I don't know how often they were in together, but Tank did seem to be significantly more disruptive. When he gets a hand on you, you are toast it seems. It's just that he hasn't been getting a hand on RB's too often this season. Tank wasn't a 3-4 Nose guard in Chicago was he. I think he is a 4-3 guy that is being played in the wrong position. I wouldn't mind seeing us mix in more 4-3 to confuse offenses etc. I like the 3-4 but prefer a style where the lb'ers are nasty (Pittsburgh) and the corners play far less soft. We are getting sacks, but at times our defensive scheme still makes me ill when we play soft soft soft and end up tackling guys from behind rather than running up and filling a gap with a smack!
I think Tank is out of place, and as effective as Rat is, he ain't a space eater, he's a Leon Lett type agile guy. Even at 300 pounds (doesn't look at all fat, does the Rat?) he isn't a guy to eat space and take on double teams. Rat is an attacking type that will win on motor, quickness, and agility, even if he's strong. He's not a 350 pound widebody that fills holes.
LarryCanadian