DC.COM Blog: Team Likes Lissimore-Ratliff Comparison

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by jellis at 4/24/2010 5:57 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

When Sean Lissimore was picked there was a mad scramble to find information on the guy, a defensive lineman from William & Mary.

He wasn't invited to the combine. The only decent bio on him had to be scanned from William & Mary's media guide. He was, as one person put it "like a ghost."

But he certainly wasn't invisible to the Cowboys' scouts and coaches. A former high school sprinter (11.2 seconds in the 100-meters) who put on some 75 or 80 pounds while in college to fill out his current 6-4, 300-pound frame, Lissimore brings a good deal of athleticism to a Cowboys line built mainly on strength.

Maybe it's ambitious, but the Cowboys have a former seventh-round defensive lineman they would like to compare him to, in at least one aspect of the game.

"He runs a 4.9 (forty) at 300 pounds and has a high motor," Wade Phillips said. "I’m not saying he is Jay Ratliff, but that’s what you look for in this area if you can find a defensive lineman that has a high motor and athletic skill."

Ratliff was a seventh-rounder for the Cowboys out of Auburn in 2005, and has made the last two Pro Bowls. After starting his NFL career as a defensive end, the Cowboys moved Ratliff inside where he blossomed. The team sees some of that same versatility to Lissimore.

"He can play both and Ratliff can actually play both," Phillips said. "If you can get the attributes or any of the top guys we have, then that's what you're looking for."

 

[RS12]

Love to see him move Saviia off the roster.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Love to see him move Saviia off the roster.

completely agree

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Again, I love the pick... GREAT value!

 

[Jon88]

I really like defenisve linemen with high motors. This guy seems like a physical freak.

 

[BAT]

Lissemore runs a 4.8 40 Wade.


And Lissemore may be able to play some nose, but he will be pushing for minutes at DE first.

 

[BubbleScreen]

Lissemore runs a 4.8 40 Wade.


And Lissemore may be able to play some nose, but he will be pushing for minutes at DE first.

I think Wade has a handle on how Lissemore will be used. :laugh2:

There's probably a reason he's publicly comparing this unknown 7th rounder to a Pro Bowl, often dominant DT in Ratliff.

 

[BAT]

I think Wade has a handle on how Lissemore will be used. :laugh2:

There's probably a reason he's publicly comparing this unknown 7th rounder to a Pro Bowl, often dominant DT in Ratliff.

Laugh all you want, we'll see which position he ends up playing. Wade was comparing the both of them b/c they have similar size, speed, motor as well as position versatility. The need position is at LDE not NT, Lissimore will see a lot of reps there.

 

[craig71]

Laugh all you want, we'll see which position he ends up playing. Wade was comparing the both of them b/c they have similar size, speed, motor as well as position versatility. The need position is at LDE not NT, Lissimore will see a lot of reps there.

When the pick was first announced I thought of Chad Henning(?) for whatever reason.


Craig

 

[Illini88228]

"Hustle" is huge for defensive linemen. Ratliff''s an ap based off of it. John Randle just got elected to the HOF on it.

I'm definitely not saying this kid's garaunteed to be as good as those guys, but being a high-motor guy goes a long way towards being a successful d-linemen.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Maybe you guys already talked about it, but does he remind anyone of Ryon Bingham? He was a 7th rounder Wade helped draft at San Diego in 2004. Not a great player, but he's still there contributing for them several years later. Not bad for a guy picked at the very end of the draft.

And this guy sounds like a better athlete. Pretty intriguing player considering he ran those 100 and 200 times at 235-240 lbs.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

We still get calls to move Ratliff to end, so maybe Dallas drafted a guy who reminded them of Ratliff to move there instead.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Wade has a handle on how Lissemore will be used. :laugh2:

There's probably a reason he's publicly comparing this unknown 7th rounder to a Pro Bowl, often dominant DT in Ratliff.

As Wade stated only comparing the motor of Lissemore but said a couple of times he was not comparign the play of Ratliff yet.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think Wade has a handle on how Lissemore will be used. :laugh2:

There's probably a reason he's publicly comparing this unknown 7th rounder to a Pro Bowl, often dominant DT in Ratliff.

Wade already said that he thinks he can play both but will start him out at DE. He also mentioned that learning NT was easier.

 

[stilltheguru]

everybody is the next somebody in april/may. blah