Cowboys notebook
By Lary Bump
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Thursday, September 13, 2007
IRVING — Jay Ratliff will make his second NFL start in three years with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday — this time at nose tackle instead of defensive end — but that doesn't mean he will change his approach.
"I'll just keep doing what I'm doing," Ratliff said.
He played most of the opening game against the New York Giants after 11th-year pro Jason Ferguson suffered a torn right biceps that will cause him to miss the rest of the season. To take Ferguson's roster spot before the game against Miami, the Cowboys re-signed rookie Remi Ayodele, the brother of linebacker Akin Ayodele.
With Ratliff, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said, "there's going to be a little more movement with the nose tackle. The inside linebackers will have to move around a little more. These guys are going to try to pressure you, especially with a new nose guard in there."
Dallas drafted Ratliff — a 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pounder — as a defensive end in 2005. Will he bulk up more so he can improve at stopping the run? "Doing 50 or 60 plays? Getting heavier is not something I want to do," he said.
Ratliff played some last season as a situational inside pass rusher, and "that helped out a lot, just getting the experience for that many plays," he said. He also recorded the Cowboys' only sack in the opener against the Giants.
Newman, Ellis practice
Dallas' defense could receive a boost this week if two injured starters return. Cornerback Terence Newman (injured right foot) and outside linebacker Greg Ellis (left heel), who both missed the Cowboys' opener, practiced on a limited basis.
Phillips said of Ellis' participation, "It was limited, but it was a start.
"Terence moved around pretty well and made an interception, but he's still not comfortable moving in a certain direction."
He's a happy man
There's been a big difference in Terrell Owens during his second season with the Cowboys.
"He's happy," said fellow wide receiver Patrick Crayton. "Sunday night's game was reflective of that. Last year, if he didn't have any passes in the first half, he'd be yelling and maybe cussing at halftime. This time, he was patient. He waited until the ball came his way and he scored two touchdowns (against the Giants)."
Said Owens: "I didn't get the ball in the first half, but I decided to stay positive and stay in the game."
Extra points
With the New England Patriots facing possible sanctions for videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches' signals to players on the field, Phillips noted how the practice could be avoided.
"The league did vote for the defense to be able to communicate (electronically) with the signal caller, the way the offense can," he said. "I got up in front of the meeting and said that could do away with people trying to steal people's signals. We were one of the teams that voted for it, but it lost by a couple of votes."
Cowboys QB Tony Romo's biggest concern will be the Dolphins' DE Jason Taylor, who was the NFL's defensive player of the year last season with 13.5 sacks. Taylor and LB Zach Thomas each had a sack Sunday against the Redskins.
Up next: Dallas (1-0) at Miami (0-1), 3:05 p.m. Sunday
Last meeting: In Bill Parcells' first season as Cowboys coach, Dallas lost to Miami 40-21 on Nov. 27, 2003. Jay Fielder and Chris Chambers hooked up for three TD passes for the Dolphins while Cowboys QB Quincy Carter tossed three interceptions.
Whom to watch: Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown, who gained just 32 yards on 11 carries last week behind Miami's rebuilt offensive line.
Did you know? The last year when the Cowboys won their first two games to open a season was 1999.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 Cowboys' NFL ranking in points, total offense and passing offense after one game.
VI The number of the Super Bowl when the Cowboys and Dolphins met for the first time in their history, after the 1971 season.
29-18 Dallas' overall record in its first road games of the season, for an NFL-best .617 winning percentage.
DID YOU HEAR?
"My mentality is a grouch. Over here, I'm all business. Off the field, I have a personality."
— Jay Ratliff, the Cowboys' new starting nose tackle
AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT
Thursday, September 13, 2007
IRVING — Jay Ratliff will make his second NFL start in three years with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday — this time at nose tackle instead of defensive end — but that doesn't mean he will change his approach.
"I'll just keep doing what I'm doing," Ratliff said.
He played most of the opening game against the New York Giants after 11th-year pro Jason Ferguson suffered a torn right biceps that will cause him to miss the rest of the season. To take Ferguson's roster spot before the game against Miami, the Cowboys re-signed rookie Remi Ayodele, the brother of linebacker Akin Ayodele.
With Ratliff, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said, "there's going to be a little more movement with the nose tackle. The inside linebackers will have to move around a little more. These guys are going to try to pressure you, especially with a new nose guard in there."
Dallas drafted Ratliff — a 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pounder — as a defensive end in 2005. Will he bulk up more so he can improve at stopping the run? "Doing 50 or 60 plays? Getting heavier is not something I want to do," he said.
Ratliff played some last season as a situational inside pass rusher, and "that helped out a lot, just getting the experience for that many plays," he said. He also recorded the Cowboys' only sack in the opener against the Giants.
Newman, Ellis practice
Dallas' defense could receive a boost this week if two injured starters return. Cornerback Terence Newman (injured right foot) and outside linebacker Greg Ellis (left heel), who both missed the Cowboys' opener, practiced on a limited basis.
Phillips said of Ellis' participation, "It was limited, but it was a start.
"Terence moved around pretty well and made an interception, but he's still not comfortable moving in a certain direction."
He's a happy man
There's been a big difference in Terrell Owens during his second season with the Cowboys.
"He's happy," said fellow wide receiver Patrick Crayton. "Sunday night's game was reflective of that. Last year, if he didn't have any passes in the first half, he'd be yelling and maybe cussing at halftime. This time, he was patient. He waited until the ball came his way and he scored two touchdowns (against the Giants)."
Said Owens: "I didn't get the ball in the first half, but I decided to stay positive and stay in the game."
Extra points
With the New England Patriots facing possible sanctions for videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches' signals to players on the field, Phillips noted how the practice could be avoided.
"The league did vote for the defense to be able to communicate (electronically) with the signal caller, the way the offense can," he said. "I got up in front of the meeting and said that could do away with people trying to steal people's signals. We were one of the teams that voted for it, but it lost by a couple of votes."
Cowboys QB Tony Romo's biggest concern will be the Dolphins' DE Jason Taylor, who was the NFL's defensive player of the year last season with 13.5 sacks. Taylor and LB Zach Thomas each had a sack Sunday against the Redskins.
Up next: Dallas (1-0) at Miami (0-1), 3:05 p.m. Sunday
Last meeting: In Bill Parcells' first season as Cowboys coach, Dallas lost to Miami 40-21 on Nov. 27, 2003. Jay Fielder and Chris Chambers hooked up for three TD passes for the Dolphins while Cowboys QB Quincy Carter tossed three interceptions.
Whom to watch: Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown, who gained just 32 yards on 11 carries last week behind Miami's rebuilt offensive line.
Did you know? The last year when the Cowboys won their first two games to open a season was 1999.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 Cowboys' NFL ranking in points, total offense and passing offense after one game.
VI The number of the Super Bowl when the Cowboys and Dolphins met for the first time in their history, after the 1971 season.
29-18 Dallas' overall record in its first road games of the season, for an NFL-best .617 winning percentage.
DID YOU HEAR?
"My mentality is a grouch. Over here, I'm all business. Off the field, I have a personality."
— Jay Ratliff, the Cowboys' new starting nose tackle
posted by The Gryphon at 7:29 AM
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