Jameel Mcclain

[TrueRaven1327]

When they said this guy got better in pass coverage i had no idea he got this good. in the eagles game vicks first throw. jameel had excellent coverage it was just good concentration by the receiver.and on the touchdown throw he just missed the ball with his hands.he was already a good tackler and good against the run.he evolving into a great linebacker

[xxhighriser]

him and Ellerbe will be the future. hopefully one of them end out like Bart Scott, only stay with the Ravens for life.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='TrueRaven1327' timestamp='1313438968' post='751734']
When they said this guy got better in pass coverage i had no idea he got this good. in the eagles game vicks first throw. jameel had excellent coverage it was just good concentration by the receiver.and on the touchdown throw he just missed the ball with his hands.he was already a good tackler and good against the run.he evolving into a great linebacker
[/quote]
he did have good coverage on that play but it counts for nothing if he allows the catch.. but if he can consistently get that tight coverage and break up more passes thann not, he will have taken the next step

[ThunderPig317]

[quote name='xxhighriser' timestamp='1313439287' post='751737']
him and Ellerbe will be the future. hopefully one of them end out like Bart Scott, [b]only stay with the Ravens for life.
[/b][/quote]


Thats the important part

[scrock]

[quote name='xxhighriser' timestamp='1313439287' post='751737']
him and Ellerbe will be the future. hopefully one of them end out like Bart Scott, only stay with the Ravens for life.
[/quote]

I think Ellerbe is a stud as long as he matures and gets the playing time

I do like how McClain has improved as well, who would have thought out of the three Gooden would be the weakest link, the dude is injury prone but he's got speed and he's added some muscle this offseason so maybe that helps him stay healthy.

[jimmysmith3]

I wonder if we could trade one of Mcclain, Ellerbe or Gooden to a team in exchange for O-Line help?

[TrueRaven1327]

yea gooden does have amazing spped.i remember him chasing down AP[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1313439615' post='751743']
I think Ellerbe is a stud as long as he matures and gets the playing time

I do like how McClain has improved as well, who would have thought out of the three Gooden would be the weakest link, the dude is injury prone but he's got speed and he's added some muscle this offseason so maybe that helps him stay healthy.
[/quote]

[True]

He is really improving on not taking bad angles when going in for a tackle and getting slashed by the ball carrier. His instincts and feel for the game are developing very well--something I'd say is more important than his physical skills at this point.

[The King]

He did have tight coverage on that completion by Vick, and most QBs wouldn't try a throw like that when the LB is draped all over the WR like that. It was a very precise throw by Vick and an excellent catch by the receiver. After seeing him perform in preseason week 1, I'm not surprised Harbs wants him to be the starting ILB next to Ray.

[The Raven]

[quote name='The King' timestamp='1313446347' post='751844']
He did have tight coverage on that completion by Vick, and most QBs wouldn't try a throw like that when the LB is draped all over the WR like that. It was a very precise throw by Vick and an excellent catch by the receiver. After seeing him perform in preseason week 1, I'm not surprised Harbs wants him to be the starting ILB next to Ray.
[/quote]

Yeah, he really couldnt have covered much better, I think people are forgetting he was covering a WR, thats what's called a mismatch..... Should he have made a play on it? Yeah, no doubt, but that was pretty good coverage. Even the TD to Celek was good coverage, but it's really hard to cover a TE drag, especially in short yardage situations,, like on the goal-line. Not tryna make excuses, but there are other variables that need to be noticed.

[sflegend89]

McClain got beat more than anyone against the eagles. Including that TD, sorry but I think his biggest weakness is not being able to break up passes. His coverage isn't bad but he can never seem to get his hands on the ball in close quarters. I love his tackling though, we've always been more of a run stopping team anyway.

[Free Agent]

McClain allowed the catch by Jason Avant, and he allowed the touchdown catch by Celek. It didnt seem like he was doing well in coverage to me. Once he starts breaking up those passes and preventing the play, then he will be good in coverage.

Even if he is all over the guy, and still allows the catch, then he might as well be five yards behind the receiver. You have to prevent the catch to be successful in coverage.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1313457392' post='752035']
McClain allowed the catch by Jason Avant, and he allowed the touchdown catch by Celek. It didnt seem like he was doing well in coverage to me. Once he starts breaking up those passes and preventing the play, then he will be good in coverage.

Even if he is all over the guy, and still allows the catch, then he might as well be five yards behind the receiver. You have to prevent the catch to be successful in coverage.
[/quote]

I disagree, while McClain obviously wasn't flawless in coverage the fact that he was in position to make the play means that his coverage skills are better than any of our other linebackers (besides Ray, Suggs, and maybe Ayanbadejo or JJ). A LB covering a WR in the open field is a mismatch, and Vick's pass to Celek was just a perfect throw to a very good TE.

And no, you can have good coverage and still allow the catch. IMO if a linebacker is in coverage and tackles the WR immediately after the catch it's still a decent play. If you're five yards behind the receiver as a LB you're screwed that's going to be a big gain because of YAC.

I think you're being too harsh on McClain's coverage skills.