10-16-2013, 04:43 PM
10-16-2013, 09:02 PM
Waiver claim unless ny wants him
10-16-2013, 10:26 PM
Aren't pelvic injuries really hard to deal with because they tend to linger?
10-17-2013, 12:22 AM
Can he throw?
10-17-2013, 01:40 PM
Should we sign him?
10-17-2013, 03:19 PM
Quote:Should we sign him?
He's a little old to fit our rebuild.
10-18-2013, 01:23 PM
Quote:Should we sign him?
Yes. Sign a guy who isn't going to play this year.
10-18-2013, 02:34 PM
I remember he used to be considered one of the more disruptive and effective NT/DT's in the game. Hopefully he can latch on somewhere and regain his form. He's not too old.
10-18-2013, 05:14 PM
Quote:I remember he used to be considered one of the more disruptive and effective NT/DT's in the game. Hopefully he can latch on somewhere and regain his form. He's not too old.
If not for the injury situation Jay Ratliff is dealing with, I think he would have been a great fit for the Cowboys this season in Monte Kiffin's ' Tampa Two' scheme. Especially with Rod Marinelli as their new D-Line coach, because of the disruptive / penetrating style of play you described.
On the other hand, I've been very impressed with the way Cowboys DT Jason Hatcher is adapting to the Cowboys Defensive system under Kiffin and Marinelli. Hatcher was making his presence felt early and often against the Redskins last Sunday night. This after being a 3-4 DE in the Cowboys previous Defensive schemes.
10-18-2013, 05:21 PM
Quote:If not for the injury situation Jay Ratliff is dealing with, I think he would have been a great fit for the Cowboys this season in Monte Kiffin's ' Tampa Two' scheme. Especially with Rod Marinelli as their new D-Line coach, because of the disruptive / penetrating style of play you described.
On the other hand, I've been very impressed with the way Cowboys DT Jason Hatcher is adapting to the Cowboys Defensive system under Kiffin and Marinelli. Hatcher was making his presence felt early and often against the Redskins last Sunday night. This after being a 3-4 DE in the Cowboys previous Defensive schemes.
Oh D6, you really are a pro.
I wonder what's going to happen to Ratliff. Is his injury considered career threatening/altering?
Also, I'm not up to speed on the Cowboys defensive line, but I did hear Monte Kiffin say recently that he is incredibly disappointed in how his overall defense is playing this year.
10-18-2013, 05:42 PM
Quote:Oh D6, you really are a pro.
I wonder what's going to happen to Ratliff. Is his injury considered career threatening/altering?
Also, I'm not up to speed on the Cowboys defensive line, but I did hear Monte Kiffin say recently that he is incredibly disappointed in how his overall defense is playing this year.
Thanks, RachelinTeal.
Being that Jay Ratliff will be 33 years old when the 2014 regular season opens and his coming off a major injury, it's realistic to think that at the very least Jay Ratliff's best days are behind him. Ratliff has overcome the odds in the past, becoming a quality NT despite ordinary at best size for the position. While I'm not remotely qualified to be a doctor or medical evaluator, common sense would suggest that the team that signs Ratliff ( assuming he's signed ) needs a strong Plan B. Anything a team gets from Ratliff from this point forward is gravy.
The Cowboys are dealing with major injuries on the Defensive Line. In addition to the loss of Ratliff, LDE Anthony Spencer, who was their LOLB in the previous scheme, is lost for the season. Also, RDE DeMarcus Ware injured his Quad against the Redskins last Sunday Night. Ware is listed as doubtful on this week's injury report.
To the credit of the remaining Defensive Lineman, the other Defensive players ( especially CB Brandon Carr ), and their Defensive Coaches, the Cowboys Defensive Line played better than anyone could have realistically expected against the Redskins. Yet, against high octane Offenses like the one they faced the week before ( Broncos ), even when Ware was healthy, it was impossible for them to overcome the other injuries on the line.
The bottom line from my outside perspective is they need Ware to make a recovery ASAP and for some of the other Defensive Lineman to take their games consistently to a higher level. While Ware and Hatcher are playoff caliber players at their respective D-Line positions, it remains to be seen if they have enough other pieces up front to win a division that is there for the taking.
10-18-2013, 05:45 PM
Quote:Thanks, RachelinTeal.
Being that Jay Ratliff will be 33 years old when the 2014 regular season opens and his coming off a major injury, it's realistic to think that at the very least Jay Ratliff's best days are behind him. Ratliff has overcome the odds in the past, becoming a quality NT despite ordinary at best size for the position. While I'm not remotely qualified to be a doctor or medical evaluator, common sense would suggest that the team that signs Ratliff ( assuming he's signed ) needs a strong Plan B. Anything a team gets from Ratliff from this point forward is gravy.
The Cowboys are dealing with major injuries on the Defensive Line. In addition to the loss of Ratliff, LDE Anthony Spencer, who was their LOLB in the previous scheme, is lost for the season. Also, RDE DeMarcus Ware injured his Quad against the Redskins last Sunday Night. Ware is listed as doubtful on this week's injury report.
To the credit of the remaining Defensive Lineman, the other Defensive players ( especially CB Brandon Carr ), and their Defensive Coaches, the Cowboys Defensive Line played better than anyone could have realistically expected against the Redskins. Yet, against high octane Offenses like the one they faced the week before ( Broncos ), even when Ware was healthy, it was impossible for them to overcome the other injuries on the line.
The bottom line from my outside perspective is they need Ware to make a recovery ASAP and for some of the other Defensive Lineman to take their games consistently to a higher level. While Ware and Hatcher are playoff caliber players at their respective D-Line positions, it remains to be seen if they have enough other pieces up front to win a division that is there for the taking.
Interesting. Thanks for the insight.
I always thought linemen had surprisingly longer NFL careers than other positions, even though they just beat each other up all game. I would think that even at 33, he can still put up a few more decent years in the right scheme.
10-19-2013, 08:31 PM
Quote:Interesting. Thanks for the insight.
I always thought linemen had surprisingly longer NFL careers than other positions, even though they just beat each other up all game. I would think that even at 33, he can still put up a few more decent years in the right scheme.
My pleasure.
There have been a number of Defensive Lineman that have had longer careers. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, I think the bigger interior type of Defensive Lineman have a better chance to carve a niche at a more advanced aged than the smaller Defensive Lineman that depend more on speed and quickness. Using a former Jaguars player as an example, DT Grady Jackson comes to come mind. Jackson was in games for a limited amount of plays but he was a major part of the Jaguars success in a playoff season. Giants DT Shaun Rogers, who like Jackson, has massive size, is in his 13th season in the NFL. While Rogers doesn't have the lateral quickness he once had, he still is effective as a role player.
Getting back to Jay Ratliff, in addition to the concern about the age/ size combination, coming back from a major injury makes his task even more difficult. If Ratliff finds a way to play effectively for another season or two, that would cap off what has already been a career that was better than anticipated. I hope Ratliff can pull it off but a cautious approach appears to be needed.