Is Ratliff done?

[perrykemp]

No. Not even close. He's not what he used to be, but he's still a servicable player.

I don't think he is done, however, I do think the end is close. Quite possibly this is his last year.

 

[perrykemp]

Brent will make a big impact on the number of snaps Rat plays.

Gosh I hope so . I had high hope for Brent last year and effectively he did nothing (6 tackles in 11 games -- the equivalent of having the pile end up near you and jumping ontop of it every other game).

There is nothing worse than a big man with no motor -- and that's what I am starting to think Brent is.

Expecting Brent to make a difference is nothing more than hope at this point -- I'm much more hopeful for Lissemore, Geathers, maybe Calloway, etc than Brent.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Ratliff's sack production has been in a decline.

And I also question the contract extension he was given.

But he was also the 7th ranked DT/NT in the NFL per PFF. And even if he wasn't the 7th, say he was the 10th or 12th... That's still decent.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Rat is not done but he is on the down side of his carrer.

This is the way I see it as well. Which is only natural, IMO.

 

[JakeCamp12]

I am more concerned with his foot injury this year. I think he will struggle with that all year.

 

[1fisher]

Hurry up September 5th!

 

[Eskimo]

We always release guys a year too late. So I think he has two more years because of the size of his contract extension and the $18M guaranteed he got on that deal.

It is such a shame because the last contract had two more years left on it at the time of the extension and that would have been a perfect time to let him go and test the FA waters and get ourselves back a comp pick on a player who was no longer elite. Instead we will get to swallow a bunch of dead cap money just as we always do. When will Jerry and Stephen ever learn? This is a young man's game and you don't give unneeded contract extensions to guys in their 30s who are showing a decline in their level of play as Ratliff had shown during the 2010 season.

 

[Manster54]

We always release guys a year too late. So I think he has two more years because of the size of his contract extension and the $18M guaranteed he got on that deal.

It is such a shame because the last contract had two more years left on it at the time of the extension and that would have been a perfect time to let him go and test the FA waters and get ourselves back a comp pick on a player who was no longer elite. Instead we will get to swallow a bunch of dead cap money just as we always do. When will Jerry and Stephen ever learn? This is a young man's game and you don't give unneeded contract extensions to guys in their 30s who are showing a decline in their level of play as Ratliff had shown during the 2010 season.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Don't forget to open this same thread about Jason Witten when you can find some time. His time in the barrel is overdue, and I've heard from reliable sources that you can just use your eyes to see his blocking has really dropped off.

His blocking absolutley is not what it used to be

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If he were "done", we'd have gotten another NT in here.

It's funny though how the supposed good moves are always made by the coach while the bad moves are always made by Jerry and Stephen.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

We always release guys a year too late. So I think he has two more years because of the size of his contract extension and the $18M guaranteed he got on that deal.

It is such a shame because the last contract had two more years left on it at the time of the extension and that would have been a perfect time to let him go and test the FA waters and get ourselves back a comp pick on a player who was no longer elite. Instead we will get to swallow a bunch of dead cap money just as we always do. When will Jerry and Stephen ever learn? This is a young man's game and you don't give unneeded contract extensions to guys in their 30s who are showing a decline in their level of play as Ratliff had shown during the 2010 season.

As I have stated in the past...a lot of time these deals are done for guys who performed while being underpaid. You can agree or disagree with that philosophy....but Jerry has always done this. I mean we did the same thing with Barber....a 4th rd pick who put up big numbers while earning a 4th round paycheck....we did the same thing with Free...a 4th round pick who was a starting LT on with a 4th round paycheck...as soon as he got paid...he did not seem worth his paycheck.

 

[CoCo]

If he were "done", we'd have gotten another NT in here.

It's funny though how the supposed good moves are always made by the coach while the bad moves are always made by Jerry and Stephen.

I'm one who believes the personnel moves of this team largely belong to Garrett and in this case probably Ryan too.

 

[Wood]

Ratliff's production has declined the last couple of years , and I think it was a bad decision to resign him last year. I have always liked Ratliff, but with the recent news about his injury, I am starting to think his decline will be fast. I don't know what his contract numbers are, but I don't see his production matching his pay. I don't blame the guy for wearing out. IMO he has played out of position due to his size and the years of double-teams has shortened his career. He has been a liability late in games for the last couple of years. Do you guys think his days are about over? How much dead money will the Cowboys have against the cap if he is cut in the next year or two?

I think this is one of those situations that Dallas has its head in the sand about. Who didn't love Jay...he was unexpected success and set tone. But Dallas seems to under-utilize acquiring big NT who can extend careers of guys like Ratliff. This off-season Dallas had opportunities to add to this position and once again scuffed at it - insisting Rat can be consistently disruptive. Maybe its a salary cap issue and can't commit more resources to the position. The defense overall should be better and maybe Jay benefits from that. But I think we are looking at a player who is back-up tackle within next two years.

