McDonald's light fading?

[Yoop]

MM talking about McDonald generally this off season, and as the starting LG in a JSO article:

How often due udfa second year players start on a oline? not often, I think this is more of Mac trying to show his positive attitude about his players before the lockout, McDonald probably needs another season, He looks the part, sometimes that can fool ya, top draft picks bust all the time, I liked what I saw last year, he's backing up Sitton and Wells, I would say McCarthy was right, he should be happy with that, if it's legit he's a undrafted player pushing for a start amongst some good competition.

Could he be our new C in a couple years?

[KYPack]

I'm really looking forward to the Brown game. That way, I can actually watch some line play and be in a lot better position to bullshit with everybody in this thread. When the lockout ended, I was so happy football started gain, I wanted to get in every discusssion there was.

All that said, I voted for Lang based on his rookie play. Most guys make some big strides in their 3rd year. I'm hoping that holds true for Lang.

[Patler]

I do understand you but taken in the context of MM's talk which was about the LG position, I'm not concern that he didn't recite a love letter to McDonald. Its been clear for a year now that McDonald is a more serious prospect at C than G in MM's eyes. Plus you think his crush is so deep that in a convo about Sherrod and Lang he's going to start popping boners at the mention of McDonald? If it eases your concern at all McDonald is listed as the backup RG and C on the new depth chart.

Did you read my quotes from MM about McDonald and the LG spot? MM called him "the perfect guy" for LG just before camp. Then camp started, and all of a sudden he isn't going to be given much of an opportunity to even try. Why?

I think it is because he hasn't been performing as MM hoped he would. I'm not writing him off, but I think he isn't living up to MM's comment early in the off season that "...he could be one of those guys when you say, 'Who made the biggest jump from year one to year two?' I think he has a very bright future."

He may still have a bright future, but it looks less and less like it will start in 2011.

[Joemailman]

For the past year, MM took every opportunity to praise and build expectations for Nick McDonald at both center and guard. I expected him to be in the competition for the vacant LG spot. But, he has had a very quiet camp so far. Very little has been said about him. Now this:



Where are the, "Nick McDonald will have a real good NFL career" and "Nick McDonald will be among the most improved players" type comments that we have heard for the past year? He has been almost an after-thought so far this training camp.

I think you're misinterpreting what MM said:

“And left guard is wide open. T.J. Lang and Derek are competing for that. Nick McDonald would have a chance, but we feel we need to play him more exclusively at center,” McCarthy added.

I think what he is saying is that if Nick McDonald were being given an opportunity to battle for the LG spot, he would have a legitimate chance of getting it. However, he feels they need McDonald to concentrate on C right now. I see that as praise considering the 2 guys battling for the LG spot are a 1st round pick and a guy who started games as a rookie.

[3irty1]

Some of this may be due to the lack of people who can snap on the TC roster. By my count only Wells, EDS, and McDonald are options at Center and there are three offensive units, so I'm not sure that McDonald is available for snaps elsewhere.

Really good point.

[Patler]

If MM felt McDonald had a shot at beating out either Lang or Sherrod for the starting LG spot, he would be competing for it right now. MM wouldn't be "saving" him to be the backup center if he could be the starting LG. Now, if Sherrod and/or Lang flop in the preseason games, McDonald might still get his shot at it. But as of now, he won't.

I just think it is a bit strange that shortly before camp MM mentioned McDonald as the perfect guy for the LG position, and as a candidate for the most-improved player on the team. That isn't a guy you plan on as your backup center. He had higher hopes than that for McDonald. My suspicion is that so far McDonald has not shown that he has developed as much as MM had hoped.

It is also interesting that Philbin(?) in the JSO article about LG at the start of camp said ideally you want three competing for the position. So far, they have two.

[Patler]

Some of this may be due to the lack of people who can snap on the TC roster. By my count only Wells, EDS, and McDonald are options at Center and there are three offensive units, so I'm not sure that McDonald is available for snaps elsewhere.

Really good point.

You are forgetting Sampson Genus, who was one of the undrafted FAs that they gave a bonus to. ($4,000.) He is also a center.

[bobblehead]

pbmax picked McDonald. Harlan Huckleby picked McDonald. Surely you aren't equating a bunch of fools for Lang to those two luminaries.

