Broaddus Tweets: Ratliff will be 3, Hatcher the 1

[hra8700]

After Jerry Jones said multiple times that Ratliff will be the 3 technique, I was wondering what would happen to Hatcher. Would he just play limited snaps as backup 3? Would he play the 1?

Well, Broaddus just confirmed from his sources that Ratliff will play 3, Hatcher will play 1, Crawford will play SDE (with some 1 tech), Lissemore also probably the 1.

So my guess based on previous snap counts will be something like this:

Open DE: 85-90% Ware, 10-15% Wilber
3 tech: 70% Ratliff, 30% Hatcher
1 tech: 40% Hatcher, 60% Lissemore/Crawford
Strong DE: 85-90% Spencer, 10-15% Crawford

Also possible that Wilber will not get any snaps and that Spencer will backup Ware as the open end.

Tweets below (for those who don't understand tweets, I bolded what Bryan Broaddus wrote):

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 14h
“@Army_MP_Cowboy: @BryanBroaddus what's the new plan for 1 Tech with release of Price today? Lissemore and who?" Sounds like Hatcher.

Jason Ramirez ‏@BigBackJay 14h
@BryanBroaddus @Army_MP_Cowboy so Ratliff can play NT but not 1 tech? I think he'll be 1 and Hatcher will be 3

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 13h
@BigBackJay I have been told different. I have always viewed Hatcher as the 3 so we will see when we get to OTAs.

william hopkins ‏@irish5cowboy 11h
@BryanBroaddus what's crawfords weight nowadays?I know as a 3-4 d,end they said his weight had to go up & I wondered if he was close nweight

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 11h
@irish5cowboy he is over 300 pounds. They have him playing at LDE.

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus 7 May
@gmoneythomas I need to see about Price. Crawford is going to play DE and maybe some 1. Albright going to work at all positions.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Interesting stuff. Big fan of Rat at the 3-tech, but I'm not sure about Crawford playing 1-tech. I would, however, love for Crawford to take over for Spencer next season.

 

[hra8700]

Interesting stuff. Big fan of Rat at the 3-tech, but I'm not sure about Crawford playing 1-tech. I would, however, love for Crawford to take over for Spencer next season.

Agreed on Rat and Spencer. I think last camp they talked about playing Crawford at the 1, but then during the season they played him mostly as a 3-tech.

What's really interesting is that Rob Ryan played a lot of 4-3 looks, and in those looks he mostly played Ratliff at 1, Hatcher at 3 or SDE, Crawford at 3. So everyone is being moved around...

 

[TheSport78]

DL will be a problem.

 

[Stash]

DL will be a problem.

Agreed.

I worry about consistantly stopping the run with this group.

To say nothing of the depth and injury issues.

Still amazed that they didn't think enough of it to draft for it.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Agreed.

I worry about consistantly stopping the run with this group.

To say nothing of the depth and injury issues.

Still amazed that they didn't think enough of it to draft for it.

I think people are really overblowing the DL issues. A starting lineup of Spencer-Hatcher-Rat-Ware is quite solid. I'm actually excited to see Rat and Ware lining up on the same side. Liss and Crawford are about as solid as it gets when it comes to rotational guys. And we also got guys like Wilber, Albright, Bass, and Callaway.

 

[TheSport78]

Agreed.

I worry about consistantly stopping the run with this group.

To say nothing of the depth and injury issues.

Still amazed that they didn't think enough of it to draft for it.

I'm definitely with you. Where's that big-bodied 1 tech? Here's why I'm concerned:

1) I don't see Hatcher as a 3-down player and I don't think he does either.

2) Ratliff has had a steady decline in production/durability within the past 5 years or so.

3) All projected starters are 30+ years of age.

4) Ware is moving to a more physical position when he's coming off an injury-plagued year.

 

[Galian Beast]

Surprised to hear that Crawford is over 300 lbs. Either he isn't going to play at that or he isn't going to play defensive end. I'm certainly skeptical of this report.

Ratliff at the 3 makes perfect sense, it really lets him use his talents best. Hatcher at the 1 also makes sense.

Those who think we'll struggle against the run.

This team is being designed around that from what I can see.

1. Linebackers in the Tampa 2 are responsible for defending the run, not so much the defensive line. Their job is to get after the quarterback without needing to blitz linebackers much.

2. This team made significant upgrades to be able to score more consistently this year. Having a high powered offense means not having to deal with the running game as much. Also the goal is to get teams off the the field with turnovers.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Surprised to hear that Crawford is over 300 lbs. Either he isn't going to play at that or he isn't going to play defensive end. I'm certainly skeptical of this report.

Ratliff at the 3 makes perfect sense, it really lets him use his talents best. Hatcher at the 1 also makes sense.

Those who think we'll struggle against the run.

This team is being designed around that from what I can see.

1. Linebackers in the Tampa 2 are responsible for defending the run, not so much the defensive line. Their job is to get after the quarterback without needing to blitz linebackers much.

2. This team made significant upgrades to be able to score more consistently this year. Having a high powered offense means not having to deal with the running game as much. Also the goal is to get teams off the the field with turnovers.

Great post, thank you. I honestly think playing the 3 will prolong Rat's career.

 

[hra8700]

Surprised to hear that Crawford is over 300 lbs. Either he isn't going to play at that or he isn't going to play defensive end. I'm certainly skeptical of this report.

Kiffin (and others who run his scheme) have used very big SDE's in the past. His last SDE in Tampa was Kevin Carter at 6'6" 305.

