DMN Blog: Anthony Spencer takes advantage of Greg Ellis' absence

[WoodysGirl]

1:47 PM Wed, May 28, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips downplayed Greg Ellis' absence from today's OTA. They both pointed out that these sessions are voluntary, and thanks to Darren Hambrick, everybody around these parts knows what that means.

Anthony Spencer didn't ask why Ellis wasn't here. He just took the extra reps and ran with them.

Spencer had about as good a practice as possible without pads on. He batted down two Tony Romo passes at the line of scrimmage, skying to swat both, and made a great break on a ball near the sideline to almost pick it off. (Should have been a pick, but let's not nitpick. Spencer jokingly blamed the humidity for making his hands slick.)

Phillips said Spencer would have received the "practice ball," if such an honor existed. Phillips made it clear that Ellis is entrenched as the starter -- DON'T WORRY, GREG!!! -- but said the coaching staff needed to find ways to get Spencer on the field more often.

Spencer, the 2007 first-round pick who has bulked up to 260 pounds, no longer has to think his way through his steps at OLB. His transition from college DE is complete to the point where he's reacting on the field.

"I know where I'm supposed to be," Spencer said. "I know if I make a mistake, I have time to get back to where I'm supposed to be. I know what I can't do and can do. The more you do something, the easier it becomes for you. I've been doing it for a year now, so I definitely feel a lot more comfortable."

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[BigDFan5]

DON'T WORRY, GREG!!!

 

[JonCJG]

Don't know about him "bulking" up tp 260. He was listed between 257-261 lbs last year.

 

[theogt]

Can't get the starting job? Bust.

 

[ddh33]

I want that young man on the field a lot next season.

In fact, I was saying way back last year that I didn't ever want to see Greg Ellis going backward again. I like Ellis rushing the passer, and I really like Spencer's potential as a LB.

 

[Hostile]

Why isn't Ellis attending? Who excused him? What choice did the team really have? Say no?

Please. [/rant off]

 

[Angus]

1:47 PM Wed, May 28, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips downplayed Greg Ellis' absence from today's OTA. They both pointed out that these sessions are voluntary, and thanks to Darren Hambrick, everybody around these parts knows what that means.

Anthony Spencer didn't ask why Ellis wasn't here. He just took the extra reps and ran with them.

Spencer had about as good a practice as possible without pads on. He batted down two Tony Romo passes at the line of scrimmage, skying to swat both, and made a great break on a ball near the sideline to almost pick it off. (Should have been a pick, but let's not nitpick. Spencer jokingly blamed the humidity for making his hands slick.)

Phillips said Spencer would have received the "practice ball," if such an honor existed. Phillips made it clear that Ellis is entrenched as the starter -- DON'T WORRY, GREG!!! -- but said the coaching staff needed to find ways to get Spencer on the field more often.

Spencer, the 2007 first-round pick who has bulked up to 260 pounds, no longer has to think his way through his steps at OLB. His transition from college DE is complete to the point where he's reacting on the field.

"I know where I'm supposed to be," Spencer said. "I know if I make a mistake, I have time to get back to where I'm supposed to be. I know what I can't do and can do. The more you do something, the easier it becomes for you. I've been doing it for a year now, so I definitely feel a lot more comfortable."

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Not sure it will stay that way.

 

[khiladi]

Can't get the starting job? Bust.

Spencer will be starting soon....

 

[CrazyCowboy]

This guy is going to be a good one.

 

[Rampage]

Not sure it will stay that way.

i hope not. I wanna see spencer starting cause he looks like Deion in coverage compared to Ellis.

 

[Sarge]

Spencer will be starting soon....

If Greg Ellis continues to play like he did last year, Ellis deserves to start.

 

[Cowboysfan22]

Spencer will be starting soon....

I hope so

 

[DCBoysfan]

Looking foward to a big year from Spencer

 

[cobra]

Old defense: 3-4 (2 DE, 1 NT, 2 OLB, 2 ILB)

New defense: 3-? (2 DE, 1 NT, 3 OLBs, 1 ILB... sort of...Ellis, Spencer and Ware on the field as rush backers and Z. Thomas playing off a bit reading and reacting like he is the best at.)

 

[Chief]

Maybe the Erik Walden pick sent Greg into a depression.

 

[theogt]

Old defense: 3-4 (2 DE, 1 NT, 2 OLB, 2 ILB)

New defense: 3-? (2 DE, 1 NT, 3 OLBs, 1 ILB... sort of...Ellis, Spencer and Ware on the field as rush backers and Z. Thomas playing off a bit reading and reacting like he is the best at.)

This was our "Cowboys" package last year:

Ellis, Ratliff, Hatcher
Ware, Burnett, Spencer
Reeves, Newman, Henry
Williams, Hamlin

 

[cobra]

Old defense: 3-4 (2 DE, 1 NT, 2 OLB, 2 ILB)

New defense: 3-? (2 DE, 1 NT, 3 OLBs, 1 ILB... sort of...Ellis, Spencer and Ware on the field as rush backers and Z. Thomas playing off a bit reading and reacting like he is the best at.)

I posted this as a joking response to get Spencer on the field. But the more I think about it, I kind of like it.

Play the 3-4 like we did last year. Ware and Spencer starting OLBs and playing it like that. But you combine Akin and Bradie's roles into one for Thomas. And then you put Ellis in there as the 4th LB and tell him that he can line up wherever the hell he wants to on a play--interior or outside--with the only task of pushing through the line.

 

[dcfanatic]

Why isn't Ellis attending? Who excused him? What choice did the team really have? Say no?

Please. [/rant off]

Kinda weird that neither Wade or Jerry gave an excuse as to why Ellis wasn't there. That leads me to beleve it wasn't an emergency or anything of that nature. From what I am reading it seems like Ellis just didn't show up.

Good for Spencer. I think Ellis would be just as effective in a pass rush specialist role this season if Wade made the decision to go that route. Ellis' main value is rushing the passer, it's not falling back into coverage or holding the edge against the run.

 

[zeromaster]

Maybe the Erik Walden pick sent Greg into a depression.

He hears the measured tread of Father Time

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I am very happy to hear that Spencer is taking advantage of his reps. I mean, if a Vet player elects not to participate, that's a decision that can be based on a lot of things but it's also the chance you take if your allowing the guy behind you to get snaps. You run the risk of getting beaten out. I was listening to James Washington some time ago and he said that he always tried to be there for everything. He said that he wasn't good enough to just know that he could beat anybody out any time. He said he never wanted to give the guy behind him the chance to be seen by the coaches. It's the chance you take if your not going to show up for OTAs.