Blogging The Boys: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: Baby Boilers no more: Michigan State-Purdue Preview

Jay Ratliff

Great player, but let's not forget he was a Tight End in college before he was switched to DE then finally DT his senior year. I know he's been in the league for a few years and those days are long gone, but I don't want a college TE as my noseguard-no exceptions. The flashy sacks are nice, and easy to point to for fans, but to be an elite, run stuffing, pocket collapsing 3-4 noseguard, you must weight at least 330 pounds.


Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

0 recs  |  Comment 27 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Are you serious?

How ignorant are you? Not only is he one of the Elite Nose Tackles, he is changing the way the game is played. Who needs a run stuffer when you can get into the backfield as fast as he can? He is the heart of the defense. If you can name one other NT that is remotely as talented as Rat, I’ll delete my account. Until then, STFU.

by Alexcomestokill on Nov 11, 2009 8:23 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

You are Joking of course.

Jay has been week in and week out one of the best , if not the best player on our defense. Ware and Brooking and the others have played well. But, Jay has been right there to make plays when needed. That’s like saying the special teams haven’t improved . Sorry, it’s time to change your medication.

by oldboysfan on Nov 11, 2009 8:28 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

smells fishy...

maybe i’m missing something but the poster above is a pretty big jets fan according to his profile…

if he’s actually serious, he’s in disagreement with just about everyone who knows anything about pro football. Ratliff is a beast, and may be the best in the league…he stops the run, gets penetration, takes double teams, and pushes them right into the QB.

I have noticed a new resurgence in Cowboy hating in 2007, which can only mean one thing- We're back.

by nspirals on Nov 11, 2009 9:50 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Perhaps

He’s just angry because the big fat NT from the Jets (Kris Jenkins) is injured.

Thanks, but I’ll take our undersized, flashy sack getting, blowing up the oversized and slower than he guards, NT in Jay Ratliff.

by tkosmith on Nov 11, 2009 9:54 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Our 7th round

NT too :-). Has to be one of the best draft picks in Dallas history so far.

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Nov 11, 2009 10:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Dude,no

There are two ways to play NT. One is with the officially endorsed elephant man of whom you seem to be enamored. The other is a lesser tonnage, more athletic version that outmaneuvers his opponent in order to get penetration. Rat is version B and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see more teams trying out that version since these walking mountains you seem to love with are rare to say the least.

by Benthere on Nov 11, 2009 10:07 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Is this a bit?

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Nov 11, 2009 10:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I'm going to try and forget

Someone ever wrote a post saying such things! I guess we shouldn’t have Jason Witten playing tight end either since he was originally a defensive end in college.

by NDCowboy8 on Nov 11, 2009 11:16 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I call BS

This is obviously a joke.

Well played, sir.

Epic Fail since 1985

by the red scare on Nov 12, 2009 12:14 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I'll fill in for Bigham

FANSHOT!

You can't stop Patrick Crayton, you can only hope to contain him.

by APerfectStar on Nov 12, 2009 12:16 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Sarcasm or idiocy?

The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!

by aussie_cowboy on Nov 12, 2009 5:08 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Absurd

So is your point based on his size or the fact that he played TE at one point during his career. If the former, there more than a few examples and every position where a great motor and work ethic can overcome size. Ratliff is strong uses great leverage to get into position to consistently make plays despite being 25 pounds less than ideal size for NT. That’s why he made the Pro Bowl and was among lead leaders last year (and again this year) for sacks from a DT, not just NT.

If it is the latter, it’s so ridiculous it’s barely worth the effort. You probably think Hines Ward can’t play WR since he was a QB in college. Lest we forget the great Cowboys OL from the early 90’s which included 2 converted DL.

http://www.heymanwhatsup.com/main/category/front-page

by WhatsUpPorkchop on Nov 12, 2009 10:48 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Dang I didn't know he was a college TE

Can he catch? Maybe we could sneak him in on fake XP unit or something.

by Joon on Nov 12, 2009 7:31 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I've read Rat's wikipedia page before, too.

