Coach Jason Garrett acknowledged the Cowboys have talked about moving Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff to defensive end. He is a former end who has the versatility of playing several spots on the defensive line. He has done so in the past, including in 2011.
Garrett said the Cowboys will continue to move Ratliff him around but like him best at nose tackle because of his style, attitude and work ethic.
And for those who question the team's leadership, those are the attributes that Garrett says makes Ratliff a good leader too.
“We’ve talked a lot about that, and if you really watch our football team, you’ve seen Ratliff play a lot of spots on the defensive line," Garrett said. "He’s played over the center as a nose tackle, he’s played over the guards, he’s played over the tackle at different times depending on the front that we’ve been in. So he’s a guy who’s got great versatility. We like him playing nose. We like the style he plays with. He’s a heck of a football player, and one of those leaders. Someone was asking about leadership earlier. That’s a great leader. Just come to practice one day. Watch that guy play one day. So, we’ve got a lot of guys like that who have taken on that leadership mantle, we just need more of them. We’re happy to have Ratliff.”
I don't believe one word that Garrett says. Ratliff should have been put back to defensive end like three years ago. Almost too late to do it now because he wouldn't be as effective as he would have been three years ago.
Posted by: Glenn Guillory | February 23, 2012 at 08:03 PM