DMN: Jason Garrett on Anthony Spencer: "He's among the better OLB in 3-4 defense"

[WoodysGirl]

ByDavid Moore / Reporter
dmoore@dallasnews.com | Bio

11:40 PM on Mon., Mar. 5, 2012 | Permalink

Head coach Jason Garrett spoke about the Cowboys decision to use the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer.

"The franchise tag is one of the ways teams can try to keep their really good players,'' Garrett said. "Spence is a guy who has played really well for us and is the right kind of guy. He's been a very productive player for us.

"A lot of people get caught up in he only had six sacks. I think if you look at his total production, how he's effected quarterbacks, how he's effected games, tackles for loss, hurries, tackles, all of that stuff, he's really been a strong contributor to our football team.

Read the rest: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/cowboys-jason-garrett-on-antho.html

[Chocolate Lab]

:popcorn:

[Doomsday101]

All is this is fine but Dallas still has to find a way to generate more pressure on a consistent bases. If we are not getting in out of Spencer then we best find a DE who can.

I understand that part of Spencer job is to drop back into coverage much more than Ware does but we still have a situation of QB having too much time.

[The30YardSlant]

How very Barry Switzer-esque of him

[InmanRoshi]

What do you expect him to say "We're spending $9 million this year on a mediocre player"?

If they really felt he was one of the top lf the Top OLBs in the NFL, shouldn't they have gotten an extension worked well before this point? They didn't wait around until the last minute and slap the franchise tag on DeMarcus Ware or Jay Ratliff. If Sean Lee stays healthy they probably won't wait very long to get him locked up either.

[Doomsday101]

What do you expect him to say "We're spending $9 million this year on a mediocre player"?

If they really felt he was one of the top lf the Top OLBs in the NFL, shouldn't they have gotten an extension worked well before this point? They didn't wait around until the last minute before they hit the market to slap the franchise tag on DeMarcus Ware or Jay Ratliff. If Sean Lee stays healthy they probably won't wait very long to get him locked up either.

True, I think after looking at the alternative they came to the conclusion that it was in their best interest, not that Spencer had earned it.

I think the stats that Garrett is talking about are good numbers from a good player but not a franchise type player.

[Nation]

All is this is fine but Dallas still has to find a way to generate more pressure on a consistent bases. If we are not getting in out of Spencer then we best find a DE who can.

I understand that part of Spencer job is to drop back into coverage much more than Ware does but we still have a situation of QB having too much time.

I agree with this completely. We need another 3-4 end to pair with Hatcher in the nickel package and we need a lot more pressure from our inside linebackers as well.

[RoyTheHammer]

So Jason Garrett says you have to look at his overall production and he's not a lazy player.

Hopefully, some of you will stuff a sock in it now.

[Doomsday101]

I agree with this completely. We need another 3-4 end to pair with Hatcher in the nickel package and we need a lot more pressure from our inside linebackers as well.

Hopfully Carter will be able to use his speed to bring pressure. When Dallas was blitzing James and Brooking they were unable to get there to make the plays. My hope is with the speed we have at ILB that it may change how effective inside blitzes are.

[RoyTheHammer]

I agree with this completely. We need another 3-4 end to pair with Hatcher in the nickel package and we need a lot more pressure from our inside linebackers as well.

Sean Lissemore did very well in the limited snaps he got last year. Could be a starter by the end of next season at DE for us if we don't draft one high.

[Doomsday101]

Sean Lissemore did very well in the limited snaps he got last year. Could be a starter by the end of next season at DE for us if we don't draft one high.

I did like what I was seeing from Sean Lissemore. I hope he has an expanded role this season.

Another guy I'm looking at is Josh Brent getting more time at NT at 6'2" 320

[Flinger]

No he's not!

What do you know, Garrett? You're just the Head Coach. Garrett - you need to read this Board more often. You just don't get it. Jones must be brainwashing you.

[Frozen700]

Is Spencer Elite? No...Solid? Yes....

Butler probably can rush the passer, but can he play the run well?

[Idgit]

Hopfully Carter will be able to use his speed to bring pressure. When Dallas was blitzing James and Brooking they were unable to get there to make the plays. My hope is with the speed we have at ILB that it may change how effective inside blitzes are.

When Bradie James was inexplicably able to get interior pressure for a period in 2009, the defense got a lot better. We could use an upgrade at Coleman's position at DE, I agree, and we really need more pressure from the ILBs and from Spencer. Hopefully, better coverage on the back end helps out with that. And hopefully, we can get a quality pressure player with one of our first two picks.

Re: Garrett's comments, they're boilerplate as far as I'm concerned. But I like the sound of this:

We're excited to have him back and to be a part of what our defense is going to be.''

