Mcgahee Gives Reason For Off Year

[Canes21]

[url="http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/12/29/mcgahee-hints-at-conflict-with-coaching-staff/"]http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/12/29/...coaching-staff/[/url]

[Bullrush]

Good riddance, as far as i'm concerned.

I still have no idea how being in better shape makes you a bad running back. He was in bad shape the entire year. After every 10+ yard run he would go to the sideline and sit there for a quarter with the oxygen mask on his face as if he just ran a marathon. McClain doesn't complain about being in better shape, it helps him. It doesn't help McGahee who needs a scapegoat for his awful season so far. The guy can't catch, he can't block and for much of the season he would stumble over his own feet. He's constantly banged up and he complains non stop. And then you look at the amount of money he's making. A converted fullback and a rookie change of pace back are outperforming Willis, how hard could it be to replace a guy like that? We might as well bring back Musa Smith.

[Toreno]

Haha! McGahee needs to be quiet. Deep down inside he knows that the only person he can blame for his horrible season is himself.

[BloodRaven]

I can sort of understand where hes coming from, players who try to switch systems halfway through their careers will often fail. In saying that, I dont particularly buy it. McClain at 270lb never gets tired and not many players run harder. All and all it sounds like excuses, excuses to stop weight training (even though he was overweight) excuses as to why hes always injured.

Its the same song he sang in Buffalo.

[heapitup247]

I see what Mcgahee is getting at. The coaches wanted him to be something hes not, and he tried, and its tough to do so. He wanted to impress them so badly that it ended up hurting him. McGahee is an excellent back and we need him for the super bowl run. McClain is good, but hes not close to the Mcgahee of last year. McGahee can make the big plays on the ground. Its obvious with the way McClain is being used that the coaching staff wanted a power back then a slasher type guy, and McGahee tried to be that guy, but it turned out it wasnt him. If McGahee needs/wants to be himself, the guy we saw last year, then i want to see him back next year. He doesnt ever disrespect the coaching staff in his statements. Now some may say that hes only playing for himself and i think thats kind of taken out of context. Hes more saying i can't let peoples perception of me be who i am, but rather i need to be who I am. I need to play for me.

[raven46]

I don't like this distraction.

[bossman419]

I'm not going to read into this much. He's a proven back when healthy and I believe he's the best RB on the team.

[heapitup247]

[quote name='Bullrush' post='114574' date='Dec 29 2008, 10:45 PM']Good riddance, as far as i'm concerned.

I still have no idea how being in better shape makes you a bad running back. He was in bad shape the entire year. After every 10+ yard run he would go to the sideline and sit there for a quarter with the oxygen mask on his face as if he just ran a marathon. McClain doesn't complain about being in better shape, it helps him. It doesn't help McGahee who needs a scapegoat for his awful season so far. The guy can't catch, he can't block and for much of the season he would stumble over his own feet. He's constantly banged up and he complains non stop. And then you look at the amount of money he's making. A converted fullback and a rookie change of pace back are outperforming Willis, how hard could it be to replace a guy like that? We might as well bring back Musa Smith.[/quote]

Its clear to me. He lost muscle mass in an attempt to become faster and more of a speed back, but at the same time he put his body through a transition that makes him more succeptable to injury. He was never in "bad" shape as far as conditioning wise, thats just ridiculous. I never saw him call to go to the sidelines more than a couple of times this season due to tiredness. Hes an nfl player, i promise you hes in great shape conditioning wise, but inury wise is more of the question. He can't catch? I remember a catch last game that was very nice. I recall a few dropped passes, but is ray rice any different? That doesnt mean he cant catch. He can't block? I can recall numerous times in which he has made terrific blocks on linebackers. Ive always said thats one of his strengths. He stumbles over his own feet? When? Ive never seen it. Maybe once. Ive seen clayton and mason do that countless times, but i dont hear it about them because its not a big deal. He complains non stop? When? Ive never heard him. This isnt complaining. TO saying "throw me the ball" is complaining. I recall a game where he even called his performance "doo doo." Do you remember last season? I do. I remember his 1200 yards when the team was absolutely terrible. When we didnt have the line we have now. Im gunna tell you something you probably dont want to hear, McGahee is the best back on this team. Not McClain, not Rice, but McGahee. Hes the only back on our team who can take over a game. McClain is a nice bruiser guy, but we can't make a playoff run without willis mcgahee running the football well.

