Anthony Spencer

[ABQCOWBOY]

I've always wondered why some industrious college coach looking to revive a program doesn't push hard to be the premier 3-4 team on the college level. It would seem to be a built in advantage for recruiting. Pipeline to the NFL, using a defense that at 1/4 of the league uses at least occasionally.

I agree Stan. Seems like somebody would have done it by now. Good lord, if I played in the PAC10, I'd have tried something, anything, to try and slow down SC by now. Seems like a no brainer but I can't think of one major college that runs one.

Weired.

 

[Bull Frog]

This conversation sounded familiar to me so I did a search. While Ware did have one great pre-season game his rookie year this is what people thought two weeks into the season:

I watched him the entire game and all i can say is he just speed rushes everytime and ran around brunell, sometimes he would spin but he’d spin right into samuels, man he had some great moves, and so many sacks, phsyce, he was a real disappointment tonight. Anyone can run straight down the field.

Ware hasn't shown the ability yet to rush the passer from the DE position. He couldn't do it in the preseason and that even included going up against backup OT's in the 2nd half of some of those games.

...yes, I know he's young, etc., but he was dominated all night by an above-average OT in Samuels and he is showing no ability to separate from the blocker once he is engaged.

As someone else mentioned, he is looking a lot like Kavika Pittman and not so much like LT.

Maybe we should let him play a few games in the regular season before we conclude our evaluations.

 

[Champsheart]

What do you not think is accurate again??

I never said Spencer was ready to be a terror Week 1. I just don't think he's been all that bad. With Ellis out, and Carp's status uncertain, you're right, we're going to need him.

Is he going to look like the DROY Week 1? doubtful. But is he going to be terrible and a complete liability? I don't think so. I think teams are going to have to worry about him on the pass rush at least, unlike Singleton.

{It's still preseason folks. Hard to make a definitive judgment on a guy at a new position based on some preseason action}

This statement I did not think was accurate. I guess it depends on your definition of judgement. I think we can judge a lot based on his pre-season action, nothing long term, but that is not what we are talking about, just his ability to step in week one and play at a level to help the team.

 

[Rampage]

This conversation sounded familiar to me so I did a search. While Ware did have one great pre-season game his rookie year this is what people thought two weeks into the season:

I watched him the entire game and all i can say is he just speed rushes everytime and ran around brunell, sometimes he would spin but he’d spin right into samuels, man he had some great moves, and so many sacks, phsyce, he was a real disappointment tonight. Anyone can run straight down the field.

Ware hasn't shown the ability yet to rush the passer from the DE position. He couldn't do it in the preseason and that even included going up against backup OT's in the 2nd half of some of those games.

...yes, I know he's young, etc., but he was dominated all night by an above-average OT in Samuels and he is showing no ability to separate from the blocker once he is engaged.

As someone else mentioned, he is looking a lot like Kavika Pittman and not so much like LT.

Maybe we should let him play a few games in the regular season before we conclude our evaluations.

that was so refreshing

 

[Blue&Silver]

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in Spencer. We traded three draft picks for one to get him. That said, it's only preseason and he's only a rookie. I think he has a bright future, just not right now.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I agree Stan. Seems like somebody would have done it by now. Good lord, if I played in the PAC10, I'd have tried something, anything, to try and slow down SC by now. Seems like a no brainer but I can't think of one major college that runs one.

Weired.

Quite a few major teams dabble in the 3-4. But one really needs to step up and say that it's going to be the base for at least 4 years and recruit hard for it.

I'm kind of surprised that Notre Dame didn't make the switch when Weis was hired. It seems like the perfect defense for them considering a majority of their quality opponents play a pro-style offense instead of the spread option.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Of course Groh has run it for several years now...

I'm sure that the 34 love will filter down to college now that it's getting bigger in the pros. It's just takes a few years for the change to take place.

 

[Doomsday101]

Looking for opinions on him. I know he is learning a whole different position in a new defense, but I just thought we would be hearing a bunch more about him. I have heard Wade talk optimistically about him. Any opinions from what you have seen?

I think he is still very raw and will make some mistakes along the way but I'm very optimistic.

 

[peplaw06]

{It's still preseason folks. Hard to make a definitive judgment on a guy at a new position based on some preseason action}

This statement I did not think was accurate. I guess it depends on your definition of judgement. I think we can judge a lot based on his pre-season action, nothing long term, but that is not what we are talking about, just his ability to step in week one and play at a level to help the team.

You're focusing on the wrong word there...

It's not about not making a judgment on him, it's about making a definitive judgment on him. As long as your "judgment" is malleable, then I'm fine with that. Hell I've made a preliminary judgment on him. I don't think he's going to play like DROY in week 1. But I'm not disappointed in him. It's still early.

EDIT: Hey, 5,000...

