DMN: Message to Spears?

[Rack]

I'm not an apologist, but my goodness. We need to give the guy some time in the new scheme in a regular season game to see if he can get the job done. Sure, he hasn't played lights out in preseason, but this immediate up or out attitude is tiresome.

Not just referring to this year. I'm referring to his whole career.

And honestly, I think Parcells' style of 3-4 is better suited for Spears. He complained and cried about it, but it was best for him.

Hatcher is much better suited for Wade's D, IMO.

 

[Bach]

I'm not an apologist, but my goodness. We need to give the guy some time in the new scheme in a regular season game to see if he can get the job done. Sure, he hasn't played lights out in preseason, but this immediate up or out attitude is tiresome.

I agree. You should give Drew Carey a chance

 

[theogt]

I wouldn't say the attitude is immediate.

I agree we need to give him a little time in the new scheme before making a definitive judgement, but even in the old scheme you would have hoped to see at least occassional signs of life.

Right now all we are seeing is the same fairly lifeless guy - just a continuation of what we saw in the old scheme - so it's natural that fans would start to wonder.

I wouldn't say he's been fairly lifeless at all. He's been moving around, pushing the pocket and has opened up massive holes that allow our linebackers to blitz. And other than the Texans game he's been excellent against the run.

 

[Rack]

I wouldn't say he's been fairly lifeless at all. He's been moving around, pushing the pocket and has opened up massive holes that allow our linebackers to blitz. And other than the Texans game he's been excellent against the run.

Sorry, but no. "Solid" would be a better word.


The word "Excellent" gets thrown around too freely around here when referring to players.

 

[Stautner]

I wouldn't say he's been fairly lifeless at all. He's been moving around, pushing the pocket and has opened up massive holes that allow our linebackers to blitz. And other than the Texans game he's been excellent against the run.

Sorry, but no. "Solid" would be a better word.


The word "Excellent" gets thrown around too freely around here when referring to players.

Lifeless probably wasn't an accurate term, but I agree with Rack that solid is certainly closer to the truth than excellent.

The fact is that clogging running lanes has really been Spears primary value all along - that's the way it was under PArcells and really what we are seeing now. But fans want to see a playmaker - a difference maker - and up to this point we just haven't seen that.

 

[theogt]

Sorry, but no. "Solid" would be a better word.


The word "Excellent" gets thrown around too freely around here when referring to players.

Whatever. Excellent. Above average. Solid. It's whatever word you want to use. The point is that he hasn't sucked. I like Hatcher a lot. I think he'll most likely supplant Spears at some point, because he's simply a better pass-rusher. However, he's not nearly as good against the run as Spears, so there's definitely a trade off.

 

[Rack]

Whatever. Excellent. Above average. Solid. It's whatever word you want to use. The point is that he hasn't sucked. I like Hatcher a lot. I think he'll most likely supplant Spears at some point, because he's simply a better pass-rusher. However, he's not nearly as good against the run as Spears, so there's definitely a trade off.

Agreed. However, in Wade's system it's easier to play the run so Hatcher would be the choice IMO.

I hope I'm wrong about him, I really do. But I didn't like it when we took him and he's done nothing since he's been here to change my mind about him.

 

[dallasfaniac]

I like Hatcher a lot. I think he'll most likely supplant Spears at some point, because he's simply a better pass-rusher. However, he's not nearly as good against the run as Spears, so there's definitely a trade off.

That's why I think Spears is better off at DT where he can just hold up against the inside run.

Hatcher - Ferguson - Canty
Bowen - Spears - Ratliff

 

[theogt]

Agreed. However, in Wade's system it's easier to play the run so Hatcher would be the choice IMO.

I hope I'm wrong about him, I really do. But I didn't like it when we took him and he's done nothing since he's been here to change my mind about him.

Yeah, I'm not big on taking these types of guys in the very early rounds myself. Unless you can find a Tank Johnson type that is just an absolute freak of an athlete.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Lifeless probably wasn't an accurate term, but I agree with Rack that solid is certainly closer to the truth than excellent.

The fact is that clogging running lanes has really been Spears primary value all along - that's the way it was under PArcells and really what we are seeing now. But fans want to see a playmaker - a difference maker - and up to this point we just haven't seen that.

We'll never see Spears, or Canty for that matter, become a playmaker. Even in Phillips version of the 3-4, DEs just don't make a ton of plays. If Dallas gets 4-5 sacks out of either DE they should consider that great.

Castillo picked up 7 sacks last year despite missing time but quite a few were garbage sacks where the OLB forced the QB up into Castillo just behind the LOS. San Diego only had something like 17 total sacks from their entire D-Line.

 

[Stautner]

We'll never see Spears, or Canty for that matter, become a playmaker. Even in Phillips version of the 3-4, DEs just don't make a ton of plays. If Dallas gets 4-5 sacks out of either DE they should consider that great.

Castillo picked up 7 sacks last year despite missing time but quite a few were garbage sacks where the OLB forced the QB up into Castillo just behind the LOS. San Diego only had something like 17 total sacks from their entire D-Line.

I agree completely - 4-5 sacks out of either Canty or Spears would be outstanding. I just hope to see that - or close to it - and more of him collapsing the pocket and persuing plays from the backside than we have to this point.

 

[QT]

Was Spears really that good in college? I didn't really care for him coming to Dallas. Obviously I don't care for him much now. I heard that Bill liked him so much that he thought about picking him at the slot where we got Ware. Wow.

 

[Tristan]

I doubt Spears was going all out last night. I agree he has failed to really impress considering the hype he came in with, but there is still a very high probability IMO, that Parcells lame "read and react" scheme has indeed held him back.

