Spears Played Well!

[Deep_Freeze]

Lets put it this way - if Spears couldn't play well against that deplorable OL - he never will.

Yes, when you have a star RB out, half the OL hurt, and the QB with broken ribs, a DL will never have a better opportunity than that.

Now I still think in the 3-4, it is underrated on the ability of a DE to stop the run. If you 3 DL in a 3-4 can't stop the run, you are dead, pure and simple. I guess the question is, do you have to spend a first rounder to get this run stopper. I think not. BP always said one of the advantages of a 3-4 is that you really don't have to spend alot of resources to find a NT. Really, I don't believe you have to spend alot of resources on the DL in general for a 3-4 (other than the number of bodies), but more on the DEs of course cause at least they need to get some pressure.

With Wade's system, everyone is supposed to at least get some pressure, even the NT, which is why Ratliff is a decent fit for this D. It is kinda funny when Spears gets close to a sack, he acts like he is trying to get every sack dance he has thought of over the years out. Sacks aren't the end all for DEs in a 3-4, really I would rather have a run stopper there. But the question is, was it worth a 1st rounder to get that run stopper there.

I think not, and that is the reason for the abuse Spears takes.

 

[baj1dallas]

Sad that we have to heap praise on a 1st rounder who has .5 sack which was a gift to him because it was really Greg Ellis who should have gotten credit for the entire sack.

Plus he only really got credit for 1 QB pressure by the NFL.

http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29246/DAL_Gamebook.pdf

He played ok against the run, but it was against a bunch of bums and a backup RB.

Trust me, I want him to play well every time he steps on the field. Why would anyone not want him to if they are Cowboys fans?

Both Spears and Canty were disruptive early..

 

[TheCount]

Yes, when you have a star RB out, half the OL hurt, and the QB with broken ribs, a DL will never have a better opportunity than that.

Now I still think in the 3-4, it is underrated on the ability of a DE to stop the run. If you 3 DL in a 3-4 can't stop the run, you are dead, pure and simple. I guess the question is, do you have to spend a first rounder to get this run stopper. I think not. BP always said one of the advantages of a 3-4 is that you really don't have to spend alot of resources to find a NT. Really, I don't believe you have to spend alot of resources on the DL in general for a 3-4 (other than the number of bodies), but more on the DEs of course cause at least they need to get some pressure.

With Wade's system, everyone is supposed to at least get some pressure, even the NT, which is why Ratliff is a decent fit for this D. It is kinda funny when Spears gets close to a sack, he acts like he is trying to get every sack dance he has thought of over the years out. Sacks aren't the end all for DEs in a 3-4, really I would rather have a run stopper there. But the question is, was it worth a 1st rounder to get that run stopper there.

I think not, and that is the reason for the abuse Spears takes.

You're wasting your breath, some people think it's their job to assume everyone with a star on their helmet is the ultimate at their position. So they take everything you say to the most extreme, trying to prove their non-existent point.

Let's just see how he does this year, I agree with you 100%.

 

[SMCowboy]

Very few DE's in the 3-4 defense get move than 3 or 4 sacks in a season. Even the very best 3-4 DE's only gt 6 or 7 sacks in a season.

In all honesty, the 3-4 is more like having 3 DT's instead of just two.

I am not saying that Spears has lived up to his draft status, but to act like he is a bust, is idiotic, his number 1 job is to stuff the run, and he does a great job of that.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Sad that we have to heap praise on a 1st rounder who has .5 sack which was a gift to him because it was really Greg Ellis who should have gotten credit for the entire sack.

Plus he only really got credit for 1 QB pressure by the NFL.

http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/29246/DAL_Gamebook.pdf

He played ok against the run, but it was against a bunch of bums and a backup RB.

Trust me, I want him to play well every time he steps on the field. Why would anyone not want him to if they are Cowboys fans?

It's sad when fans of a team don't understand the mechanics of football. DEs in a 3-4 aren't sack machines. Also, Spears gets A LOT of double teams. I think a rotation will help Spears a lot. It will allow him to be more fresh and it also throws another wrinkle into the opposing offensive lines schemes and makes them adjust on the fly.

Spears is VERY strong. He isn't as quick off the ball as Ellis, Spencer, Hatcher, Canty, or Ratliff, but what he does have is leverage and strength. That is a major reason o-lines double team him especially on the run, because one guy can't move him out of the way. This is a reason I said they should try him at NT instead of Ratliff. Ratliff has a quicker first step. When they play him one on one, he drives his man into the backfield. That is what you want out of your DE. When opposing offenses run the ball, if they are doubling Spears, then that is one less blocker to block a linebacker. That my friend is why the Cowboys run defense is looking pretty stout right now. Spears is a major cog in that run defense.

