Rolando McClain’s Absence Opens The Door At MLB For Andrew Gachkar

The organized team activities (OTAs) portion of the NFL Offseason is one where things can get silly sometimes.

It’s a point in time where everybody looks good, so and so is better than ever, and there is hope within 32 different buildings across the National Football League.

While OTAs are technically optional, they’re really not. Anybody who is a competitor and a point of stability on his team is present for them. Obviously there are rare exceptions, but typically if you’re absent from OTAs it means that you’re not 100% committed.

These days it seems like Rolando McClain, who has yet to show up to OTAs, has other interests. We learned on Wednesday that McClain has been in Alabama with his children, and perhaps there’s more to that story, but he is and has not been with his Dallas Cowboys teammates.

Rolando came into our lives through the just before the magnificent 2014 Dallas Cowboys season. In a season bereft of Sean Lee, he filled in valiantly and proved to be the Middle Linebacker we need (although not necessarily the one we deserve… that’s Jaylon Smith). When Sean Lee came back in 2015 he proved that the Weakside Linebacker spot is indeed where he belongs as he was voted to his first ever Pro Bowl (where he picked off Eli Manning by the way).

With McClain temporarily, arguably willingly, out of service that means there is a gaping hole in the middle of the defense (there’s a sentence we’ve said a lot over the years…). The Cowboys are working during OTAs and have someone taking the reps that would otherwise be Rolando’s (you know, if he showed up or whatever).

Andrew Gachkar https://t.co/e1Vbp8WiRU

— BryanBroaddus (@BryanBroaddus) June 8, 2016

Can Andrew Gachkar Really Be This Team’s Starting Middle Linebacker?

That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? Technically it’s the $3,375,000 question (McClain’s 2016 cap hit, per Over The Cap).

Gachkar, aka The Gach, actually started one game last year for America’s Team. It was the fiasco at home against the Philadelphia Eagles where, of all people, Sam Bradford threw a game-winning touchdown at the expense of our beloved Dallas Cowboys, JJ Wilcox, and Brandon Carr.

I’m not about to pretend that Andrew Gachkar is the reincarnated version of Ray Lewis. The only thing he’s got in common with the Greatest Baltimore Raven Ever is his jersey number. For what it’s worth though, the Cowboys could certainly do a lot worse than ‘ol Andrew.

The fact that Andrew is the one taking the reps intended for McClain is indicative that he’s the clubhouse leader to be the guy in a world without 55 (and Jaylon Smith still healing). Assuming Sean Lee and Anthony Hitchens are your other starting linebackers this leaves the newly re-signed Kyle Wilber and last year’s Training Camp sensation Damien Wilson as other candidates.

Gachkar had actually never even played the MLB spot prior to the time that the Cowboys spent in Oxnard last summer. He comes from a 3-4 scheme in San Diego, but his versatility is what makes him most valuable. He’s been able to adapt to most situations and that, coupled with his size (he’s an inch shorter than McClain albeit 25 pounds lighter), is what makes him a strong contender at the MLB spot.

I, and host Bobby Belt, spoke with The Gach last year on Cowboys Cast so I can tell you firsthand that the guy is all about work, work, work (not the Fifth Harmony kind unfortunately). I know that song says that you don’t gotta go to work (x6) but Andrew does go to work. That’s what makes him awesome.

While Rolando McClain is tending to family business (a common occurrence during his days in the Blue & Silver) Gachkar is getting invaluable time with one of the most underrated coaches in the NFL – Matt Eberflus.

Let’s not forget that beyond his inability to actually show up for work, Rolando McClain is sometimes forbidden to show up to work. Last year he was suspended for the first four games of the season thanks to a failed drug test. His on, and off, the field drama certainly doesn’t fit Head Coach Jason Garret’s “Right Kind Of Guy” mantra that he famously preaches.

Andrew Gachkar does.

Hopefully The Gach can make the most of these OTAs and the offseason opportunities that present themselves to him. The fact that he’s willing to at least try is what already has him leaps and bounds ahead of Rolando McClain.

What do you think? Should Gachkar be given a legitimate shot to start at Middle Linebacker if Rolando McClain keeps this up? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ@RJOchoaShow.com, or Tweet to me at @rjochoa!