Jameel McClain out for the rest of the season

[bauer77]

Jameel McClain has a spinal cord contusion and is out for the rest of the season. This leaves us even thinner at ILB, hopefully Ellerbe and Lewis will be back against the Giants. We will probably promote Nigel Carr or Adrian Hamilton to the active roster, or Harbaugh said we could end up signing someone.

Link: [url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/ravens-putting-jameel-mcclain-on-ir-with-spinal-contusion/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/ravens-putting-jameel-mcclain-on-ir-with-spinal-contusion/[/url]

[berad]

Hopefully Dannell or Ray come back this week. Maybe both!

[Twistidfunk]

this is some bad news.

[arnie_uk]

Activate ray to the roster.

[Ravens_fan]

sigh, well I hope he recovers well.

[RavensFanInCA]

I hope he gets better. Our season is important, but his health comes first.

[redlobster]

Activate Hamilton, lets see what he can do and move McClellan to ILB, Bynes played strong yesterday but ayanbedejo is just over matched.

[JO_75]

Time to see what Josh Bynes and others can do. I still think we should trade for Rolando McClain during Free Agency as that would give us a solid player that we potentially could get as our new # 1 MLB.

[Militant X 1]

when it rains it pours! man! get well McClain.

~Mili

[AsianRice]

It seems the Ravens nation steps on God's foot or something..... or possibly there is a hard-working player wanted to shine with this golden opportunity... get well Jameel......

[luvrayrice27]

no doubt the theme of this season is injuries...i've always thought we were overall pretty healthy before this season

[ravens88]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1355782635' post='1268201']
when it rains it pours! man! get well McClain.

~Mili
[/quote]

its been months of non stop monsoon.

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

Obviously, this sucks; losing [i]a(nother)[/i] player to a season-ending injury, especially one who was originally a starter, is tough to overcome.

But, I think I speak for the majority of The Flock when I say that Jameel McClain was a disappointment, this year. Most would agree that McClain showed lots of potential, last season, in Chuck Pagano's defense and it was a good move by Ozzie Newsome when he brought McClain back to Baltimore. Yet, nothing Jameel McClain did for the Ravens, in 2012, was noteworthy. Still, here's to hoping for a speedy recovery and a better 2013, Jameel McClain, whether or not you are with the Baltimore Ravens.

So, at least this means Dannell Ellerbe will remain in the starting line-up, when he returns. Most had figured that it would be Ray Lewis and Jameel McClain as the starters, once Lewis returned. However, I am hoping that Lewis and Ellerbe are ready to return soon, rather than later; although, I would much rather have them healthy for the playoffs and not have them "rush" anything to comeback, as soon as possible.

Oh, I liked what I saw in Josh Bynes, yesterday against the Denver Broncos. Hopefully, Bynes can sub-in for Ray Lewis and still get some playing time during the playoffs, whenever Lewis needs a rest. As for Brendon Ayanbadejo... what can you say, really? He did everything he could; of course it was not going to be pretty, seeing how Ayanbadejo was on the team to be a special teamer. I still think John Harbaugh will keep Albert McClellan at the outside linebacker position, since he has spent the entire year there. Finally, maybe this injury allows Adrian Hamilton to show what he's got...

[big hits and ball hawks]

Question: Has Lewis been put on the 53 and just wasn't activated yesterday, or is he still in a "limbo" area where he's on the team but not taking up a roster spot?

Either way, I'd like to see Hamilton brought up. I thought our guys played really well in that first half. I know there are probably some knocks you could put on a guy like B.A., but he's playing in two of the three phases right now. A lot of the guys, who would normally be rotational guys on D, are playing ST and defense, which will really wear them out. Anyway, I'd like to see what Hamilton can do to help out the pass rush and if he can be a run stopper.

[berad]

[quote name='big hits and ball hawks' timestamp='1355788389' post='1268332']
Question: Has Lewis been put on the 53 and just wasn't activated yesterday, or is he still in a "limbo" area where he's on the team but not taking up a roster spot?

Either way, I'd like to see Hamilton brought up. I thought our guys played really well in that first half. I know there are probably some knocks you could put on a guy like B.A., but he's playing in two of the three phases right now. A lot of the guys, who would normally be rotational guys on D, are playing ST and defense, which will really wear them out. Anyway, I'd like to see what Hamilton can do to help out the pass rush and if he can be a run stopper.
[/quote]

Ray is in limbo, he doesn't count to the 53 yet

[rmw10]

[quote name='big hits and ball hawks' timestamp='1355788389' post='1268332']
Question: Has Lewis been put on the 53 and just wasn't activated yesterday, or is he still in a "limbo" area where he's on the team but not taking up a roster spot?

Either way, I'd like to see Hamilton brought up. I thought our guys played really well in that first half. I know there are probably some knocks you could put on a guy like B.A., but he's playing in two of the three phases right now. A lot of the guys, who would normally be rotational guys on D, are playing ST and defense, which will really wear them out. Anyway, I'd like to see what Hamilton can do to help out the pass rush and if he can be a run stopper.
[/quote]

Ray isn't on the 53. I'm assuming the roster spot will go to him. Another move may be made with one of our WRs (Deonte Thompson?) to get an additional linebacker on the squad.

[BloodRaven]

Not that anyone will notice.

[big hits and ball hawks]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1355788811' post='1268343']
Ray is in limbo, he doesn't count to the 53 yet
[/quote]

[quote name='rmw10' timestamp='1355788870' post='1268347']
Ray isn't on the 53. I'm assuming the roster spot will go to him. Another move may be made with one of our WRs (Deonte Thompson?) to get an additional linebacker on the squad.
[/quote]

Thank you, both. It changes my perspective a bit.

