By RAINER SABIN Follow @RainerSabinDMN
RAINER SABIN The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer
rsabin@dallasnews.com
Published: 05 October 2014 07:00 PM
ARLINGTON — Rolando McClain’s absence was conspicuous. Everyone knew he was missing. The Cowboys. The Texans. The fans.
It was late in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ 20-17 overtime victory and Houston had just reclaimed the ball, trailing by seven points. McClain, the Cowboys’ middle linebacker, was on the sideline after aggravating a nagging groin injury during a 14-yard reception by the Texans’ Arian Foster with 4:36 left in regulation. At 6-4, McClain is impossible to miss, and as of late, difficult for opponents to avoid.
“He’s like a created player,” whose overwhelming skills break the balance of a video game, said Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr.
“Just his presence is intimidation,” safety J.J. Wilcox added.
So what happens when he’s not there? To offer a quick answer, the Cowboys defense doesn’t look the same. And it didn’t when the Texans began a lightning-quick drive at Dallas’ 45-yard line that ended with a score-tying touchdown that pushed the game to overtime.
With Anthony Hitchens filling in for McClain and less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Houston moved the ball at will. A bubble screen to Andre Johnson kick-started the march as Houston cruised to the Cowboys’ 25-yard line. A 19-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins followed. Then two quick runs by Foster, totaling 6 yards, pushed Houston into the end zone. Tie game. McClain was nowhere to be found, and his stunned teammates noticed.
“It was a huge impact,” safety Barry Church said of McClain’s absence. “He’s one of the leaders on our defense. He brings that physical nature to every snap, and losing him… it did hurt.”
It was easy to see why. McClain finished the game with six tackles on Sunday and delivered a devastating hit to Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. It was one of the highlights of a strong performance by a linebacker who consistently left his perch in the middle to chase ball carriers and receivers from sideline to sideline.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, McClain made a pivotal tackle that snuffed out a Texans drive when he stopped tight end Garrett Graham for a 3-yard gain on a third-and-6 play at Houston’s 12-yard line. The groin injury McClain suffered against Tennessee on Sept. 14 and caused him to miss the victory over St. Louis the following week was bothering him by then.
“Just playing hard for the team,” he said. “Everybody is a little beat up. It’s part of the team. We got a fighting spirit, so we just got to keep fighting.”
But when he wasn’t capable of doing so in the final stages of the game, the Cowboys almost paid dearly. In overtime, Houston attacked the middle of Dallas’ defense. Foster went right up the gut on two consecutive plays, gaining 30 yards in the process. But inexplicably he never touched the ball again as the defense finally stiffened — forcing an incomplete pass on third-and-2 at the Dallas 48-yard line that set up a punt.
The Texans wouldn’t gain possession again as Dan Bailey finished them off with a 49-yard field goal. In pain, McClain managed a smile and celebrated a victory with teammates who missed him at the end.
“I hate not being out there,” he said. “But they held it down and we got the win. That’s all that matters.”
RAINER SABIN The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer
rsabin@dallasnews.com
Published: 05 October 2014 07:00 PM
ARLINGTON — Rolando McClain’s absence was conspicuous. Everyone knew he was missing. The Cowboys. The Texans. The fans.
It was late in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ 20-17 overtime victory and Houston had just reclaimed the ball, trailing by seven points. McClain, the Cowboys’ middle linebacker, was on the sideline after aggravating a nagging groin injury during a 14-yard reception by the Texans’ Arian Foster with 4:36 left in regulation. At 6-4, McClain is impossible to miss, and as of late, difficult for opponents to avoid.
“He’s like a created player,” whose overwhelming skills break the balance of a video game, said Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr.
“Just his presence is intimidation,” safety J.J. Wilcox added.
So what happens when he’s not there? To offer a quick answer, the Cowboys defense doesn’t look the same. And it didn’t when the Texans began a lightning-quick drive at Dallas’ 45-yard line that ended with a score-tying touchdown that pushed the game to overtime.
With Anthony Hitchens filling in for McClain and less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Houston moved the ball at will. A bubble screen to Andre Johnson kick-started the march as Houston cruised to the Cowboys’ 25-yard line. A 19-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins followed. Then two quick runs by Foster, totaling 6 yards, pushed Houston into the end zone. Tie game. McClain was nowhere to be found, and his stunned teammates noticed.
“It was a huge impact,” safety Barry Church said of McClain’s absence. “He’s one of the leaders on our defense. He brings that physical nature to every snap, and losing him… it did hurt.”
It was easy to see why. McClain finished the game with six tackles on Sunday and delivered a devastating hit to Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. It was one of the highlights of a strong performance by a linebacker who consistently left his perch in the middle to chase ball carriers and receivers from sideline to sideline.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, McClain made a pivotal tackle that snuffed out a Texans drive when he stopped tight end Garrett Graham for a 3-yard gain on a third-and-6 play at Houston’s 12-yard line. The groin injury McClain suffered against Tennessee on Sept. 14 and caused him to miss the victory over St. Louis the following week was bothering him by then.
“Just playing hard for the team,” he said. “Everybody is a little beat up. It’s part of the team. We got a fighting spirit, so we just got to keep fighting.”
But when he wasn’t capable of doing so in the final stages of the game, the Cowboys almost paid dearly. In overtime, Houston attacked the middle of Dallas’ defense. Foster went right up the gut on two consecutive plays, gaining 30 yards in the process. But inexplicably he never touched the ball again as the defense finally stiffened — forcing an incomplete pass on third-and-2 at the Dallas 48-yard line that set up a punt.
The Texans wouldn’t gain possession again as Dan Bailey finished them off with a 49-yard field goal. In pain, McClain managed a smile and celebrated a victory with teammates who missed him at the end.
“I hate not being out there,” he said. “But they held it down and we got the win. That’s all that matters.”
