McClain vs. Spikes

[cmhargrove]

OK, there seems to be a lot of love for McClain. Everyone talks about what a great pick he would be, and I keep challenging people to show me his good highlights. There have been no takers...

So, after looking on NFL.com (where they have mysteriously removed all the McClain videos) I found some on YouTube. As I have been saying, the only thing I ever see him do is run in space (behind a huge Alabama line), uncontested by O-linemen. He isn't tremendously gifted at anything - not speed, not power, not coverage, not instincts. Just my opinion. Form your own opinion with the following video:


Now, let's look at another imperfect player, but one with more natural talent. The positives are that he has good natural instincts, he plays fast, and he can do everything an ILB should do (blitzing, taking on o-linemen, leveling devastating tackles, playing zone coverage) very well. His problem is that many times he doesn't perform well because he is out of position. I think that he can be "taught" to be a better player. Brandon Spikes:


Go ahead. Tell me why McClain deserves to be a first round pick, when we could easily get a guy like Spikes in the second.

I apologize ahead of time for the music - it is horrible. Just turn your volume down.

[cmhargrove]

I'll reply to my own thread with another ILB I would rather have than McClain - Micah Johnson from Kentucky. He can be had somewhere in rounds 3-5 and he impresses me much more than McClain.

This dude can hit like a freight train, runs incredibly fast for 250+, and is probably the best ILB in traffic.

[Killericon]

Wasn't Brandon Spikes all the hot **** last year?

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

I'll reply to my own thread with another ILB I would rather have than McClain - Micah Johnson from Kentucky. He can be had somewhere in rounds 3-5 and he impresses me much more than McClain.

This dude can hit like a freight train, runs incredibly fast for 250+, and is probably the best ILB in traffic.

This is a highlight video which is nice. The other two vids are not (McClain and Spikes).

We'll just have to wait and see what the Broncos do at MLB.

[Doggcow]

Not sold on McClain.

[_Oro_]

I'm not a big fan of McClain, but posting a 5 minute video of lowlights will make anyone look bad.

[misturanderson]

Did you just say that the guy that is smaller than McClain, but still ran slower than A LOT of linemen (not just LBers) has more natural talent?

If we pick up a MLB that couldn't break 5.0 in the 40 before the 4th round, I will be very irritated.

I can't believe that someone that is b****ing about McClain's athleticism is advocating taking a guy that has done everything possible this offseason to make himself undraftable with how athletically below average he is.

[Paladin]

How about neither. Maybe there are a couple of alternatives ot there. Sean Lee?

Frankly, if Pouncey is there and that is the area of need and he is projected to be a good player, why not take him at 11? Value doesn't win crap except for brownie points in a guessing game.....

[ScottXray]

Neither McClain or Spikes were impressive in those videos . They reminded me of our 2007-08 defenses...overunning plays, out of position etc. But I'm sure they must have had better plays, and the scouts rate them highly. I really hope we use our first pick for an Impact player, whoever it is (Spiller, Bryant, whoever else).

[bombay]

Spikes' 40 times at the combine were over 5 seconds both times. Maybe something was wrong, but that's offensive lineman territory.

[TheChamp24]

Spikes is going to free fall, and I don't care what people think. Speed like that will make him fall, and it wouldn't surprise me if he fell to the middle rounds.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by bombay

Spikes' 40 times at the combine were over 5 seconds both times. Maybe something was wrong, but that's offensive lineman territory.

I can't explain Spikes' 40 times, and it is worrysome. However, when I watch him play, I see a guy that can easily chase plays sideline to sideline. I don't see that in McClain so take that for what its worth.

I remember a few years back when Patrick Willis came out and everyone knew he deserved to be picked at 11 (if not higher). I don't see a single thing that tells me McClain has that type of value.

I'll just feel much better Thursday night if I don't hear his name.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by bombay

Spikes' 40 times at the combine were over 5 seconds both times. Maybe something was wrong, but that's offensive lineman territory.

Also, for the record, Maualuga put up some slow numbers at the combine last year, and he turned out alright. I tend to look at them in film, playing ball, over what they do in shorts and running shoes.

Spikes plays faster football.

[Hamrob]

4.6 vs 5.0 40 time.