[mhead66]

It's sad about McClain - I (for one) had thought he'd been playing pretty well - although he's been making tackles 5+ yards past the line of scrimmage, he's been making them - a criticism that's been applied to Ray at times over the last couple of years.

It's not an ideal time, to "try out" our untested backups - like Hamilton and Bynes - but you do what you must, even during the playoff push. If you're going to start backups, I prefer Bynes to BA - Ayanbadejo is 36 years old, and Bynes is still a green youngster... give the kid the reps.

[bauer77]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1355791271' post='1268402']
It's sad about McClain - I (for one) had thought he'd been playing pretty well - although he's been making tackles 5+ yards past the line of scrimmage, he's been making them - a criticism that's been applied to Ray at times over the last couple of years.

It's not an ideal time, to "try out" our untested backups - like Hamilton and Bynes - but you do what you must, even during the playoff push. If you're going to start backups, I prefer Bynes to BA - Ayanbadejo is 36 years old, and Bynes is still a green youngster... give the kid the reps.
[/quote]


Bynes and BA started against the Broncos. If Lewis and Ellerbe can go Sunday, then they will obviously start, and Bynes will come in for Lewis occasionally.

[TreTheRaven]

Wishing the best for you, McClain.

[omar586]

outch!!! never saw or thought we would be decimated by injuries like that, but still our offense need get their crab together.

[Fred Sanford]

We've been trying to get by on overachievers at ILB alongside Ray for a long time. Ray's still good when not asked to do things he can't anymore like cover RB's and TE's one on one. Ellerbe is an UDFA and has overachieved, is a good thumper, but not always great football awareness and shoots the wrong gap, overpursues, etc. McClain is a converted UDFA defensive end from Syracuse, the guy's alright but has limited upside and can't get off blocks, which is a problem with our largely underwhelming d-line which struggles playing two-gap (or one-gap). Each side hurts the other, much like Oher's pass blocking and Joe's pocket awareness. Bynes is another overachiever with limited upside, Ayanbadejo the same outside special teams. McClellan brought some heat yesterday, like Ihedigbo, and is solid but unspectacular, sort of like a Jarret Johnson.

I like all these guys, sometimes you get visions of a huge steal when they shoot a gap in preseason and get a sack, things like that, but there's something to be said for a stud inside linebacker who's built for the position and taken rounds 1-3, instead of undrafted guys who may not have even played the position. Eventually, it shows up, even before the injuries, which have made a bad run defense worse. We're not getting Te'o, but I'm sure Ozzie realizes it's time to stop making a patchwork linebacker corps and investing some draft picks in it. Kuechly shows how much that can help, currently leading the league in tackles.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Fred Sanford' timestamp='1355806744' post='1268759']
We've been trying to get by on overachievers at ILB alongside Ray for a long time. Ray's still good when not asked to do things he can't anymore like cover RB's and TE's one on one. Ellerbe is an UDFA and has overachieved, is a good thumper, but not always great football awareness and shoots the wrong gap, overpursues, etc. McClain is a converted UDFA defensive end from Syracuse, the guy's alright but has limited upside and can't get off blocks, which is a problem with our largely underwhelming d-line which struggles playing two-gap (or one-gap). Each side hurts the other, much like Oher's pass blocking and Joe's pocket awareness. Bynes is another overachiever with limited upside, Ayanbadejo the same outside special teams. McClellan brought some heat yesterday, like Ihedigbo, and is solid but unspectacular, sort of like a Jarret Johnson.

I like all these guys, sometimes you get visions of a huge steal when they shoot a gap in preseason and get a sack, things like that, but there's something to be said for a stud inside linebacker who's built for the position and taken rounds 1-3, instead of undrafted guys who may not have even played the position. Eventually, it shows up, even before the injuries, which have made a bad run defense worse. We're not getting Te'o, but I'm sure Ozzie realizes it's time to stop making a patchwork linebacker corps and investing some draft picks in it. Kuechly shows how much that can help, currently leading the league in tackles.
[/quote]

ILB isn't a position where a long term answer is required in my opinion. Plus we only have so many early round draft picks. Personally, I'm fine with Ellerbe, and if Bynes does well going forward, we'll see.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' timestamp='1355807260' post='1268767']
ILB isn't a position where a long term answer is required in my opinion. Plus we only have so many early round draft picks. Personally, I'm fine with Ellerbe, and if Bynes does well going forward, we'll see.
[/quote]

With the way the defense has been torched on intermediate passes in the middle, it could be a growing problem in the next few years. It's better to address it sooner than later.

HOWEVER, I believe you and I can agree that, if there's no one worthy of a high pick, there's no point in forcing the issue.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1355808044' post='1268780']
With the way the defense has been torched on intermediate passes in the middle, it could be a growing problem in the next few years. It's better to address it sooner than later.

HOWEVER, I believe you and I can agree that, if there's no one worthy of a high pick, there's no point in forcing the issue.
[/quote]

I'm not saying don't address the position at all, but my thinking is, there are only so many studs that a team can have. ILB is still an important position obviously, but I'd rather take a stud pass rusher or, since we need it, a big man in the middle of the D line, or a ball hawking DB. Only so many guys on an NFL roster are long term solutions. I'm beginning to take that for granted, so I would rather have a revolving door at ILB than at more important positions on defense.

That being said, get well soon Jameel