ESPN: Where the defensive ends stack up

[CCBoy]

Where the defensive ends stack up
August, 3, 2011
By Calvin Watkins


http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4681310/where-the-defensive-ends-stack-up



SAN ANTONIO -- Waiting in the wings on the defensive line are Marcus Spears, Kenyon Coleman and Jason Hatcher.

Whenever the newly-signed players can return to the practice field, it creates an interesting situation for the line.

Last year, the three starting defensive linemen were Igor Olshansky and Spears at end and Jay Ratliff at nose tackle. The Cowboys tried to bring back Stephen Bowen, who left to sign a deal with the Commanders, but now have signed three ends, including the run-stopping Coleman.

There is no question Ratliff is the starter at nose tackle. But the starting defensive end spots are seem uncertain with how new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is using his scheme.

But during early practices here, Ratliff moved across the line of scrimmage. On Wednesday, Ratliff blitzed off the tackle spot along side DeMarcus Ware...

 

[ddh33]

I say it every year, but I would love to see Marcus Spears get more pass rushing opportunities. It always seems like he does more with less than the guys who rush the passer in his stead...

Having said that, I know that Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips have forgotten more about defense than I will ever know, so I will defer to them not playing Spears more.

I have just always felt like Spears had more potential there.

 

[CCBoy]

The team signed Marcus Spears to a five year contract. I would expect, within a rotational guideline, that Spears will be getting more involved in third downs as well.

For right now, Coleman and Hatcher are the rotational players.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

There's an interesting difference between Rob Ryan's defensive personnell in Dallas and Rex Ryan's personnell in New York. The Jets sem to be solid in the secondary and relatively weaker along the D line. In Dallas, Rob's defense seems to be relatively stronger along the D line than in the seocndary. I wonder if this is by design, pointing to a philosophical difference between the broters' beliefs of to effectively execute the 3-4 D.