Best New Defensive Lineman

[gbrittain]

Premature prediction time. I am very excited about the potential of our D lineman. I hope that they are up to the challenge of meeting expectations.

My question is who do you think will be the best of them all when their careers are over?

In this poll I have only included those players who were rookies last year and the rookies this year.

Me personally, I really believe that Chris Canty is going to be a star. If not for his injury who knows how high he might have been drafted.

 

[Funxva]

Well I think we know where our thoughts stand. Hah.

 

[gbrittain]

Well I think we know where our thoughts stand. Hah.

Wow, I did not expect this to be such a slam dunk. I thought Canty would lead the poll but not by this margin.

 

[superpunk]

LOL....Canty is a fan favorite. Spears never stood a chance. He's EXPECTED to be fantastic. Canty was a huge steal, and IMO, played every bit as well as Spears. I love em both - but only had one vote.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Wow, I did not expect this to be such a slam dunk. I thought Canty would lead the poll but not by this margin.

Well, I doubt there is too much to question there. By far, there was no doubt Canty has the most potential, barring injury to be the stud DE in NFL, with multiple pro-bowl potential.

But I get the question is the longevity to attain that status.

 

[RCowboyFan]

LOL....Canty is a fan favorite. Spears never stood a chance. He's EXPECTED to be fantastic. Canty was a huge steal, and IMO, played every bit as well as Spears. I love em both - but only had one vote.

Yep, my sentiments exactly.

 

[gbrittain]

LOL....Canty is a fan favorite. Spears never stood a chance. He's EXPECTED to be fantastic. Canty was a huge steal, and IMO, played every bit as well as Spears. I love em both - but only had one vote.

Lot of truth there my friend, lot of truth.

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Spears last year. Not saying he was not good, but I did expect him to perform a little higher level and I am sure that has much to do with his status as a first roudner as you alluded to.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

Im going with Marcus Spears, but Canty was suppose to be a early to late round first round draft choice... that's says alot...

Marcus Spears because he was a first round draft choice...

 

[DCowboyz]

Marcus Spears.. Had some injuries last season.. Will come back this year & have his breakout season.

 

[Dale]

Spears, to me, is more an anchor type, while Canty has a little more athleticism and upside to where he may be more disruptive.

Each has his place.

Now, where's Eddie to remind us all that Kavika Pittman and Shante Carver were once Cowboys?

 

[gbrittain]

Spears, to me, is more an anchor type, while Canty has a little more athleticism and upside to where he may be more disruptive.

Each has his place.

Now, where's Eddie to remind us all that Kavika Pittman and Shante Carver were once Cowboys?

or Danny Noonan for that matter, because after all it is relevant.:laugh2:

 

[superpunk]

Lot of truth there my friend, lot of truth.

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Spears last year. Not saying he was not good, but I did expect him to perform a little higher level and I am sure that has much to do with his status as a first roudner as you alluded to.

Yeah, we set ourselves up for disappointment. As a 3-4 DE - the chances of him actually playing well were lowered initially, and the chances of us REALLY noticing it when he did, were even less. Hard to tell with that position.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Lot of truth there my friend, lot of truth.

I was somewhat underwhelmed by Spears last year. Not saying he was not good, but I did expect him to perform a little higher level and I am sure that has much to do with his status as a first roudner as you alluded to.

Actually Spears really came on late season, and actually outplayed Canty. Its just that Canty was such a surprise even after all the TC hype, that he just overshadowed Spears for most of the season.

 

[Paniolo22]

Spears, to me, is more an anchor type, while Canty has a little more athleticism and upside to where he may be more disruptive.

Each has his place.

Now, where's Eddie to remind us all that Kavika Pittman and Shante Carver were once Cowboys?

I will always remember how Canty was tearing up the Denver O Line on Thanksgiving Day. For him not to be in on Daynes run was disappointing.

 

[aznhalf]

If we got Spears in the 4th and Canty in the 1st this poll would be flipped.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Ware or Canty

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think Spears will be the best. He had a great junior year and was off to a great senior year before he injured his knee against Georgia. Despite the injury, he was still productive.

His knee was still bothering him at the Senior Bowl and he was one of the best players there. And it was still bothering him at his Pro Day workout and he wound up running the 40 in 5.1 seconds.

Then he got injured the first week of training camp and it set him back about the first half of the season.

As the season progressed, he started playing really well at the end. When he was at LSU, it was reported that he ran a 4.8 forty time and when I saw him pick up the fumble against KC (IIRC), he looked like a 4.8 time in the 40 wasn't out of the question.

Now, if he can stay healthy and with a year of NFL and 3-4 experience under his belt, he's got the ability to be a good 3-4 DE or move to the inside in the 4-3 or nickel. More importantly, I believe he can rush the passer as a DE in the nickel, something very few 3-4 DE's can do.

While I like Canty and Ratliff, I don't think they can do that.

Rich.........

 

[Eskimo]

It'll be interesting to see how they do this year. Spears is more of a power player but Canty seems to use his hands better and has the knack for slinking between OL to make big plays.

This year will be a good barometer because I don't think either guy was in peak condition last year - Spears because of his TC knee injury and Canty recovering for knee and eye surgeries. Couple that with a year of NFL knowledge in their belt and their first full NFL offseason conditioning program and they should really be improved next year. I also have high hopes for Ratliff who showed excellent potential as a pass rusher from the DT slot in the nickel. I also wonder if Pepper gets moved back to DE if Stanley shows the ability to be the backup at NT - this would make Ellis expendable if the right offer came along.

 

[gbrittain]

It'll be interesting to see how they do this year. Spears is more of a power player but Canty seems to use his hands better and has the knack for slinking between OL to make big plays.

This year will be a good barometer because I don't think either guy was in peak condition last year - Spears because of his TC knee injury and Canty recovering for knee and eye surgeries. Couple that with a year of NFL knowledge in their belt and their first full NFL offseason conditioning program and they should really be improved next year. I also have high hopes for Ratliff who showed excellent potential as a pass rusher from the DT slot in the nickel. I also wonder if Pepper gets moved back to DE if Stanley shows the ability to be the backup at NT - this would make Ellis expendable if the right offer came along.

That is a good point when referring to the shape that they were in. This year should really be a great year for them.

 

[cowboyuptx]

I gotta say, I'm more excited about Canty, than any of the others.
One thing about Canty, he is by far (IMO), our quickest D-Lineman.
He gets off the ball so fast, then he's got that nice spin-move and a swim-move.

Spears seemed very solid, and he maybe a better run-stopper than Canty,
but Canty seems like the better pass-rusher.