While DeMarcus Ware is the Dallas Cowboys' best player, and one of the only two members of the team to represent Dallas in the Pro Bowl, Jay Ratliff seems to get ignored by fans. However, over the last few years, Ratliff has been one of the Cowboys' most consistent defensive contributors.
Ratliff finished the 2011 season with 38 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery from the defensive tackle position. It was Ratliff's lowest sack numbers since his rookie season in 2005 but is about average for his tackle numbers. 2011 is also the fourth season in a row that Ratliff has made the NFL Pro Bowl.
Ratliff was a seventh round pick for Dallas from the Auburn Tigers and took over the starting nose tackle position after Jason Ferguson fell to injury in 2007. That season, he finished with 30 tackles and three interceptions and earned a new five-year, $20.5 million deal.
Two years later, he repaid the Cowboys' trust with his first All-Pro selection. That season, Ratliff finished with 40 tackles, six interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
While 2011 was a down year for the nose tackle, he has remained consistent for Dallas. By the end of 2011, Ratliff has now played in 64 straight games, all as a starter, the second longest streak for his position. 2011 saw the wear and tear start to become noticeable as Ratliff was slowed down at the end of the season.
One of the best ways to deal with this might be to move him to the end position. Right now the starters on the end are Kenyon Coleman and Jason Hatcher, with Marcus Spears and Sean Lissemore there for depth. I think the best thing for Dallas to do in 2012 is move Ratliff to an end position and plug Lissemore into the nose tackle position.
Lissemore was very impressive at the end of the season and finished the year with 28 tackles and two sacks as a reserve. Moving Ratliff to the outside might also provide Dallas with some quality play from a position that was disappointing in 2011. It might also help Ratliff improve his numbers and lengthen his career.
Either way, when looking at the 2011 Pro Bowl, while DeMarcus Ware is who Dallas fans always point to for his dominance, Ratliff is someone who has proven to be a star in his own right.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Dallas Cowboys' fan since he was a child. His favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s and he enjoys talking about all Cowboys' related news, good or bad