It's purely wishful thinking, but it sounds to me like we at least have a plan we believe in for fixing the defense.

[burmafrd]

So Jason Garrett says you have to look at his overall production and he's not a lazy player.

Hopefully, some of you will stuff a sock in it now.

Considering how often you have posted negative things about Garrett this is rich coming from you

[burmafrd]

I really hate Political Correctness anywhere it comes up.

And Red Ball unfortunately uses it quite often.

What he should have said is this

"After careful thought we went this way. Anthony Spencer is a player we decided to keep."

And not blow stupid sunshine up everyone's skirts by trying to make this JAG starter more then he is.

[Flinger]

I really hate Political Correctness anywhere it comes up.

And Red Ball unfortunately uses it quite often.

What he should have said is this

"After careful thought we went this way. Anthony Spencer is a player we decided to keep."

And not blow stupid sunshine up everyone's skirts by trying to make this JAG starter more then he is.
Maybe Garrett really believes Spencer is that good...

I've learned to trust people at their word until they give me a reason not to...

So far, I trust Garrett at his word.

[fortdick]

I really hate Political Correctness anywhere it comes up.

And Red Ball unfortunately uses it quite often.

What he should have said is this

"After careful thought we went this way. Anthony Spencer is a player we decided to keep."

And not blow stupid sunshine up everyone's skirts by trying to make this JAG starter more then he is.

I wish to make a point. Where did you stand with regards to the lockout? Were you pro union or pro owners? Cause everyone that supported the union is now seeing what they got. Spence may not be worth the money, but the players got a good deal and they are going to take a bigger chunk of the money as a result.

I don't mean to single you out here, and hope you do not take offense, as none is intended.

[Risen Star]

And my opinion of Garrett takes a hit.

[newlander]

And my opinion of Garrett takes a hit.


....I have hung in there with this guy until now but....to say he's "one of the better 3-4 OLB's" is just..........assinine. Jebus Red Ball, that is horrible.:banghead:

[Picksix]

I really hate Political Correctness anywhere it comes up.

And Red Ball unfortunately uses it quite often.

What he should have said is this

"After careful thought we went this way. Anthony Spencer is a player we decided to keep."

And not blow stupid sunshine up everyone's skirts by trying to make this JAG starter more then he is.

Yeah, because he should be all about trying to please us.

[Hostile]

dmoore@dallasnews.com

I think if you look at his total production, how he's effected quarterbacks, how he's effected games, tackles for loss, hurries, tackles, all of that stuff, he's really been a strong contributor to our football team.Affected Mr. Reporter.

Affect is to have an influence on or cause to change.

Effect is something that is the result of a change.

I am sorry that I expect paid writers to actually know how to do it. I am sorrier that so many in the DFW loop, don't know how worth two squirts of piss.

[RoyTheHammer]

Considering how often you have posted negative things about Garrett this is rich coming from you

Hmm.. i don't recall all those negative things. I think he's done some good things and there are certainly some things he can improve on, but it definitely hasn't even been close to all negative on him from me.

[Doomsday]

So Jason Garrett says you have to look at his overall production and he's not a lazy player.

Hopefully, some of you will stuff a sock in it now.

Right cause we all know the franchise has not been wrong about other players in recent years. Cough, cough, T. Newman this season, that was money well spent.

[RoyTheHammer]

Right cause we all know the franchise has not been wrong about other players in recent years. Cough, cough, T. Newman this season, that was money well spent.

Jason Garrett didn't decide to franchise T New and pay him 9 million dollars to stick around. He was already under contract when he took over and we had few other options available.

[Doomsday]

Jason Garrett didn't decide to franchise T New and pay him 9 million dollars to stick around. He was already under contract when he took over and we had few other options available.

No but they did decide to keep him the last 2 seasons and over pay him in the process.

I guess Spencer is part of the "Super Bowl Talent" that Jerry keeps talking about. :lmao:

[RoyTheHammer]

No but they did decide to keep him the last 2 seasons and over pay him in the process.

I guess Spencer is part of the "Super Bowl Talent" that Jerry keeps talking about. :lmao:

Again, he was already under contract when JG took over though. JG didn't agree to pay him top 5 money for his position or tell the media that he thinks he's one of the best in the league at his position.

Spencer is a very solid SOLB.

[burmafrd]

I wish to make a point. Where did you stand with regards to the lockout? Were you pro union or pro owners? Cause everyone that supported the union is now seeing what they got. Spence may not be worth the money, but the players got a good deal and they are going to take a bigger chunk of the money as a result.

I don't mean to single you out here, and hope you do not take offense, as none is intended.

