Does anyone but me think the Dallas 3-4 needs a real NG?

[VAcowboy]

Up until we had a 295 pound All Pro playing the position in Wade's one-gap system, I'd always heard the first thing a good 3-4 defense needed was a stout NG who ate double teams for lunch. After seeing our DL get blown off the ball all last season, I have begun to believe that we badly need that anchor in the middle and will continue to struggle stopping the run until we do.

There's a reason I watch NFL football from my couch instead of the sideline, but...

No one will ever convince me that Ratliff's quickness and strength don't suit him perfectly to the end position in a 3-4 or that putting a guy like Abrayo Franklin between Rat and Spears on our starting DL wouldn't greatly improve the Dallas D.

 

[Theebs]

Of course but they are extremely hard to come by.

 

[cmd34]

About half the fan base has been calling for this for years now.

 

[Sheik]

About half the fan base has been calling for this for years now.

And we're about to extend the contract of the little guy that's been playing there. Perfect.

 

[cmd34]

And we're about to extend the contract of the little guy that's been playing there. Perfect.

Doesn't mean he still won't end up at DE. Jerry can't stop talking about the 2010 Packers (replaced his crush on the 2008 Giants) and a big part of their success on D is NT BJ Raji. Maybe we get our own true NT before next season???

 

[SixisBetter]

I love JRat but watching Raji vs the Saints tonight made me wish for a big fat guy to just freakin disrupt the middle.

 

[dbair1967]

The Saints had a big fat guy too...he made no difference whatsoever

 

[VAcowboy]

The Saints had a big fat guy too...he made no difference whatsoever

The Saints have a big, old, washed up fat guy (Shaun Rogers). Franklin didn't play for crap, either, though, so...

I believe that if you put Phil Taylor between Spears and Ratliff, you make the Dallas D instantly better.

It seems obvious to me, but I bring it up because I mentioned my opinion that the team needs a real NG on another board and got ridiculed for it. Was just wondering.

 

[Cythim]

The Saints had a big fat guy too...he made no difference whatsoever

It is about getting the right fat guy in there.

 

[dbair1967]

That was my point, that if the guy is just fat, he doesnt do crap for the defense.

There are a very limited amount of guys in the league like BJ Raji

 

[Theebs]

That was my point, that if the guy is just fat, he doesnt do crap for the defense.

There are a very limited amount of guys in the league like BJ Raji

Yea being a fat guy has nothing todo with being a good nose tackle......fat guys are cut from nearly every roster every year.

But finding a big body athlete who can play on all downs and beat double teams is extremely hard to find....

Doesn't mean Ratliff hasn't been outstanding because he has been, but there would be a huge upgrade with taylor or Raji inside and rat on the end..

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

The Saints have a big, old, washed up fat guy (Shaun Rogers). Franklin didn't play for crap, either, though, so...

I believe that if you put Phil Taylor between Spears and Ratliff, you make the Dallas D instantly better.

It seems obvious to me, but I bring it up because I mentioned my opinion that the team needs a real NG on another board and got ridiculed for it. Was just wondering.

If it was a choice between getting a stud OT in Smith, and an NT like Taylor. I'll take Smith every time.

 

[VAcowboy]

If it was a choice between getting a stud OT in Smith, and an NT like Taylor. I'll take Smith every time.

Oh, I agree 100%. My comment doesn't apply to the 2011 draft specifically, or any other.

All I'm saying is that the Dallas D would be better off with a "real" NT and Rat moved to DE. The team and lots of fans seem satisfied that Rat belongs in the middle, however.

 

[carphalen5150]

The Saints had a big fat guy too...he made no difference whatsoever

The Saints play a 4-3, so this does not apply.

 

[Theebs]

Oh, I agree 100%. My comment doesn't apply to the 2011 draft specifically, or any other.

All I'm saying is that the Dallas D would be better off with a "real" NT and Rat moved to DE. The team and lots of fans seem satisfied that Rat belongs in the middle, however.

we dont have a choice. He is an extremely talented player and him at the nose gives us the best chance to win. He is a great player...misplaced or not he is the best we have.

 

[VAcowboy]

we dont have a choice. He is an extremely talented player and him at the nose gives us the best chance to win. He is a great player...misplaced or not he is the best we have.

Yeh, but we should have been looking seriously for a nose man since Ferguson's exit and that hasn't looked looked to me to be the case.

 

[Midswat]

We no longer run a traditional 3-4 defense.

But yeah, I'd love to get a Raji type in here.

As others said though... those guys are rare.

I mean, think about it... you're basically looking for a fat guy who's extremely motivated. That's almost an oxymoron.

 

[Theebs]

Yeh, but we should have been looking seriously for a nose man since Ferguson's exit and that hasn't looked looked to me to be the case.

i guess but, with wades style of shooting 1 gap ratliff was fine. 2 gapping on running downs is entirely different. We need that style more now than with wade.

 

[CowboysRMX]

If you look at Ryans D. IDK if some of you have had a chance to actually see his def in action other than the vanilla defense in preseason. But the guy has crazy formations. hell half the time theres only 2 DL with their hand on the ground. and most of the time its the DE's

 

[dbair1967]

The Saints play a 4-3, so this does not apply.

Sure it does. They have a big fat DT that plays next to another supposedly good, large guy. Both those guys got pushed around all over last night.