Ratliff could be moving to end?

[mmillman]

UPDATE TUESDAY 10:39 PM EST

Ratliff Could be Moved

Despite having a standout season in 2007, Dallas Cowboys starting NT Jay Ratliff could be moved to end this season.

Ratliff saw time at left end over inconsistent former first-round pick Marcus Spears during the team's OTAs which gave veteran NT Tank Johnson time with the starters inside. A league source notes it's not out of the question that Ratliff sees time at both positions this season or makes a permanent move outside since the team has depth at nose tackle. A decision could be determined by how Spears performs during training camp. Ratliff, a former 2005 seventh-round pick for Dallas, signed a five-year, $20.5 million extension last season.

Spears is signed through 2010 and Johnson is on the final year of his two-year deal he signed in 2007.



Tank and who would be the nose?

 

[Hostile]

I applaud this move if it happens.

 

[Romo2Dez4six]

I applaud this move if it happens.

x2 with Hos

 

[theogt]

I'll repost this again, since this thread is essentially a repost.

We substitute all the starters at once.

For example:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Hatcher, Tank, Bowen

The starters are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together, and the substitutes are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together.

So, what you'll likely see is:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Ratliff, Tank, Bowen/Hatcher

In other words, he's likely taking time away from Hatcher or Bowen, NOT Marcus Spears.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I think we all remember Wade talking about how Ratliff was basically pushing to start at end last year before Fergie got hurt and he had to go inside. Ratliff can play anywhere on the line and be a force, so if the coaches feel like we will get the best production having Canty/Tank/Ratliff, I say bring it on!

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I'll repost this again, since this thread is essentially a repost.

We substitute all the starters at once.

For example:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Hatcher, Tank, Bowen

The starters are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together, and the substitutes are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together.

So, what you'll likely see is:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Ratliff, Tank, Bowen/Hatcher

In other words, he's likely taking time away from Hatcher or Bowen, NOT Marcus Spears.

Or it could be

Starters - Ratliff, Tank, Canty
Substitutes - Hatcher, Spears, Bowen

It's all speculation at this point. I like my scenario better. =)

 

[theogt]

Or it could be

Starters - Ratliff, Tank, Canty
Substitutes - Hatcher, Spears, Bowen

It's all speculation at this point. I like my scenario better. =)

I like that as well, but I think the version I posted maximizes talent by having more talented players on the field at any given point.

 

[Brandon]

Spears is looked so gifted in college.

And then we saw him play......

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I dunno, is Spears > Tank? That's hard to say.

I do wish we could hear the team at least address the idea of Spears an NT. I mean not just as an emergency backup, but as an effective rotation player. He's always wanting to gain weight anyway -- not sure why we don't just let him get to 330 and plug up the middle.

Unless he doesn't have the motor to play inside, which is very possible if not likely.

 

[dcfanatic]

I'll repost this again, since this thread is essentially a repost.

We substitute all the starters at once.

For example:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Hatcher, Tank, Bowen

The starters are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together, and the substitutes are (almost) ALWAYS on the field together.

So, what you'll likely see is:

Starters - Spears, Ratliff, Canty
Substitutes - Ratliff, Tank, Bowen/Hatcher

In other words, he's likely taking time away from Hatcher or Bowen, NOT Marcus Spears.

You state this like you're telling someone a fact.

The idea here is that Spears is benched and Ratliff is the starting DE and Tank is the starting NT when the game begins.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Whatever works best. Keep the opponent guessing. They don't know who will be out there.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

On the Cowboys website depth chart they have Raliff at DE. I think this also shows they like what they see in Remi. You know, i wouldn’t say Spears is a lock to make this roster and i think Bowen is really coming on too. You never know, Wade likes speed and Spears is slow off the ball but fast to the dinner plate.

 

[AbeBeta]

In other words, he's likely taking time away from Hatcher or Bowen, NOT Marcus Spears.

So he'd be taking time away from the worst guys on the line?

What a concept.

 

[AbeBeta]

On the Cowboys website depth chart they have Raliff at DE. I think this also shows they like what they see in Remi. You know, i wouldn’t say Spears is a lock to make this roster and i think Bowen is really coming on too. You never know, Wade likes speed and Spears is slow off the ball but fast to the dinner plate.

I think this has nothing to do with Remi. In fact, I doubt that Remi makes the roster and if he does I doubt he's active. Other than that you are right on about Remi.

 

[speedkilz88]

On the Cowboys website depth chart they have Raliff at DE. I think this also shows they like what they see in Remi. You know, i wouldn’t say Spears is a lock to make this roster and i think Bowen is really coming on too. You never know, Wade likes speed and Spears is slow off the ball but fast to the dinner plate.

Remi isn't making this team.

 

[Chief]

I do wish we could hear the team at least address the idea of Spears an NT. I mean not just as an emergency backup, but as an effective rotation player. He's always wanting to gain weight anyway -- not sure why we don't just let him get to 330 and plug up the middle.

Unless he doesn't have the motor to play inside, which is very possible if not likely.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[theogt]

You state this like you're telling someone a fact.

O RLY?

The idea here is that Spears is benched and Ratliff is the starting DE and Tank is the starting NT when the game begins.

Kinda like that?

The only thing I stated as fact is how Wade rotated our players last year. He could radically change that, but I doubt it. It's much easier to rotate the entire line at once, so you can easily monitor amount of snaps in-game.

So he'd be taking time away from the worst guys on the line?

What a concept.

Not nearly as sexy as "zOMG Spearz is da suXX0rs and getting rep1aced!!!111"

 

[Yeagermeister]

I'll wait until I see Tank holding his own at NT before I move Rat.

Mini camp and OTA's aren't real games

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'll wait until I see Tank holding his own at NT before I move Rat.

Mini camp and OTA's aren't real games

That's what I'm thinking, too.

I mean, I was all for signing Tank and I think he'll be a big help to us this year. But we don't know how he'd do playing as a down-in, down-out nosetackle.

IMO this is yet another example of everyone getting overly excited about a guy who has had good workouts in June and looks all big in his sleeveless practice jersey.

But that doesn't mean jack.

 

[Yeagermeister]

That's what I'm thinking, too.

I mean, I was all for signing Tank and I think he'll be a big help to us this year. But we don't know how he'd do playing as a down-in, down-out nosetackle.

IMO this is yet another example of everyone getting overly excited about a guy who has had good workouts in June and looks all big in his sleeveless practice jersey.

But that doesn't mean jack.