Cowboys: STAY AWAY from Courtney Upshaw

[Hoofbite]

He never said he took plays off last year,

He said he "mailed it in".

What do you think that means?

he's not a slacker,

See above.

Or see him skipping out on rehab during KHs.

and his production isn't average.

Sure it is. He ranks middle of the pack in a number of areas.

And please, feel free to guess as to why he isn't meeting his 2009 level of play.

 

[Doomsday101]

Does upside matter?

Of course.

But I look at it from the standpoint of who is going to make more of a difference to this team in '12... DeCastro starting in Kosier's spot or Upshaw/Ingram starting in Spencer's spot.

If there's an OLB in the 2nd round who can come in and be a Spencer-clone (or perhaps more-so in the future) then I'm A-OK with that. But in the first round for me it's all about DeCastro and what difference he can make on the interior of the offensive line.

I understand that and as I said to me it comes down to money that Spencer ask for.

I have said in many other threads DeCastro is one of my favorites in the 1st rd but not the only one. I think what takes place in FA will go a long way into what Dallas may do on draft day. So at this stage I'm not ruling out any of the prospect that may be at 14.

As for Spencer I'm not going to lie I'm some what disappointed, I expected more out of him or at least the same Ellis was giving us and he has not done that.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I understand that and as I said to me it comes down to money that Spencer ask for.

I have said in many other threads DeCastro is one of my favorites in the 1st rd but not the only one. I think what takes place in FA will go a long way into what Dallas may do on draft day. So at this stage I'm not ruling out any of the prospect that may be at 14.

As for Spencer I'm not going to lie I'm some what disappointed, I expected more out of him or at least the same Ellis was giving us and he has not done that.

I don't have any issue with that take.

If the Cowboys sign an elite guard out of this free agent class, I could see them using the pick at #14 for another position other than offensive line.

 

[Risen Star]

Does upside matter?

Of course.

But I look at it from the standpoint of who is going to make more of a difference to this team in '12... DeCastro starting in Kosier's spot or Upshaw/Ingram starting in Spencer's spot.

If there's an OLB in the 2nd round who can come in and be a Spencer-clone (or perhaps more-so in the future) then I'm A-OK with that. But in the first round for me it's all about DeCastro and what difference he can make on the interior of the offensive line.

You can't look at it that way. That's drafting for need.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

He said he "mailed it in".

What he said was, he didn't focus in practice as much as he should have last year. Never said he mailed in games or took plays off.

(Even though the entire team quit on themselves last year..)

Effort isn't his problem, hell half of his pressures and sacks are because he continues to pursue the play, not because he beats his man on the initial rush.

 

[TheFinisher]

What he said was, he didn't focus in practice as much as he should have last year. Never said he mailed in games or took plays off.

(Even though the entire team quit on themselves last year..)

Effort isn't his problem, hell half of his pressures and sacks are because he continues to pursue the play, not because he beats his man on the initial rush.

Cowboys OLB Anthony Spencer: I was mailing days in last year

By Jon Machota

Even though his numbers didn't dip much from the 2009 season, Anthony Spencer had a disappointing 2010 campaign for the Cowboys.

The starting outside linebacker, who lines up opposite of DeMarcus Ware, amassed 63 total tackles and five sacks, however, he didn't provide the pass rush that the Cowboys were hoping for.

Not giving his best effort at all times probably contributed to the former first round pick's struggles.

"You can't mail days in in this league," Spencer told Dan Graziano, ESPN.com's NFC East blogger, in a phone interview Thursday. "And I definitely found I was doing that last year."

Spencer admitted that while reviewing game tapes from last season, he recognized mistakes that he couldn't explain. Taking wrong angles and attacking the line of scrimmage at the wrong spots were a few errors he noticed. During his research, Spencer also discovered a lack of effort.

"So this year, definitely been focusing more in practice," Spencer said. "That's been my big thing, and I think it's going to make a big difference."

The 27-year-old added that he "definitely learned a lot last year."

--

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2011/09/anthony-spencer-i-was-mailing.html

 

[Hoofbite]

What he said was, he didn't focus in practice as much as he should have last year. Never said he mailed in games or took plays off.

(Even though the entire team quit on themselves last year..)

Effort isn't his problem, hell half of his pressures and sacks are because he continues to pursue the play, not because he beats his man on the initial rush.

And you believe the guy?

When the team was gettin smoked, you think he kept on it?

He also said his mistakes in-game were a result of him mailing it in during practice so this little shell game of defending his actions by him not technically saying somethin is completely irrelevant because the results were the same.

Slacking in practice or slacking in game, what does it matter if the mistakes are the same in the game.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2011/09/anthony-spencer-i-was-mailing.html

Yes, i know you read down far enough to where it was revealed that he said he was looking at game tape and seeing himself make stupid mistakes, so he went back and looked at practice tapes and saw he wasn't putting in enough effort or focus in practice.. which is what he was referring to. Not games.

Case closed. Either way, if he took plays off last year in games, he'd be no worse than any other play on our roster who did the same.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

And you believe the guy?

When the team was gettin smoked, you think he kept on it?

He also said his mistakes in-game were a result of him mailing it in during practice so this little shell game of defending his actions by him not technically saying somethin is completely irrelevant because the results were the same.

Slacking in practice or slacking in game, what does it matter if the mistakes are the same in the game.

Im just saying, i see what i see in the games, and his problems arn't from a lack of effort, as he's always pursuing the play til the whistle.

People want to bring up last year and knock him as if he took plays off in games, and even if he did, he'd be like everybody else on our team.

