Mcclain In Pass Rush Situations?

[Bltravens]

With our pass rush struggles I was wondering today why this kid hasnt seen anytime in the pass rush. This is what he did his whole college career and for 1 season with us in 2008. Is it that bad of an idea to let him go at it, or at the very least start doing it in practice? JJ isnt exactly winning many 1 on 1 matchups lately these days.

[Ed_Reed20]

I've seen Jameel sent on blitzes at times but he probably isn't sent enough. Hopefully, Mattison makes some changes because seriously, the Ravens won't achieve their post-season aspirations if the pass rush doesn't improve.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288125466' post='521620']
I've seen Jameel sent on a blitz at times but he probably isn't sent enough. Hopefully, Mattison makes some changes because seriously, the Ravens won't achieve their post-season aspiration if the pass rush doesn't improve.
[/quote]
I mean in our sub packages specifically. Ive seen him on run blitz's, but Im talking in our nickel and dime packages on the Dline with Suggs.

[Ed_Reed20]

I see.

I'd love to see Jameel on the line too but I really don't know if Mattison is that innovative. The man has forgotten more about than I've known but I don't see how he can expect the a front four of Suggs, Ngata(at DE), Gregg and McKinney to get consistent pressure.

[SnOoPy]

I don't mind seeing Ellerbe rush too. Hopefully Mattison figure something out.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288126623' post='521645']
I see.

I'd love to see Jameel on the line too but I really don't know if Mattison is that innovative. The man has forgotten more about than I've known but I don't see how he can expect the a front four of Suggs, Ngata(at DE), Gregg and McKinney to get consistent pressure.
[/quote]
Ugh ya that is gross, 2 of those 3 shouldnt be playing past 2nd down flat out.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288130725' post='521690']
Ugh ya that is gross, 2 of those 3 should be playing past 2nd down flat out.
[/quote]

Agreed You wonder what Mattison is thinking at times. I've seen that front four a number of times and I can understand if Redding is gassed but does he have to put those guys out just because they're d-lineman? I'd rather see McClain possibly get rag-dolled than watch Gregg or McKinney run into an o-lineman and stay glued to them until the QB throws a pass.

[TSizzle00]

I would like to see some changes. Even just a lil bit more pressure can make the difference. Not even sacks really just get the QB hurries and Reed can get all the turnovers.

[XxSizzleXx]

One thing is for certain we have to change something up to have more of an impact on the opposing QB.

[mhead66]

The Ravens are 19th in the NFL in sacks, with 12 sacks in 7 games. At this pace, we will have 27 sacks on the season. Last year, we finished 18th in sacks, and we had 32... so, yes, something has to be done, something has to be changed.

12 Sacks - They are distributed as follows:

Ngata 4
Suggs 3.5
Lewis 2
Landry 1
Redding 1
Johnson 0.5

JJ is not getting enough pressure - as a pass rushing OLB/DE, 1/2 sack is not enough production. However, I'm not sure McClain is the answer. Sure, he hasn't been used much in this capacity, but he hasn't had a sack since Week 16 of 2008, a span of 27 games. He has 2.5 sacks in his career.

But... I agree. Mattison has to come up with something. We can't allow Ryan Fitzpatrick to pass for 374 yards...

[indianstick]

To tell u the truth..i was actually thinking the same thing. Something has to be changed and I feel like we should be sending mcclain on blitz more seeing as he was a de in college (even though college is a lot diff than the nfl).

[BloodRaven]

He's faster and more explosive than JJ but at his size he'd get engulfed on the edge, gap integrity is paramount.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1288188175' post='522074']
He's faster and more explosive than JJ but at his size he'd get engulfed on the edge, gap integrity is paramount.
[/quote]
Hes no smaller than Barnes, and is actually stronger than Barnes. In our sub packages his gap integrity would be no worse than what Barnes would have provided, and Ill sacrifice gap integrity for what JJ is giving us right now.

[Alexir]

We need to bring Landry on every Blitz since he isn't worth anything in coverage....

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288126623' post='521645']
I'd love to see Jameel on the line too but I really don't know if Mattison is that innovative.
[/quote]

Well, I'm watching NFL Replay right now and I'll take back what I said about Mattison. I'm pretty sure it only happened on one snap but Jameel was used as a down lineman on Buffalo's drive where they pulled within 3 points.

[RoflDogs]

Jameel was dirty at pass rushing in his rookie year. The move to ILB made absolutely NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. His best attribute was that he could rush the passer, but the coaches moved him to a position where he doesn't have too many opportunities to rush the passer

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='RoflDogs' timestamp='1288228208' post='522537']
Jameel was dirty at pass rushing in his rookie year. The move to ILB made absolutely NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. His best attribute was that he could rush the passer, but the coaches moved him to a position where he doesn't have too many opportunities to rush the passer
[/quote]

The move did make sense. After Bart's departure, the team needed an inside LB to compete with Gooden. And with Suggs, J.J., and Barnes, OLB was set.