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Nov 12, 2009 9:00 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Wow

Looks like I struck a nerve here, for which I apologize. My first words were “great player”, and I believe he is such- all i’m saying is I prefer the true anchor in the middle. And you have to admit, the path from college TE to NFL NG is questionable.

by ilovethisgame on Nov 12, 2009 11:01 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Who are

some of the guys in college that are similar to Jay? It’d be nice to draft someone that could do some of the same things that he does. I’m thinking Neal at Purdue, Alualu at Cal, maybe some others?? I don’t get to watch much college ball so I’m not sure…

by IronCowboy on Nov 13, 2009 7:41 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Clueless

Sorry dude but you just don’t know what your talking about. Do you know how many RB become DBs, LBs, and WRs. Colleges sign about 25 players a year and 10-15 of those were signed purely because of their superior athletism with little or no intention of letting them play the position they signed as.
QBs become TEs, TEs become LTs or FBs. FBs become LBs.
Check production, that will tell you who can play

KICK ASS every day!!!

by squidlo97 on Nov 13, 2009 12:49 PM CST via mobile reply actions   0 recs

.

Trust me I understand all that, I’ve just never seen a pass-catcher turn into a noseguard. I’d love to hear some other examples of TEs or WRs converting into NGs.

This guy’s value is naturally inflated due to his high sack totals. The sack is a nice bonus from that position, but high statistical totals does not a great NG make.

Every middle linebacker in the league would choose to play behind a giant like Haloti Ngata over a sack artist like Ratliff.

by ilovethisgame on Nov 13, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Completely wrong

The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!

by aussie_cowboy on Nov 13, 2009 8:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

+a cabillion

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...

by Aaron Novinger on Nov 14, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Probably grew/gained weight during the period of HS-College.

Doesn’t matter where you start, matters where you finish. He played college ball at Auburn. They were the ones that moved him to defensive line. I assume Auburn knew what it was doing. Bottom line, though..the guy is an absolute beast and I would prefer his athleticism over these behemoths that rarely get to the QB.

by Benthere on Nov 13, 2009 11:46 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Nothing is inflated about Ratliff because of his sack totals.

Watch the game. He is a beast against the run, the pass, the field goal block units, the earth, the air, the forest, the oceans, the sky, the solar system, the whole entire universe.

He takes on double-teams and often beats them. He makes play after play. Watch him exclusively this week instead of assuming he his value is “inflated”. That’s ridiculous.

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...

by Aaron Novinger on Nov 14, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

+a cabillion

The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!

by aussie_cowboy on Nov 14, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Dallas Cowboys blog for the SB Nation network. We talk Cowboys 24/7/365. Join the discussion but follow the community guidelines.
Start posting about the Cowboys »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

09_bar-refaeli_08_small
NFL Drafting 101
Small
Romo for president? Why would Tony take the pay cut and less power?
Smilinmiles_small
My plan to take the Cowboys to the SB.
Captain_small
Seven Statistical Nuggets To Start the Off-Season
Captain_small
It may be time for a new type of O-Line ... Part II

Recent FanPosts

Small
Manning and Favre - a personal disappointment
Small
Can Wade be Colonel Hogan with a headset?
Photo_150_small
What To Expect in 2010?
Small
The Inevitable yet Spontaneously Elementary Truth…
Small
Saints now America's team, Steelers fans sulk
Cowboyjet_small
CONTEST RESULTS
Fp4273_dallas-cowboys-tony-romo-posters_small
Cowboys mock draft version 3 w/ Extras
Tom-landry-at_small
Michael Irvin Accused Of Rape
Small
It's time for Cowboys fan "Myth Busting'...

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

SPONSORS


Editor

Head_shot1_small Dave Halprin

Lead Writer

Small Rafael Vela

Contributing Writers

Villaronga_small Raul Villaronga

Hotdoglu_small Aaron Novinger

Landry_and_fish_small Mike Fisher

Captain_small One.Cool.Customer