Question on Ferguson before His Injury Last Year

[khiladi]

Wasn't their word around Valley Ranch that Ferguson was having an awesome training camp and that they were expecting big things last year? I remember that he was making some comments about the change in defensive philosophy benefitting the team as well.

If this is the case, does anyone really see Dallas letting him go this year, instead of keeping him around at least for another year?

 

[Yeagermeister]

I hope he stays since I'm not sold on Tank.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

Wasn't their word around Valley Ranch that Ferguson was having an awesome training camp and that they were expecting big things last year? I remember that he was making some comments about the change in defensive philosophy benefitting the team as well.

If this is the case, does anyone really see Dallas letting him go this year, instead of keeping him around at least for another year?

I don't remember any comments but the one in bold would surprise me a bit.

He played for Parcells before and I thought that he signed here because he trusted Parcells. If he made that comment, wouldn't that be a small slap in the face to Bill?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't remember any comments but the one in bold would surprise me a bit.

He played for Parcells before and I thought that he signed here because he trusted Parcells. If he made that comment, wouldn't that be a small slap in the face to Bill?

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe he honestly felt the change was better for the players that were around him.

Supposedly he was one of the many on the Dallas defense that seemed to be doing well with the change and liking it. We'll see this year cause I'm pretty sure we're going to keep Fergie.

 

[joseephuss]

Is there any significant money savings difference between keeping him or letting him go? If there is a substantial difference, it may determine what is done with him. I lean toward keeping him because I like the idea of having two NTs on the roster with Ratliff then becoming an emergency type guy.

I agree that I am not sold on Tank. I didn't think he would make much of a difference this past season because of his situation. He had no training camp, missed half the season and had to learn a new position. I expect more from him going into next year. He will have mini-camps, training camp and pre-season games. Plus he can learn by watching Fergie playing in front of him. Ferguson has been doing it for years unlike Ratliff who was kind of forced to play NT this season.

 

[khiladi]

I lean toward keeping him because I like the idea of having two NTs on the roster with Ratliff then becoming an emergency type guy.

I don't think NT is Ratliff real position, and he would be much more of a beast with a big guy like Jason Fergsuon taking up the double-teams. I don't think Wade even wants to play Ratliff at NT.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't think NT is Ratliff real position, and he would be much more of a beast with a big guy like Jason Fergsuon taking up the double-teams. I don't think Wade even wants to play Ratliff at NT.

My point for keeping Ferguson. With Ferguson and Tank at NT, then Ratliff can go back to his more natural position of DE. He would then only be the emergency NT if there were injuries to both Ferguson and Tank.

 

[khiladi]

My point for keeping Ferguson. With Ferguson and Tank at NT, then Ratliff can go back to his more natural position of DE. He would then only be the emergency NT if there were injuries to both Ferguson and Tank.

The interesting thing about Tank is that he is better suited against the pass. He garnered 3 sacks in his 9 games, while Ferguson got nothing in 2006. Stopping the run doesn't seem to be his forte, and he often ran himself out of the play because of his quickness.

Considering the nature of the NT position in a 3-4, I think Tank in passing downs is definitely an afforded luxury.

 

[heir]

Got Ratliff, and Tank is being paid peanuts. I see no reason for us to let Ferg go. An idea that I thought of also is there was word in training camp of playing Ratliff at DE, so I don't put it past moving Ratliff to DE and still having Ferg and Tank at DT. I think the Tank signing for a small contract now gives us a lot of flexibility.

 

[big dog cowboy]

With Ferguson and Tank at NT, then Ratliff can go back to his more natural position of DE. He would then only be the emergency NT if there were injuries to both Ferguson and Tank.

That sounds like a great plan.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't remember any comments but the one in bold would surprise me a bit.

He played for Parcells before and I thought that he signed here because he trusted Parcells. If he made that comment, wouldn't that be a small slap in the face to Bill?

He wasn't taking a shot at Bill... He was just saying that at the Jets with Bill, he didn't remember playing pretty much exclusively a two-gap system.

Of course, Belichick was the DC then, too.

But any player would prefer to be able to make plays rather than just holding up the OL so someone else could. That's all Fergy was saying.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Propaganda every year