Stephen Jones sees Jay Ratliff as nose tackle

[MichaelWinicki]

If people think moving Ratliff to DE would improve our rush defense, which wasn't bad, then I'm all for it. But saying it would improve our pass rush doesn't make sense to me. Adding a Justin Smith or J. J. Watt to the DE position to go with Ratt is what would take our pass rush to the next level, not to mention improving our secondary.

Soliai has 2 sacks in his entire 5 yr career, but I bet he collapses the heck out of that pocket......

:laugh2:


I think it's a dangerous thing to assume that moving Ratliff to DE is going to unleash the great pass rush a 3-4 defense has ever seen... A very dangerous assumption indeed.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be as effective being a 3-4 DE and facing 6'5 320lb OT's as opposed to 6'3 300lb guards.

 

[gimmesix]

Already getting that vibe that the Jones' are satisfied with the roster we have and that is scary.

It appears from their comments that they are satisfied overall with the front seven, which I think is a mistake.

I really don't see us making any moves there other than adding depth.

I think the Joneses are blaming all of our defensive problems on the secondary, which is one reason we have a new secondary coach this year.

 

[TNCowboy]

:laugh2: at people giving some credence to Ratliff making the pro bowl.

Larry Allen was still making pro bowls when he could barely waddle out onto the field.

 

[gimmesix]

:laugh2:


I think it's a dangerous thing to assume that moving Ratliff to DE is going to unleash the great pass rush a 3-4 defense has ever seen... A very dangerous assumption indeed.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be as effective being a 3-4 DE and facing 6'5 320lb OT's as opposed to 6'3 300lb guards.

I will agree with you there. I don't think the key to improving the defense is moving Ratliff. The key to improving the defense is putting some better pieces around him wherever he plays.

I don't think Dallas plans to do that because of its satisfaction with the overall play of the front seven.

 

[Noryb]

:laugh2:


I think it's a dangerous thing to assume that moving Ratliff to DE is going to unleash the great pass rush a 3-4 defense has ever seen... A very dangerous assumption indeed.

I'm not convinced that he's going to be as effective being a 3-4 DE and facing 6'5 320lb OT's as opposed to 6'3 300lb guards.

I agree and so does Parcells, Philips and Ryan.

The thing that makes Ratliff special is that he is an undersized, quick NT who can get pressures and sacks against interior linemen, while holding his own vs the run. Is he a dominant rush defender like the bigger NT, no but he is above average for sure.

What we should do is get a stud 3-4 defensive end to play next to this oddity. JMO!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I agree and so does Parcells, Philips and Ryan.

The thing that makes Ratliff special is that he is an undersized, quick NT who can get pressures and sacks against interior linemen, while holding his own vs the run. Is he a dominant rush defender like the bigger NT, no but he is above average for sure.

What we should do is get a stud 3-4 defensive end to play next to this oddity. JMO!

Exactly right.

Instead of Coleman's 1 sack, 2 QB hits and 9 pressures maybe a guy who could give 4 sacks, 6 QB hits and 18 pressures.

Would that make a difference to folks like Ratliff, Ware and Spencer?

I think it would.

 

[dadymat]

Anyone who can not get knocked 2 yards off the LOS every single play would be an upgrade.

Paul Soliai or Dontari Poe would be instant upgrades at NT. Both can push the pocket and not only "take on" the double teams from the interior line, but put up a decent fight and push the LOS the other way.

you are soooo delusional......Rat doesnt get knocked off the LOS every single play.......not even close......sometimes he does as does every NT , but he is one of the most reliable , consistant players on our defense....if you are searching for reasons of our pass rushing woes you should probably start at the DE positions......Rat is more than fine, and one of the 4 starters that dont need to be addressed

you have exaggerated your agenda and turned it to myth.......

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Ranked the 7th best NT/DT last season.

It's easy to see that the Cowboys pass rush problems begin with Ratliff.

Ranked by who? Using what standards? lol

Bottom line.. did you see our interior DL getting a strong push up the middle consistently at any point last season? Did you see Rat constantly getting a push and caving in the opposing teams interior OL?