 

[zrinkill]

Very few DE's in the 3-4 defense get move than 3 or 4 sacks in a season. Even the very best 3-4 DE's only gt 6 or 7 sacks in a season.

In all honesty, the 3-4 is more like having 3 DT's instead of just two.

I am not saying that Spears has lived up to his draft status, but to act like he is a bust, is idiotic, his number 1 job is to stuff the run, and he does a great job of that.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In all honesty, the 3-4 is more like having 3 DT's instead of just two.

Ok, I will have three Warren Sapp's from the 2000 season. That way our three DTs will combine for 49.5 sacks! :

 

[AbeBeta]

Luis Castillo - 0 Sacks
Ty Warren - 1 Sack

Oh noes, these guys are terrible busts, cut them immediately.

Spears - 3 career sacks, 83 tackles (3 years)
Castillo - 10.5 sacks, 101 tackles (3 years - missed 6 games)
Warren - 14.5 sacks, 250 tackles (5 years)

I'm not saying sacks/tackles are the only measure of productivity for these inside guys but Spears is clearly less productive on that end.

Folks may say "oh, its not about Stat X or Stat Y" -- however it should be obvious to everyone that if a guy is playing well those stats almost always come with the production.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yes, when you have a star RB out, half the OL hurt, and the QB with broken ribs, a DL will never have a better opportunity than that.

Now I still think in the 3-4, it is underrated on the ability of a DE to stop the run. If you 3 DL in a 3-4 can't stop the run, you are dead, pure and simple. I guess the question is, do you have to spend a first rounder to get this run stopper. I think not. BP always said one of the advantages of a 3-4 is that you really don't have to spend alot of resources to find a NT. Really, I don't believe you have to spend alot of resources on the DL in general for a 3-4 (other than the number of bodies), but more on the DEs of course cause at least they need to get some pressure.

With Wade's system, everyone is supposed to at least get some pressure, even the NT, which is why Ratliff is a decent fit for this D. It is kinda funny when Spears gets close to a sack, he acts like he is trying to get every sack dance he has thought of over the years out. Sacks aren't the end all for DEs in a 3-4, really I would rather have a run stopper there. But the question is, was it worth a 1st rounder to get that run stopper there.

I think not, and that is the reason for the abuse Spears takes.

That's a fair question, but I think for the transition to the 3-4, he was the best candidate what the 'boys needed in the Parcell's 3-4. Pass rusher in Ware and big bodies on the line with Spears and Canty. It made a lot of sense at the time. Hindsight is definitely 20/20 to see who the 'boys could've taken instead of either of those guys.

I guess, for me, is I've been paying more attention to Spears during the game and I believe he's alot more active than I've ever seen him. It just doesn't always translate to a tangible stat.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Spears - 3 career sacks, 83 tackles (3 years)
Castillo - 10.5 sacks, 101 tackles (3 years - missed 6 games)
Warren - 14.5 sacks, 250 tackles (5 years)

I'm not saying sacks/tackles are the only measure of productivity for these inside guys but Spears is clearly less productive on that end.

Folks may say "oh, its not about Stat X or Stat Y" -- however it should be obvious to everyone that if a guy is playing well those stats almost always come with the production.

I read a pretty good article about Ty Warren on espn.com last year and it talked about how the light came on for him in his 3rd year. It's interesting, because folks were calling him a bust, too.

Not saying Spears is as talented as Warren, but I thought it was interesting, because they seemed to be on a similar career path.

Warren
'03 - 1 sack 33 tackles
'04 - 3.5 sacks 48 tackles
'05 - 1.5 sacks 68 tackles
'06 - 7.5 sacks 84 tackles - obviously his breakout year.

Spears
'05 - 1.5 sack 31 tackles
'06 - 1.0 sack 45 tackles
'07 - .5 sack 7 tackles - total numbers to be determined

It would be interesting to see if it took Spears 4 years to truly put it all together.

 

[adbutcher]

of course they dont...there are some real tools on here that want him to play poorly

David

This is becoming far too prevalent lately. If the hating posse knew anything about football they would know that Spears is having a good season, ditto for our entire D-Line.

As Spears continues to play well, I wonder who is next? Henry already has his one man hate team.

 

[adbutcher]

Very few DE's in the 3-4 defense get move than 3 or 4 sacks in a season. Even the very best 3-4 DE's only gt 6 or 7 sacks in a season.

In all honesty, the 3-4 is more like having 3 DT's instead of just two.

I am not saying that Spears has lived up to his draft status, but to act like he is a bust, is idiotic, his number 1 job is to stuff the run, and he does a great job of that.

A voice of reason....gidoudaahere!