 

[sago1]

Wade has also reminded everyone that Merriman didn't start until the 4th game of the season. Yet here we are being forced rush Spencer along when he clearly, just like Merriman who ain't a bad player now is he, isn't ready. Spencer is what he is at this point in his young career.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Quite a few major teams dabble in the 3-4. But one really needs to step up and say that it's going to be the base for at least 4 years and recruit hard for it.

I'm kind of surprised that Notre Dame didn't make the switch when Weis was hired. It seems like the perfect defense for them considering a majority of their quality opponents play a pro-style offense instead of the spread option.

I agree. I actually thought that Texas would have been a excellent candidate to do this when they had Crowder, Robison, Lewis and Harris. They could have made a pretty nice 34 LB crew. You had Wright, Dibbles and Martin or Tulley who would have fit well for a 34 DL. They had DBs who could cover, they would have been a pretty nice 34 set.

Having said that, I hate the 34 so I'm glad they didn't.

LOL.....

 

[Rack]

Why dont we just draft players that know the position already?makes no sense.

^^^ Question...

Because most college teams don't run 34s. That means that 4.6 260 pound OLBs for the 34 are usually playing DE in a 43 in College.

^^^ Answer.

Ok...here goes nothing.....Carpenter should be starting over Spencer at this point of the season....The work Spencer has received over the last 2 months will help him tremendously as he continues to adjust to a new postion...but Carpenter is better at the point of attack which Spencer seems lost at times...

I agree, although I don't think Carp necessarily has to start. Just get him a series here and there and let Spencer watch from the sideline. As long as they don't expect to have Spencer out there every snap. I say split them up about 50/50.

 

[firehawk350]

I think Spencer has the physical gifts to play well at this level, but I don't think we're looking at a more then 5 sacks from him this season. He just seems WAY too raw and you have to expect that picking at 26. I really don't expect him to start "putting it together" until the latter half of the season. Just my thoughts.

 

[BouncingCheese]

I will hold serious judgement and criticism from him until halfway into next season. The LB positions are hard to adjust to even when playing the position all throughout the college career, let alone looking at the field from a totally different POV.

Again, same thing with Carpenter and Spears; they have all the physical talent in the world. It boils down to instincts and motor respectively.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If Spencer doesn't start at all this year, it's still to early to say he's a bad pick. We were very lucky that Ware played as well as he did as a Rookie. Spencer is good but he's not Ware by any stretch. It's going to take some time and we're just going to have to get used to that idea. In a couple seasons, we are going to be glad we took this kid IMO. Ware and Spencer are going to be very good I think.

 

[BouncingCheese]

If Spencer doesn't start at all this year, it's still to early to say he's a bad pick. We were very lucky that Ware played as well as he did as a Rookie. Spencer is good but he's not Ware by any stretch. It's going to take some time and we're just going to have to get used to that idea. In a couple seasons, we are going to be glad we took this kid IMO. Ware and Spencer are going to be very good I think.

Agreed about Ware. I don't get why people expect Spencer to be able to adjust so fast.

One thing I hope happens from picking Carpenter and Spencer is that if they both don't work out (which honestly is a possibility) we will draft players for certain positions THAT THEY PLAYED IN COLLEGE. Stanback anybody? Spencer is a 4-3 DE, and Carpenter is a OLB. Stanback was a qb in college. Point is the chance of busting would be less if we draft for positions that players we pick actually played in college and had prior experience.

 

[peplaw06]

Of course Groh has run it for several years now...

I'm sure that the 34 love will filter down to college now that it's getting bigger in the pros. It's just takes a few years for the change to take place.

USC dabbled in it a bit last season, but they were still primarily a 43. Their D is gonna be stellar this season, I expect to see some switching again between 34 and 43.

 

[adbutcher]

This conversation sounded familiar to me so I did a search. While Ware did have one great pre-season game his rookie year this is what people thought two weeks into the season:

I watched him the entire game and all i can say is he just speed rushes everytime and ran around brunell, sometimes he would spin but he’d spin right into samuels, man he had some great moves, and so many sacks, phsyce, he was a real disappointment tonight. Anyone can run straight down the field.

Ware hasn't shown the ability yet to rush the passer from the DE position. He couldn't do it in the preseason and that even included going up against backup OT's in the 2nd half of some of those games.

...yes, I know he's young, etc., but he was dominated all night by an above-average OT in Samuels and he is showing no ability to separate from the blocker once he is engaged.

As someone else mentioned, he is looking a lot like Kavika Pittman and not so much like LT.

Maybe we should let him play a few games in the regular season before we conclude our evaluations.

 

[DallasDomination]

He shows some physical ability to play the position. He gets off the line pretty quick and has some Speed. But i think the only thing He's lacking right now is NFL strength and knowledge on his position. He looks like He's on the right track though.

 

[theogt]

He looks fine and is progressing just fine.