If you say yes, im going to laugh at you.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

you are soooo delusional......Rat doesnt get knocked off the LOS every single play.......not even close......sometimes he does as does every NT , but he is one of the most reliable , consistant players on our defense....if you are searching for reasons of our pass rushing woes you should probably start at the DE positions......Rat is more than fine, and one of the 4 starters that dont need to be addressed

you have exaggerated your agenda and turned it to myth.......

You saw our D pushing the pocket alot last year? Is that why opposing QB's always had a nice clean pocket to step up into when our edge rushers put the pressure on last year?

Please..

 

[Hostile]

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over ... but expecting different results.

As in continuing to talk about moving Ratliff to DE even though it never happens? As in continuing to think that casual fans, no matter how plugged in, know more about solid Defensive football than Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips, and Rob Ryan?

Yeah, I can see how that might be a little insane.

 

[Idgit]

This thread reads like an Onion headline: Team Sees 3 Time Probowl NT as a NT. Some Fans Disagree.

 

[TheCount]

He never said anything about sacks or the lack of making you a bad NT.

He was talking about the contribution to pass rush, Hampton did not play in a lot on nickel situations.

O RLY?

It's like this... If a NT isn't getting at least a couple sacks a season, then you can probably take it to the bank that they aren't so hot when it comes to getting off the line of scrimmage and collapsing the pocket.

So that comment makes absolutely no correlation between sacks and effectiveness as a NT? He's been quoting sacks for the last 3 pages as a way of qualifying NT effectiveness and here you come to say he hasn't and of course he agrees because he knows quite well that isn't the case.

 

[Noryb]

Ranked by who? Using what standards? lol

Bottom line.. did you see our interior DL getting a strong push up the middle consistently at any point last season? Did you see Rat constantly getting a push and caving in the opposing teams interior OL?

If you say yes, im going to laugh at you.

How does Rat compare/rank to other NT when it comes to getting push and caving in opposing inetior OL? What standards are you using?

 

[RoyTheHammer]

How does Rat compare/rank to other NT when it comes to getting push and caving in opposing inetior OL? What standards are you using?

I wasn't comparing him to any other NT. The poster i was responding to said he ranked 7 in the NFL at DT/NT. I asked the same question.. ranked 7th based on what?

As far as this team, i don't think its any secret that our interior pass rush was nonexistent 99 percent of the time this year. We had the same problem on both sides of the ball. Our guys in the middle of the lines were getting tossed around and consistently beat in the trenches.

 

[dadymat]

You saw our D pushing the pocket alot last year? Is that why opposing QB's always had a nice clean pocket to step up into when our edge rushers put the pressure on last year?

Please..

no , i saw Rat getting double teamed and our ends getting taken out 1 on 1

there are alot of problems on this defense and Rat isnt even the slightest part of the them

 

[bigdoge99]

well then we can scrub Dontari Poe, and 4/5 other beasts on the nose in this draft off our list

lets hope Stephen does not supercede Jerry to the GM spot if this is what we get

Wow, just wow.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

no , i saw Rat getting double teamed and our ends getting taken out 1 on 1

there are alot of problems on this defense and Rat isnt even the slightest part of the them

Well, yes. The NT gets double teamed every play. That's his role in the 34.. to take on the constant double teams and win the battle a majority of the time. With Rat's size.. he simply doesn't have a chance. You send a 285 lbs man into two 330 lbs men, and its just not going to work. Might as well have him go to the sideline and try to run through the barrier between the field and the stands every play.

He's got a great speed/strength combo though, and its a skillset which makes this a topic every offseason because its one that would seemingly let him flourish at the DE position in a 34. He's a perfect fit as far as size, and the ability to beat those one on one's you speak of with good consistency. He's got the strength to bull rush tackles completely into the backfield, and the quickness and hand violence to get around them if he needs to as well. It would seem to be a perfect fit if they would just give it a chance. Can't be any worse than last year's DL. At least you'd get consistent pressure from one DL position at worst, and with Brent/whatever other NT we sign and Lissemore/Hatcher.. i'd bet we would get alot better pressure across the entire DL next year.