CBS: Spencer breakout year

[Fletch]

Most of us all love what Ellis brings to the table. But for the past few years, Ellis goes through his traditional disgruntled period before every season. It's getting old.

We drafted Anthony Spencer out of Purdue as an eventual replacement, but mainly because the Cowboy's brass was unsure if Ellis was going to return from an achilles' injury.

Enter Spencer's second season. He now has a full year of offseason workouts under his belt and another year in the streamlined version of Wade's & Stewart's 3-4, attacking style defense.

My point in all of this, Anthony Spencer will indeed be Ware's counterpart for many years. We are going to be anchored by two of the best at the LB position.

Keep number 93 in sight. I would like to think this is going to be a breakout year, with many more to follow.

 

[Fletch]

I tend to agree.
The team has tried yearly to shove Ellis aside and he has yearly cried that he was not able to play better than X,Y or Z at said position. Then he goes out and plays extremely well.

Ellis needs some snaps off and Spencer gives him that but Ellis isn't giving up important in game snaps anytime soon. Spencer ideally gets all the backup OLB snaps and we can give Ware at least a small breather and Ellis a series off here and there.

Sorry. But don't bet the farm on Ellis keeping Spencer on the bench for (as you like to call it) "the important game snaps". Spencer is a beast, and is only getting better. Ellis might just be on the bench for those important snaps by mid season.

*Spencer already proved that he could help keep the Dallas D afloat while Ellis nursed his heel early last season.

 

[soccerbud]

That is a little exxaggeration... Ellis has consistently performed at below ten sacks ayear and he has never been known as a pass-rushing specialist. He has never eclipsed it witrh the exception of this year. The only year he performed better was when he was in a different system, but he still faded late in the year like he always does. He has always been good at stopping the run.

Spencer will be able to beat him. In fact, it boggles my mind why he never got more playing time. Spencer was playing better than Ellis by the end of the year. Also, the 3 man combo of Spencer, Ellis and Ware gave fits to opposising defense, I have no idea why Wade just shelved it, even though he glowed about it in presence confereneces.

maybe because he played alongside defensive line nobodies such as Ebenezer Ekuban, Kenyon Coleman, Marcus Wiley, Willie Blade, Michale Myers for the most of his career until Ware came around to take pressure off him.

 

[AbeBeta]

it was sacrasmism

 

[jobberone]

Ellis can still play and at a high level. We all see what he can do with some supporting staff. There aren't many guys who have ever been able to do it all alone and they are all in the HOF.

 

[Rampage]

Ellis can't cover. he has to be a pass rush specialist.

 

[jobberone]

Ellis can't cover. he has to be a pass rush specialist.

I don't think they want to see him running downfield with big TEs on a regular basis but he gets it done when he has to. I will admit he looks rather clumsy at it.

 

[AbeBeta]

Ellis can't cover. he has to be a pass rush specialist.

it isn't the coverage that is an issue -- it is the run D -- as a DE he used to be good run defender - in the NBA we'd call him a good "team" defender -- he was well disciplined and stayed where he was supposed to. As an OLB he's really just a little slow to be an above average run D guy.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I hope the best for Spencer, I still haven't seen him as a quick twich athlete, and that does bother me cause alot of great pass rushers have that cat quickness. It is not something you teach, you either have it or you don't. Ware has it, Ellis doesn't, and I see Spencer more like Ellis.

In Wade's system, you can't have too many pass rushers, so hopefully we can keep them all happy and Ellis accepts his role rolleyes whatever that may be. I would actually like to see us be able to rest Ware for a series....I know I'm dreaming.

 

[jrumann59]

I hope the best for Spencer, I still haven't seen him as a quick twich athlete, and that does bother me cause alot of great pass rushers have that cat quickness. It is not something you teach, you either have it or you don't. Ware has it, Ellis doesn't, and I see Spencer more like Ellis.

