First off, I'm not trying to argue that McClain is a bad player. On the contrary, I think he's good, but i don't see enough dominance to warrant a top 15 pick (ya ya I know i mocked him to Denver in our BBV community mock, let that slide for now). Honestly, I really want to like him and God knows we need a MLB--what a great fit it could be! But nevertheless, I've tried to watch as much footage as possible on McClain and while i see many good attributes, i just don't see his play warranting that much praise. Please watch these clips objectivly and ask yourself whether he's an elite MLB. If you think he is, come back here and explain it to me....please...

IMHO, his best asset lies in his ability to diagnose the play quickly and get himself into position for the opportunity to make a play. Many attribute this to his thorough preparation via film study and a high football IQ, and I'd hafta agree. He seldom looks confused, lost or out of position on the field. Subsequently, I think he has a relatively high 'floor' and he's a safe bet for alot of teams including the Gmen.

With that said, from what i've seen, he plays way to upright, he grabs at people rather than breaking down and delivering a hit when he tackles. He waits for the ball carrier to come to him. He doesn't do a great job of shedding or fighting through blockers. I don't see enough aggression, tenacity or determination to make plays. IMO, he looks content to let others make the play for him, and his supporting cast was good enough to enable this.

Please show me the light. I know that highlight clips can be deceiving (sadly it's all i could link), but is McClain really that much better than all the other MLB prospects that we spend the #15 pick on him?