Should we get rid of Ware and Ratliff too?

 

[ringmaster]

Watched a good majority of his highlights/lowlights. I saw a solid run stopper who doesn't offer much as a dominant pass rusher. Not that explosive off the line, really reminded me of Spencer. Just my two cents.



Spencer wasn't drafted in the 1st round to be solid against the run. The dude plays opposite of one of the greatest pass rushers of our generation. Many of our sacks were tainted, and occurred in meaningless situations. There were countless times where the defense needed to get a stop in a crucial situation, and failed to get pressure on the QB. If you think we have a top 5 pass rush, you were watching the wrong team play or something. Pass rush is a serious problem.

We really don't know how Courtney Upshaw will pan out in the NFL he might be the next Spencer, or the next Woodley stay tuned.

I see where you're coming from as regards to Upshaw's play at Bama he didn't really wow people in the sack department but the guy is a very good player regardless and as one poster stated the Cowboys really like him not saying that he will be drafted by the team but rest assure he will be a player they highly covet on their draft board.

 

[acer941]

What about Ahmad Brooks as a Free Agent signing?

 

[Hoofbite]

Im just saying, i see what i see in the games, and his problems arn't from a lack of effort, as he's always pursuing the play til the whistle.

People want to bring up last year and knock him as if he took plays off in games, and even if he did, he'd be like everybody else on our team.

Should we get rid of Ware and Ratliff too?

First and foremost, I don't think the offense gave up at all. They were getting the job done for the most part.

I don't think Dez did.

And I don't think Ratliff did either.

Don't know how anyone could watch the guy breakdown on the sidelines and come to the conclusion that he was giving half effort out there.

I also don't think Ware did.

But I want to go back to this question here.

Okay, I'll let you have your "he didn't take plays off in games" argument. Lets assume he didn't.

However, lets just acknowledge what he did say when he said that his stupid mistakes that he was making were because he was mailing it in during practice.

How is that any better? The guy wouldn't put in the practice time to prepare himself properly and made countless mistakes in the game because of it?

That's what you want in a player?

He simply isn't providing enough. He can play better but he hasn't done it consistently in like 2+ seasons

Time to move on.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

First and foremost, I don't think the offense gave up at all. They were getting the job done for the most part.

I don't think Dez did.

And I don't think Ratliff did either.

Don't know how anyone could watch the guy breakdown on the sidelines and come to the conclusion that he was giving half effort out there.



I also don't think Ware did.

But I want to go back to this question here.

Okay, I'll let you have your "he didn't take plays off in games" argument. Lets assume he didn't.

However, lets just acknowledge what he did say when he said that his stupid mistakes that he was making were because he was mailing it in during practice.

How is that any better? The guy wouldn't put in the practice time to prepare himself properly and made countless mistakes in the game because of it?

That's what you want in a player?

He simply isn't providing enough. He can play better but he hasn't done it consistently in like 2+ seasons

Time to move on.

I saw Ware take plays off for sure, maybe not Rat.. i'll give you that. But the point was that the majority of the team quit last year. At least Spencer admitted he wasn't focused enough in practice and it translated to poor play on Sundays. I haven't heard a peep from all the other guys who completely gave up last year. I don't think the man should be crucified for that.. that's all.

As far as consistency, the last 3 years he's averaged like 65 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 FF's 7 stuffs.

How many other OLB's have averaged those overall numbers? He's done a pretty decent job and if we had any kind of an inside push from the DL, he'd be a 8-10 sack a year guy easy.

 

[TheFinisher]

Yes, i know you read down far enough to where it was revealed that he said he was looking at game tape and seeing himself make stupid mistakes, so he went back and looked at practice tapes and saw he wasn't putting in enough effort or focus in practice.. which is what he was referring to. Not games.

Case closed. Either way, if he took plays off last year in games, he'd be no worse than any other play on our roster who did the same.

Reading comprehension, it helps.

During his research, Spencer also discovered a lack of effort.

 

[Flyo87]

Anthony Spencer is a loser that will cost us at least 5 mill to retain. I wouldnt replace him. His production can be replaced easily facing single coverage all year. Guys are supposed to be resigned for a reason not because we're too lazy to do the diligence and find an adequate replacement or upgrade. Decision like that lead you to paying Marcus Spears 20 million dollars to ride the bench.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Reading comprehension, it helps.

I agree. If you had it, you could put two and two together and realize he was talking about practice in that statement, not the games.. something i referenced in the same post you quoted. lol

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Anthony Spencer is a loser that will cost us at least 5 mill to retain. I wouldnt replace him. His production can be replaced easily facing single coverage all year. Guys are supposed to be resigned for a reason not because we're too lazy to do the diligence and find an adequate replacement or upgrade. Decision like that lead you to paying Marcus Spears 20 million dollars to ride the bench.

Who are all the guys we could bring in next year that would be upgrades?

Feel free to list them all for us..

 

[lqmac1]

Upshaw is a Spencer clone. Solid against the run but not an explosive or consistent pass rusher.

If we must trade down, I would love Melvin Ingram in the 1st or Vinny Curry in the 2nd. Those are the only two legit options I would take in the early rounds.

And being this is a weak pass rushing OLB class, it's safe to say there's a pretty good chance that Curry or Ingram will end up becoming a Cowboy.

MELVIN INGRAM!

 

[Smith22]

I'm no scout, but from watching the entire week of Senior Bowl practices, Upshaw and ingram look like the real deal. Coples has been OK. I don't see a great burst off the LOS from him and that makes me wonder how his game will translate to the NFL.