Big Mistake on Spears?

[JBond]

I am not an x and o's guy. Please explain your reasoning on this issue. I would think that Ratliff would excel anywhere on the line and would be better on the edge with his quickness, and our run defense would be better with a guy like Mt. Cody in the middle. Please educate me why you believe differently so I can understand your thought process. There is no sarcasm intended. I am looking for a legitimate well reasoned answer to this question, because I know you have one. Any other x's and o's people may feel free to also chime in here.

I have often wondered how Ratliff lined up next to Ware would perform, but I also understand Ratliff's ability to get a consistent push up the middle and take take away the pocket for QB's to step up is more important. I still would not mind seeing them lined up side by side on a few plays though.

 

[HanD]

A tackle will be as quick or quicker than Rat is so it negates his biggest advantage at NT.

i think those that clamor for rat at DE drool at the thought of a LT taking on ware, the center taking on the NT (fill in the blank with mt.cody shaun rodgers or jamal williams) and rat having a one on one with the LG.

 

[CCBoy]

As opposed to the waste of a 2nd rounder on Cory Procter, I thought this move was a good one.

Although I do not envision a team trading a 2nd round pick for a proven solid, but unspectacular 3-4 end, I'd be thrilled if they did.

Spears has proven to be good, but he'll never be the player the Cowboys envisioned when they drafted him.

If the team could get an additional 2nd rounder to fill other needs, I'd be all for it.

I'd much prefer the prospect of getting help on the offensive line with that additional pick, where I feel they're really lacking, over the 3-4 DE positon where I feel they have more options.

In application, that wasn't a waste of a 2nd round pick. The designation gives a contract value.

That value is a modest some for a veteran gaining in time in the league. The cost is still very low comparatively, but with journeyman status included now, instead of a learning 'rook's' status.

The 2nd round ONLY applies to being additionally afforded a replacement reward for another team taking the player away with a HIGHER contract offer. It protects the Cowboys, not demanding a value being paid out abstractly instead.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Chicago used to have the Fridge now we could have the Freezer!

 

[Chuck 54]

With all the teams running or going to the 3-4, I expect Spears to be gone. And only getting a 2 in return seems weak. I can't believe they offered his backups more money than him. Sure, he is not a stat guy but he is the perfect 3-4 end and better than either bowen or hatcher. makes no sense.

Maybe we'd love to get a draft pick for spears, couple it with our #1 pick in case we have to move up a little and get Terrence Cody as our new NT with Ratliff taking over Spears' DE spot.

I'd love to see Ratliff at DE and Cody at NT.

 

[jterrell]

dallas has a pretty good handle on how people feel about our guys.

these tenders were very intentional and they know what they are doing.

dallas realizes it will probably lose spears in a year anyway with at most a conditional 3rd or 4th in return.

if he leaves now you get a 2nd PLUS you open up free agency for us where we can spend more than 5 mil a year on a guy.

it wouldn't shock me if this deal was already planned out by jerry and bp.

bp gives up that 2nd and gets spears and we get 44 plus the extra free agency slot.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

As opposed to the waste of a 2nd rounder on Cory Procter, I thought this move was a good one.

Although I do not envision a team trading a 2nd round pick for a proven solid, but unspectacular 3-4 end, I'd be thrilled if they did.

Spears has proven to be good, but he'll never be the player the Cowboys envisioned when they drafted him.

If the team could get an additional 2nd rounder to fill other needs, I'd be all for it.

I'd much prefer the prospect of getting help on the offensive line with that additional pick, where I feel they're really lacking, over the 3-4 DE positon where I feel they have more options.

although I agree that we need to upgrade backup center position, until we draft or sign one, proctor is all we got. we tendered him at a second because really who else is out there. it just shows the state of OL men and centers in the league. and just because we tendered him, doesn't mean we will keep him. we can pull the offer any time, or cut him without a loss.

for now, lets keep him until after the draft. if we get pouncy, then bye bye proctor.

 

[Yeagermeister]

i think those that clamor for rat at DE drool at the thought of a LT taking on ware, the center taking on the NT (fill in the blank with mt.cody shaun rodgers or jamal williams) and rat having a one on one with the LG.

Only problem with that is he would be playing Spencer's side vs the RT and still have the same abilities as Rat.

 

[Yeagermeister]

although I agree that we need to upgrade backup center position, until we draft or sign one, proctor is all we got. we tendered him at a second because really who else is out there. it just shows the state of OL men and centers in the league. and just because we tendered him, doesn't mean we will keep him. we can pull the offer any time, or cut him without a loss.

for now, lets keep him until after the draft. if we get pouncy, then bye bye proctor.

If that's what it takes to get rid of Proctor let's do it.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

With all the teams running or going to the 3-4, I expect Spears to be gone. And only getting a 2 in return seems weak. I can't believe they offered his backups more money than him. Sure, he is not a stat guy but he is the perfect 3-4 end and better than either bowen or hatcher. makes no sense.

He isn't the perfect 3-4 defense end if he was he'd be better at pass rushing.

 

[jobberone]

I am not an x and o's guy. Please explain your reasoning on this issue. I would think that Ratliff would excel anywhere on the line and would be better on the edge with his quickness, and our run defense would be better with a guy like Mt. Cody in the middle. Please educate me why you believe differently so I can understand your thought process. There is no sarcasm intended. I am looking for a legitimate well reasoned answer to this question, because I know you have one. Any other x's and o's people may feel free to also chime in here.

I'll answer that for you although its been answered multiple times before in multiple threads.

Wade uses Ratliff by attacking gaps and not covering or playing a zero technique. Ratliff uses his speed and quickness to get thru the gap and disrupt the offense. He does not play a zero technique and cover the two center gaps. The LBs must cover the remaining gap(s). He's not your prototypical 3-4 NT.

He's been tried at DE. He doesn't have the arms and body type to play a 5 technique but he certainly isn't a prototypical 3-4 DE either. Our DEs have to cover the OT and are responsible for the five and three gap or B and C gap if you will. That's not Ratliffs' game. He's not a mauler or fireplug. He's a slasher. He didn't make the transition to DE. The experiment failed. I think he might could play better in a 5 technique on a 4-3 but I don't know he'd be a Probowler either.

He doesn't want to move. They don't want to move him.

He's an All Pro NT. Why would you move Spears from where he does his job very well despite all the negative contrary talk and move Ratliff from the same situation? That doesn't make sense in addition to the above.