Getting to know Rolando McClain

[acosta2277]

I've created a video of our new linebackers highlights.: [url="http://youtu.be/q6Wb1PMHUP8"]http://youtu.be/q6Wb1PMHUP8[/url]

[NaveSenrag]

You work fast.

[AsianRice]

This dude will revive his career as a true #1 pick 8th........I guaranteed it.....

[The_Raven_Fan]

i liked this because we get him for cheap and he has tremendous upside, its like drafting a late 1st round pick because hes only 23

[Ray Ray Ravens]

I don't know him but I heard he will change our draft picks.

[GrimCoconut]

Who am I?

[RavenzAllDay]

Instant upgrade at LB in the run game aspect, and he rarely misses tackles! Maybe all he needed was a new team...

[faithfulravenfan#1]

This is a good thing ..........getting another Alabama player (roll tide).......he will need leadership to curve that off field behavior but the Ravens is where he truly belongs........I like the way the defense is shaping up .........Go Ravens!

[pep_meister]

Am I the only one dissapointed we only got him on a 1 year contract? I honestly see so much freakn potential.....so so much.

[beanfigger]

[quote name='pep_meister' timestamp='1365649370' post='1430463']
Am I the only one dissapointed we only got him on a 1 year contract? I honestly see so much freakn potential.....so so much.
[/quote]

I think we want to see if he lives up to that potential, and he seems willing to prove he can. This could very easily be one of those cases where we sign him to an extension before next league year if he performs well.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='pep_meister' timestamp='1365649370' post='1430463']
Am I the only one dissapointed we only got him on a 1 year contract? I honestly see so much freakn potential.....so so much.
[/quote]

I'm a little disappointed in that as well though I can see the reason for it from both Ozzie's point of view and McClain's. He does have a history, so we're banking on him leaving his baggage behind and being young enough to rebound and live up to the amazing potential he showed. He's also banking on that and hoping to earn a bigger paycheck after one year.

I don't know why some are hating on this signing. I love it. McClain showed awesome potential and was derailed by personal off the field issues. If he can leave it behind him, this could be just a fantastic steal for us. If he can't, he'll be gone with little cap hit at all.

[BallHawker]

This video is a clear example of why Ravens fans are the best. Welcoming a newcomer through a fan made video only hours after he agreed to terms!

[BloodRaven]

I've seem him play inconsistently, but when he's on HE'S ON.

Hopefully the change of scenery will be good for him.

[faithfulravenfan#1]

I agree the Raven are checking him out ..........if he does well he is a keeper but again his off field behavior in the past has truly worked against him.........lots of leadership and he can really be something special ..........hopefully Ray Lewis will sit him down and talk with him it could really make a difference!

[Bltravens]

Promentory....DIRTY song. Just watched Last of the Mohicans actually.

[Ravensfan23]

This is a win win for both sides. For the Ravens they get a highly talented young LB who can help with the run defense. From McClain's standpoint getting cut only 3 years after being a top 10 pick has to be humbling.

The guy is making 700K. How do you replace Reed, Ellerbe and Kruger with 3 guys who cost you about a total of 2.2M in base salary and about 4.5M cap hit. By comparison Ellerbe, Reed and Kruger cost a total of about 14M. It will continue to happen each year, but no one should ever question Ozzie.

Another thing about this move that's good is the Ravens play a similar style of defense as Bama. I remember Upshaw saying that he was really comfortable in the defense because of that and it showed. Who knows why McClain struggled with Oakland, but Pees and Wink might tap into his potential.

[Guest nflfan123]

[img]http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/469/095/134182072_crop_650x440.jpg?1322788227[/img]

[Ngata Chance]

Holy... Cow, dude, that was intense!!!

I wish I could give you a hundred thanks. Well done.

[jaege]

[quote name='beanfigger' timestamp='1365649610' post='1430468']
I think we want to see if he lives up to that potential, and he seems willing to prove he can. This could very easily be one of those cases where we sign him to an extension before next league year if he performs well.
[/quote]


Yeah, it is a smart move on Ozzie's part. They have to be certain he will play up to his potential and not get into anymore trouble off the field. Since he was willing to sign for so little (comparatively) he obviously wants to be here, so getting him an extension at a later date should not be too hard. And maybe he wasn't willing to sign for so little for more than a year. This is a test for him too, to see if he wants to stay.

[bMore Heathen]

Nicely done!!!

[T-ray]

Wow... that got me pumped up. He is definitely a leader when he has his head on straight, as he did at Bama. Too bad he doesn't put it all together at this point in his career, because when he's on as shown in those highlights, I see a little bit of Ray Lewis in him. Leadership, tenacity, big hits, chasing people down. Love it.

And to answer why he didn't do well in Oakland. He played out of the scheme he is built for/has talent for. He was a 3-4 ILB trying to play in Oakland's 4-3. This isn't the whole reason, but it is a good percentage of the reason.

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='AsianRice' timestamp='1365647026' post='1430417']
This dude will revive his career as a true #1 pick 8th........I guaranteed it.....
[/quote]

Yes.. and he will be on the field with the likes of Suggs, Ngata, and Dumervil. He's got to be happy.

[runamuk]

He picked danny amendola up and body slammed him with one arm lol

[arnie_uk]

Who's giving the speech there? That's intense

[black blood purple passion]

he did well in Oakland behind an D line that couldn't stop a nosebleed, imagine what he's going to do behind Ngata, Canty, Spears, Pernellephant, Arthur and whoever we draft because Cody's fat.

[cwfRaven]

Kid's got passion...if anyone can harness it, it's the Ravens.

Welcome to Baltimore baby!

[Free Agent]

I hope he does the same thing to Amendola when we play the Pats this year.

[cwfRaven]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1365792252' post='1431844']
I hope he does the same thing to Amendola when we play the Pats this year.
[/quote]

It would be un-Raven like to not have a Patriot Killer.

[Tractorman]

Kinda interesting he's listed as #55...
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster.html

[rmw10]

[quote name='Tractorman' timestamp='1365793620' post='1431857']
Kinda interesting he's listed as #55...
[url="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster.html"]http://www.baltimore...eam/roster.html[/url]
[/quote]

Definitely a mistake.