 

[TheCount]

I read a pretty good article about Ty Warren on espn.com last year and it talked about how the light came on for him in his 3rd year. It's interesting, because folks were calling him a bust, too.

Not saying Spears is as talented as Warren, but I thought it was interesting, because they seemed to be on a similar career path.

Warren
'03 - 1 sack 33 tackles
'04 - 3.5 sacks 48 tackles
'05 - 1.5 sacks 68 tackles
'06 - 7.5 sacks 84 tackles - obviously his breakout year.

Spears
'05 - 1.5 sack 31 tackles
'06 - 1.0 sack 45 tackles
'07 - .5 sack 7 tackles - total numbers to be determined

It would be interesting to see if it took Spears 4 years to truly put it all together.

I sure hope you're right, hopefully he puts everything together and turns into a star for us.

As far as the 3-4 being 3 DT's on the line, that's not exactly true. Sure, DE's have to be bigger and stronger but the average 3-4 DE is much more athletic than a 4-3 DT, there's a reason you can't just pick any random DT and put them at end.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I sure hope you're right, hopefully he puts everything together and turns into a star for us.

Don't know if I am or not, but after reading that article, it kinda put things in perspective for me.

If you're interested in reading the article, here's the link: http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78674&highlight=warren

 

[burmafrd]

Spears did a LOT of talking. So far he has NOT come up with the stats to back up all that talk. THAT is why he is getting a lot of flack. He did play BETTER this last sunday; but that is only because he was pretty much INVISIBLE before. He is very solid against the run- no arguement at all. BUT he needs to get more pressure. IF he could duplicate sunday for most of his games THEN that would be backing up the talk. BUT he was up against possible the WEAKEST O line he will face this season. So color me UNCONVINCED.

 

[AbeBeta]

I read a pretty good article about Ty Warren on espn.com last year and it talked about how the light came on for him in his 3rd year. It's interesting, because folks were calling him a bust, too.

Not saying Spears is as talented as Warren, but I thought it was interesting, because they seemed to be on a similar career path.

Warren
'03 - 1 sack 33 tackles
'04 - 3.5 sacks 48 tackles
'05 - 1.5 sacks 68 tackles
'06 - 7.5 sacks 84 tackles - obviously his breakout year.

Spears
'05 - 1.5 sack 31 tackles
'06 - 1.0 sack 45 tackles
'07 - .5 sack 7 tackles - total numbers to be determined

It would be interesting to see if it took Spears 4 years to truly put it all together.

Hope springs eternal.

A huge difference between Warren and Spears is that I've never read about Warren blaming anyone for his lack of productivity early in his career. Warren is a captain on the Pats D, a real leader. Spears is just a kid who has yet to take responsibility for his mediocre play.

 

[theogt]

Hope springs eternal.

A huge difference between Warren and Spears is that I've never read about Warren blaming anyone for his lack of productivity early in his career. Warren is a captain on the Pats D, a real leader. Spears is just a kid who has yet to take responsibility for his mediocre play.

This is precisely the problem. Spears is playing well. Playing very well, actually.

His problem is that he opened his mouth during the off-season. Had he not, he wouldn't have people criticizing him.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Hope springs eternal.

Yeah I have hope. But I also feel like I compared fairly equal career paths to provide a little logic to that hope. You're the one who brought Warren into the discussion, so I compared the two and those were the numbers that I came up with. So my remaining positive outlook is not unfounded, IMO.

A huge difference between Warren and Spears is that I've never read about Warren blaming anyone for his lack of productivity early in his career. Warren is a captain on the Pats D, a real leader.

I haven't either, but then I don't follow the Pats enough to know what he has or hasn't said as far as his production, other than in that article.

Spears is just a kid who has yet to take responsibility for his mediocre play.

Actually, I have read comments about him taking responsibility for his play. I've also read where he threw Parcells under the bus. I charge that to too much time on his hands. There was alot of talking going on in the offseason by a bunch of guys. Now that the season is here, most have been quiet. And to his credit, he hasn't really said much since the season began and I hope it stays that way.

On a side note: it's interesting he gets slammed when he shows the outward emotion and fire that people want to see on the field.

 

[WoodysGirl]

This is precisely the problem. Spears is playing well. Playing very well, actually.

His problem is that he opened his mouth during the off-season. Had he not, he wouldn't have people criticizing him.

I agree with the bold part, but not the second part.

People would still be criticizing him due to unrealistic expectations. It's four games into the season, but if my math reads correctly, he's on track to his best season as a pro.

 

[theogt]

I agree with the bold part, but not the second part.

People would still be criticizing him due to unrealistic expectations. It's four games into the season, but if my math reads correctly, he's on track to his best season as a pro.

Sure, I of course meant not to the extent he is now. There were idiots criticizing Ware after he didn't have a sack in the first two games.