I was more towards the owners.

[burmafrd]

Affected Mr. Reporter.

Affect is to have an influence on or cause to change.

Effect is something that is the result of a change.

I am sorry that I expect paid writers to actually know how to do it. I am sorrier that so many in the DFW loop, don't know how worth two squirts of piss.



really really sad anymore. I read and EXPECT mistakes.

[Doomsday]

Again, he was already under contract when JG took over though. JG didn't agree to pay him top 5 money for his position or tell the media that he thinks he's one of the best in the league at his position.

Spencer is a very solid SOLB.

You dont pay SOLID LB's 8.8 million dollars. That money could be used to upgrade other positions. Ive seen this scenario of over paying your own players just for the sake of not be willing to move on play out a few too many times in recent years. You need to know when to cut your losses and move on.

[RoyTheHammer]

You dont pay SOLID LB's 8.8 million dollars. That money could be used to upgrade other positions. Ive seen this scenario of over paying your own players just for the sake of not be willing to move on play out a few too many times in recent years. You need to know when to cut your losses and move on.

It'd be a loss NOT to have him back this year. Who would we have gotten to upgrade the position? Its a one year deal, and Jerry has already said that we will be very active come FA time and also that bringing Spencer back doesn't mean we won't add another pass rusher too. So we're retaining a very solid player for our D for another year, not locking ourselves into a long term deal, while keeping the possibility of upgrading wide open.

Its a win win for the organization, who were we going to get in FA that would have been an upgrade anyway?

And do you really believe the Cowboys don't have a plan on how they want to attack FA and who they want to target?

Believe me, if we want a player, this deal isn't going to stand in the way of anything.

[burmafrd]

It'd be a loss NOT to have him back this year. Who would we have gotten to upgrade the position? Its a one year deal, and Jerry has already said that we will be very active come FA time and also that bringing Spencer back doesn't mean we won't add another pass rusher too. So we're retaining a very solid player for our D for another year, not locking ourselves into a long term deal, while keeping the possibility of upgrading wide open.

Its a win win for the organization, who were we going to get in FA that would have been an upgrade anyway?

And do you really believe the Cowboys don't have a plan on how they want to attack FA and who they want to target?

Believe me, if we want a player, this deal isn't going to stand in the way of anything.


Frankly we could get someone who would not be much of a dropoff for half of that; or take a chance on Butler and a draft choice and save all of it.

[RoyTheHammer]

Frankly we could get someone who would not be much of a dropoff for half of that; or take a chance on Butler and a draft choice and save all of it.

Who could we get in FA then for half of that.. name a player or two or three?

..and as i've already mentioned, Jerry already came out and said this move doesn't mean we won't go pass rusher high in the draft.

So again, you keep a solid vet for another year, and you also keep the possibility of upgrading wide open.

Moving on..

[rafaelgreco]

The Cowboys looked at Anthony Spencer’s overall production, not just sacks, when they decided to place a franchise tag on him and avoid letting him go into the market as a free agent.

“We look at production. We look at how he produces week in and week out,” Garrett said. “It’s more than just sacks. He shows up in games. ... You compare him to guys around the league who play his position. He’s among the better outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense.”

Spencer, an outside linebacker playing opposite sack master DeMarcus Ware, has never had more than six sacks in any of his five seasons since being taken in the the first round of Purdue in 2007.

But last year, he was the Cowboys’ third-leading tackler, had the second most quarterback hurries, second most quarterback hits and led the team with four forced fumbles, including one that sealed a victory in a Monday night game against the Washington Redskins.

“He was the outstanding player on our team in, I think, two or three of our wins that we had this year in our season,” Garrett said. “He’s a guy who shows up on defense. He showed up on special teams. He blocked a field goal. He’s one of those guys who’s productive, and his production happened in a lot of different ways. We’re excited to have him back, to be a part of what our defense is going to be.”

Garrett was asked about criticism that Spencer does not appear to have a big motor when he is playing.

“I think what happens with some guys is a lot of guys have a demeanor on the field, and some guys you know, they’re more rah-rah type guys, and maybe they look like they’re working harder, so to speak,” Garrett said. “But I think if you watch Spence play, down in and down out, when he defends the run and he rushes the passer or covers in the passing game, he does things really well and he does things easily.”

-- Carlos Mendez

Twitter @calexmendez

Read more here: http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2012/03/garrett-says-anthony-spencer-is-among-the-better-outside-linebackers-in-the-3-4.html#storylink=cpy

[Goku]

ok if spencer is great.

ware is great.

ratliff is great.

why is there a lack of pass rush on this team?

is it all on coleman and spears?

