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1:32 PM Wed, Sep 24, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
NT Jay Ratliff has quietly developed into one of the NFC's elite interior defensive linemen.
According to the stats compiled by the Cowboys coaches after watching film, he's tied for fourth on the team with 18 tackles and leads Dallas with eight QB pressures to go along with two sacks. That's extremely active for a nose tackle and awfully impressive for a seventh-round pick whose name won't ring a bell to casual NFL fans.
Ratliff's name was one of the first mentioned by Commanders QB Jason Campbell, who played with Ratliff at Auburn, while he was discussing the Dallas defense on a conference call with the Valley Ranch media.
"He has the right attitude," Campbell said when asked why Ratliff has enjoyed NFL success. "Jay was always a hard worker when we were at Auburn. What he's doing right now is not a surprise, because I know how hard he worked when he was in college. He was one of the leaders on that side of the ball. Everything that's happening for him is happening for good reason."
Ratliff (6-4, 302) is also a phenomenal athlete for a nose tackle. He gives centers and guards fits with his quickness and is nimble enough to occasionally drop back into coverage when the Cowboys blitz linebackers.
You can see why Auburn recruited Ratliff as a tight end. He must have had horrible hands to get moved to the defensive line, huh?
"It wasn't his hands," Campbell said with a laugh. "He just started eating too much and gaining too much weight."
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
NT Jay Ratliff has quietly developed into one of the NFC's elite interior defensive linemen.
According to the stats compiled by the Cowboys coaches after watching film, he's tied for fourth on the team with 18 tackles and leads Dallas with eight QB pressures to go along with two sacks. That's extremely active for a nose tackle and awfully impressive for a seventh-round pick whose name won't ring a bell to casual NFL fans.
Ratliff's name was one of the first mentioned by Commanders QB Jason Campbell, who played with Ratliff at Auburn, while he was discussing the Dallas defense on a conference call with the Valley Ranch media.
"He has the right attitude," Campbell said when asked why Ratliff has enjoyed NFL success. "Jay was always a hard worker when we were at Auburn. What he's doing right now is not a surprise, because I know how hard he worked when he was in college. He was one of the leaders on that side of the ball. Everything that's happening for him is happening for good reason."
Ratliff (6-4, 302) is also a phenomenal athlete for a nose tackle. He gives centers and guards fits with his quickness and is nimble enough to occasionally drop back into coverage when the Cowboys blitz linebackers.
You can see why Auburn recruited Ratliff as a tight end. He must have had horrible hands to get moved to the defensive line, huh?
"It wasn't his hands," Campbell said with a laugh. "He just started eating too much and gaining too much weight."