[codizzle]

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114588' date='Dec 29 2008, 10:20 PM']I see what Mcgahee is getting at. The coaches wanted him to be something hes not, and he tried, and its tough to do so. He wanted to impress them so badly that it ended up hurting him. McGahee is an excellent back and we need him for the super bowl run. McClain is good, but hes not close to the Mcgahee of last year. McGahee can make the big plays on the ground. Its obvious with the way McClain is being used that the coaching staff wanted a power back then a slasher type guy, and McGahee tried to be that guy, but it turned out it wasnt him. If McGahee needs/wants to be himself, the guy we saw last year, then i want to see him back next year. He doesnt ever disrespect the coaching staff in his statements. Now some may say that hes only playing for himself and i think thats kind of taken out of context. Hes more saying i can't let peoples perception of me be who i am, but rather i need to be who I am. I need to play for me.[/quote]
thank you. im getting tired of all this hating on mcgahee. true he needs to stop whining but my man has been hurt. its funny how fast people want to throw you off the boat. he got freaking 1200 yards rushing last year and averaged over 4 a carry w/o any serious qb presence.

can we stop hating on him please

[Bullrush]

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114593' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:31 AM']Its clear to me. He lost muscle mass in an attempt to become faster and more of a speed back, but at the same time he put his body through a transition that makes him more succeptable to injury.[/quote]
You don't become a powerback or a speedback withing a few months. It's physically impossible. Week 1 McGahee doesn't look any different from Week 17 McGahee. More succeptable to injuries? You mean like getting poked in the eye? His chronic knee issues? Migraines? Ribs? Ankles? None of that has anything to do with what his weight is/was. He's had these issues ever since he came out of Miami.

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114593' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:31 AM']He was never in "bad" shape as far as conditioning wise, thats just ridiculous. I never saw him call to go to the sidelines more than a couple of times this season due to tiredness. Hes an nfl player, i promise you hes in great shape conditioning wise, but inury wise is more of the question.[/quote]
That would explain his sloppy mechanics every time he runs for 10+ yards. If you can't see that the guy gets tired easily then i don't know what to say. It doesn't get any more obvious. I don't see McClain jog to the sideline, take his helmet off and then act as if he's having a stroke, and the guy is 270 pounds, it's way tougher on him.

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114593' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:31 AM']He can't catch? I remember a catch last game that was very nice. I recall a few dropped passes, but is ray rice any different? That doesnt mean he cant catch. He can't block? I can recall numerous times in which he has made terrific blocks on linebackers. Ive always said thats one of his strengths.[/quote]
You're being ridiculous now. Watch the Steelers game when Timmons sacked Flacco. McGahee looked like he had no legs. Timmons just ran around him and he came through untouched i believe. That's pretty pathetic when you are assigned to block somebody. Watch the Cowboys game when McGahee failed to pick up the blitzing LB (Burnett) up the middle. Those are just 2 examples. Blocking is clearly not one of his strengths. If it were you would see him out there on 3rd downs more often. Same goes for his catching skills. I was obviously exaggerating when i said he can't catch. He can, but he's not a reliable target. Rice is.

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114593' date='Dec 30 2008, 12:31 AM']Do you remember last season? I do. I remember his 1200 yards when the team was absolutely terrible. When we didnt have the line we have now. Im gunna tell you something you probably dont want to hear, McGahee is the best back on this team. Not McClain, not Rice, but McGahee. Hes the only back on our team who can take over a game. McClain is a nice bruiser guy, but we can't make a playoff run without willis mcgahee running the football well.[/quote]
Willis is the most talented back we have, he CAN be the best, but right now he clearly isn't. Maybe he'll change again and get back to the guy he was last season. Right now he's exactly what Jamal Lewis was in his last year with the Ravens. We all knew he can be a great back but for some reason he wasn't.

Harbaugh is not going to accept his "now i'm on my own, screw the coaches" attitude. It's a dumb argument. Just a week ago McGahee said he played like "doo doo" and now all of a sudden he's blaming the coaches. If that's his attitude then yeah i don't want him to be part of this team in 09 anymore. If the players take over again you'll see this team turn into what it was a couple years ago with Billick. Nobody respected the guy, nobody listened to him.

When was the last time a team stacked with selfish players won the superbowl? Has there ever been one? Patriots? Giants? Colts? Steelers? Don't you think that there's a reason why these teams continue to be successful?