Certainly not...especially since the fool I am referring to also predicted Grant not making the team.

[bobblehead]

If MM felt McDonald had a shot at beating out either Lang or Sherrod for the starting LG spot, he would be competing for it right now. MM wouldn't be "saving" him to be the backup center if he could be the starting LG. Now, if Sherrod and/or Lang flop in the preseason games, McDonald might still get his shot at it. But as of now, he won't.

I just think it is a bit strange that shortly before camp MM mentioned McDonald as the perfect guy for the LG position, and as a candidate for the most-improved player on the team. That isn't a guy you plan on as your backup center. He had higher hopes than that for McDonald. My suspicion is that so far McDonald has not shown that he has developed as much as MM had hoped.

It is also interesting that Philbin(?) in the JSO article about LG at the start of camp said ideally you want three competing for the position. So far, they have two.

Could it also have to do with guys getting snaps to learn the OL calls and responsibilities? I mean there are only so many snaps to go around and they really want all these guys getting enough. That being said, I think if MM really though McDonald could win the spot he would be getting snaps at that spot.

[Joemailman]

You are forgetting Sampson Genus, who was one of the undrafted FAs that they gave a bonus to. ($4,000.) He is also a center.

My impression from MM's comment is that he's not impressed with either EDS or Genus. Therefore the need to have McDonald focus on Center because it's not likely those other guys will make the roster. The fact that MM would have McDonald focus on Center when he is a potential starting LG suggests to me that he is concerned about the Center position.

[Patler]

My impression from MM's comment is that he's not impressed with either EDS or Genus. Therefore the need to have McDonald focus on Center because it's not likely those other guys will make the roster. The fact that MM would have McDonald focus on Center when he is a potential starting LG suggests to me that he is concerned about the Center position.

So MM is willing to move a potential starting LG to a certain reserve role at center? Doesn't seem likely to me.
More likely, MM realizes that, right now, McDonald is clearly no better than #3 in the competition for starting at LG. That being the case, he might as well focus on playing center.

Evan if McDonald won the starting LG spot, he could still be the #2 center. It worked fine that way for Spitz for several years. There is no reason to pull him out of the LG spot just to be at reserve center, if he truly was a contender at LG.

[Patler]

By the way, I mentioned Genus only to counter the suggestion that McDonald had to play center because they need three guys who can snap in order to run practice. Genus can snap good enough for practice, just like EDS, Wells and McDonald. If they need three, they have four. McDonald could be spared for some reps at LG if he was a contender for the spot.

Genus is probably playing for a spot on the practice squad, or someone else' roster.
EDS is counting on versatility and experience in the league to win a reserve role.
McDonald will likely get a spot due to raw potential more than anything.

All that could change if Lang or Sherrod sucks at LG when games start.

[3irty1]

So MM is willing to move a potential starting LG to a certain reserve role at center? Doesn't seem likely to me.
More likely, MM realizes that, right now, McDonald is clearly no better than #3 in the competition for starting at LG. That being the case, he might as well focus on playing center.

Evan if McDonald won the starting LG spot, he could still be the #2 center. It worked fine that way for Spitz for several years. There is no reason to pull him out of the LG spot just to be at reserve center, if he truly was a contender at LG.

I guess in my mind a quality center is typically a long-term keeper. Isn't it possible that McDonald is a slightly longer-term project than 1 year? I had totally different expectations for McDonald despite McCarthy's lovefest. No matter how promising he was pitted against Lang who has been clawing his way into the lineup for two years and this year's first round pick. Did you guys think McDonald would be a probowl quality player this year or something?

[Harlan Huckleby]

If MM felt McDonald had a shot at beating out either Lang or Sherrod for the starting LG spot, he would be competing for it right now. MM wouldn't be "saving" him to be the backup center if he could be the starting LG.

It could be that they just don't have time to audition all three as thing have played out. Maybe they are encouraged enough by Sherrod to give him a large share of the snaps, with Lang pushing as plan B if Sherrod struggles in preseason games.

[RashanGary]

1. They decided to let Sherrod fight it out at LG. That might be a sign that Newhouse has really impressed them at tackle.

2. MM has always liked Lang

3. We don't have a backup center and Wells is no spring chicken.