MYSA Blog: Will Cowboys draft an edge rusher?

[Bluefin]

Yes, and it's not the first time the Cowboys have done that before. As a matter of fact, it started with Jimmah Jenius. Players like Bobby Abrams, Tommy Agee, Mickey Pruitt, Joe Fishback, Derrick Gainer, and Elvis Patterson were kept on the roster exclusively because of special teams.

But Justin Rogers is taking up a premium position in the 3-4.

I just find it odd to have a back-up at OLB who doesn't actually play OLB in a scheme formatted around OLBs.

I know back-ups often need to play specials in order to be active, but Rogers isn't actually a back-up. He's just a special teams player.

Is he that good or is his spot churnable?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

But Justin Rogers is taking up a premium position in the 3-4.

I just find it odd to have a back-up at OLB who doesn't actually play OLB in a scheme formatted around OLBs.

I know back-ups often need to play specials in order to be active, but Rogers isn't actually a back-up. He's just a special teams player.

Is he that good or is his spot churnable?

Totally churnable. He'd have to be Bill Bates or Larry Izzo on ST not to replace him IMO.

I mean, I like that he skinned a coyote and all, but we'd be dead if he had to play from scrimmage.

We never should've cut Walden last year. I guess we were in total Win Now mode, though.

 

[Randy White]

Rogers isn't really what I'd call a standout on ST though.

Why not ?

 

[Bluefin]

We never should've cut Walden last year. I guess we were in total Win Now mode, though.

That was Erik Walden's fault.

I thought he might make the cut, but he showed absolute zero as a pass rusher during pre-season.

We tried to get him to the practice squad and the Chiefs signed him so we placed Tearrius George on JV instead. The Saints eventually claimed George while the Chiefs cut Walden.

Both of them are now with Uncle Bill and cousin Jeff in South Beach.

 

[Randy White]

But Justin Rogers is taking up a premium position in the 3-4.

Those guys I mentioned were RBs, LBs, defensive backs, all premium positions as well, but just like in Rogers situation, there's talent ahead of him.

I just find it odd to have a back-up at OLB who doesn't actually play OLB in a scheme formatted around OLBs.

Elvis " toast " Patterson was listed as a CB. Guess why he got the nickname " toast " ? However, he was a special team stand out, so the Cowboys signed him the minute he was cut by Atlanta.

I know back-ups often need to play specials in order to be active, but Rogers isn't actually a back-up. He's just a special teams player. Is he that good or is his spot churnable?

His spot is " churnable " if the Cowboys can find a better special team player.

 

[Monster Heel]

Why not ?

How many plays do you see him making? I don't know if he was a top 3 player on the ST last year. That was with KD killing himself trying to play safety and ST.

 

[Randy White]

We never should've cut Walden last year. I guess we were in total Win Now mode, though.

Rightly or wrongly, I think Walden was cut because of that exact reasoning. He couldn't beat out Rogers as a special team player, so they weren't going to spend a roster spot on him just so can be on the sidelines most of the time.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Rightly or wrongly, I think Walden was cut because of that exact reasoning. He couldn't beat out Rogers as a special team player, so they weren't going to spend a roster spot on him just so can be on the sidelines most of the time.

Bingo. Jerry was thinking Superbowl or bust, so he went for the guy who was better at that exact second.

And Fin, I was going on Vela's reports where he said Walden looked pretty good rushing in practice. Obviously he wasn't going to be a worldbeater out of the gate being from a smaller school, but IMO with a year in the weight room he might've been a serviceable backup at OLB.

Maybe we can trade Carp for him. :

 

[khiladi]

Ou run defense was better once Spencer stepped on the field. Two plays don't make a season, especially when the defense is on the field the whole time and Spencer had to overcoe injuries to even get into playing shape.

 

[Monster Heel]

Ou run defense was better once Spencer stepped on the field. Two plays don't make a season, especially when the defense is on the field the whole time and Spencer had to overcoe injuries to even get into playing shape.

I think he's better against the run than Ellis simply because Ellis is horrible in space. Spencer's issue seemed to be discipline. Of course that's probably a combination of not playing and the environment here.

 

[Randy White]

How many plays do you see him making? I don't know if he was a top 3 player on the ST last year. That was with KD killing himself trying to play safety and ST.

I never saw any of those guys I mentioned before making plays on special teams either ( it was either Woody or Bates or Gant ), but they stuck around.

Special teams plays doesn't stop with punt and kick offs tackles. Just like offense or defense, they have plays and assignments that doesn't necessarily mean getting the tackle, but just preventing a returner from getting to his favorite lane, or engaging on blockers so the other guy makes the tackle. Little things that the casual fan doesn't notice. Blocking on punt and kick offs returns are just as important and perhaps that where he's making his case.

 

[Monster Heel]

I never saw any of those guys I mentioned before making plays on special teams either ( it was either Woody or Bates or Gant ), but they stuck around.

Special teams plays doesn't stop with punt and kick offs tackles. Just like offense or defense, they have plays and assignments that doesn't necessarily mean getting the tackle, but just preventing a returner from getting to his favorite lane, or engaging on blockers so the other guy makes the tackle. Little things that the casual fan doesn't notice. Blocking on punt and kick offs returns are just as important and perhaps that where he's making his case.

I'll concede that.

 

[khiladi]

I think he's better against the run than Ellis simply because Ellis is horrible in space. Spencer's issue seemed to be discipline. Of course that's probably a combination of not playing and the environment here.

The discipline issue was only really evident during the Ravens game, but that was a game where the defense was exhausted and multiple players screwed their assignment.

The fact is, he even seems better at rushing the passer too. I've seen him force the QB into throwing the ball away, because of his quickness. He is way quicker off the ball then Ellis ever was, and he needs playing time to learn the game. It doesn't help he is bothered by injuries.

He just needs playing time.

The guy, i believer, came on a little late in his college career as well, but once he came to play, he was the beast.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Spencer has been disappointment thus far... He needs to grow up and learn what it means to be a pro's pro.

In other words he needs to hang around D-Ware more.

 

[Bluefin]

And Fin, I was going on Vela's reports where he said Walden looked pretty good rushing in practice. Obviously he wasn't going to be a worldbeater out of the gate being from a smaller school, but IMO with a year in the weight room he might've been a serviceable backup at OLB.

I'd have preferred keeping Erik Walden over Justin Rogers.

Walden just didn't show enough as a pass rusher to make it happen.

Truth be told, the big disappointment for me last year was Georgia Tech's Darrell Robertson. I really thought he had the stuff to make the conversion from DE to OLB, but he never seemed to get over a pre-draft injury and make much of a case.

 

[khiladi]

Spencer has been disappointment thus far... He needs to grow up and learn what it means to be a pro's pro.

In other words he needs to hang around D-Ware more.

He's been hurt, otherwise he was just fine when he played. He did was he was suppose to his first year, showing signs of being a beast.

 

[jobberone]

I can't imagine a team wasting a pick on a pass rusher esp a 3-4 team.