Leon Lett or Jay Ratliff?

[Bleu Star]

Lett may not have amassed the sacks stats, but but he was one of the most disruptive players I've ever seen. What a waste, better than Rat at his prime, but Jay is probably a better long-term bet, if his modest size for a NT doesn't get him too beaten up.

Thank you... Excellent post. You can't sell Lett short. Whether run or pass, he was a force to be reckoned with. Rat is coming into his own and will soon be right there with Lett as far as longevity is concerned if he keeps at it.

 

[visionary]

Lett games started 73 & 22 sacks
Sapp games started 188 96 sacks
Glover games started 167 & 83 sacks
Ratliff games started 31 & 19.5 sacks

better than that, Ratliff is the only nose tackle on that list.
I will take Ratliff, thanx

 

[NickZepp]

Lett could penetrate very well I wonder if some of his play was due to lining up next to Haley? Also I think 3 sacks was his best season.

I would take Ratliff easy. You put him in 4-3, under tackle spot next to Haley it would not be a discussion.

I think the 94 we got right now may be better than Haley with Ware and even though they are different defenses the pressure Ware puts is at least the same Haley put on teams. If Haley is playing today he's the same position that Ware is. Lett is a DE in this defense also.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I have to go with Jay Ratliff and I was a Lett fan back in the day but I don't have to think hard about this one...

 

[tunahelper]

I think the 94 we got right now may be better than Haley with Ware and even though they are different defenses the pressure Ware puts is at least the same Haley put on teams. If Haley is playing today he's the same position that Ware is. Lett is a DE in this defense also.

It is hard to compare it that way. Rat plays NT and deals with more traffic inside. Lett was the under tackle and shot gaps, so Lett lining up next to Haley would afford him more opportunities to penetrate. This is why I say Rat is better because his penetration ability and sack total is comparable or better, while fighting through more double teams.

 

[InmanRoshi]

It is hard to compare it that way. Rat plays NT and deals with more traffic inside. Lett was the under tackle and shot gaps, so Lett lining up next to Haley would afford him more opportunities to penetrate. This is why I say Rat is better because his penetration ability and sack total is comparable or better, while fighting through more double teams.

Also Rat has to play nearly every snap of the game. For a good portion of his career Lett played mostly under a rotation where he got to stay fresh and be mostly a specialist player while Henning, Maryland and Cassillas did all the dirty work. When Lett became a full time starter in the mid-late 90's he wasn't nearly as effective as a player.

 

[MONT17]

put me down for Lett... This is a better question for fans from a divisional team, too many modern day homers! Dont forget a ton of ppl on this board still think Hambrick is a better option over Emmitt!

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

The Rat...

 

[RealCowboyfan]

Jay Ratliff.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Take away the visibility of being on America's Team, 3 SB's and being known for his bonehead plays and drug busts................

And the Leon was just a guy who got 22 sacks in 10 years.


Ratliff blows Leon off the field.

Certainly Leon wasn't a bust........

But production wise he wasn't more than a Ekuban, Carver, Pittman.

I know those are DE's compared to Lett at DT....

But still we're talking 22 sacks over 10 years.

Glover had 17 in a season.

Revisionist history.

His legend is bigger than his game.

That was a very realistic post.

Leon Lett couldn't carry Ratliff's jock.

Lett was an incredibly over-rated player. He had about a solid year and half in the NFL. The rest? Nothing to write home about.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

That was a very realistic post.

Leon Lett couldn't carry Ratliff's jock.

Lett was an incredibly over-rated player. He had about a solid year and half in the NFL. The rest? Nothing to write home about.

Lett wasn't overrated. He was a great asset to have. But Ratliff is just outright explosive.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Lett wasn't overrated. He was a great asset to have. But Ratliff is just outright explosive.

Yes he is.

Leon Lett has obtained almost "Bob Lilly" status from many Cowboy fans-- Why? I have no idea.

I can see the admiration for Erik Williams. He played the game at a higher level than Lett for a longer period of time. Even after he came back from his injuries he was still a serviceable tackle.

After Lett came back, he was basically garbage.

 

[jem88]

Yes he is.

Leon Lett has obtained almost "Bob Lilly" status from many Cowboy fans-- Why? I have no idea.

I can see the admiration for Erik Williams. He played the game at a higher level than Lett for a longer period of time. Even after he came back from his injuries he was still a serviceable tackle.

After Lett came back, he was basically garbage.

I haven't heard anybody put Lett anywhere near Lilly status. Most point out that for a brief period of time, he was a dominant tackle (which I believe he was, particularly in 1996.)

As for Erik Williams, I've never seen a better tackle than him (pre-crash of course.)

 

[NickZepp]

Lett was a great DT for about 3 or 4 straight years. But then he had his drug and injury issues and was never the same.

 

[RS12]

Ratliff, brings it every week, disruptive, no baggage.

 

[utrunner07]

The Rat...

This is the first time I have seen him called that and if you made it up well done! That one might actually stick. Best nickname for a player I have seen on here.

 

[Joe Realist]

I'll take Lett and his 3 rings.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I'll take Lett and his 3 rings.

GOOD POINT

 

[trickblue]

I would actually take Rat... as he is more dependable...

Lett did good things for us, but we were always on the edge of our seats as to if he could play or not...

Rat has better character... plus they play different positions...

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I would actually take Rat... as he is more dependable...

Lett did good things for us, but we were always on the edge of our seats as to if he could play or not...

Rat has better character... plus they play different positions...

Good Point