How bad/good is Spears?

[CF74]

The problem with moving Spears to NT is that he will get blown off the line. I've watched him and he gets blown off the end at times, imagine in the middle. If he were to bulk up it might work but he's gonna need some serious strength training in those legs to get there, I just don't see it. I keep hoping that his play will improve every year and maybe he'll get more sacks, he does get the pressures in but never the sack. At some point even in a "block absorbing 3-4," you gotta get some freaken sacks. I'm thinking this guy would be better suited in a 4-3...

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Is he an average 3-4 end? Well looking at other 3-4 teams, he's better than anything the Jets, Browns and 49ers had this year. He's not as good as Canty or the Pats' DEs, and he'd probably fit in fine with the Steelers, Ravens or Chargers DE's fine. So to me he looks about average, if not slightly better.

I'm fine with him backing up Ratliff and Canty at DE or Tank at NT. I think with the Dolphins and Bengals trying to build 3-4 lines, and the Browns trying to improve theirs, there's be some interest in him. I do think he's best fit as a 4-3 DT though.

wow lets use the worse defense to justify spears and he coulldn't hold the jockstrap of the DE's at the chargers

 

[burmafrd]

Bottom line is that he has in the whole sum of things not lived up to the 20th pick in the first rd. Just like untill this last year Ellis had never really lived up to his first rd pick. I doubt we give Spears as much time.

 

[ayjackson]

wow lets use the worse defense to justify spears and he coulldn't hold the jockstrap of the DE's at the chargers

Obviously Castillo's in another class, but he fits in with the rest. Olshansky isn't all world.

Regardless, it doesn't detract from my point if he couldn't play for the Chargers, sub in Cards for them in my post.

 

[Nightman]

Being a 1st round draft pick doesn't guarantee being a star in the NFL, especially at #20. Spears is a solid 3-4 DE, not a bust and doesn't make a ton of money. His job under Parcells was to clog up the OL. Wade's 3-4 asks him to penetrate more and he improved last year. He is kinda like a blocking TE on offense, no glory but important to the team.

 

[Dallas4ever]

Based on where he was drafted Spears has turned out to be a poor pick by most accounts. No team can afford to draft average players in the 1st round. Spears has not lived up to where he was drafted and he hasn't really given us much reason to believe that he will.

 

[Nightman]

Based on where he was drafted Spears has turned out to be a poor pick by most accounts. No team can afford to draft average players in the 1st round. Spears has not lived up to where he was drafted and he hasn't really given us much reason to believe that he will.

Really? I think getting a 3 or 4 year starter is a pretty good return for the 20th pick, especially considering the salary. You get the stars in the top 10 unless you get lucky.

 

[Dallas4ever]

Really? I think getting a 3 or 4 year starter is a pretty good return for the 20th pick, especially considering the salary. You get the stars in the top 10 unless you get lucky.

It's been proven that you can find a star pretty much anywhere in the draft, depending on how good of a GM and scouting personnel you have. Your odds should be much greater when you select a guy 20th in the entire draft. My thoughts are that you should be able to get someone who can make a difference in the game.

Can you name at least one game that Spears made a noticable difference in the outcome? I know we played 17.......please offer atleast one.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Spears is a solid player, you can't have prime rib at EVERY position... He had a pretty good 2007 season in my opinion considering he's playing in a 3-4 defense.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Spears is a solid player, you can't have prime rib at EVERY position... He had a pretty good 2007 season in my opinion considering he's playing in a 3-4 defense.

thats funny considering his stats from 2006 were better how would you classify that season ?

 

[Dallas4ever]

Spears is a solid player, you can't have prime rib at EVERY position... He had a pretty good 2007 season in my opinion considering he's playing in a 3-4 defense.

I'm not asking for "Prime Rib".........but we should be able to get a little better than salisbury steak for what we gave.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He was serviceable this past season. In fact, I'd say he was probably slightly above average for a 3-4 DE last year.

I'm hoping that the Cowboys will be able to move Ratliff back to DE (that means Tank is good enough to start at NT) and we can have Spears come off the bench fresh as a guy who can play both DE and NT if needed.

According to FO.com, Dallas finished 28th in run defense at Spears in 2006 and then moved up to 16th this year. That's with Ellis not being particularly good at run defense as a 3-4 OLB.

Spears may have not turned out particularly as good as we'd like given where he was drafted. But he's a decent enough player who was solid last year despite playing in his first year in a new system. I don't see any reason to let him go elsewhere at this moment.





YAKUZA

 

[SuspectCorner]

Spears is solid against the run but provides little to no pressure. Like earlier posters stated - he'd prolly have more value as a 4-3 DT.