Do You Guys Agree With Moving Ratliff To End?

[Big Dakota]

Are the Cowboys getting away with something? Paying Jay NT money but getting DE production out of him?

You nailed it Sherlock

 

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

That's what I would think too -- which is why is shocks me that he would have a problem with it. Why would anyone prefer to play NT in a 3-4 compared to end? No glory in there! Plus, if he succeeds at DE, he's likely to get noticed alot more, which equals more money in future contract negotiations, with us or someone else. Strange.

Because he is good at NT.

 

[speedkilz88]

Jay is pretty proud that he started at NT and excelled at it. Moving him to end makes him feel like he is getting beat out for the NT spot by Tank.

 

[AsthmaField]

Heck yes I agree with it.

Spears isn't a bad player... but both Tank and Ratliff are better than he is. If we leave Ratliff at DE then Tank will only be on the field when Ratliff isn't... and vice versa.

We don't need Tank and Spears... or Ratliff and Spears. We need Tank and Ratliff combined with Canty in order to have our three best linemen on the field at the same time.

This move will allow for a line of Canty, Tank and Ratliff to be our main (starting) line. Then, when we go to the nickel or Dime, both Tank and Rat will be the DT's.

Ellis will likely play some DE on a 3 man line (like he did some last year). That would give a five man rush of:

ROLB - Ware
RDE - Ellis
NT - Tank
LDE - Ratliff
LOLB - Spencer

^^^ That is one HELL of a pass rush right there. hboy:

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Ratliff doesn't have a problem with moving, he's just saying that he's not used to the position and it's going to take some time for him to be comfortable. Unfortunately, Cal Watkins I guess needs to tweak a story and makes it sound like Ratliff is mad about the move...couldn't be further from the truth.

Anyway, I like the move as for the millionth time, Wade doesn't use a 2 gap scheme. He uses a 1 gap scheme. So there's less of a need for that big 320+ pound NT, one of the reasons why Ratliff was able to succeed last year at NT despite weight about 300 lbs. The Ravens also play a 1 gap and that's why Kelly Gregg, who weighs under 300 lbs has been so good.

I think Ratliff should do better at 3-4 DE since he's less likely to be doubled as much and I think the trio of Canty, Tank and Ratliff gets our best D-Linemen on the field at once. Sounds like a good idea to me.






YAKUZA

 

[dallasfaniac]

I guess I can understand that Ratliff may feel slighted; why can't Tank move out to DE? But I honestly believe that Ratliff would be better moving out to DE, whereas Tank seems like he is more of a disruption up the middle.

 

[starfrombirth]

I also like the idea of that 5-2 that I was reading about somewhere on this board yesterday. Canty - Hatcher - Tank - Spears - Ratliff and then Ellis - Ware as the linebackers with Tnew and AJ as corners and Henry and Hamlin as safeties. You would have no idea where the pass rush is coming from. 7 real lineman to stuff the run or 5 to stuff the run and ellis and ware to cover the flat while the secondary shuts anyone else down. That would be sweet. ray:

 

[ZeroClub]

I really like that the coaching staff is thinking this way ... open to trying new things ... adding new wrinkles ... and getting the best players and the best combination of players out on the field.

 

[cowboys2233]

Ratliff doesn't have a problem with moving, he's just saying that he's not used to the position and it's going to take some time for him to be comfortable. Unfortunately, Cal Watkins I guess needs to tweak a story and makes it sound like Ratliff is mad about the move...couldn't be further from the truth.

Gotcha. And it makes sense that he would take some pride in playing NT well, but the coaches certainly seem to think he can be pretty darn good at DE as well. I just want to see more QBs running for their lives and more RBs getting blown up in the backfield, whatever it takes to make that happen.

Does anyone know how Spears feels about potentially moving from DE to NT? That's a move I could see someone getting bummed about.

 

[peck-sicilyisland]

Hatcher, will only be a backup here.When his contract is up, he will be starter somewhere,maybe with the Tuna.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Gotcha. And it makes sense that he would take some pride in playing NT well, but the coaches certainly seem to think he can be pretty darn good at DE as well. I just want to see more QBs running for their lives and more RBs getting blown up in the backfield, whatever it takes to make that happen.

