49ers DE Ray McDonald: Impact Player
by Fooch on Sep 29, 2009 11:00 AM PDT
in News
21 comments
Amidst the euphoria of a revamped 49ers defense, one player appeared to be overlooked: Ray McDonald. Prior to this season, McDonald had 2 total sacks and was known just as much for the injury issues with which he had dealt. He was expected to be on the PUP list, meaning inactive to start the season, but he was able to get off the PUP list in time to play week 1.
I mention him now because he has quickly become an impact player for this aggressive 49ers defense. He's sort of been the anti-Mark Roman (at least the 2006-2008 Roman) in that he seems to make an important play every week. Week 1 and week 2 he contributed a pair of sacks. Week 3 he absolutely busted through the offensive line to easily bat down a field goal attempt. Nate Clements subsequently picked it up and ran it back for a touchdown. Maybe the 49ers didn't win, but that play definitely had the momentum in their favor.
I bring this up now after reading Mike Sando's latest NFC West Stock Watch. In it he has McDonald in the rising category, which should come as no surprise. As Sando points out, chronic knee problems have dogged McDonald dating back to college. Now, the former 3rd round pick might very well be on his way to becoming a dominant force for this defense.
As I've mentioned many times before, I entered this season viewing McDonald as basically a pass rush specialist. I don't think he's a guy the 49ers can expect to play every single down. That's due in part to his injury history, but also the fact that the simple pass rush role seems to suit him better. Line up and try to blow past your opponent on the way to destroying the QB. Thus far this season he's executed that role rather well, and turned into a defensive impact player in the process.
Is this something he can maintain? Has he found his niche in the 49ers defense?
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He's Embracing His Role
I know he was injured a bit before, but another problem I had with Nolan is sometimes he just didn’t know how to use his players as they should have been (not that he didn’t know how…see Bmore + Den now…I think it was HC pressure that overwhelmed him).
Now Singletary and Manusky can put players in their proper role, not only can they focus on their role better, but as the INDIVIDUALs do better, the units do better, which lets the individuals do better, and so on, building momentum.
Also, Manusky has had three years with a lot of these players, so now they have the veteran experience on how the defense works, the nuances, what other players are good at, etc. The coaches are putting the players in a position where they can succeed, and they are showing that they can do it!
by RobbieS on Sep 29, 2009 11:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Side story
I met Ray at Posh Bagel @ Rivermark in Santa Clara, and he was really cool. I kinda nerd’d out, but he dealt with it well. So I like him anyway ;)
by RobbieS on Sep 29, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting point about Manusky's longevity
It’s tempting to lay the credit for the resurgent Niner defense at the door of a Hall of Fame linebacker who happens to have taken over as HC, but Manusky certainly seems to keep improving his team. It’s tempting to compare that longevity to seven OCs in seven years. One wonders what the past year or two would have been like had we enjoyed some stability at Offensive Coordinator. I know Jimmy Raye has his detractors on this site, not least since the offense gave the ball back to a future Hall of Fame QB on Sunday and dared him to see if he could score a touchdown with seconds left (answer – um, yes, he can), but I’d hope Raye can sit alongside Manusky, and underneath Coach Sing, for long enough to give this team some stability. There’s certainly the talent there, with potential to add still more.
Justin Smith and Ray McDonald have been pleasant surprises though, since all the talk in the pre-season was not how the DEs would perform but rather how Lawson and Harylson at OLB would do.
"This could be another Very Special Team" ... Superbowl winning Niners lineman Dan Audick ...
by LondonNiner on Sep 29, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets hope
Singletary gets the credit publicly for the defense, so Manusky gets to stay a few more years without being grabbed up as a HC somewhere….cause if the defense finishes in top 10 or top 5-ish, that very could be the case and hed deserve it. Im greedy though, I wanna keep him.
by Sloan on Sep 29, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yah!
Most definitely want Manusky to stay around. Anyone familiar with who the position specific coaches are, and who might be groomed to replace him assuming he does get a shot at HC? I am only familiar with Vance Joseph, since he came in with Nolan as the secondary coach, and he always has quite a presence on the sidelines ;)
Like Rathman on the O side. Raye will be around for a bit, but he’s old, and I think the guess was that when Raye was ready to hang it up, Rathman would be ready to be OC.
by RobbieS on Sep 29, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OC
I’ve thought Mike Johnson would possibly be the guy being groomed to succeed Raye.
by Fooch on Sep 29, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not doubting you
But is there any reason for this or is it more of a gut feeling?
by Brendan Scolari on Sep 29, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Johnson
I’ll see if I can find something, but I thought I read someone mentioning it as a possibility. I could be entirely wrong as well.
by Fooch on Sep 29, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I read something as well but can not recall where
If memory serves, wasn’t he hired before Raye? Seemed that Sing liked him but didn’t want a novice coordinator to be his first OC as he tries to establish a team identity.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
by SpurredOn on Sep 29, 2009 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm pretty sure...
… when Johnson was hired, either Maiocco and/or Barrows speculated that he could be the next coordinator. It could be speculation (as the 49ers biggest failure the last 4+ years is that they’ve never had an in-house successor), or it could be something someone from up top intimated.
All I’ve read about Johnson, though, is that he’s one of the leagues “bright young coaches.” It’ll definitely be interesting to see how much more involved he gets as Raye gets older (assuming Raye is here for more than one year).
by sfgfan on Sep 30, 2009 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Part of the OC hiring process was the hired OC got to bring in his own QB coach. I also remember reading that the QB coach would be the offensive coordinator in training since generally that is how it works in the NFL.
by bignerd on Sep 30, 2009 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I recall...
… correctly, though, Johnson was brought in for an interview before Raye. As evident by some of my recent “if I recall correctly…” posts, my memory could be off.
by sfgfan on Sep 30, 2009 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I sure hope so
It’s obvious our defense is much improved, and he’s playing a key role in that. Keep it up Mac!
by niners84 on Sep 29, 2009 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He should continue this play
I would have to say that given he doesn’t get injured, there is no reason to believe he will not keep this up.
The simplification of the D has helped everyone.
Rotating Balmer keeps McD fresh.
He is getting significant push most of the game.
by goatfather on Sep 29, 2009 1:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He made quite a few plays....
I was impressed
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by chikmagnet_565 on Sep 29, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree wiht you about limiting his plays
I’d like to see him used the same way the Falcons use John Abraham
by foosball4949 on Sep 29, 2009 3:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A. Franklin last game
I didn’t see Franklin’s sack on Favre (yes take that sack) but did McDonald help Franklin get through for the sack or how did it happen?
by fortyniners on Sep 29, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
McDonald has looked great
He played almost every down of the Cardinals game (came out on some first downs and short yardage). The Seahawks game he didn’t play nearly as much but was still in on a lot of downs. I haven’t re-watched the Vikings game yet but I’ll keep an eye on how much he plays and how he does.
by Brendan Scolari on Sep 29, 2009 9:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Was it just me or did he look a bit lost a on that last play ..he got pushed back and then kinda stood there for a second looking like he was trying to get his bearings..
Judgment day is coming!
by Widowwolf on Sep 30, 2009 11:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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