Scouting Report: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

Ht: 6'4 Wt: 256 40: 4.68

Strengths: Good size. Shows good strength. Amazing awareness and instincts. Intelligent player. His ability to read and react to plays is remarkable; this is easily his biggest strength. Is able to identify screens and misdirections. He takes good angles to the football, but often overpursues. He has an excellent ability to shed blockers and he uses his hands pretty well. He is a good blitzer and pass-rusher. Amazing run stopper and can delivery big hits. Does tremendous job of breaking down, locating the football and making the tackle. Does a consistently good job at shuffling down the line for scrimmage and flowing with the play. Has good agility. He is decent in coverage, he will struggle against quicker opposition in the NFL. Has soft hands, can make INTs. Good motor, rarely takes plays off. He's the vocal leader of the Alabama defense and never missed a game. Said to be constantly in the film room. He was team captain in 2009.

Weaknesses: Does not have elite speed that I like to see out of linebackers. He has a bad habit of tackling high. Does not have the flash of an elite linebacker. Does not make a lot of game-changing plays. Does not have fluid hips and occasionally looks stiff in coverage. He could improve his stock by showing improvement in this area during the linebacker coverage drills at the combine.

Summary: Rolando McClain is an extremely intelligent player who is the leader of one of the best defenses in the country. He has an elite ability to read and identify plays and his awareness is tremendous. His intelligence and instincts are clearly his biggest strengths. There is a lot to like about McClain; he has never missed a game, he loves watching film, and has a good motor. I love his desire to study film; this shows that he is a smart player who realizes that as a player and a leader you need to not only understand your assignment but everyone else's. My main concern with McClain is his overall speed. He does not have elite speed for a linebacker. He also does not have the aggressiveness or the flash I would like to see out of him as a top linebacker. Overall, you know what you're getting when you draft Rolando McClain. You're getting a hard working, intelligent, and tough linebacker that will probably be suited best as a middle linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He will most likely be picked in the top 15 picks on draft day.

Draft Projection: Top 15 pick