[flynismo]

Well, I can tell yall this much; no changes in scheme is going to fix this pass rush problem. It's our personnel. I know that some of you guys like Redding and McKinney, as well as Gregg, but neither of them are capable of doing what we need them to do. Now, I do think that some schematic adjustments can IMPROVE our rush, but it will come at a cost, and it wont fix the core of our problem, which is that the guys on our line simply are not good enough (ngata excepted, of course).

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288192098' post='522125']
Hes no smaller than Barnes, and is actually stronger than Barnes. In our sub packages his gap integrity would be no worse than what Barnes would have provided, and Ill sacrifice gap integrity for what JJ is giving us right now.
[/quote]

No Barnes is stronger and faster than McClain, but McClain offers more versatility. I wouldn't have been a fan of Barnes playing 3 downs on the outside anyway, but then again, JJ has been absolutely terrible.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1288249385' post='522694']
No Barnes is stronger and faster than McClain, but McClain offers more versatility. I wouldn't have been a fan of Barnes playing 3 downs on the outside anyway, but then again, JJ has been absolutely terrible.
[/quote]
Barnes is definitely faster, but I dont think he's stronger than McClain in game situations at all.

[BloodRaven]

i don't think either has the look of a power player but Barnes did have the most reps at the 07 combine by a linebacker *shrugs*

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1288589940' post='524628']
i don't think either has the look of a power player but Barnes did have the most reps at the 07 combine by a linebacker *shrugs*
[/quote]

Doesn't that speak more to muscle endurance than actual strength?

[ClintLB8]

What do you guys think about moving Kruger back to that rush linebacker spot for J.J. in pass rush situations? His extra weight and strength might actually help him gain a bigger variety of pass rush moves. I am from Alabama so I love to see my Bama boys do good but J.J. isn't getting it done. 1/2 a sack is rediculous. It was unfortunate for the Ravens because they used their first draft pick to address this issue and then Kindle gets hurt. You just can't predict that. I feel like if Kindle doesn't get hurt then we aren't having this conversation. But now that he has we have to figure out how to fix the problem. As much as I would like to add Merriman, I just don't think he is going to be available. We have to fix it immediately if we want to go deep into the playoffs this year. I love Ngata and I feel like he is among the elite players in the NFL but he should not be leading the team in sacks in a 3-4 defense playing defensive tackle. That is the point of the 3-4 (to have solid pass rushing linebackers on either side who can put pressure on the QB). The Kruger suggestion was just to see what you guys thought. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ClintLB8' timestamp='1288631181' post='524819']
[b]What do you guys think about moving Kruger back to that rush linebacker spot for J.J. in pass rush situations? His extra weight and strength might actually help him gain a bigger variety of pass rush moves.[/b] I am from Alabama so I love to see my Bama boys do good but J.J. isn't getting it done. 1/2 a sack is rediculous. It was unfortunate for the Ravens because they used their first draft pick to address this issue and then Kindle gets hurt. You just can't predict that. I feel like if Kindle doesn't get hurt then we aren't having this conversation. But now that he has we have to figure out how to fix the problem. As much as I would like to add Merriman, I just don't think he is going to be available. We have to fix it immediately if we want to go deep into the playoffs this year. I love Ngata and I feel like he is among the elite players in the NFL but he should not be leading the team in sacks in a 3-4 defense playing defensive tackle. That is the point of the 3-4 (to have solid pass rushing linebackers on either side who can put pressure on the QB). The Kruger suggestion was just to see what you guys thought. I'm not sure how I feel about it.
[/quote]

I wouldn't mind seeing Kurger in pass rushing situations in place of J.J. but more size doesn't mean you have more moves.

[BloodRaven]

I'd say so, Kruger is a natural hard-nosed football player but he doesn't have the size or power to be a dominant three down interior lineman. Right now he's oversized, by that I mean he doesn't have the build or bone structure to naturally carry 290lb let alone 275lb.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1288634032' post='524848']
I'd say so, Kruger is a natural hard-nosed football player but he doesn't have the size or power to be a dominant three down interior lineman. Right now he's oversized, by that I mean he doesn't have the build or bone structure to naturally carry 290lb let alone 275lb.
[/quote]
Which is exactly right, and I think he's too slow now to rush on the outside at all after gaining 15 pounds. If we move him back to LB he'd have to shed all the weight that we had him gain to move him inside. As much as I appreciate Kruger's hustle and demeanor I really dont know anymore what the FO plans to do with him. After watching his snaps this year I seriously dont know how he could put on anymore weight and be remotely effective afterwords. And at 275 like you said he is undersized to be a 3 down lineman. A 2nd round pick was way too high for a situational rusher.

[Alexir]

Ellerbe at MILB and McClain at OLB on 3rd downs isn't that bad of an idea.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1288641832' post='525012']
Ellerbe at MILB and McClain at OLB on 3rd downs isn't that bad of an idea.
[/quote]
Depending on the formation, my idea was more to put him on the Dline in our subpackages on 3rd downs, and sticking Ellerbe inside at the other LB position.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1288642037' post='525024']
Depending on the formation, my idea was more to put him on the Dline in our subpackages on 3rd downs, and sticking Ellerbe inside at the other LB position.
[/quote]

I wouldnt mind seing McClain as a 4-3 DE.