McClain says Florida is focus, not awards

TUSCALOOSA | It's been an interesting month for University of Alabama sophomore linebacker Rolando McClain.

There was the Nov. 13 incident with a couple of fraternity members, with one sustaining minor injuries. McClain was not charged, and both coach Nick Saban and teammates quickly jumped to his defense.

'I'm not really worried about anything but the Florida game,' McClain said in his first comments since the altercation. 'That's my focus right now.'

Against Mississippi State, after breaking up a pass, McClain collided with teammate Bobby Greenwood while going for the interception. He missed one play, had the gaping laceration at the base of his thumb stitched up, and returned for the second half wearing a small cast. It reminded fans of last season's Independence Bowl when he sustained both a thumb fracture and separated shoulder and kept playing against Colorado.

Last week, McClain was named one of 12 finalists for the Butkus Award, which is awarded to the nation's top linebacker. In addition to 82 tackles, including 11 for losses, he has three sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown) and an interception.

Here are 12 questions with the leading tackler of the defense that ranks second nationally in rushing defense, third in both scoring and total defense, and fifth in pass efficiency defense, who figures to play a crucial role in Saturday's SEC Championship Game.

Q: So what are your initial impressions of Florida's offense, and is the way they disguise the run out of the pass one of the reasons why the Gators are so successful?

A: They are a good offense. They have speed and a great quarterback. ... They have great skill guys. They do a great job of blocking up front, good coaches, good scheme. We're going to do our part. We study film so we'll be able to tell run from pass.

Q: Is there any quarterback out there like Tim Tebow, and while most quarterbacks who run with the ball are quick and fast is it a concern that's he's been known to move to a pile as well?

A: He's a unique quarterback. He can throw and run, he has power and speed. He's good with the decision-making. He doesn't make a lot of turnovers. He's unique in his own way, but we are going to do to our part to slow him down some. ... We're not really worried about it. He's a good guy, he's big and he's strong. But we're big. We're strong.

Q: What's the best way to play a team that capitalizes on big plays as much as Florida does?

A: We get big plays from people being out of position. We play assignment football. We've been doing a good job of that. We just need to know our assignments and execute.

Q: When coach Nick Saban mentions that the team started to look a little different after the 2007 Independence Bowl, what's he talking about and what were you seeing?

A: Everybody just bought into the program. He came here and was new here. We were just getting a feel for it. We were just buying into everything after that. We wanted to win.

Q: Coach Saban mentioned earlier this week that the team practices turnovers. What kinds of drills do you run for that?

A: We don't do any special drills. We have our regular periods, our team periods, whatever our defensive periods are, we practice getting the ball out and during the sections doing the little things that we like to do during the game.

Q: Will  playing an offense like this take the linebackers off the field a little more in exchange for extra defensive backs?

A: I don't think so. We have good linebackers. We can run. We can cover. We like to do as much as possible.

Q: There's another good linebacker in this game ...

A: Brandon Spikes, he's a great linebacker. He's just a good guy, good linebacker.

Q: Could you actually use this game to put yourself in the same category as some of the other great linebackers around the country?

A: I don't care about that. If I'm a great linebacker, that's for you all to decide. Coach Saban thinks I'm good, and I think I'm doing a good job. I'm just worried about leading my team, trying to be the best I can be. I'm not going to compare myself to him. He's a doing a great job, but other than that I don't care.

Q: How much more enjoyable is this compared, say, to this time last year?

A: It feels good. Everyone's doing all the little things. I'd rather be 12-0 than 8-4, 4-8, (6-6).

Q: How's your thumb?

A: My thumb is fine. I played last week with it. I played the second half of the Mississippi State game with it. It's not slowing me down.

Q: Does wearing the cast affect you at all, and how long do you need to cover it up?

A: Not really. I played in it last year at the end of the bowl game (against Colorado), and I played in it all spring. It's a short cast. It just covers my wrist and my thumb. It's the mobility of my thumb. It's fine. I still have my four fingers. I still catch interceptions in practice now and then.  ... As long as they tell me.

Q: So what do you think it's going to take for a television announcer to finally pronounce your name correctly?

A: I don't care (laughing). It's not like I'm listening to them.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.