of either Ray or Joe or Mase or anything, but valuable nonetheless. In case anyone forgot, we are one of many teams utilizing a RB by committee. I don't doubt Parmele or McClain if he was utilized as a pure runner again wouldn't do well backing up Rice, but Willis has tons more experience than either toting the rock around. RB is also one of the positions with the highest risk for injury and Willis is great insurance for Ray. He also seems to have matured quite a bit since the end of the 08 season and seems to be turning into a locker room leader for our team. Willis will be very important if we are gonna make a super bowl run this year. Need I remind that he and Ellerbe essentially clinched our playoff berth last year?
[/quote]


right on good post