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Jay Ratliff: 'The key to this business is having fun'
By Vinnie Iyer, Sporting NewsMay 20, 2010
One of the league's best nose tackles and a linchpin on a talented Cowboys defense, Jay Ratliff is coming off consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and his first All-Pro first-team selection. Ratliff, 28, talked to Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer about the team's success last season, the expectations for this season and what he is doing to stay in shape in between:
SN: How would you assess the 2009 season, considering the Cowboys were able to end their playoff win drought?
JR: We feel like we accomplished some, but we can do a whole lot more. We need to be more consistent over a whole season. We will accomplish greater things if we're smarter.
SN: You're the reigning NFC East champions, but it seems like you can never rest in your division. What do you think of the other teams?
JR: The Giants, we still lost to them twice, and they were able to come back on us. Donovan McNabb gives the Redskins great leadership and that ability to scramble out of the pocket and make big plays. The Eagles have a new quarterback they like and just one of the most physical offensive lines.
It's a tough road.
SN: How did it feel to end division play last season by beating Philadelphia twice in a row at home?
JR: Funny, at the time, it didn't feel like we were doing anything special.
We were just performing the best we can. It was just a natural reaction, picking up where we left off in the first game. It really felt we were in some kind of trance.
SN: What has made the team so successful with coach Wade Phillips calling the defensive plays?
JR: His defense is very simple. It doesn't really allow us to think, but just react. At first, know what gaps to cover and which to leave open. Once you get comfortable, as a nose tackle, you can work in more than one gap. We're free to make tweaks as long it's within the defense, helping us to make plays.
SN: Everyone looks at your strong 3-4 front, but how well did your young secondary play last season?
JR: You saw Mike Jenkins find his stride. It all clicked, and I think he'll be a premier corner. Then you had Alan Ball having an impact on special teams, and then you had Pat Watkins and Orlando Scandrick step up. They all have a hunger to get better.
SN: So what's it's like to play in a front seven with DeMarcus Ware?
JR: The first thing with him, and other players, like Miles Austin, he's always smiling. He's always in a good mood, and you never see him down. When a play needs to be made, he pushes everybody. He likes to have fun and stays humble, and he's just a great all-around athlete.
SN: Is it extra motivation knowing the Super Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium?
JR: You know, that's being asked a lot of us so far. I'm not sure that's something makes us more focused because that's already our goal. You can't look to one game down the line. You have to be focused on winning a lot of weeks just to get there.
SN: What do you attribute to your game steadily improving over the years?
JR: No. 1, you always stay hungry, and you always want to learn. You want to get down the techniques and your responsibilities in a defense, and also learn what the offense is doing to stop you. I've had some great coaches.
Now it's coach (Paul) Pasqualoni. I'm excited to learn more from him because he's one of the best in the league.
SN: Would you say you had a lot of fun as a team while you were winning last season?
JR: The key to this business is having fun. Our team success started in the locker room. You have guys like Tashard Choice and Sam Hurd, that no matter what, they would be ridiculous with their joking, and it would get us to start laughing. We all meshed well, and we played well knowing we were more confident as a team.
SN: How do you maintain your playing shape in the offseason?
JR: I really watch what I eat -- I don't eat any fried food or sweets. Other than changing my eating, I push myself harder working out, trying to improve my endurance level. It's nothing top secret. It just gets harder with every season.
SN: What do you like to do when you have some free time?
JR: I like to just hang out at home and play with the kids. I also like to play Call of Duty. It's such an addictive game.
SN: When you're done with football, what would you like people to say about your career?
JR: That he played with everything he had and never held anything back on the field.
SN: How would you assess the 2009 season, considering the Cowboys were able to end their playoff win drought?
JR: We feel like we accomplished some, but we can do a whole lot more. We need to be more consistent over a whole season. We will accomplish greater things if we're smarter.
SN: You're the reigning NFC East champions, but it seems like you can never rest in your division. What do you think of the other teams?
JR: The Giants, we still lost to them twice, and they were able to come back on us. Donovan McNabb gives the Redskins great leadership and that ability to scramble out of the pocket and make big plays. The Eagles have a new quarterback they like and just one of the most physical offensive lines.
It's a tough road.
SN: How did it feel to end division play last season by beating Philadelphia twice in a row at home?
JR: Funny, at the time, it didn't feel like we were doing anything special.
We were just performing the best we can. It was just a natural reaction, picking up where we left off in the first game. It really felt we were in some kind of trance.
SN: What has made the team so successful with coach Wade Phillips calling the defensive plays?
JR: His defense is very simple. It doesn't really allow us to think, but just react. At first, know what gaps to cover and which to leave open. Once you get comfortable, as a nose tackle, you can work in more than one gap. We're free to make tweaks as long it's within the defense, helping us to make plays.
SN: Everyone looks at your strong 3-4 front, but how well did your young secondary play last season?
JR: You saw Mike Jenkins find his stride. It all clicked, and I think he'll be a premier corner. Then you had Alan Ball having an impact on special teams, and then you had Pat Watkins and Orlando Scandrick step up. They all have a hunger to get better.
SN: So what's it's like to play in a front seven with DeMarcus Ware?
JR: The first thing with him, and other players, like Miles Austin, he's always smiling. He's always in a good mood, and you never see him down. When a play needs to be made, he pushes everybody. He likes to have fun and stays humble, and he's just a great all-around athlete.
SN: Is it extra motivation knowing the Super Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium?
JR: You know, that's being asked a lot of us so far. I'm not sure that's something makes us more focused because that's already our goal. You can't look to one game down the line. You have to be focused on winning a lot of weeks just to get there.
SN: What do you attribute to your game steadily improving over the years?
JR: No. 1, you always stay hungry, and you always want to learn. You want to get down the techniques and your responsibilities in a defense, and also learn what the offense is doing to stop you. I've had some great coaches.
Now it's coach (Paul) Pasqualoni. I'm excited to learn more from him because he's one of the best in the league.
SN: Would you say you had a lot of fun as a team while you were winning last season?
JR: The key to this business is having fun. Our team success started in the locker room. You have guys like Tashard Choice and Sam Hurd, that no matter what, they would be ridiculous with their joking, and it would get us to start laughing. We all meshed well, and we played well knowing we were more confident as a team.
SN: How do you maintain your playing shape in the offseason?
JR: I really watch what I eat -- I don't eat any fried food or sweets. Other than changing my eating, I push myself harder working out, trying to improve my endurance level. It's nothing top secret. It just gets harder with every season.
SN: What do you like to do when you have some free time?
JR: I like to just hang out at home and play with the kids. I also like to play Call of Duty. It's such an addictive game.
SN: When you're done with football, what would you like people to say about your career?
JR: That he played with everything he had and never held anything back on the field.