There is still a very good chance IMO that Spears can be an excellent DE for us, and become an impact player once he actually gets a chance to play in a real game with the entire defensive package being utilized.

Lets give the guy a couple games to walk the walk. Why the Marcus Spears beat down all of a sudden?

As for alledgedly passing on Steve Jackson for the trade, I have a couple of thoughts...

First, wasn't it reported that Kevin Jones was the RB that we would have drafted had we kept the pick? If so we would have been even worse off LOL.

At the time, I too was exstatic when Jackson fell to our pick, thinking at the time we would surely scoop him up. I too was shocked/stunned when we traded the pick.

In hind sight I'm ok with it, I like Jackson but I don't find him exciting. Given the fact that we have a very strong chance of being in the position to draft either McFadden or Slaton, who both take my breath away, I like the way it looks.

I would much rather have Mcfadden or Slaton in the long run than Jackson, I think they will both be Great, Great running backs.

As for this years trade, and that chance that we could regret passing on Quinn....

First, like many other teams I don't think we thought Quinn was a sure fire franchise QB. We really have our cake and get to eat it too now because of the trade.

The genius of it is, we get to see if Romo is indeed the elite QB that we hope and think he is, thus avoiding the mistake S.D made by giving up on Drew Breese to early and being forced to lose a pro bowl QB with no return on investment.

If Romo proves to be a Pro Bowl caliber QB, then we can add that great RB in Mcfadden or Slaton.

If Romo shows signs of being closer to Delhomme, then we should have the pick or ammo needed to draft Brian Brohm, who I think could be the best passer to come out since Carson Palmer, and IMO, a far, far surperior QB prospect than Quinn.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Does any team have an over-abudance of corners and needing a big lineman?

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Rack, I appologize in advance if I disagree with what your thoughts were. This board was buzzing with the possiblities of two first round picks the following year when we traded with Buffalo, very similar to the Brady Quinn situation as it presently stands. Many believed that Buffalo's pick would be a top ten. Many called Jackson a bust very early in his carreer as Julius was flashing his potental on MNF. I recall a ton of posts saying how we esentially swapped Julius and Spears for that "bust" Jacskon; shear brilliance. Many people here are very transparent and I don't mean that to be disrespectful; we're all Cowboys fans and we accentuate what we feel and hope are positives for our team.

What I find extremely irionic is that history may be repeating itself with Brady Quinn who many here were drooling over his junior year but no one believed he would hall into our laps when he did. When we passed on him, the excuses came out in force and we are again drooling over the posibility of a top 10 pick if not a number one and drafting McFadden. IF (and it's a big IF), Quinn becomes a superstar, will those same posters come on here and say "I knew it?" Please, those pro-Quinn posters on this site are few and far between at the present and are completely outnumbered and being drowned out by the those who support Jerry's "genius" trade. If Julius departs in FA, then we have a shot at McFadden; if Romo isn't the man, then we have the ammo to take a top tier QB (Brohm was mentioned). This is the overwhelming philosophy and mind-set on this board. Don't come on here two years later and be critical of a move that many, if not most, supported at the time it was made.

:clap2: :worthy2:

 

[Tristan]

Does any team have an over-abudance of corners and needing a big lineman?

I was thinking maybe the Raiders, they have guys Like Stanford Routt and Duane Starks (who looked great the other night) that they might be willing to move one of. I wouyldn't trade Spears for these guys though.

 

[Stautner]

I doubt Spears was going all out last night. I agree he has failed to really impress considering the hype he came in with, but there is still a very high probability IMO, that Parcells lame "read and react" scheme has indeed held him back.

There is still a very good chance IMO that Spears can be an excellent DE for us, and become an impact player once he actually gets a chance to play in a real game with the entire defensive package being utilized.

Lets give the guy a couple games to walk the walk. Why the Marcus Spears beat down all of a sudden?

IF Spears wasn't playing all out last night that tells me 2 things.

One, he doesn't have enough pride to be an elite player.

Two, he's stupid, because playing half-assed will get you hurt, and he still has a lot to prove to the coaches.

Personally I suspect he was giving his best effort.

 

[QT]

As for alledgedly passing on Steve Jackson for the trade, I have a couple of thoughts...

First, wasn't it reported that Kevin Jones was the RB that we would have drafted had we kept the pick? If so we would have been even worse off LOL.

At the time, I too was exstatic when Jackson fell to our pick, thinking at the time we would surely scoop him up. I too was shocked/stunned when we traded the pick.

In hind sight I'm ok with it, I like Jackson but I don't find him exciting. Given the fact that we have a very strong chance of being in the position to draft either McFadden or Slaton, who both take my breath away, I like the way it looks.

I would much rather have Mcfadden or Slaton in the long run than Jackson, I think they will both be Great, Great running backs.

Actually they were targeting Jackson. I think Jerry told Jackson that they would draft him if he fell to them. Jackson thought he was gonna be a Cowboy and was disappointed that they past on him. It's just they thought the offer was too good to pass up (a number #1 next year from the Bills.)

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I agree completely - 4-5 sacks out of either Canty or Spears would be outstanding. I just hope to see that - or close to it - and more of him collapsing the pocket and persuing plays from the backside than we have to this point.

Exactly, collapse the pocket so the stars (OLB) have easy pickings and stuff the run.

 

[Stautner]

Exactly, collapse the pocket so the stars (OLB) have easy pickings and stuff the run.

The problem is that most fans want to claim him as one of the stars, and I just haven't seen it. I believe he is a solid role player for the team, but I just haven't seen many signs that he has star potential.

As you mentioned, some of that may be attributed to the position he plays, and as others have mentioned, he may have been restricted some in Parcell's scheme.

But the bottom line is that until a guys shows star potential you can't claim he has it.