Ellis situation is a huge endorsement of Anthony Spencer

[Chocolate Lab]

Spencer is a player. I don't see why people doubt him so much, except that he isn't a star. And he probably never will be. But there's a reason Joe Thomas (and IIRC Levi Brown) said he was the toughest guy to block he faced in college.

Everybody wants to see a mean streak in our players... Spencer has that.

 

[Hostile]

Spencer is a player. I don't see why people doubt him so much, except that he isn't a star. And he probably never will be. But there's a reason Joe Thomas (and IIRC Levi Brown) said he was the toughest guy to block he faced in college.

Everybody wants to see a mean streak in our players... Spencer has that.

Premature evaluations. It is a growing problem.

 

[28 Joker]

Vela's comments echo mine from the last thread I made. People have been acting like Spencer hasn't shown anything. He's shown a whole lot in run D. He's stout in there and is really hard to block. He's also gets in on way more plays on runs to the middle of the D than OLBs normally should.

He's also been very steady in pass coverage. Here's too hoping his pass rush comes around. He just as to be more aggressive in pass rushing (especially with his hand fighting). Too often, he's too content to dance with the OT and shadow the QB.

I know what you mean. Some people in the media and some fans want to put him in Bobby Carpenter's category. That just hasn't been the case.

I'll tell you this, too.

Having Spencer cover kicks on special teams after coming off that knee scope wasn't a smart move, imo. Do you really want a big guy like that doing all that running after he just came back from the knee injury. I know special teams were suspect, but you can't risk a guy like that when he is coming off a knee injury.

I bet Spencer will not be covering kicks this year.

 

[28 Joker]

ware was doing a very good job of blowing up the run by the end of his SECOND year. Hopefully that was just a typo on Rafs part.

Yeah. That kind of surprised me.

I thought Ware was very strong against the run in 2006. I remember him stopping Brandon Jacobs on a 4th and 1 play at NY.

I do agree with his assessment of Greg Ellis' run defense and Anthony Spencer's run defense. Furthermore, I agree with him saying it's too early to write off Spencer's pass rush ability.

When Ellis wasn't getting pushed around last year, he was getting gashed after rushing up field too far and leaving huge running lanes open.

People forget that DeMarcus Ware didn't have a Greg Ellis playing ahead of him. Ware was unleashed from the very beggining. Spencer was playing very well his rookie year, and Ellis came back and took his playing time away. Phiillips even said that he didn't play Spencer enough his rookie year. Spencer gets the blame for that. Plus, if you want to become a better pass rusher, you need to pass rush in the games to develop. You need that experience, and you can't get it when you are getting yanked off the field on passing situations.

Dallas threw Ware into the pool and let him swim. You have seen the results. Spencer has been held back by Ellis.

 

[Idgit]

Spencer is a player. I don't see why people doubt him so much, except that he isn't a star. And he probably never will be. But there's a reason Joe Thomas (and IIRC Levi Brown) said he was the toughest guy to block he faced in college.

Everybody wants to see a mean streak in our players... Spencer has that.

He got some bad pub re: his tendency to party late last season that was 180 degrees from anything the press reported most of his first two years. Couple that with the tendency of our weak-minded bandwagon to eat our own, and that's all you need.

I like the guy a lot. I just like having three legitimate players at that OLB position. There's got to be somebody we like a lot if we're going to release Ellis before TC even starts.

 

[jobberone]

Spencer is a player. I don't see why people doubt him so much, except that he isn't a star. And he probably never will be. But there's a reason Joe Thomas (and IIRC Levi Brown) said he was the toughest guy to block he faced in college.

Everybody wants to see a mean streak in our players... Spencer has that.

I don't doubt him. At least not his ability to rush. It's his other duties. Contain the run. Stop the run. Know when to be where esp in coverage. He had the same problems as Ware did. I think he'll be fine sooner than later.

It's just not having a proven backup. It's one thing to just not have three guys. Hell some teams only have one OLB who can rush well. But to have three and dispose of one is a little balsy esp with guys behind Ellis who have never even played the Sam or Will.

I see both sides of the equation. I'm just surprised to see them shopping him this early and this loudly.

 

[AbeBeta]

Premature evaluations. It is a growing problem.

There is a cream you can spread on for that.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I expect big things from Spencer in 2008.

I think it's 2009... But nonetheless I should hope he turns the corner and becomes a big time player.

 

[Hostile]

I think it's 2009... But nonetheless I should hope he turns the corner and becomes a big time player.

Thank you. Typo.