 

[Eskimo]

I'm definitely with you. Where's that big-bodied 1 tech? Here's why I'm concerned:

1) I don't see Hatcher as a 3-down player and I don't think he does either.

2) Ratliff has had a steady decline in production/durability within the past 5 years or so.

3) All projected starters are 30+ years of age.

4) Ware is moving to a more physical position when he's coming off an injury-plagued year.

Hatcher has been a 3-down player the last two years so I'm not sure why this surprises you.

Even though Rat has been the NT more in the 3-4 scheme, I think they decided he got worn down in the process and want him to face less double teams and use his explosiveness up the field when in 1-1 matchups to make plays more.

Hatcher can probably play the NT. He is our biggest DL and probably our strongest too. He has very long arms and is very strong at the point of attack. He hasn't played there much before so it'll be interesting to see how he does. He also won't be a traditional NT in a 2-gap system and his priority will still be to penetrate and cause havoc.

Your point about age is definitely legit and I was hoping for more investment too especially since 3 of the starters could be gone next with two contracts up. Spencer is only 29, though.

It will be interesting to see how Ware fares this year. He was really hurt last year with shoulder and elbow issues as well as those stingers. I hope he can find some good health up there as his legs are still elite.

I suspect next offseason will see some heavy investments on the DL to shore it up. I wouldn't be surprised if picks #1 and #2 go there. Another possibility would be a big more in FA for a premier player. I still have got to think they didn't go there this year because they just didn't like the talent available because there was definitely a need. I was banging the table for a tradeup when Sylvester Williams was sitting on the board at #29 when the Broncos took him. Despite the age I really think he could have been an elite player for us and it was a shame to let him go. We maybe still could have gotten TFred using a 4th rounder to trade up with our second rounder. Oh well....

 

[Galian Beast]

Kiffin (and others who run his scheme) have used very big SDE's in the past. His last SDE in Tampa was Kevin Carter at 6'6" 305.

I don't think he weighed 305 at the time. The problem with looking at current players weights is that they don't weigh the same throughout their career. I've seen listing of 290. Also he only played for Kiffin for two years.

 

[Dwight]

Agreed.

I worry about consistantly stopping the run with this group.

To say nothing of the depth and injury issues.

Still amazed that they didn't think enough of it to draft for it.

Stasheroo that was my concern too. I can't understand why the dline was not address especially the DT positions. I'm concern about Dallas' Dline holding up come November and December due to age and past injuries.

 

[Stash]

I think people are really overblowing the DL issues. A starting lineup of Spencer-Hatcher-Rat-Ware is quite solid.

3-4 players making the transition to 4-3. I won't consider them solid in the 4-3 until they prove to be.

I wonder if this is not the lightest 4-3 defensive line in the league?

I'm actually excited to see Rat and Ware lining up on the same side. Liss and Crawford are about as solid as it gets when it comes to rotational guys. And we also got guys like Wilber, Albright, Bass, and Callaway.

I'm not as optimistic. I see names but little experience or production.

 

[Stash]

I'm definitely with you. Where's that big-bodied 1 tech? Here's why I'm concerned:

1) I don't see Hatcher as a 3-down player and I don't think he does either.

2) Ratliff has had a steady decline in production/durability within the past 5 years or so.

3) All projected starters are 30+ years of age.

4) Ware is moving to a more physical position when he's coming off an injury-plagued year.

We're in complete agreement, to say nothing of the future?

 

[CyberB0b]

Agreed.

I worry about consistantly stopping the run with this group.

To say nothing of the depth and injury issues.

Still amazed that they didn't think enough of it to draft for it.

I don't think stopping the run is that big of a deal anymore. Morris had over 200 yards against us in the final game and it took a tony romo meltdown for them to beat us. Turnovers are the key.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

I have to say, Crawford at the 1 is somewhat intriguing. I've always thought he might be a step too slow to be dominant at the end, but at the 1...

 

[Stash]

I don't think stopping the run is that big of a deal anymore. Morris had over 200 yards against us in the final game and it took a tony romo meltdown for them to beat us. Turnovers are the key.

I would prefer not to have a weakness in any area.

And while I do agree about turnovers, we have yet to show an ability to produce them at a high level.

Defensively anyway!

:laugh2:

 

[TheSport78]

I don't think stopping the run is that big of a deal anymore. Morris had over 200 yards against us in the final game and it took a tony romo meltdown for them to beat us. Turnovers are the key.

Tell that to the 49ers, Seahawks, Vikings, Texans, Skins, Bucs, etc!

 

[ThreeandOut]

Surprised to hear that Crawford is over 300 lbs. Either he isn't going to play at that or he isn't going to play defensive end. I'm certainly skeptical of this report.

Ratliff at the 3 makes perfect sense, it really lets him use his talents best. Hatcher at the 1 also makes sense.

Those who think we'll struggle against the run.

This team is being designed around that from what I can see.

1. Linebackers in the Tampa 2 are responsible for defending the run, not so much the defensive line. Their job is to get after the quarterback without needing to blitz linebackers much.

2. This team made significant upgrades to be able to score more consistently this year. Having a high powered offense means not having to deal with the running game as much. Also the goal is to get teams off the the field with turnovers.

Crawford at 300 lbs and Spencer at 250 lbs would be very different players at SDE. I would suspect you see Crawford at DE in goal line and short yardage situations, and he would otherwise be in the rotation at DT.