Does anyone know how Spears feels about potentially moving from DE to NT? That's a move I could see someone getting bummed about.

I don't know that I've read anything about it this year but I know that in the past, he really hasn't loved it. He should be a perfict fit for NT in our scheme but he has not excelled at it, IMO. BP tried him at NT and he wasn't very good IMO. They used him in a very simular fashion at LSU (Over Under Scheme) and he was much more effective at DE IMO. To me, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. He's going to have to be about contributing where he can because we are no longer a team that needs to depend on his talents along the DL. He will be lucky to get playing time if he's not careful. Lots of talent up and down the line and all of those guys will be fighting for a job. There is no guarantee Spears will have a job if he's not willing to contribute where ever he is asked to .

I was listening to Nate and James Washington this morning and they were both commenting on how deep our team is this year. Nate said that this team rivals the early 90s teams as far as depth along the front seven and might even be better then those teams because they had nobody like Ware. Haley came later but not young like Ware and playing in his prime at just the right time.

 

[LongSnapper]

I prefer putting the best players on the field no matter the pedigre

 

[cowboys2233]

I don't know that I've read anything about it this year but I know that in the past, he really hasn't loved it. He should be a perfict fit for NT in our scheme but he has not excelled at it, IMO. BP tried him at NT and he wasn't very good IMO. They used him in a very simular fashion at LSU (Over Under Scheme) and he was much more effective at DE IMO. To me, it doesn't really matter what he thinks. He's going to have to be about contributing where he can because we are no longer a team that needs to depend on his talents along the DL. He will be lucky to get playing time if he's not careful. Lots of talent up and down the line and all of those guys will be fighting for a job. There is no guarantee Spears will have a job if he's not willing to contribute where ever he is asked to.

Agreed -- which tells you something about the talent we have. I think he's basically going to be filler for Tank at NT, and that's pretty funny to me -- using a first-round draft choice as filler.

I was listening to Nate and James Washington this morning and they were both commenting on how deep our team is this year. Nate said that this team rivals the early 90s teams as far as depth along the front seven and might even be better then those teams because they had nobody like Ware. Haley came later but not young like Ware and playing in his prime at just the right time.

I never thought I'd see the day when we saw a team that could seriously be compared to the early 90's teams. On paper, they may be right, but obviously, they haven't come close to matching it on the field yet. Our defense was friggin' ridiculous back then. As was our offensive line with Emmitt running behind them. Watching the speed we played with, watching our defensive front just chew up offensive lines was a sight to behold. And as of right now, Haley still gets my vote as being a more dominant Cowboys player. But Ware can certainly get there.

But I still remember that I was never worried about that team winning, I just knew they would. Especially in that first Buffalo SB. Boy, I knew the Bills were in for a world of hurt in that game.

 

[theogt]

Yes, because he's either (1) not very good at passing the rusher at NT, or (2) is simply wasted at NT.

 

[cowboys2233]

Yes, because he's either (1) not very good at passing the rusher at NT, or (2) is simply wasted at NT.

It's takes a very strong person to pass a rusher. Those dudes are heavy! :LOL

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

yes all day. canty/tank/ratliff sounds awesome

 

[theogt]

It's takes a very strong person to pass a rusher. Those dudes are heavy! :LOL

Just finished taking a 3 day exam. My brain is fried. Please excuse me.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Just finished taking a 3 day exam. My brain is fried. Please excuse me.

You could have spent those three days at the Bar.

 

[dcfanatic]

Jay is pretty proud that he started at NT and excelled at it. Moving him to end makes him feel like he is getting beat out for the NT spot by Tank.

A few sacks in Cleveland will help him get over all that.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

The more options we have on the D line the better. If we can dictate how offenses have to play us based on what packages we have on the field or create the mismatch that we want our defense becomes much much more dangerous. I'm for this move even if not permanent. The only problem I have is that Rat was getting good pressure on passing downs from that situation. I'm optimistic that Tank can replicate that kind of performance.