^^^ I rewatched the Ravens game with an eye on McCray.
Found/saw some intersting things:
1. The starters for the first half were Dahl (SS) and Spillman (FS). But McCray started the second half at SS next to Spillman (you'd expect Campbell here). Ironically, I'm leaning towards these two being the primary backups to Reid/Ward & Bethea. I think the coaches wanted to see what they have in their perceived 2nd team?
2. The first thing that stood out to me was his speed. He plays much faster than both Spillman and Dahl (esp.) and seems to have much more range. This makes sense given in college, he was used in the slot also like how Ward is currently being used with us.
3. Good nose for the ball and willing to stick it in there on running plays but needs to learn to be a touch faster and play off blocks better (first run play he was there but got blocked out of the play and subsquently pancacked by a WR).
4. We played him deep S (vanilla) about 50% of the time so he had a lot of ground to cover just to make tackles/plays on the ball/help with coverage. He's fast playing down hill esp. The other 50% of the time, we had him up and near the LOS (did great here). Wasn't challenged deep at all.
5. Loved his play inside the Ravens 3 yard line. Crept up to the LOS and blew up a TE 5 yards into the backfield on the left side and did it with one shoulder to keep his hands free (he used this technique x2 and it worked well to play off and through both blocks). It forced the RB inside for a 4 yard gain (late persuit by others).
6. On the play where Johnson downed the ball on the 1 yard line, it was McCray who was the first one down and he occupied the returner so Johnson could catch a clean bounce.
7. He got one PF call against him but it was total B.S. late in the 4th. Seriously, it was a joke.
8. He played the entire second half (great sign).
Overall: He seems about exactly where you want him...didn't make any mental mistakes, some good technique, form tackling, around the ball in run/pass when to his side, had a few tackles (non-credited assists), physical, stuck his nose in there, good speed, range, esp. aggressive around the LOS, played inside the box and in deep cover shell, plays a bit hesitant (thinking/diagnosing), can get washed out, can play a bit high at times, etc. and I see him contributing on ST coverage units as well. Dahl is going to have to play exceptional (high salary) to justify keeping him over McCray IMHO. His "quietness" yet effectiveness/discipline reminds me of another guy I picked to make the roster under the radar...Marcus Cooper.
[ Edited by NCommand on Aug 13, 2014 at 4:05 PM ]
... you know how I'm always clowning around and talking crap about the Big Twinkie (Roman) and what not.
will he get to wear that shield on game day?