[Black&Purple]

I would like to see the McGahee of last season, for this next upcoming season, then let Ray Rice takeover the following season with Leron McClain. We all are upset with him this year, he has had a horrible year, but he played very well last season, and we must not forget that.

[Bullitt_711]

I'm surprised Willis thinks this way. Especially since he's from the U that extra special Ravens faternity. To me Willis just doesn't get it, he doesn't appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Black&Purple' post='114613' date='Dec 29 2008, 11:46 PM']I would like to see the McGahee of last season, for this next upcoming season, then let Ray Rice takeover the following season with Leron McClain. We all are upset with him this year, he has had a horrible year, but he played very well last season, and we must not forget that.[/quote]
we must not forget also that he has 670 yards rushing is averaging 4 ypc and has 7 td's uhhh THIS year

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='Toreno' post='114575' date='Dec 29 2008, 10:48 PM']Haha! McGahee needs to be quiet. Deep down inside he knows that the only person he can blame for his horrible season is himself.[/quote]
True... also the fact that he came into the season over weight and unprepared... that shows me he didnt want to be part of the team... all of a sudden we start wining the majority of our football games he wants

back on the Ravens offense.

[Betweenthetackles]

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114588' date='Dec 29 2008, 11:20 PM']I see what Mcgahee is getting at. The coaches wanted him to be something hes not, and he tried, and its tough to do so. He wanted to impress them so badly that it ended up hurting him. McGahee is an excellent back and we need him for the super bowl run. McClain is good, but hes not close to the Mcgahee of last year. McGahee can make the big plays on the ground. Its obvious with the way McClain is being used that the coaching staff wanted a power back then a slasher type guy, and McGahee tried to be that guy, but it turned out it wasnt him. If McGahee needs/wants to be himself, the guy we saw last year, then i want to see him back next year. He doesnt ever disrespect the coaching staff in his statements. Now some may say that hes only playing for himself and i think thats kind of taken out of context. Hes more saying i can't let peoples perception of me be who i am, but rather i need to be who I am. I need to play for me.[/quote]

McGahee is a cancer that needs to be cured (cut)

He's lazy, selfish, excuse-laden, injury prone, and when the going gets tough he cowers in the corner.

Question.....if you were in a fox home protecting our country...would you want this guy backin' you up?

Didn't think so...you'd want a McLain, a Neal, or Ray Rice kinda guy....a guy that would care as much about your well being as his own.

McGahee can't learn the new system...the game is passing him buy, and he is hanging on like road kill underneath your Lexus on I-95

[Betweenthetackles]

fox hole...sorry, my typing is as good as McGahee's attitude (poor)

[Shawn`]

"I'm just going to go out there and play for me...I can't play for nobody else but me"

I've been and will be a Mcgahee fan after what I've seen last season but this comment may become the end of his run in Baltimore if he does poorly next season as well.

[Canes21]

i dunno. i still wanna see what rice and mcclain can do in the long term for us before you guys start sendin mcgahee packin. he says next year hes goin back to old willis so lets see if he can do what hes says then evaluate him. then he wont have any more excuses right.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Betweenthetackles' post='114619' date='Dec 29 2008, 11:57 PM']McGahee is a cancer that needs to be cured (cut)

He's lazy, selfish, excuse-laden, injury prone, and when the going gets tough he cowers in the corner.

Question.....if you were in a fox home protecting our country...would you want this guy backin' you up?

Didn't think so...you'd want a McLain, a Neal, or Ray Rice kinda guy....a guy that would care as much about your well being as his own.

McGahee can't learn the new system...the game is passing him buy, and he is hanging on like road kill underneath your Lexus on I-95[/quote]
lol i hope that post is a joke... this year has been "when the going gets tough" .. that wouldve have been last year big guy and willis carried this offense on his back. didnt see him cower last year when we were 5-11??????????????????

the game is passing him by?? lol im speechless as to how much u guys are hating on him.

i understand the hate directed towards his statement about playing for "me" and i think he should have explained that better but u guys are taking it way to far

[Shawn`]

[quote name='codizzle' post='114652' date='Dec 30 2008, 01:07 AM']lol i hope that post is a joke... this year has been "when the going gets tough" .. that wouldve have been last year big guy and willis carried this offense on his back. didnt see him cower last year when we were 5-11??????????????????

the game is passing him by?? [b][u]lol im speechless as to how much u guys are hating on him.[/u][/b]

i understand the hate directed towards his statement about playing for "me" and i think he should have explained that better but u guys are taking it way to far[/quote]

That's just a fan's way, when a player does great one season and then bad another season it's "TRADE HIM HE SUKZ LOLOLOL"

[Canes21]

are you sayin passion of christ needs a sequel?

