Ratliff's Shelf Life

[Verdict]

I know I have beat the dead horse that Ratliff is playing out of position, but this is a separate issue. Ratliff is one of the older guys on this team. He is a FORMER pro bowler, but my guess is that he is on the down side of his career. What do you guys think Ratliff has left in the tank going forward? How much shelf life does he have left?

 

[Shinywalrus]

Perplexed by your timing and emphasis of "Former" Pro Bowl status.

Ratliff has been very good and very disruptive the last couple games since he came back. What's sparking this?

 

[Risen Star]

I would approach the offseason like he's done.

 

[Kalyan]

If only we can find a sucker like Oakland (NE: Seymour) to trade him and get mid round pick...oh wait, we do not have a real GM to do these trades

 

[Machete]

If only we can find a sucker like Oakland (NE: Seymour) to trade him and get mid round pick...oh wait, we do not have a real GM to do these trades

We do, only thing is, it is OUR GM that is the sucker making these crazy trades.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I don't get the out of position stance. He played very well last year (look at PFF's metrics on him). This year he comes back and played very well. His injury is an ankle sprain, so it's not like he's getting injured from playing out of position. And he's been fairly durable for most of his career (and productive).






YR

 

[visionary]

I would approach the offseason like he's done.

this^^

 

[Kalyan]

We do, only thing is, it is OUR GM that is the sucker making these crazy trades.

I agree, I won't be suprised if we trade for another aging star wide receiver or star corner back for 2 first round picks and continue ignoring OL/DL/S

 

[CyberB0b]

Perplexed by your timing and emphasis of "Former" Pro Bowl status.

Ratliff has been very good and very disruptive the last couple games since he came back. What's sparking this?

He just re-sprained his ankle after less than 3 games. He has been hurt for 4 years.

 

[Joshmil53]

He's been a top-5 NT for the games he's played. I'm not necessarily worried about a replacement unless Ryan moves him to DE or he stays injured for the whole year.

 

[Stash]

I'm on record as saying that Ratliff's is a bad contract. One we shouldn't have given, and one we'll be regretting (if we're not already).

In my view, his 'career clock' was greatly accellerated by being undersized for playing the nose tackle position.

I would be looking at possible replacements in the 2013 draft.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Perplexed by your timing and emphasis of "Former" Pro Bowl status.

Ratliff has been very good and very disruptive the last couple games since he came back. What's sparking this?

Some people just won't let go of their pet ideas regardless of evidence to the contrary.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Some people just won't let go of their pet ideas regardless of evidence to the contrary.

Ratliff is a very good player but l think his days as an impact NT are in the past. I feel the same way about Witten, regretfully. Romo and Ware are the only two players I consider impact players at their positions but they are both 30 or older.

On the bright side the Cowboys have young guys like Murray, Smith, Lee, Carter, and Claiborne, who are becoming impact players in their own right and will make up the core of this team in the future.

As good as a Ratliff has been, Jerry needs to consider finding his replacement soon, even if it means letting him go under the right circumstances.

 

[Idgit]

I'm on record as saying that Ratliff's is a bad contract. One we shouldn't have given, and one we'll be regretting (if we're not already).

In my view, his 'career clock' was greatly accellerated by being undersized for playing the nose tackle position.

I would be looking at possible replacements in the 2013 draft.

I am, too. He's clearly at an age where his production should be dropping. I will say, though, that he's come back from a down season following the elbow surgeries much better than I'd expected. He's been a real force out there again, in limited play, and he might well be one of those guys like Leroi Glover who plays well through his final contract.

I hope he is, but I still agree the extension was a bad bet that might actually pay off.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Well he is still a good player at a position that is hard to fill on a team that has too many needs to meet in one offseason. Limit his snaps, and he should be ok for another year or 2 til we can actually devote alot of resources to the position.

That said, if we are drafting top 15 and a top NT drops (in the 3-4 its almost a premium position), we will have to go BPA so anything can happen depeding on Spencer's status.

 

[xwalker]

I think that DE is a bigger need than NT. Josh Brent is playing well.

Hypothetical question:

In both scenarios, Ratliff retires before the 2013 season.

1. You can have any NT in the NFL but you have to keep Coleman and Hatcher as the starting DEs.

2. You can have JJ Watt at one DE spot, but you have to keep Josh Brent as the starting NT. The other DE has to be someone already on the Cowboys roster.

 

[Idgit]

I think that DE is a bigger need than NT. Josh Brent is playing well.

Hypothetical question:

In both scenarios, Ratliff retires before the 2013 season.

1. You can have any NT in the NFL but you have to keep Coleman and Hatcher as the starting DEs.

2. You can have JJ Watt at one DE spot, but you have to keep Josh Brent as the starting NT. The other DE has to be someone already on the Cowboys roster.

JJ Watt is in the discussion for best defensive player in the game this year. That one's a no-brainer.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm a little shocked at the timing of this thread. He's been GREAT this season.

 

[Crown Royal]

Ratliff has been fantastic when he has been on the field. I would say I have been more impressed this year than I was last year, and that is likely because we now have a stud NT that we trust who may not bring the same game, but allows us to rest Ratliff. Brent is a sick two gap defender who provides a wall in the running game and demands either a double team or a good push in the passing game. He isn't the pass rusher that Ratliff is, but he's exactly what you want as far as a two gap player is concerned.

Unfortunately, Ratliff has twice sprained his ankle which is not quite an age issue, but is a very tough injury to go through twice. I think that if you can find another really good NT prospect you go and get it, but that's because I believe you always try to get good front players whenever you can. That said, I see no reason to believe Ratliff cannot play at a high level in 2013.

 

[perrykemp]

I'm a little shocked at the timing of this thread. He's been GREAT this season.

Yes, in the half of the games he has managed to suit up for.

Check Ratliffs statistics from 2008 on -- there has been a slow but steady decline in each and every year he has played.