They are both impact players. IMO, Bowe would have helped us more this year, but Spencer will help us more in the future. We needed a contingency plan for Ellis, and Spencer was it. If Ellis wasn't able to go, I firmly believe Spencer would have played at such a high level that we wouldn't have missed him. Knowing what I know now, I'd still take Spencer ahead of Bowe. He's going to be dynamic once he's starting next year opposite Ware.
Dwayne Bowe WR LSU
STRENGTHS
Dwayne is a very strong, powerful WR with excellent size for his position. He has good speed and great hands. He is an excellent blocker and is the “go to” WR for his college team. Dwayne is just this year discovering what fun it is to play this game when your team is counting on you to be the man. Dwayne plays the WR position with power -- not finesse. He likes being physical and catching the ball in traffic. He reminds me a lot of Eric Moulds WR Houston Texans.
NEEDS TO IMPROVE
Dwayne needs to get better in reading defenses and running routes as well as how to set up CB’s for the big play down the field. I have no doubt that he will work and improve and become one of the most consistent WR’s from this class.
TALENT BOARD ROUND: 1
I don’t know how many first downs Dwayne’s made for his team when they need one, but I can tell you this – I bet there is not another WR in college that is better than Dwayne at moving the chains for his team. Dwayne is a clutch WR that every team needs to be successful. Don’t be fooled -- he has the speed to go deep and he also has the strength to go up in the air and beat a double team. The big change for Dwayne’s game came after he had an eye operation and stopped double clutching the ball when it was thrown his way. His depth perception was askew, but the operation corrected this and now Dwayne is having fun playing the game. When push comes to shove, you need this kid on your team. You want this kid on your team and if you don’t pick him, I would rather you just go home and think about what the draft is all about. It’s about picking players that are winners. It’s not about picking players that have the best stats. Dwayne is the type of physical WR that every team needs to be successful. He blocks, he catches the ball when it’s thrown to him and he is a leader through his play on the field. I call him Dwayne (Clutch) Bowe.
- Drew Boylhart (thehuddlereport.com)
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Anthony Spencer DE Purdue
STRENGTHS
Anthony is a smart, quick, set-you-up-for-the-kill DE. He has a knack for changing the line of scrimmage. He shows good strength and uses his hands very well. He does a solid job handling his responsibilities in the running game and is a strong team player. Anthony understands team football and situational football. He is very athletic with those nice long arms that help him to keep his opponent away from his body. He can do all the pass rushing moves and will use every one of them against you in a game so that the OT has no idea what is coming next. He is going to be a hell of a player at the next level and is very underrated right now.
NEEDS TO IMPROVE
He is undersized -– so what! COACH BETTER. What are you so afraid of? Drafting a player who can actually change the line of scrimmage, sack the QB and cause fumbles? If you are scared of drafting a player like that because he is “undersized”, then stay far away from drafting Anthony! Anthony will always have some problems handling the run when he is double-teamed. So what?! So do most of the weak side DE’s in the league.
TALENT BOARD ROUND: 1
Yes, Anthony could play OLB in a 3-4 defense, but I believe that if you want him to impact in his first year like Mike Anderson (DE Chicago Bears – see archives), just let him put his hand down and rush the passer. He will have more of an immediate impact. Will Anthony eventually be a good OLB in a 3-4 defense? Yes, but his impact for your team is when he rushes the passer and you are making his LTI longer if you try to make him a complete OLB his first year. Anthony will eventually be one of the better OLB’s in a 3-4 defense, but for his first two years, just let him put his hand down and rush the passer. Your defense will be better right away if you do that instead of trying to make Anthony a 3-4 OLB. There are a number of reasons I think players with talent like this will be better for your team if you let them just be pass rushers the first few years instead of every down players learning a new position. 1) They lack the physical stamina to play a full sixteen game schedule. 2) You give them some immediate success in the league, which makes them want to work harder to stay on the field longer. 3) You just can’t beat a fresh pass rusher coming into the game against a tired OT. 4) You make a defense, game plan for another person other than your starters. Now, what have you accomplished by working Anthony this way instead of trying to make him a full time OLB or full time DE right away? Anthony will impact more for your defense his first year and second year while he is learning and getting bigger and stronger. Also, the player will be less likely to get injured because he will have a chance to be in better shape. If DeMarcus Ware had been handled this way instead of playing full time right away, the Cowboys defense would have been impossible to deal with for the last two years instead of just being a young, up and coming defense for the last two years. DeMarcus still would have learned the position and matured. The Cowboys are very lucky he did not get injured in the process. DeMarcus would have had the same imposing impact that Mike Anderson has had for the Bears. Draft Anthony and give him a chance to impact in his first year. Don’t let him waste a year or two learning a new position or learning to be a full time DE for the future. The future is now in the NFL and LTI is more important now than potential “down the road” talent.
- Drew Boylhart (thehuddlereport.com)
BTW,
LTI is
Length
To
Impact. It's Drew's measure of how long a player will take to impact at the next level.
