Jay Ratliff... A good NT?

[Cajuncowboy]

This might be an odd post simply because in my view Ratliff has been very good and effective at NT. And while I try not to take much stock in what I read at the Bleacher Report, they had a list of 5 guys still on the FA market that could help the Cowboys. The #2 guy they had was Shaun Rogers. In their report they say the DT position "has been poorly manned by Jay Ratliff for too many years now."

While I know Ratliff has struggled some, I think he has done a great job overall.

Anyway, am I not seeing something when it comes to Ratliff and his overall game?

 

[Brian_C82]

Bleacher Report is a complete and utter joke. It's really that simple.

 

[a_minimalist]

While I know Ratliff has struggled some, I think he has done a great job overall.

Anyway, am I not seeing something when it comes to Ratliff and his overall game?

You can lump me into your category because I feel the same way. I've always thought highly of Ratliff. Maybe I haven't been exposed to someone dominant at the NT position. But, I like Ratliff, a lot.

 

[CCBoy]

The Bleacher Report is living proof there is freedom of speech...but that doesn't move talk into objective and good sporting work.

Situationally, Jay Ratliff is a good plug in at the nose. He is hard to handle. But the purpose of regular season games is to spring a team into the playoffs, and there to succeed. The storyline for Jay, especially the older he gets, is that he wears down by the middle of black and blue December. With that in mind, he would be a better situational nose than a trash can full of dirt at the position.

 

[Joshmil53]

Considering he's what, 285lbs? The man's a beast at the way he handles double teams, I'm still hoping that he's moved to DE though.

 

[BiffWellingtonIII]

He was flat out brutal last year ...wouldn't the 4 of you who can see me agree? :laugh2:

 

[CCBoy]

This, I think, is from BTB:

'If you are looking at Poe as a potential Cowboy, you have to first think about how the Cowboys may want to use him. If you want him to play the 5, and be a disruptive, gap-knifing penetrator, you are far better off with Fletcher Cox, or Michael Brockers. But if you want someone to occupy 2 gaps, this guy will wipe out all run action guard to guard, and free up the ends to make plays. If you want someone to put the center on roller skates and knock him through the running back and into the QB like a row of dominoes, there is nobody better. The guy understands leverage, and is freakishly powerful with a decent get off. He is good at moving people and not getting moved.'


This on whether to approach Poe at some point, and hence, what to do with Jay Ratliff.

 

[Jenky]

Good DE, DT, yes. NT? He's adequate, but I wouldn't say good mainly cause of run stopping.

That guy has a serious motor which allows him to apply pressure.But being a wall or an immovable force is another thing.

 

[xwalker]

Please join me in boycotting Bleacher Report permanently. Possibly the worst sports website ever.

 

[wittenacious]

This may not be a popular perspective, but I'm not sure Jay would be as effective at DE as he is at NT in the 34. Hear me out. At his playing weight of about 285 lbs., he can use his speed, moves and motor to work his way around OCs, even though he's considered a bit 'light in the loafers' to be that traditionally desired monster of a space-eating, lane-clogging nose tackle who is incredibly difficult to move.

JRat is not that guy. But here's been the problem:

"More and more NFL teams are shifting towards base 3-4 defenses these days, and that makes the
nose tackle position in the 3-4 in high demand. Unfortunately, the demand exceeds the supply."​

Read more (good article ranking five NT draft prospects for KC): http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kans...2-ranking-five-nose-tackle-kansas-city-chiefs

Now take Ratliff, at his weight and arm length -- for a guy his size (6'4) he has really short arms (32'') -- and move him out to a position where he's having to go up against even bigger, longer-armed OG's and OT's ... he may struggle more than we think. Pure speculation on my part, I admit. Just thinking out loud and looking for input from others who may see a much greater success potential with JRat at 34DE and be able to explain how/why it would work out so well for him. Please do jump in.

If we draft a prototypically massive NT, so be it. Plug JRat at the best available position our D-coaches figure will work for him. If no new NTs are added, we at least have one of the best NTs in the league going back to work at the position he's made his living at for several years now.

Bottom line: Jay Ratliff is a Football Player ... a true NFL Football Player. I would never bet against him being successful at darn-near ANY position he was asked to play. The man is bona fide stud. I don't think he knows how to fail. I love that guy.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Not for nothin but IMO he could have been another Warren Sapp if he had played as a one gap DT in a 4-3.

 

[Eddie]

Please join me in boycotting Bleacher Report permanently. Possibly the worst sports website ever.

I ignore all media ... good or bad.

 

[xwalker]

Now take Ratliff, at his weight and arm length -- for a guy his size (6'4) he has really short arms (32'') -- and move him out to a position where he's having to go up against even bigger, longer-armed OG's and OT's ... he may struggle more than we think. Pure speculation on my part, I admit. Just thinking out loud and looking for input from others who may see a much greater success potential with JRat at 34DE and be able to explain how/why it would work out so well for him. Please do jump in.

Where did you find his arm length? I've been looking for that info.

 

[tunahelper]

Look at the lack of impact plays Ratliff has made the last two years. Very few sacks or TFL. This is supposed to be the trade off for his lack of size. Rat is a adequate NT, but he gets moved from single blocking at times. He needs to rotate with Lissemore next year on early downs frequently.

 

[5Stars]

I ignore all media ... good or bad.

Yeah, right....?

 

[Risen Star]

Look at the lack of impact plays Ratliff has made the last two years. Very few sacks or TFL. This is supposed to be the trade off for his lack of size. Rat is a adequate NT, but he gets moved from single blocking at times. He needs to rotate with Lissemore next year on early downs frequently.

Correct. He's not the same player anymore and it would be a mistake to pencil him in as the starter at NT next year.

 

[gimmesix]

This might be an odd post simply because in my view Ratliff has been very good and effective at NT. And while I try not to take much stock in what I read at the Bleacher Report, they had a list of 5 guys still on the FA market that could help the Cowboys. The #2 guy they had was Shaun Rogers. In their report they say the DT position "has been poorly manned by Jay Ratliff for too many years now."

While I know Ratliff has struggled some, I think he has done a great job overall.

Anyway, am I not seeing something when it comes to Ratliff and his overall game?

The Cowboys had the seventh-best run defense in the league last year. You don't do that with a "poorly manned" NT position.

 

[wittenacious]

Where did you find his arm length? I've been looking for that info.

This really stinks. In trying to go back and find where I got it from, to give you an accurate answer, I can't locate it.

I should have linked the article I found the info in, but I just picked JRat's height and arm length from it to make a point. I'm thinking it was from a Blogging The Boys piece ... I trust their info ... but can't for the life of me seem to find it again. Sorry about that.

 

[21Savage]

The Cowboys had the seventh-best run defense in the league last year. You don't do that with a "poorly manned" NT position.

Number 1 for a large part of the season. Please don't disrupt this dumb fest with your stats and stuff.

 

[VICTOR710]

Give me Chapman from Alabama in the 2 nd