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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 28, 2010 18:43:03 GMT -6
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Dec 28, 2010 19:59:54 GMT -6
I definitely agree with Ware, Witten and McBriar. Ratliff had an off year, and Gurode is living off reputation at this point.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 28, 2010 20:14:37 GMT -6
Coaches, players, and fans each get 1/3 of the vote. He would not make it if he had lost it in the eyes of players and coaches. He wasn't as bad as we make him out to be. Maybe if we watched every other center in the NFL we'd see alot of the same bad things and not as many of the good things...don't get me wrong, he still needs to be replaced in the next season or so......
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 28, 2010 20:15:14 GMT -6
Also, I'm not so sure Ratliff had an "off" year. He is still among the best NTs/DTs in the NFC, easily.
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Post by mexicanjunior on Dec 29, 2010 0:20:25 GMT -6
All but Gurode are deserving to be in the Pro Bowl but only Witten and Mcbrair should be starters...
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 29, 2010 0:26:44 GMT -6
Ware is 2nd in the NFL in sacks. He deserves to start.
Suh is probably the only DT in the NFC better than Ratliff and he is the other starter.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Dec 29, 2010 8:05:46 GMT -6
Also, I'm not so sure Ratliff had an "off" year. He is still among the best NTs/DTs in the NFC, easily. "Off year" was probably too strong on my part, but not Pro Bowl starting level. |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 29, 2010 10:52:35 GMT -6
Also, I'm not so sure Ratliff had an "off" year. He is still among the best NTs/DTs in the NFC, easily. "Off year" was probably too strong on my part, but not Pro Bowl starting level. Other than Suh (the other starter) name a DT in the NFC that is having a better year. |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Dec 29, 2010 11:09:17 GMT -6
Coaches, players, and fans each get 1/3 of the vote. He would not make it if he had lost it in the eyes of players and coaches. He wasn't as bad as we make him out to be. Maybe if we watched every other center in the NFL we'd see alot of the same bad things and not as many of the good things...don't get me wrong, he still needs to be replaced in the next season or so...... The Cowboys in a surprise, got five players selected to start in the Pro Bowl.
We have no problem with DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten and Mat McBriar but Andre Gurode and Jay Ratliff were questionable.
Let's just say Witten and Ware have been fantastic this season. McBriar produced his best season. It's hard to pick three guys from a team that has 10 losses but remember this is a talented team.
Now let's go indepth with Ratliff and Gurode.
Gurode: The best offensive lineman for the Cowboys this season is left tackle Doug Free. He's not a Pro Bowler mind you, but he's been a productive member of this unit. Gurode, you could argue, has been the third best lineman behind left guard Kyle Kosier. Gurode has allowed just 1.5 sacks, according to Stats Inc., and been called for six penalties for 55 yards. His snaps are still a little inconsistent, the one to Stephen McGee on Saturday night comes to mind, it was low and outside, a catchable snap, but for a young quarterback you must be near perfect. Gurode probably earned this start on reputation as did the Giants Shaun O'hara, who missed nine games due to injuries. At times it's hard to judge offensive linemen because you're not sure what the line protection and that type of thing. Gurode has been above average this season. Pro Bowler? Not sure.
Ratliff: Last season, with two bad elbows and constant double-teams, Ratliff earned his first All Pro and second Pro Bowl berth. He had 40 total tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles. But what we also liked about him was two things: He was credited with 33 quarterback pressures and 7.5 stuffs. That means he stopped seven players at the line of scrimmage either for a loss or no gain. This season, with two healthy elbows, constant double-teams, he's got just 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks, no forced fumbles, 0 stuffs and 10 quarterback pressures. There are times Ratliff is almost there to make the play, twice vs. the Colts he did a great job in anticipating the snap count, and missed tackling Peyton Manning as he handed the ball off. He is still quick, and is probably having a down year. We think will bounce back. But he hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level in a season where the Cowboys needed him too. Maybe opposing players and coaches respect the fact he's got these numbers because of the number of blockers he faces every week and the nose tackle position is demanding. Maybe. |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Dec 29, 2010 11:09:53 GMT -6
"Off year" was probably too strong on my part, but not Pro Bowl starting level. Other than Suh (the other starter) name a DT in the NFC that is having a better year. I can't. So I guess based on that, Ratliff belongs. |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 29, 2010 14:55:39 GMT -6
DTs are just too tough to judge on numbers (unless their numbers are amazing, like Suh's). Coaches and players know who has to be game planned for. This year, teams are planning for Ware and Ratliff. Last year, I doubt Ratliff was high on their 'planned for' list.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 29, 2010 19:13:23 GMT -6
Something to consider while hating on Gurode (and I'm almost as guilty of that as anyone here).
Performance of Cowboys offensive linemen in 2010
Position; Player; Sacks allowed; QB hits allowed
LT; Doug Free; 5; 7
LG; Kyle Kosier; 1; 2
C; Andre Gurode; 1; 2
RG; Leonard Davis; 5; 1
RT; Marc Colombo; 7; 11
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Post by matt51180 on Dec 30, 2010 8:54:52 GMT -6
Man...That Colombo stat line is hard to look at.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Dec 30, 2010 11:59:28 GMT -6
yeah...Free's isn't so good either, but he went through a very rough 3 game stretch in the middle of the season. He was good early and he has been good lately. I think he just had some growing pains.
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