Round 1, Pick 8 - Oakland Raiders - Rolando McClain

Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

Ht: 6’ 3 3/8” Wt: 254

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  With the Raiders running a 3-4, McClain is an instinctive player that always seems to be around the ball.  Although he is not an elite, physical specimen, he's just a very good football player.    

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: Big-framed, long-limbed playmaker who is far and away the top inside linebacker available in this year’s class. Possesses a unique blend of size, athletic ability and football smarts to step into a “30” front and start immediately.

NFL projection: Top-15 pick.

GM Jr’s scouting report:  McClain is a junior who came out early for the 2010 NFL Draft and based on his incredible performance in 2009 I do not believe he could have helped his draft status by staying for another season.  He has the smarts and instincts that NFL teams drool over as he can basically be a coach on the field who knows and carries out his assignment perfectly on every snap.  He is a big, strong linebacker who seems to enjoy make hard, physical tackles.  Of the tope three inside linebackers McClain was the least consistent in terms of overall production – In the games I evaluated he was involved in 1 play out of every 10.1 snaps, which is a very good ratio but it is not in the same class as the ratio in the 6.5 range that both Butler and Spikes accomplished.  Overall, I am always leery over over-drafting a player whose great instincts and football smarts help him to play bigger and be more productive than his level of athleticism indicates he should be able to.  I would be careful not to draft him in the Top 10 because he lacks the elite speed and tope end athleticism that are usually necessary to become impact, game changing players.  In our view he is a late 1^st round pick who will become a good, consistent starting inside linebacker who can be productive playing MLB in a 43 scheme or ILB in either 34 scheme. 

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  McClain’s accomplishments don’t override concerns some evaluations have about his transition from Nick Saban’s highly aggressive 3-4 scheme to the NFL.  McClain was protected in the Alabama scheme by 365-pound NG Terrence Cody, who tied up blockers up front.  McClain’s instincts mask his lack of elite speed, and there are concerns he’ll be able to hold up in coverage.  The other side of the argument is what McClain brings as a downhill thumper in the running game.  His status as a possible first-round pick and potential immediate difference-maker in the NFL should be safe.

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

GM Jr. 2010 Draft Guide available @ http://gmjrnfldraft.com/

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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McClain Tackles New Diagnosis

Rolando McClain recently told the Birmingham News that he doesn't have Crohn's disease.  McClain said in the interview, "In all my talks with doctors the last two weeks, with all the tests we've done, they don't even feel I have Crohn's disease."


Though Crohn's can be mild and similar to IBS, McClain's problem is that the example the NFL knows best is quarterback David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  He has severe Crohn's, and it required surgically removing part of his intestinal track.  "The day I had to go back to the hospital was one of the worst days of my life.  I was throwing up day and night, and my entire body was cramping up.  I was barely able to get dressed so my wife could drive me to the emergency room.  All I could think about was getting some relief – and fast," Garrard stated in an interview with the CCFA.


The article also states that six months after Garrard's diagnosis, "Garrard had dropped 35 pounds and had to buy a new wardrobe.  At 6'2", he was now a 215-pound quarterback."


McClain and his agent want nothing to do with this possibly debilitating disease.  I would know, because I have it.  My story is eerily similar to Garrard's. 


I hope for McClain's sake, he was misdiagnosed.  With millions of dollars difference on the line with each pick in the first round, McClain hopes the NFL front offices also think he was misdiagnosed.


McClain is a first round talent, and there has been no talk of the previous diagnosis hurting his draft stock.  Unfortunately, the door has been opened for doubt, and whatever damage, if any, has already been done.  I just hope it doesn't cost a kid who has worked hard on the football field and deserves nothing but positive attention for his accomplishments.








Every Morning Quarterback by Aharon Williams is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.everymorningqb.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.everymorningqb.com.