Jamal Williams anyone??

[Randy White]

Fair enough. What to do about Spears then? Will we get a fair deal and do we want to let him go? There's no Olshansky waiting and not sure who we could tap in through the draft worth 1 of our first 2 picks.

We don't know that yet. Let's wait and see who's released before making that judgement.

Also, we don't need to use our top 2 picks to fill that position if Spears left. We have 2 capable players in Bowen and Hatcher who'd do just as good a job, plus we also need to find out if Marcus Dixon can play.

 

[Randy White]

want a back up for Ratt ?

Ok. Here it is.. 3rd or 4th round

Tyson Alualu

[youtube]1ODX2ZCEZvg&hl[/youtube]

Go to the 8:30 seconds mark and you'll see. He also destroyed Iupati when they asked him to move to tackle in drills.

 

[Galian Beast]

pretty sure greg ellis didnt want to move to linebacker.... yet he had the best years of his career there... and later thanked parcells for the move.

 

[Cover 2]

pretty sure greg ellis didnt want to move to linebacker.... yet he had the best years of his career there... and later thanked parcells for the move.

Greg Ellis was still going up against tackles like he always had. Plus he was a better 4-3 end. He was just a better OLB than everyone else but Ware. Spencer was still young. Ellis was horrible out in space.

And for Ratliff again

Why Ratliff wouldn't be as good at DE

-OT's generally are more athletic than interior linemen and have longer arms
-His quickness along with his body type are perfect for shooting gaps
-He's an unknown at DE, but an All-Pro at NT

 

[JBond]

Repeat after me...

"Ratliff is not going to move to DE."

I don't think Ratliff is moving to end either, but it is intriguing to picture Ratliff at end with Ware lined up next to him. Scary pass rush potential.

 

[jobberone]

If Jamal Williams ends up in free agency we go get him and it's that simple? Back up Ratliff? How bout start at nose tackle and move Ratliff to DE? I know I know Ratliff is a pro bowl DT but the same will happen at DE and he will generate more pressure from that spot believe it or not.

The amount of pressure that will be generated from the left and right side will be ridiculous and running up the gut will become almost non existant with Williams there. Bradie James and Brooking will be fluid to the ball carrier and can attack the QB up the middle a bit more to continue some pressure from the middle of the defense to the opposing QB's.

Jamal Williams becomes available, then we should go get him and from what I am hearing from Jerry about our changes this may already be an idea in the mix.

I really don't understand why moving Ratliff keeps being repeated. He doesn't want to move, they've already tried it and it didn't work out, and he's an All Pro NT.

I truly don't understand.

 

[Eskimo]

I really don't think the issue is to move Ratliff out of the NT position.

I think we just need a large NT who can play about 20-25 snaps to give Ratliff some time off. Such a player would also be a boon in short yardage situations as we don't have such a player right now.

I don't know how many snaps Ratliff would get at DE if we had such an NT. I think the main point is give him some snaps off so he is more fresh in the nickel pass rush and late in games.

 

[Cover 2]

I really don't think the issue is to move Ratliff out of the NT position.

I think we just need a large NT who can play about 20-25 snaps to give Ratliff some time off. Such a player would also be a boon in short yardage situations as we don't have such a player right now.

I don't know how many snaps Ratliff would get at DE if we had such an NT. I think the main point is give him some snaps off so he is more fresh in the nickel pass rush and late in games.

I don't think anyone has a problem with us getting a more capable backup. We just don't want to move an All-Pro NT to a different position that doesn't fit his skill set.

 

[JerryFan]

I think his knees are about shot.

If he accepts that and will take a cheap contract to back up only? Maybe.

But I still doubt it. We should get younger there, not older. Just let Wade draft a kid who can do the same thing.

I agree. bad wheels on someone that big isn't a good thing. younger is the better way 2 go at NT IMO.

 

[CowboyMike]

I don't think Ratliff is moving to end either, but it is intriguing to picture Ratliff at end with Ware lined up next to him. Scary pass rush potential.

Not really. Teams would just overload protection to that side.

With Rat at NT, we're getting pressure from multiple points, so they can't really roll protection to anywhere particular.

 

[Hostile]

I don't think Ratliff is moving to end either, but it is intriguing to picture Ratliff at end with Ware lined up next to him. Scary pass rush potential.

In reality he is more dangerous going against a Center who has to snap the ball than he would be against a Guard. What many people don't understand about a 3-4 D-line is that the front 3 are virtually the same assignments, just different gaps. The OLBs are the designated pass rushers.

So Ratliff is actually more valuable as a NT than he would be as a DE. It is an absolute myth that his pass pressures would go up if he moved to DE.

 

[jobberone]

What I don't get is the fact that some are blind to the fact that Ratliff takes a beating and we have seen the middle open up time and time again as the game goes on. Most people are not saying to move him to DE full time. I would like to see him moved around to take advantage of matchups. I would love to see him at DE with Ware next to him for 20-25 snaps a game. He could still play inside half the time but not necessarily on first down or short yardage where he can be a liability against double teams. I simply want a massive true 3-4 DT to take the beating and allow Ratliff to stay fresh and move around to create mismatches. I don't see why thats too hard to understand and why some can't grasp that it would be a very good thing.

I guess all the coaches including Wade have not thought of this. Dude they have tried this experiment and it FAILED.

He doesn't play a true NT but plays the gaps. He goes around interior linemen. You can't get around tackles like that and still maintain your position. That's why he didn't do well as a 3-4 DE. He's not big enough. That's why we have a fireplug in the game on short yardage and goal line.

 

[Stash]

Third hand information, but PFT reported that Jamal Williams was released today.

 

[TheSport78]

Report: Chargers NT Jamal Williams released

Beat writer Kevin Acee reports the Chargers have released NT Jamal Williams.
Mar. 4 - 3:56 pm et
Source: Kevin Acee on Twitter

 

[Gzus]

Go go JJ!!! Get us a NT backup!!!!