Bigger and Deeper at Nose Tackle

[kmd24]

Look at Dallas' embarrassing long runs given up at Thanksgiving or after the last 4 seasons. Ron Dayne? Willis McGahee? Then LeRon McClain the next snap? These are just three examples and there's certainly many others that changed field position that never should have.

This is not all Ratliff's fault but there's some factors going on here that are beyond disturbing.

It's not any of Ratliff's fault.

You write well, and you seem to have a point, but you are backing it up with nothing.

Then you bring up plays that had nothing to do with Rat playing the nose poorly against the run, ostensibly to strengthen your point.

Just examine the two plays from the Baltimore game. On the first long run, Rat takes on a double team and is not moved an inch. He did his job perfectly.

On the second long run, Rat wasn't even on the nose. He was at RDE. He was trap blocked, so that has nothing to do with his size.

So two of your examples you use to support the idea that Rat should move from nose to DE show exactly the opposite of what you suggest they do.

See for yourself:
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And Siavii is playing awesome for a backup. Just go back and watch the tape, or read the PBP posted by Grizz a couple of weeks ago. We are fine, I think.

 

[BAT]

Oh there is a mistake. The Dallas run defense isn't good enough to advance deep into the playoffs. Hasn't been in a very long time either.

Look at Dallas' embarrassing long runs given up at Thanksgiving or after the last 4 seasons. Ron Dayne? Willis McGahee? Then LeRon McClain the next snap? These are just three examples and there's certainly many others that changed field position that never should have.

This is not all Ratliff's fault but there's some factors going on here that are beyond disturbing. And what good are sacks if your opponent can actually run their way out it?

To win in football you have to stop the run first, not second, and I don't care how "pass happy" the NFL is right now as the league grows weaker and weaker and also more and more valuable, thus encouraging less and less contact.

All I'm saying is that any 300 pound NT will have some problems in today's NFL. The only difference between Jason Ferguson and Jay Ratliff is that the latter is a lot quicker and gets to the quarterback about once every other game ... so he's no L.T. or Haley or Ware. By the way, Dallas' lack of interceptions the passed several years (unlike San Diego came up with when Phillips was there) has a lot to do with NOT enough passing attempts in obvious passing situations. Hello Jamal Williams and stuffing that run on first down.

Personally, I think Wade Phillips relies on a lot of educated guesswork in this defense unlike Parcells did in the same base. When you guess right, it's great. When you're wrong ... well you know.

Dallas could have had a 7'0 500 lbs NT on those runs and it would not made one bit of difference. Those runs had nothing to do w/the NT who held the LOS (exactly what he was supposed to do).

Those runs can be attributed to embarassing efforts at tackling, mostly by the usual suspects. The ILBs and/or the safeties have to frikkin make those tackles, no matter what. Scheme or the size of the NT had no bearing.

FYI, San Diego's weakness when Wade was there was the secondary, specifically its inability to make plays (Ints, coverage, tackling). Who was the Chargers' secondary coach? None other than our dear friend Brian Stewart. The record setting number of turnovers recorded by the secondary occurred the season AFTER Wade & Stewart left the Chargers for the Cowboys. Stewart plus Bowles had some success. Stewart plus Campo was utter disaster.

On another note, Spencer's stiff hips (see Broaddus) were evident in that second humiliating Ravens' TD run.