[Vanilla2]

ok if spencer is great.

ware is great.

ratliff is great.

why is there a lack of pass rush on this team?

is it all on coleman and spears?

The only great player on the cowboys defense is Ware.

There is no viable replacement for Spencer this off season, and I understand your agenda, but at this point this is the safest move for the organization long term.

And yes Spears and Coleman deserve alot of the blame for a lack of pressure.

[Idgit]

ok if spencer is great.

ware is great.

ratliff is great.

why is there a lack of pass rush on this team?

is it all on coleman and spears?

We had coverage breakdowns. And at the end of the year, we had inadequate CB play. That extra half-second in the pocket makes a world of difference between pressures and sacks. We got little sack contribution from ILBs or DEs. And Spencer didn't deliver the sack totals we were counting on. They call him Almost Anthony for a reason. And Spencer isn't great, and Ratliff really wasn't great this past season. Just good.

[Risen Star]

We had coverage breakdowns. And at the end of the year, we had inadequate CB play.

That had exactly nothing to do with our lack of pressure.

[Idgit]

That had exactly nothing to do with our lack of pressure.

Was that your opinion after watching our safety play in the first Giants game, as well?

Of course coverage and pressure are related, and of course coverage breakdowns affect a defense's ability to get to a QB.

[Double Trouble]

:facepalm:

[RoyTheHammer]

Was that your opinion after watching our safety play in the first Giants game, as well?

Of course coverage and pressure are related, and of course coverage breakdowns affect a defense's ability to get to a QB.

Just as clear as it is that coverage and pressure are, indeed, related.. i believe its also pretty clear that our DL was getting almost zero push up the middle on the pass rush most plays so that extra half a second or full second wouldn't have meant much to our pass rush last year anyway. We really need to upgrade that DL and i still think a solid traditional NT would go a long way on this team. A guy like Rubin or Rogers that Ryan had in Cleveland would look great on this DL.

[gmoney112]

Not sure why everyone is so butthurt, it's already been reported that Spencer's agent is seeking a longer term deal so he's not going to be making the 8.8 million this year. He's also a solid, productive OLB. You don't just send those guys off when you run a 3-4 defense and hope you can find a replacement.

And it's a team game. Pressure can't come from two guys if the majority of the front 7 are a bunch of JAGs. You need a defensive line who can actually be a little disruptive so the offensive line has to actually worry about them, allowing your OLB's to make plays. I think Justin Smith had more sacks and pressures than our entire defensive line put together, and the DE playing opposite him was a force too. We need that.

[realtick]

It'd be a loss NOT to have him back this year. Who would we have gotten to upgrade the position? Its a one year deal, and Jerry has already said that we will be very active come FA time and also that bringing Spencer back doesn't mean we won't add another pass rusher too. So we're retaining a very solid player for our D for another year, not locking ourselves into a long term deal, while keeping the possibility of upgrading wide open.

Its a win win for the organization, who were we going to get in FA that would have been an upgrade anyway?



Basically how I feel.

Franchising Spencer doesn't preclude us from drafting a passrusher either.

[Beast_from_East]

So Jason Garrett says you have to look at his overall production and he's not a lazy player.

Hopefully, some of you will stuff a sock in it now.

So the same guy who pissed away 3 games this year because he didnt know what the hell he was doing on the sideline (see icing your own kicker) thinks Spencer is a stud.


:lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2:

[RoyTheHammer]

So the same guy who pissed away 3 games this year because he didnt know what the hell he was doing on the sideline (see icing your own kicker) thinks Spencer is a stud.

Yes.. Jason Garrett is just a dumb, dumb football coach. Its amazing he hasn't been banished from the league yet. How does he have a job?

:rolleyes:

[Doomsday101]

I have read what Garrett said and have yet to see where he said Spencer was great or a stud. He said he was a good player. He is a good player, he is not Ware who is a pro bowl caliber possible HOF player. Whoever said Spencer was? Garrett didn't

[RoyTheHammer]

I have read what Garrett said and have yet to see where he said Spencer was great or a stud. He said he was a good player. He is a good player, he is not Ware who is a pro bowl caliber possible HOF player. Whoever said Spencer was? Garrett didn't

The thread title has the JG quote.. some are just choosing to replace "among the better 34 OLB's" with other words that don't mean the same thing.

[Doomsday101]

The thread title has the JG quote.. some are just choosing to replace "among the better 34 OLB's" with other words that don't mean the same thing.

I agree. No one is claiming Spencer to be the best. He was the best option is a slim market. He is a good player just as good as Brooks in SF.

Not thrilled with 8.8 contract but if it stays that way it is one year if a longer term deal comes I would expect it to be in Brooks range