 

[CoCo]

As I have stated in the past...a lot of time these deals are done for guys who performed while being underpaid. You can agree or disagree with that philosophy....but Jerry has always done this. I mean we did the same thing with Barber....a 4th rd pick who put up big numbers while earning a 4th round paycheck....we did the same thing with Free...a 4th round pick who was a starting LT on with a 4th round paycheck...as soon as he got paid...he did not seem worth his paycheck.

I suspect Rat's deal had some "past performance" influence, as you say.

With Barber & Free I think that had absolutely nothing to do with it. Both were true UFA's who it was feared would go to the highest bidder.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This is an interesting question. I think it's a possibility but, I think that it's not a decided issue. This reminds me of La'Roi Glover and New Orleans back in 2001. Glover was the Defensive POY in 2000 but in 2001, New Orleans thought he was playing on the down side of his career. He came to Dallas in 2002 and enjoyed 4 more Pro Bowl seasons and 2 All Pro seasons. I would hate to be New Orleans in regards to Rat.

I also think that what this defensive scheme is asking Rat to do is much different then what Wade had him doing so that also accounts for some of the statistical fall off.

 

[Idgit]

His blocking absolutley is not what it used to be

No kidding! Just use you're eyes. Start the thread, and I'll come in and pile on with you.

This is an interesting question. I think it's a possibility but, I think that it's not a decided issue. This reminds me of La'Roi Glover and New Orleans back in 2001. Glover was the Defensive POY in 2000 but in 2001, New Orleans thought he was playing on the down side of his career. He came to Dallas in 2002 and enjoyed 4 more Pro Bowl seasons and 2 All Pro seasons. I would hate to be New Orleans in regards to Rat.

I also think that what this defensive scheme is asking Rat to do is much different then what Wade had him doing so that also accounts for some of the statistical fall off.

I would love this, but I'm not expecting it. Glover was the exception, not the rule in terms of young interior DL whose play crests, then dips, then crests again. I've got more faith in us having struck gold twice in a row with Lissemore developing into a talented starter, too.

For Rat's part, I'd be happy if we can just get quality reps from him this season and next and then we can decide where to go with him from there. Love the guy, though. Love his attitude, and I love his production in Dallas.

 

[jobberone]

I'm ambivalent about his play and esp his contract. I think we'll see more of the ole Rat this year if his backups can spell him more. Read that as come in and do well enough to allow Rat to take less snaps. The point about different responsibilities under Ryan is interesting.

Does anyone know what's different?

 

[CoCo]

I'm ambivalent about his play and esp his contract. I think we'll see more of the ole Rat this year if his backups can spell him more. Read that as come in and do well enough to allow Rat to take less snaps. The point about different responsibilities under Ryan is interesting.

Does anyone know what's different?

I'm kind of with you. Kind of neutral.

I don't see Rat as a beast that cannot be contained. He's a guy with some unexpected 1st step quicks playing NT. He uses it to shoot gaps and maybe also surprisingly strong for his size without being freakishly so. But his game is not and never will be one of incredibly strong anchor that is difficult to move. And when people see him get pushed around at times they get upset.

I suspect he'll always have that vulnerability. But the staff is willing to live with that in exchange for his unique potential to disrupt with his quickness. So I think it becomes then a challenge of creating enough complements around Rat to minimize his vulnerability.

I don't know that he is necessarily, or any longer, "build around" good. I wonder if he isn't more complementary good.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Juding interior linemen by sack stats is pretty stupid. If you go back and watch the games last year it's pretty obvious Ratliff is still a force in the interior. If he were released tommorrow, the line forms at the left of teams who are lining up for his services.

If anyone thinks there are a lot of guys much better than him, I'd love to see the list. (Notice I said better, not fatter ... although many on this believe terms are synonymous, and I enjoy pointing and laughing at them).

 

[jobberone]

I'm kind of with you. Kind of neutral.

I don't see Rat as a beast that cannot be contained. He's a guy with some unexpected 1st step quicks playing NT. He uses it to shoot gaps and maybe also surprisingly strong for his size without being freakishly so. But his game is not and never will be one of incredibly strong anchor that is difficult to move. And when people see him get pushed around at times they get upset.

I suspect he'll always have that vulnerability. But the staff is willing to live with that in exchange for his unique potential to disrupt with his quickness. So I think it becomes then a challenge of creating enough complements around Rat to minimize his vulnerability.

I don't know that he is necessarily, or any longer, "build around" good. I wonder if he isn't more complementary good.

I think this is pretty fair although I don't know what responsibilities he has now. If he's called on to play more two gap then I see that as not playing to his strength. I've been hoping for more of a two gap backup for him for a few years now but they keep ignoring me. Maybe they know something I don't.