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Dallas Cowboys: Rolando McClain is Replaceable

By Reid Hanson

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys must make some difficult decisions regarding their starting middle linebacker Rolando McClain this offseason.

Rolando McClain has been a fixture in the middle for the Dallas Cowboys defense over the past two seasons. Now approaching free agency, the Cowboys must decide whether they re-sign or replace their 26-year-old MIKE linebacker.

In his two years in Dallas, Rolando McClain has been both a game-breaking playmaker and an unreliable teammate. Despite being a great coverage-linebacker in Rod Marinelli’s defense, McClain has had issues both on and off the field that should make the Dallas Cowboys very weary of re-signing him this offseason. We examine his replaceablity today.

McClain, the former first-round pick out of Alabama, had a rocky start to his professional career. But after joining the Cowboys in 2014, he found new life and revived his once-terminal career.

Playing the MIKE in Rod Marinelli’s defense requires coverage ability often uncommon among professional linebackers. But McClain showed early, he had the skills to thrive in this role. The MIKE is required to play both man and zone coverage. He can play the traditional shallow-middle zone, he can drop back deep to play in a Tampa 2 scheme (picture a Cover 3 with the MIKE as the deep middle defender), and he must be able to it all while still being a run-stopping force in the middle.

Check out: Explaining the difference in coverages

The WILL linebacker (Sean Lee) may be the primary playmaking position in the Marinelli defense, but it’s the MIKE that’s the most difficult linebacker spot to fill, and why the Dallas Cowboys and Rolando McClain were such a perfect match.

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When reviewing his performance this past season, it’s easy to identify Rolando McClain’s impact on the defense – Impacts that were both good and bad. Few will argue Rolando McClain is at his best utilizing his length in coverage. At 6’4” 255lbs, McClain is an imposing force in the middle. His long arms and fluid drop make him ideal in covering the middle of the field.

But with Rolando McClain, that’s where the positives end.

Against the run, Rolando McClain has become nothing short of a liability. Possibly a byproduct of injuries, McClain is no longer the run-stopping threat he once was.

Who can forget the classic quote?

"“When Rolando McClain hits you, you stay hit.”"

It’s true. Rolando McClain can hit like truck; unfortunately, that truck doesn’t seem to have the best aim. All too often Rolando McClain whiffed on very executable tackles. His misses became so commonplace I stopped pointing it out in every post-game film review.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rolando McClain was one of the NFL’s worst inside linebackers in stopping the run. He was rated consistently poor throughout the entire season and for every bit of an asset he was against the pass, he was twice as much of a liability against the run.

Besides being extremely one-dimensional, Rolando McClain also has reliability issues that need to be considered before re-signing. Injuries, and more specifically, concussions, have been a large part of McClain’s career. It’s not a matter of “if” McClain will get injured; it’s a matter of “when” and “for how long”. With one injury-prone LB already under contract long-term (Sean Lee), the Cowboys can ill afford to sign a second.

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Not only that, but Rolando McClain has multiple off the field issues distracting him as well. Questionable friends, a suspicious house fire, and a drug history are all red flags the Dallas Cowboys must consider. He’s already been suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, the next infraction could keep him out a year.

If McClain is willing to sign another low-commitment and low dollar offer, the Dallas Cowboys may want to consider keeping McClain as insurance.

But his sorted behavior and on-field shortcomings make him very replaceable player in 2016.

The Dallas Cowboys have promising young LBs like Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson who could possibly be the answer at MIKE, but without a clear proven replacement on-hand, the Dallas Cowboys will likely need to look to free agency and/or the draft to fill the all-important position before next season.

Next: Could this free agent pass-rusher be a Cowboy in 2016?

Top Two ILB Free Agent Options for the Dallas Cowboys

  1. Danny Trevathan, 25, Denver Broncos: The Broncos will have a tough time re-signing everyone and Trevathan is a tackling machine with pass-coverage skills who could hit the market.
  2. Derrick Johnson, 33, Kansas City Chiefs: He may be over the hill but he still rates as one of the best ILBs in the NFL. He’s well-rounded and ranked as PFF’s #7 inside linebacker (includes WLBs)
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