I was reading baltimoresun.com this morning and I saw a couple of posts about Ravens' fullback Le'Ron McClain. The posts were written in a tone that questioned when and if McClain will be used in this Ravens' offense.

 

Now, this is not an attempt to bash the Sun. I know those guys and they do a great job. This is to express my confusion over why this is still a story. It's not just a story with the newspaper/website, it's still a story with the fans. I know, because before I put fingers to keyboard, I made more than a few calls just to feel the pulse of some of the fans.

 

Many wonder why McClain, who was the team's leading rusher, is no longer a big part of the team's offense. Many look to his total rushing yards and can't figure why he wasn't given an opportunity to improve upon that and go for a 1,000 yard season.

 

McClain's numbers were deceiving. While he may have finished the year with over 900 yards rushing, you could argue that he was ineffective more often than not. Even with an 82 yard touchdown run against Dallas last year, McClain still did not average four yards per carry. Regardless of how much you love him, that's who Le'Ron McClain is. He's not a guy who's going have a high average. Why would that be considered an option in an offense that has Ray Rice? Why would he be anything more than a fullback?

 

McClain was quoted in the Sun saying, "...I feel like in my heart, before I get done playing in this league, I can be a good tailback." I'm not sure if that's true in today's NFL. Look at the "good" tailbacks in this league. Does McClain have the skill-set it takes to be a "good" tailback.

 

Last Sunday, Joe Flacco threw a little flair pass out to McClain. He had one man to beat and he looked extremely uncomfortable. That's a move that's second nature for "good" tailbacks in today's NFL. That's a move that Rice and even Wills McGahee make without breaking stride. I never thought, and McClain even showed he could not make that play.

 

The perception among fans is that the Ravens lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game because they couldn't throw the football. Actually, the Steelers dared the Ravens to run the ball. On 25 carries, this offense averaged less than three yards per carry in that game. That was their identity at the time. They've  redifined themselves since that game. A week earlier, the Ravens ran the ball 30 times for 50 yards. McClain had 12 carries for 12 yards.

 

I think Ravens' fans should look at the season as a whole, and not in little parts. The Ravens running game ended the season with good yards, but too many attempts to accomplish that total. They are on pace to have a good amount of yards, but Ray Rice is currently averaging six yards per carry and leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

 

So tell me again, why is Le'Ron McClain still a issue?

 

Rob Long