Training Camp 2017

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by Bangee7

what's the word on Terrell McClain? I haven't read much about him lately.

I'm surprised that Ziggy is listed ahead of him.

"The Redskins started in nickel defense Thursday night, using Matt Ioannidis and Jonathan Allen in the middle of their front. When they came out in their 3-4, Ziggy Hood, Phil Taylor and Stacy McGee were the linemen, going from left to nose to right."

Significantly, one notable name missing from the main men was McClain. Princiotti detailed the surprising struggles experienced by the former Dallas Cowboys nose guard this offseason:

"This was somewhat unsurprising given what has been visible during training camp, but Terrell McClain seems to be falling down the depth chart. He just hasn’t made an impact. On the play where cornerback Joshua Holsey got a nice pass breakup on a deep ball, McClain was one-on-one with his man for several seconds (enough time for the receiver to get far down field) but couldn’t win the battle. It’s not that McClain has made any egregious mistakes, but given the financial commitment the Redskins made him, it’s easy to assume they’d like to see him playing a substantial role. If younger, less coveted players who weren’t free agency acquisitions keep making more plays, though, McClain starts to look like an expensive rotational piece."

McClain not making the grade is unexpected, at least in the mind of yours truly. After all, the 29-year-old was exceptional tussling with centers during his time in Dallas, helping the Cowboys rank No. 1 against the run last season.

Critics would likely point to McClain's success in Dallas coming in a one-gap 4-3 front, rather than the 3-4 the Redskins run, a base scheme still incorporating two-gap principles.

However, McClain does have experience anchoring a three-man front. He did so for the Houston Texans in 2012 and 2013, albeit in Wade Phillips' more attacking version of the system.

Perhaps McClain needs more license to attack one gap on Tomsula and Manusky's watch. Either way, he is listed as a backup defensive end on the unofficial depth chart released by the team on Monday, per CSN MidAtlantic's JP Finlay.

Washington Redskins Preseason Week 2 Matchup Preview | Bleacher Report
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It seems like no DT want to be the unheralded, eat up blockers NT and they all have visions of cleanly shooting the gap and sacking unsuspecting QBs.

Very little on McClain out there.

Honestly, just not getting injured is bonus imo.