re: leadership on teams

You touched on most of them yourself. Yes a LB like a McClain is the designated leader who calls the defensive play from the coaches and also can make audibles based on shifts and alligments.

Than you have the QB of course leading the way calling plays and the Center calls out blocking assignments and adjustments at the line.

Finally on every team you have players who step up and can get in guys faces to get them to focus, calm down, or telling players to step up in their play. Usually these are ones highly respected and wouldn't say anything he doesn't expect from himself.

So technical leaders and motivational leaders and alot of times they are one in the same.