But up against Ellis' quickness Spencer looks like the flash. Right now Ellis is in that limbo where he is good enough and has enough guile to keep Spencer at bay for maybe 1 more year but if Spencer keeps progressing and shows more flashes of what is to come Ellis my be relegated to the Jim Jeffcoat role on this team by Spencer's 3rd year.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

But up against Ellis' quickness Spencer looks like the flash. Right now Ellis is in that limbo where he is good enough and has enough guile to keep Spencer at bay for maybe 1 more year but if Spencer keeps progressing and shows more flashes of what is to come Ellis my be relegated to the Jim Jeffcoat role on this team by Spencer's 3rd year.

Yeah, I just feel the Spencer I saw was closer to Ellis than to Ware in that regard. I agree that it is just a matter of time before Spencer takes over, I just wonder what the results will be.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Ellis is a total liability in pass coverage.

And he looked equally inept against the Giants running game.

 

[Disturbed]

Our old coaches seem to have already made up their minds before camp that Ellis is the starter -- Wade has already said this.... That seems totally stupid to me, but I guess they make up their minds and go...no looking back or actually evaluating talent.

Spencer is a better athlete than Ellis is at this point. We don't know if he can be a better player because they won't put him on the field enough. I bet Spencer is already better than Ellis -- complete game, not just pass rush.

Since Ellis is old, he may get injured and then we will see about Spencer.

 

[Clove]

I agree with the poster that suggested that Ellis was not a beast and never has been, I agree with that. He's a journeyman DE, that is a liability in pass coverage, but a pretty darn good situational pass rusher.

With the pressure Wade likes to send up the middle, someone's bound to be locked up with just one blocker, and that person was Ellis.

I still like Ellis, but it's time to get Spencer ready to roll, but not at the expense of losing games.

 

[dooomsday]

There's enough snaps to use Ellis on the outside whether he lines up on the line or at OLB. At 6'6 270 plus he's big enough to play either. I dont like him at all @ OLB. I think he misses coverage and guys run right by him in space. I'd rather he played closer. In Wade's D luckily we have options. Spencer is good enough to help. His upside is worth playing him more. Lets see what we have.

 

[Tovya]

IMO Ellis should be moved back to DE. It's time to let Spencer do his thing.

I have my doubts that he'd be able to swing it @ DE in the 3-4 under Wade Phillips.

 

[AbeBeta]

I have my doubts that he'd be able to swing it @ DE in the 3-4 under Wade Phillips.

yes but as a pass rushing DE when we go to four down linemen -- he'd be outstanding.

 

[Alexander]

yes but as a pass rushing DE when we go to four down linemen -- he'd be outstanding.

Everyone takes this as a given. I doubt it. He would undoubtedly be the same Greg Ellis we had pre-3-4 just with less snaps.

It is not a coincidence that Ellis finally began to be a better pass rusher when he began rushing out of the 3-4. There is no question the element of being off the line and the lineman having to adjust on the fly to block him is to his advantage. As a former true DE, he has more moves than your average OLB and he uses them all. Limit those opportunities, he becomes less successful.

 

[Tovya]

Everyone takes this as a given. I doubt it. He would undoubtedly be the same Greg Ellis we had pre-3-4 just with less snaps.

It is not a coincidence that Ellis finally began to be a better pass rusher when he began rushing out of the 3-4. There is no question the element of being off the line and the lineman having to adjust on the fly to block him is to his advantage. As a former true DE, he has more moves than your average OLB and he uses them all. Limit those opportunities, he becomes less successful.

I'm with you on this one. I think the 3-4 is the best thing that ever happened to Ellis, and last year should be the proof.

I always thought when he was whining about the switch the OLB that he was wrong.. and the 12.5 sacks in 13 games . I never really saw him as much of threat with the 4-3 set.

 

[jobberone]

I hope the best for Spencer, I still haven't seen him as a quick twich athlete, and that does bother me cause alot of great pass rushers have that cat quickness. It is not something you teach, you either have it or you don't. Ware has it, Ellis doesn't, and I see Spencer more like Ellis.

In Wade's system, you can't have too many pass rushers, so hopefully we can keep them all happy and Ellis accepts his role rolleyes whatever that may be. I would actually like to see us be able to rest Ware for a series....I know I'm dreaming.

I disagree. Spencer is that quick. Not Ware quick but he is very quick and fast.