Cowboys Defense: Who Will Back Up The Rat?
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on May 21, 2009 9:14 PM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys General
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PrintWell, the NFL Draft came and went, and the Cowboys never selected that unnamed mammoth defensive tackle whom everyone outside the organization had declared a must-have. Instead the Cowboys apparently appear comfortable doing battle with Jay Ratliff, and whoever emerges and separates himself from the pack of no-names at defensive tackle. Ratliff made it through last season virtually injury-free, and also avoided any type of late season decline. Ratliff may not be so lucky on the injury front this season. Following his first Pro Bowl selection, the Rat may have a slightly bigger target on his back, and may also see a few changes in the way other teams scheme against him. Jay Ratliff needs an occasional breather, and the team needs to know that they have someone on board who can step in should Ratliff miss any time due to injury. The Cowboys have got to get this fixed.
Maybe the team already has this fixed. They are the ones who deal with these players on a day-to-day basis. The Cowboys coaching staff has tape of every down any of these have ever played since college. Maybe there is someone on this roster already whom the team feels is the answer.
A bigger defensive tackle would add a lot to the team in the way of variety and flexibility. A larger nose tackle would at the very least give the opposing offense something different to think about whenever Ratliff comes up for air. The team has not openly expressed a lot of interest in moving Jay Ratliff outside on occasion, but having another capable nose would at least make that a possibility.
Fifth-year veteran Tim Anderson recently underwent toe surgery that will keep him out of action for up to three months. He was a long shot to make the squad before the injury, and has virtually no chance now. Tyler Casey is a converted offensive lineman from La Salle. Good luck finding any information on Casey. You know it's bad when you don't even have a bio on the team's website.
As it sits now the backup NT position is a two-horse race between the only two giant space-eaters on the team, Junior Siavii, and the newly acquired Jonas Seawright. Siavii last recorded at chartable statistic in 2005 as a Kansas City Chief. Seawright was last seen as a New York Giant in 2006, the season in which he recorded his only career tackle.
There is little nose tackle talent still to be had by way of free agency. Career underachiever DeWayne Robertson is still available, but he is the only notable name on the market. Look for the Cowboys to closely monitor the waiver wire all off season long. Maybe a solid veteran will eventually shake loose. At least in the eyes of those outside the organization, the Cowboys do not at this time have a viable backup for Jay Ratliff.
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This is a very big risk
This reminds me of last year when anybody with a pulse knew the QB position was tenuous if Romo went down. Going into the season without a viable backup can not be an option. If someone thinks it is, they need to be fired immediately.
by StillHateTheGiants on May 21, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions
Spears
May be our NT if Ratliff goes down. We seem to have slightly more depth at DE, so this move would not surprise. They tried it some last year in camp.
I was thinking Spears too
One issue with that is that Spears can’t really start at LDE and then sub for Rat. They would have to figure out a rotation that rests Spears when Rat is in the game, so that Spears is rested when he plays some at NT. Then the issue is finding a starting LDE to take Spears’ spot.
The other problem with using Spears here is that it is not a longer term solution. We aren’t keeping Spears unless he ups his game as an LDE and becomes a more valuable starter. As a backup anything, he’s moving on as soon as his contract is up.
The other name that’s been tossed out is Dixon, but he seems more like a defensive end than a tackle.
If Rat can do it...
Remember, Ratliff was seen as solely a DE for several years. There’s no reason why Spears can’t do it as well. He’s huge and is quite used to both 2-gap and inside. He has quite a bit of offseason work as well over the past 2 years.
While it would leave us a little thin at DE, at least we have Hatcher, Bowen, and Dixon coming on.
Dixon is another guy that may very well find a place on the roster by switching positions. Dixon may very well be the answer as well.
Res firma mitescere nescit
Spears has the frame to add some weight too
I think Spears could get to 315-320 without much of an issue. He’s always fought his weight a bit, I’d just let him loose in the buffet line for a couple weeks. Spears has shown that he doesn’t quite have the package of skills to be a great DE…maybe he can be a solid NT.
Check out my movie - StandardsOfEthicalConduct.com
by cowboysuberfan on May 22, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
We will be in the same situation with Spears next off season like we were with Canty this year. At least Canty was worth trying to resign, but I don’t see Spears getting a serious offer from Jerry unless he absolutely tears it up this season. He hasn’t done it in 4 seasons and I don’t see it changing. We will be in the market for a 3-4 DE again next off season either in the draft or FA.
Not to change the subject but PFT is saying we are shopping Ellis. Apparently he was sent home from OTAs.
Don't believe everything you think.
Your causes are cute!!!
Wow, I thought he had enough left for one final run as a situational pass-rusher.
Although he’d be expensive for that role.
They’d better be sure about Spencer and at least one of the rookies stepping up, because Ware needs some help.
Trade? What for, maybe a 4th-rounder at best? The question is, what would they do with that extra cap money if they could trade him?
by Realist Larry on May 22, 2009 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Completely off-topic, but by accident I linked to the Colts Blog on SBN,
and what a difference. So few comments you wonder why anyone would even post!
Recommended Fanposts with 13, 11, 7, and 3 comments!
I know, Cowboys are popular, etc., but still-that’s pathetic for a team with so much recent winning.
As far as NT, who knows? Hopefully some serviceable guy will get cut, or Rat will get hurt and we can go back to the 4-3.
Been saying it for seems like forever.....
Were in trouble without a true NT or at least a capable backup. If Rat gets hurt Spears may have to move to NT. He is acutally alot bigger than Ratliff. Hopefully, they experiment with Spears at NT this training camp again.