3down player vs 2down player.

McClain > Spikes

[Bigdawg26]

Originally Posted by cmhargrove

I'll reply to my own thread with another ILB I would rather have than McClain - Micah Johnson from Kentucky. He can be had somewhere in rounds 3-5 and he impresses me much more than McClain.

This dude can hit like a freight train, runs incredibly fast for 250+, and is probably the best ILB in traffic.

This guy seems like a player!

[Hamrob]

I like Johnson...but, I don't think he's the athelete that McClain is. McClain can get after the QB in addition to stopping the run and plugging the middle. The biggest worry is his health.

I'd be happy with Johnson in the 4th or 5th, but I don't see the speed there. He's instinctive and launches his body...but not all that fast.

Spikes looks like he reacts slow to the ball and is slow.

As for 40 time...really, we should look at their 10 and 20yd splits...because that's what matters for a LB.

[broncowill]

i was ok with mcclain untill i looked up his statistics. 52 of is 105 tackles are assists. this scares me away from mcclain a little because for the 11th pick i want a guy who can get the job done by himself and not in a group, i have never actually watched mcclain except for the national championship so i dont really know how good this guy really is but based on this i would much rather have johnson later in the draft than draft mcclain with the 11th pick.

[MVP-06]

I addressed this in my mock draft. I think we need to go with the combo of Bryant/Spikes instead of McClain/whoever else is left at WR. I dont care what Spikes 40 times were. He played in the SEC and had no problems keeping up. His football speed is all that matters, not his track.

[Dedhed]

Originally Posted by _Oro_

I'm not a big fan of McClain, but posting a 5 minute video of lowlights will make anyone look bad.

All those lowlights are taken from 3 games.

[Dedhed]

There is nothing authoritative about McClain's game. I've looked everywhere, and I still haven't seen a single play he's made where he's been touched by a player on offense. If he's touched (and sometimes just close to being touched) he's completely neutralized.

He doesn't tackle with any authority, doesn't pursue with any authority, and doesn't read the play with any authority. I have him as a top 3 overrated player going into this draft.

[broncowill]

i would love taking johnson somewhere in the draft. really the only negative i have heard about him is his pass coverage, and we have woodyard who can do that.

[Great13]

Originally Posted by Dedhed

There is nothing authoritative about McClain's game. I've looked everywhere, and I still haven't seen a single play he's made where he's been touched by a player on offense. If he's touched (and sometimes just close to being touched) he's completely neutralized.

He doesn't tackle with any authority, doesn't pursue with any authority, and doesn't read the play with any authority. I have him as a top 3 overrated player going into this draft.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Arm tackles for days on his highlight reels... tackles that would easily be broken in the NFL. For all his speed and awareness, it seems he never arrives at the ball right on time to lay a clean "pop & wrap" tackle.

[Bigdawg26]

Originally Posted by MVP-06

I addressed this in my mock draft. I think we need to go with the combo of Bryant/Spikes instead of McClain/whoever else is left at WR. I dont care what Spikes 40 times were. He played in the SEC and had no problems keeping up. His football speed is all that matters, not his track.

Yeah that sounds nice but Spikes and Bryant are extremely talented but have maturity issues and I can tell you right now McDaniels aint havin that. I think McClain and Thomas (if we trade up to get him) would be the ideal situation. They are both big, talented, high character guys who McDaniels likes to build this team around. My only problem with McClain is that he doesn't have any flare or pop in his hits to be 6-4 255. He just seems like he's wrapping ppl up instead of exploding through guys like spikes and that guy micah johnson.

[Tombstone RJ]

I think McClain is being hyped because of his size. Also, you have to remember he was the leader of a very good defense which means he made all the audibles and adjustments on the field. So, if he ran a great defense though leadership and smarts and by putting others around him in the best position to make a play then that speaks for itself.

Basically, he helped a good defense be great. If he didn't have to make a phenominal play or tackle 10 times a game doesn't that mean he did his job? I dunno, hard to tell...

[_Oro_]

Originally Posted by Dedhed

All those lowlights are taken from 3 games.

Just playing devil's advocate here but...

I'm sure he didn't do anything good in those 3 games either.