Whats Wrong With Ratliff?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I really did not notice how bad it was until the Giants game. I remember turning to my brother before the game and telling him that Ratliff gives O'Hara fits every time.

Well they ran the ball on us with ease and on every replay I noticed it was Ratliff getting stood up and being pushed sideways or back. Again and again and again.

He was supposed to be stronger after the elbow surgery. He just is not very good right now.

Any ideas for the reason?

 

[Teague31]

he will be much happier next year when he is playing DT in a 4-3.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

he will be much happier next year when he is playing DT in a 4-3.

As long as Ware is on the roster, we will never change to a 4-3. Get used to it.

 

[visionary]

I really did not notice how bad it was until the Giants game. I remember turning to my brother before the game and telling him that Ratliff gives O'Hara fits every time.

Well they ran the ball on us with ease and on every replay I noticed it was Ratliff getting stood up and being pushed sideways or back. Again and again and again.

He was supposed to be stronger after the elbow surgery. He just is not very good right now.

Any ideas for the reason?

its called human nature
when everyone around you is dogging it, not doing their job, being lazy, and getting away with it, you will do it too.

there aren't too many people who will do their best all the time and who will hold others accountable for not doing their job, like peyton, ray lewis, irvin.

hell our coaches dont do it so why should the players?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

its called human nature
when everyone around you is dogging it, not doing their job, being lazy, and getting away with it, you will do it too.

there aren't too many people who will do their best all the time and who will hold others accountable for not doing their job, like peyton, ray lewis, irvin.

hell our coaches dont do it so why should the players?

I do not buy that. Everyone else was not getting dominated. Ratliff was dominated.

 

[khiladi]

Paul Pasqualoni....

 

[visionary]

I do not buy that. Everyone else was not getting dominated. Ratliff was dominated.

what game are you watching
every sinlge defensive player was getting dominated, every single one

heck, teams are running at ratliff and spencer (supposedly our best run stoppers) and throwing at jenkins (supposedly our man-cover corner from last year).

the players have not suddenly become less talented than last year, they are just not studying as hard and playing as hard as they were.

 

[Eskimo]

He has always been too small for NT. Teams are just focusing on doubling him now and not letting him penetrate the gaps or get 1-on-1 matchups against the Center.

He has always been a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT who got by as an NT in the 3-4. He may just be worn down physically prematurely from all the abuse.

Finding a true 3-4 NT should be a priority in the offseason. A monstrous human being ala Casey Hampton, Vince Wilfork, Pat Williams, Jamal Williams or Haloti Ngata.

 

[bracey]

As long as Ware is on the roster, we will never change to a 4-3. Get used to it.

This. Plus it's not about the system, it's about the players you have in it.

 

[STSINAZ]

like i said he still has alot of trade value coming off probowl seasons....trade him and get a 1st and 3rd or 4th out of it, get a huge NT and another starter--time to retool

 

[craig71]

Can't say for sure what is wrong with Ratliff, but that kid Brent was splitting some double teams against the Jags whereas Ratliff wasn't.

Craig

 

[TheCoolFan]

Ratliff has always been a boom or bust NT because of his size. Sometimes he uses his quickness and speed to his advantage and the other times, he'll be contained because he is too small. I think teams are finally starting to figure him out and how to block him + with no motivation, he's useless in beating double teams inside.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

what game are you watching
every sinlge defensive player was getting dominated, every single one

heck, teams are running at ratliff and spencer (supposedly our best run stoppers) and throwing at jenkins (supposedly our man-cover corner from last year).

the players have not suddenly become less talented than last year, they are just not studying as hard and playing as hard as they were.

Ware and Spencer are being sent upfield over and over again and OCs are just running sprints and draws right by them.

Ratliff is getting stood up and physically dominated.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He has always been too small for NT. Teams are just focusing on doubling him now and not letting him penetrate the gaps or get 1-on-1 matchups against the Center.

He has always been a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT who got by as an NT in the 3-4. He may just be worn down physically prematurely from all the abuse.

Finding a true 3-4 NT should be a priority in the offseason. A monstrous human being ala Casey Hampton, Vince Wilfork, Pat Williams, Jamal Williams or Haloti Ngata.

This is kinda what I am thinking. I know everyone is deadset on OT in the first but NT is a priority.

 

[LarryCanadian]

Rat is just completely worn out!

He is undersized, lacks a lot of "junk in the trunk" ballast, and carries little to no extra body fat. He is undersized. Very strong for his size, BUT, is about 50 pounds minimum underweight for a NT job.

2 year ago, reports were coming in that Rat was in the ice tub completely submerged after every game, bruised to death.

At end of last few seasons, he started to get quiet, and I felt already that his body was wearing down. He played too many snaps for years now.

On top of this, teams double team him and move him out of way to run on us, as Ware and Spencer overpursue QB', leaving lanes open.

Our MLB's can't QB blitz or run blitz well and our scheme looks incredibly predictable, so there are big holes lately.

Love Rat. He is down, the team is down. He is worn out physically too. Starting to catch up.

Expecting him to play 99% of the snaps at the nose in a 3-4 defense was ridiculous. I just hope he can physically recover and get back to his disruptive ways whatever his position given a bit more time off.

I like Josh Brent. He looks strong and has the far more prototypical body type. Good motor and power, and remember Brent had a wrist injury and was a Supplemental pick so is a bit behind a regular rookie mold. We hit on a young guy there it looks like.

Would love to get another NT to work with Brent and then move Rat around as freelance pass rusher and disruptive guy.

LarryCanadian

 

[dbair1967]

As long as Ware is on the roster, we will never change to a 4-3. Get used to it.

Ware could easily be a dominant RDE is alot of 4-3 schemes.

 

[Wrangler87]

He has always been too small for NT. Teams are just focusing on doubling him now and not letting him penetrate the gaps or get 1-on-1 matchups against the Center.

He has always been a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT who got by as an NT in the 3-4. He may just be worn down physically prematurely from all the abuse.

Finding a true 3-4 NT should be a priority in the offseason. A monstrous human being ala Casey Hampton, Vince Wilfork, Pat Williams, Jamal Williams or Haloti Ngata.

Could not have said it better. He is getting rolled on every play. If we are going to play the 3-4, we need to do it right, and get a real NT.

 

[DanManJ]

Ya ya ya the whole team sucks, trade them all now yada yada yada. Why can't you people understand that our coaching schemes suck. Ratliff is one of the players that has the most heart imo and if he's getting doubled so much maybe its someone else's fault for not capitalizing on their man on man assignment.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Ware could easily be a dominant RDE is alot of 4-3 schemes.

And he IS dominant WOLB in a 3-4.

Anything is possible but quite frankly we have one of the best 3-4 OLB to ever play the game. Prototype material. Not saying that he would not be successful elsewhere but he is the best 3-4 pressure player of the last 4 years.

 

[dbair1967]

And he IS dominant WOLB in a 3-4.

Anything is possible but quite frankly we have one of the best 3-4 OLB to ever play the game. Prototype material. Not saying that he would not be successful elsewhere but he is the best 3-4 pressure player of the last 4 years.

The only thing that sux about him playing OLB in the 3-4 is he has to cover more than I'd like. If he were playing as a down DE in the 4-3 he'd be rushing 99% of the time on passing downs. That isnt the case now.

And he is very good against the run, so he isnt going to be exposed there.