Never thought about a potential injury to Ratliff up until right now
I figured we were in enough trouble as it is just having a mediocre player to spell him…the idea of that mediocre player, whoever it may be, starting if said injury takes place is disturbing. It’s already been mentioned, but any time there’s a concern about depth, Jerry need look no further than last year with Brad Johnson. Here’s hoping he’s learned his lesson.
Epic Fail since 1985
i guess this shows how much i really know about football
why is finding a competent NT backup so difficult? getting a star is one thing, but just a decent backup? i’m surprised.
i like the idea of the spears at NT experiment, though i’ve never seen him play there. always remembering that bob lilly started his cowboy life as a DE before becoming a hall of famer at DT.
NT is probably the hardest position in the NFL to fill
There just arent a lot of guys who are that big (typically 315 or better) that are strong and not just fat. And then you have to ask — are you looking for a guy who can get into the backfield or a guy who just takes up space and blockers so that the linebackers can roam free? These are two very different types of players.
The Phillips 3-4 requires a guy who has a motor and can get into the offensive backfield. The good news is they dont have to be 320 lbs, but they do need to be active. I would say 300 lbs would be the minimum considering centers and guards are typically over 300 lbs these days.
As an example as to how hard these guys (big enough to play NT, but with a motor) are to find, there was only one in the draft this year – BJ Raji. All the others were considered either just space eaters (such as Ron Brace) or not big enough to play the nose (such as Peria Jerry.)
That's the point right there.
Fans keep thinking that we have to have some huge Jamal Williams type NT. All we really need is someone that is active and can stand up for 15-20 plays when rotating with Ratliff. I don’t want to say that weight is irrelevant, but if you find the right guy he could be the same size as Rat for all I care.
You can do a lot of things in life. You can't stab a teammate with a pair of scissors. - Kevin Smith
I believe the Cowboys will eventually sign a veteran NT
who is on another roster right now and will be cut after camp, unless one of the NTs already on the roster emerges in preseason.
Solid veterans always get cut every summer so there should be viable options later in August.
In Romo we Trust
Signing a veteran might be their only option
These spares on the training camp roster have very little chance, in my opinion. Most of them havent been playing football lately, and its really hard to come back. Look at Pacman Jones. Yes, he’s a zero with little-to-no heart, but he was a world class NFL cornerback in 2006. He took a year off and he was a shell of his old self. Guys like Siavii, Anderson and Seawright were never that good to begin with. If they take a year off, they’ve got no shot at the NFL.
I would rather have Remi Ayodele or Tank Johnson back than roll with these bunch of nobodies.
NT is the only position on the roster without a capable back-up. We would hurt from injuries to any of the starters, but if we had Rat go down, there is literally NO ONE THERE!
Tank Johnson sucked and had a worse attitude
no way I’d want him back.
Right now we have nobody, but chill out, the season doesn’t start for another 4 months.
In Romo we Trust
I wouldn't be suprised if Dallas monitors the waiver wire all season long
not just the off season
by AustonianAggie on May 22, 2009 10:53 AM CDT reply actions
Cut (or trade Ellis) to free up...
…cap money to sign the best available 3-4 NT the week before the regular season begins. Sign him for 1 year.
…to play the youngsters (and keep our fingers crossed). This could come back to bite us, but its time to move forwards.
btw., Ellis would only draw a conditional 5th with worst case scenario a 7th rounder. There’s no chance any team would give up a 4th or better for him. IMHO, that conditiaonl 7th is a bargain for an effective player who can probably deliver for another 2 years at sub pro-bowl, but high-quality level.
any guy you can get the week before the season starts at NT
wont cost you much money, if Ellis is getting sent packing for salary cap reasons it’s either to help sign D. Ware or free money up if we were to trade for somone and need to redo their contract.
we are talking backup NT here, you don’t spend a lot of money on one of those or trade a high draft pick, you grab a vet off the waiver wire or get a young “potiential” type guy. ……unless Rat was being moved to DE………
Everyone has to understand
you can’t have really good backups at every position, it’s absolutely impossible. There are going to be some positions every year that won’t be as deep as others and this year it will be NT. Obviously we’ll address it in FA or the draft next season.
I’m sure if worse came to worse and something seriously happened to Rat, the Cowboys could make a trade for a quality NT.
In Romo we Trust
Terry, I don't think this argument fits here
We fans are not asking for a top-flight, starter ready player at NT who will earn big money. We’re asking for a player that wasn’t good enough to make it on another team’s 53 — probably because he sucks.
We’re also recognizing that a “back-up” NT isn’t the same as a 3rd string QB nor the 7th O-lineman. That NT will always be active on game day and will always play 10-20 snaps (depending on how effective he is) and won’t contribute at all to special teams.
I think I speak for the majority here that we believe the current “back-ups” aren’t worthy of being on anyone’s 53 roster. We are afraid that they just simply can’t play ball. And that we’re wasting money and snaps on a player who belongs in the trash heap.
neither am I
I’m saying by the time the regular season starts, the Cowboys will have an effective NT to back up Rat, whether that player is currently on the roster already or is acquired by the waiver wire or by trade.
I’d love to have a good back up at NT, but if we only get decent or average, thats just something the Cowboys nation will just have to live with.
In Romo we Trust
Well said, Eagles suck
I agree that what we “need” is a NT that will take some snaps off Rat’s plate to keep him fresh. That’s exactly what Tank did last season. He wasnt great, but he kept the spot warm so Ratliff could take a breath. This year, there is no one to do that. What we need is not just someone else’s trash, but someone who can play.
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