 

[burmafrd]

until Spencer shows it I will doubt him.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

until Spencer shows it I will doubt him.

Blind faith, some folks live and die by it.

 

[Woods]

I don't doubt him. At least not his ability to rush. It's his other duties. Contain the run. Stop the run. Know when to be where esp in coverage. He had the same problems as Ware did. I think he'll be fine sooner than later.

It's just not having a proven backup. It's one thing to just not have three guys. Hell some teams only have one OLB who can rush well. But to have three and dispose of one is a little balsy esp with guys behind Ellis who have never even played the Sam or Will.

I see both sides of the equation. I'm just surprised to see them shopping him this early and this loudly.

That's the bit that surprised me during the OTAs.

I thought that Ellis may be cut/traded this year, I just thought that the team may wait to see the rookies with the pads on first, and then decide.

Anyway, I'm sure JJ/Wade know exactly what they are doing. Maybe they have a trade in place, or maybe they think that besides Spencer, they already have another player on the roster who can have the same impact as Ellis.

Let's see what happens . . . .

 

[Doomsay]

Actually, we don't know that at all, but it will certainly be the company line.

Yup, it could just be broke Jerry shedding more expenses.

Spencer hasn't earned any "endorsement" yet. He might turn out to be a solid 1st round pick, but he has yet to prove it on the filed in a consistent manner.

 

[JoeyBones31]

I've made a thread in the past that I though Spencer has been everything we expected in run D and pass coverage but just hasn't turned the corner yet as a pass rusher.

In addition to that, watching game tapes of Ellis rushing the passer last year, it was clear he didn't have the elite speed needed to run by RTs, but his bull rush was still way better than Ware's -the old man has a sick bull rush and a game like the 2nd Commander game comes to mind where he just about pushed the RT back into Campbell on nearly every passing play. He was noticeably a better pass rusher than Spencer, which is why I thought he'll no doubt be on the team this year.

Add these together, with Wade's defensive philosophy, knowing he'd be one to sacrifice run D before he did pass rush, and it's clear that Spencer must have been showing a lot in terms of rushing the passer. We could argue that the rookies will also be a factor, but I doubt we'll be going into the season relying on rookies for that role.

I've only had doubts about Spencer's pass rushing skills. But now, it looks like the coaches share none of those doubts.

I absolutely love the athletic ability of Spencer, he has all the necessary tools to be that off the edge pass rusher, But the only problem I have is his inability to stay healthy.

That has to be a concern to everyone involved on defense. releasing Ellis because of money or because of his constant whining is not a good choice right now, unless your positive Spencer can play a season injury free.

I just don't know about that.

 

[Monster Heel]

I absolutely love the athletic ability of Spencer, he has all the necessary tools to be that off the edge pass rusher, But the only problem I have is his inability to stay healthy.

That has to be a concern to everyone involved on defense. releasing Ellis because of money or because of his constant whining is not a good choice right now, unless your positive Spencer can play a season injury free.

I just don't know about that.

Between Spencer and the TWO OLBs the Cowboys drafted, something has to give. You can't keep falling back on Ellis. He's been on the team since 1998 and should've already been replaced.

 

[JoeyBones31]

Between Spencer and the TWO OLBs the Cowboys drafted, something has to give. You can't keep falling back on Ellis. He's been on the team since 1998 and should've already been replaced.

Maybe so, but can Spencer play a full season without being shelved because of injury? I seriously don't think he can judging by his track record since becoming a Cowboy !

 

[jobberone]

That's the bit that surprised me during the OTAs.

I thought that Ellis may be cut/traded this year, I just thought that the team may wait to see the rookies with the pads on first, and then decide.

Anyway, I'm sure JJ/Wade know exactly what they are doing. Maybe they have a trade in place, or maybe they think that besides Spencer, they already have another player on the roster who can have the same impact as Ellis.

Let's see what happens . . . .

My guess is he's pissed everyone off. If he's started complaining about being replaced/his role etc then he's gone this time. If so I have ZERO sympathy.

 

[Monster Heel]

Maybe so, but can Spencer play a full season without being shelved because of injury? I seriously don't think he can judging by his track record since becoming a Cowboy !

That's playing scared and you won't get anywhere doing that. The better teams in the league wouldn't be attached to a player like Greg Ellis' hip.

 

[RS12]

Anyway, I'm sure JJ/Wade know exactly what they are doing.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I bet Spencer will not be covering kicks this year.

Don't worry. Word is we may have drafted a couple of special teams players.