Will Ratliff's return really be worth the wait?

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Im starting to think his high ankle sprain will prevent Rat from being 100% this year...

Just like when T-New had it years ago, I think people will be expecting big things when he returns but Im wondering if hes even going to produce.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I think even with the high ankle sprain he's still the best defensive linemen we have.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think even with the high ankle sprain he's still the best defensive linemen we have.

I think he's been displaced by Hatcher.

Lissmore is coming up quickly and the kid, Crawford looks darned good.

The defensive line has some good players on it.

 

[Joshmil53]

I think he's been displaced by Hatcher.

Lissmore is coming up quickly and the kid, Crawford looks darned good.

The defensive line has some good players on it.

I was gonna say Hatcher too has been REALLY good lately.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

sure it will be worth it--he is still a defensive leader

I'm glad we have some depth now, but, of course we will be better and it will be worth the wait

 

[visionary]

i am looking at it as a possible positive

there is no question he is a competitor and our best DL

one of my concerns with ratliff playing NT has been that he is undersized and i have always felt that was an issue in our "december fades", if oyu look at the last NYG game, rat was blocked by a backup OC, that is not typical of his play

so, i am hoping for a positive outcome from his absence in the first part of the year, he will come back hungrier and will be more fresh for later in the year when (hopefully) we are making our playoff push

fingers crossed

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

What kind of question is this? Ratliff is one of our best players we damn sure need him back.

 

[Tabascocat]

He finally has some "competition" there, so that should make him better and more focused. At worst, it allows our lineman to get some breathers during the game. It is a good thing when he finally gets on the field.

 

[yimyammer]

I'm not getting too excited, it seems like there have been multiple occasions where we were getting a key player back or the opposing team had several rookies or back up starting or some combination of the above and not only did I not see our players improve the overall performance of the team, we actually played worse.

EX: Didn't Seattle have a defensive end playing center and a backup playing left tackle? Pete Hunter playing DB for Seattle in that horrible payoff loss years ago, etc, ect

I assume there is some logical reason why this has happened that my limited knowledge doesn't grasp but to my naive eyes it seems to be an issue with this organization

 

[LarryCanadian]

I've said it before and say it again - Rat wears down as season goes along.

He is high motor and gets whacked around and then gets quieter at end of season (and/or playoffs if we ever make it).

Just the way he plays.

If I was the coaches, and particularly with Brent/Lissemore/Crawford/Hatcher playing quite well, I would sit him out till after the bye at least.

Then if he isn't 100%, I would wait even longer to put him back in the line-up. He could be a huge injection of hunger/energy during the final month or two of the season, instead of the opposite happening, PLUS, the younger guys keep developing and getting reps, AND IF there is an injury up front, he comes in fresh instead of at 80% with that darn high-ankle not healing as well as it could.

I see no reason to rush him in. If he played OLINE, then YES put him in now, but middle of Dline hasn't been bad this year, and the young guys are getting some really nice reps.

Let the Rat stay fresh if you ask me! He will be an impact guy if they don't rush him - he looked freaky in his few reps in pre-season game, before he got hurt again.

 

[erod]

Personally, I think Brent has done a better job on the nose than what Ratliff did the past two seasons. This could be a downgrade.

Play Ratliff at the end, whether he complains about it or not.

 

[Numbers921]

Simple answer: No.

Next year will be his last year on the team.

 

[TheCoolFan]

I'm not expecting much. Too much wear and tear over the years plus this high ankle sprain now. We'll see how it affects him long-term because for someone who plays a position that's all about leverage, a high ankle sprain injury would be tough to come back from.

 

[AbeBeta]

Oh Rat is worth the wait -- one thing that I hope is that we can limit his snaps a little to make him more effective in the pass rush -- I think we've got a bit more faith in Brent and Lissemore now, so we can do that

 

[NeonNinja]

Oh Rat is worth the wait -- one thing that I hope is that we can limit his snaps a little to make him more effective in the pass rush -- I think we've got a bit more faith in Brent and Lissemore now, so we can do that

This.

 

[proline]

So has a date been announced for his return?

 

[LarryCanadian]

Yep, wait till he is healthy and play him on longer yardage downs and or 3rd down/obvious passing downs.

Spell him and let him go all out. Make sure he is 100% healthy though.

He is an undersized DT who has a TON of miles on his body - need to be smart with him now, especially since we are younger and deeper in the middle nowadays compared to in the past.

 

[rash]

I think he's been displaced by Hatcher.

Lissmore is coming up quickly and the kid, Crawford looks darned good.

The defensive line has some good players on it.

amen.

 

[Galian Beast]

I don't see this as a competition thing. The development of Josh Brent and Lissemore should allow Ratliff to get less sacks, and hopefully be more effective.

I'd simply have him be a 3rd down player.

Ware - Lissemore - Ratliff - Butler on 3rd and long should be hard to stop.

Then you could see a more traditional

Crawford/Lissemore - Brent - Hatcher in the 3-4

Not only do you keep everyone fresh, but you put them in the best situation to make a difference.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Yes, IMHO. We got absolutely no push whatsoever against Seattle, and Wilson had way too much time in a clean pocket.