[codizzle]

[quote name='Canes21' post='114654' date='Dec 30 2008, 01:09 AM']are you sayin passion of christ needs a sequel?[/quote]
its getting there.. my man is getting blasted on here .. go ahead where is the crown of thorns . somebody know how to speak hebrew?

[MagicianCamille]

It's amazing how people let reporters mess with their heads by thinking that their taken out of context quotes are absolute in meaning.

Mcgahee has played well for us down the stretch, stop hatin' and just enjoy that we're in the playoffs and matched up very well in the first round against a team we beat by 14 points IN Miami earlier this year.

[kze]

How about all of you just take it easy... getting all heated up because of an article. Things DO get out of context, especially by writers trying to sell. Remember the incidence with Suggs and the whole bounty thing?

[flynismo]

[quote name='heapitup247' post='114588' date='Dec 29 2008, 11:20 PM']I see what Mcgahee is getting at. The coaches wanted him to be something hes not, and he tried, and its tough to do so. He wanted to impress them so badly that it ended up hurting him. McGahee is an excellent back and we need him for the super bowl run. McClain is good, but hes not close to the Mcgahee of last year. McGahee can make the big plays on the ground. Its obvious with the way McClain is being used that the coaching staff wanted a power back then a slasher type guy, and McGahee tried to be that guy, but it turned out it wasnt him. If McGahee needs/wants to be himself, the guy we saw last year, then i want to see him back next year. He doesnt ever disrespect the coaching staff in his statements. Now some may say that hes only playing for himself and i think thats kind of taken out of context. Hes more saying i can't let peoples perception of me be who i am, but rather i need to be who I am. I need to play for me.[/quote]



Yep, pretty much agree with everything you just said.

My opinion is that we should let McGahee do what he feels he needs to do to be at his best. Sounds like the coaching staff wants a slash and dash runner to compliment McClain...isn't that what we drafted Rice for?

[GermanRavensFan]

[quote name='raven46' post='114591' date='Dec 30 2008, 05:23 AM']I don't like this distraction.[/quote]


Looks like we got a first conflict between coaches and players...

[Marcus]

lol you guys are taking this to heart. this is no distraction. actually this will motivate mcgahee to play even better.

[jfc13]

I hope it's not a distraction for McGahee and the players and coaches, but I definitely don't like the way some people here are talking about him. I don't, and can't, believe that McGahee doesn't try.

I can totally believe that a different training regimen would affect his play - especially when you are playing at the level of a professional athelete. Maybe the way the coaches wanted him to train is right for most players in the position, but that doesn't mean it was right for McGahee. When I read that article, it made me think of a kid, going through adolescence and learning to deal with a body that was suddenly different than what he was used to. You wouldn't think it would be as big a deal for a grown man, but at the level of play found at the NFL, it could certainly be enough to throw off your game.

I think when he said that he had to play the game for himself, he meant that he had to do what was right for his own body and the way he plays the game - that he has to do what will make him produce on the field in the most effective way for him. I don't think he meant it disrespectfully towards the coaches - just that he was saying that he tried it their way. I believe that he will work [i]with[/i] the coaches and trainers to get himself in the physical shape that he needs to be in to be the best player that he can be.

I don't know McGahee personally, but I never got the impression that he didn't try and didn't want to perform at the top of his game.

[FerrariFan87]

He only can "play for me?" How about playing for the other 44 guys who dress every Sunday and the 8 on the practice squad, and the millions of fans here and abroad, and the coaches, and the owner, and GM, etc.??? I am just glad he seems to be back to normal, just in time for the playoffs!

[fadoodled]

I feel like McGahee has been a liability this year. I don't trust him in the backfield. He misses blocks, drops swing passes, and he doesn't explode through the holes. He's obviously falling away from the "team" attitude, but I've never known the guy to be a "team" guy.

He's also 27 years old. I'm not sure the typical life span of an NFL RB, but that sounds old to me.

I remember watch him catch a 10-12 yard pass from Flacco last week. Flacco can put that ball in the tightest of windows. McGahee ended up pulling it in for the first down and I was completely surprised by it. With that in mind, I'm not ready to just let him go just yet. I'm okay with keeping him around next year, but I like the idea of having Rice and McClain share the bulk of the carries. Its worked this year.