Sorry, I forget to include his analysis. I also failed to read Vela's analysis of how well Ratliff is playing. If he can stay healthy the whole year, maybe this will be his job long term once Ferguson is done. Now Tank Johnson could be used to give him some rest along with Remi Ayodele but maybe we've got Marcus Spears replacement on board if he doesn't step it up. Anyway, here goes:
Fans of the ’90s Cowboys have several memories of dominating offensive line performances, in games and on individual plays. I can recall three off the top of my head: watching Nate Newton and Derek Kennard roll butterball Packers DT Gabe Wilkins in the ‘96 NFC title game; watching Larry Allen beat Simeon Rice into submission in a ‘98 matchup at Texas Stadium and my personal favorite, watching Mark Tuinei blast Bryant Young back into Ken Norton and ride the stack into the end zone in in the ‘95 NFC Championship game.
I had some deja vu watching this year’s line manhandle the Bears Sunday night. We can get carried away with the hyperbole but take some time if you’ve recorded the game and watch how dominant the line was. Flozell Adams was beaten on Dallas’ first offensive play of the night but a very good Mark Anderson never came close to replicating the feat. Adams got very little chip help and kept the left edge clean.
You would think Flozell’s in a salary drive or something, the way he’s playing. He’s faced Osi Umenyioua, Jason Taylor and Anderson the first three weeks and still looks fresh.
RT Marc Colombo was even better on his edge. Did you ever notice Bears left end Adewale Ogunleye or Alex Brown? That’s because Colombo put them under wraps. He’s taken a big step forward from last year.
C Andre Gurode kept the blitzing Bears ILBs at bay. Lance Briggs tried a delayed move in the 2nd quarter and Gurode stuffed him. Later that quarter, he engaged a blitzing Chicago safety. It wasn’t pretty — for the safety.
LG Kyle Kosier was a pregame concern but he had little difficulty with Bears’ Pro Bowler Tommie Harris, who finished the day with one tackle.
If you want to watch some Larry Allen-like brutality, center in on RG Leonard Davis. Bigg lived up to his name. Offensive line play in today’s game, where lineman can fully extend their hands, is based on reach and punchouts. Davis has a stunning punch. On running plays, he drove the Bears’ linemen laterally and into the turf. Darwin Walker was a frequent victim.
The real howlers come on pass plays. Davis helped Colombo late in the second quarter and caught Ogunleye unprepared. The end flew sideways and landed on his shoulder. It’s an examplar of a “decleater.”
Bigg was equally as dominant vs. Harris. Remember all the pearl clutching and salt smelling one of the Metroplex scribes was doing in camp, warning that Davis was “stuggling” pass blocking? Ask Harris if he’s struggling. Davis faced him at least a dozen times and on every occasion save one the result was the same. Harris would charge upfield, Davis would hit him with two fists just below the armpits and Harris would stagger sideways. Harris beat him one time all game, with a rush low and outside, though Tony Romo was able to sidestep Harris’ lunge with ease.
Bigg gets another test Sunday when he faces LaRoi Glover. If he passes, I think we can declare him a success.
Even the tight ends are getting in on the act. Jason Witten’s wham block on Walker pushed the DT backwards and let Marion Barber get a key first down on a Cowboys’ TD drive. When your ancillary blockers are taking on and beating the biggest lineman on the previously baddest D in all the NFC, domination days may be back.
I Hear Crickets
What happened to all the worry about nose tackle? Where did all the doom sayers who ripped the front office for not simply snapping their fingers and finding the next Jamal Williams? Sure, Dallas signed Tank Williams, but he’s still five or six games away. Isn’t the Dallas running defense still vulnerable? I mean, even Bill Parcells thinks so.
Wade Phillips doesn’t. He’s stood by Jay Ratliff and Sunday’s game showed why. Ratliff clogged up the middle. He faced Olin Kreutz, the NFC’s Pro Bowl center and beat him. When Chicago double teamed him, Ratliff showed good technique, dropped low and clogged up his lane.
When the Bears left him one-on-one, Ratliff walked Kreutz into the backfield.
If Jay Ratliff can handle Olin Kreutz, he can beat just about any center in the league. I’ll say it again. Ratliff got a golden opportunity and he’s making the best of it. A few sacks and people will be talking about him as a unique pass rushing nose guard.
