3. For the second year in a row, most draft freaks were screaming for Dallas to draft a powerful run stuffing nose tackle and push Jay Ratliff to end. The logic was allow Ratliff to become a dominating end in a 3-4 and improve the run defense with the giant nose tackle to stuff the inside run. Josh Brent would get that chance along with versatile Sean Lissemore with Ratliff recovering from the high ankle sprain.
I wrote during the preseason that Jason Hatcher got off to a great start in 2011 before cooling off down the stretch but should be Dallas' first excellent 3 down interior lineman outside of Ratliff. Hatcher had a dominating game just having Giants lineman Kevin Boothe #77 at his fingertips most of the night. He made plays in the running game, keeping separation then locate the ballcarrier to make a play on the ball. Josh Brent did an excellent job as a two gap nose tackle allowing Sean Lee & Bruce Carter a clean route to the back. Lissemore cooled in the preseason after a red hot training camp but showed the ability to be stout at the point of attack and finish plays against the run.
14:49-4Q-92 plays two gap nose well. 54 unblocked as mike backer and fills hole vs back, jukes to outside and 54 speed allows him to still stuff the run.
Kenyon Coleman did not allow the pulling guard to create a huge hole and Brent is crashing down from his nose tackle spot. Carter is in position to stuff whichever hole Bradshaw decides to take.
I wrote in the preseason that Dallas would have quality depth along the defensive line and their performance in week 1 to withstand a injury and control the line of scrimmage vs the Giants backs up that claim. A long way to go for sure.
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