Spears playing time for 08'

[ethiostar]

I Just wanted to get the opinions of Zoners on how much playing time Spears will get this year in comparision to the last two seasons.

Reports from the ranch indicate that Tank is comming on very strong at NT and that is allowing the coaching staff to find another spot for Ratllif (at least on limited snaps) on the DL because of his abilities. They have been trying him at DE, i'm assuming Spears spot. We also have Hatcher who should be getting more playing time this season as long as he has improved against the run.

So how much playing time will Spears get in the upcoming season? I don't think he is as bad as some claim him to be, but i believe we now have enough talent at the position that he may start to lose more and more playing time.

Thoughts?

 

[DallasEast]

With Ratliff rotating snaps with Johnson at noseguard and Spears at defensive end, I'd predict that Spears will average 75% of the snaps to Ratliff's 25%.

 

[AbeBeta]

Well, my preference here is that we get a strong year out of Spears and are able to give Bowen's snaps away.

 

[ethiostar]

With Ratliff rotating snaps with Johnson at noseguard and Spears at defensive end, I'd predict that Spears will average 75% of the snaps to Ratliff's 25%.

What about Hatcher? How many snaps will he take away from Spears?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Well, my preference here is that we get a strong year out of Spears and are able to give Bowen's snaps away.

Why give Bowen’s snaps away? I think he is an underrated player, i thought he had a very good season last year.

 

[DallasEast]

What about Hatcher? How many snaps will he take away from Spears?

Oops! Meant to say Hatcher. My bad. Ratliff is the better pass rusher of the two and should continue to back up Canty. I've been waiting to see more of what Hatcher can do.

 

[AbeBeta]

Why give Bowen’s snaps away? I think he is an underrated player, i thought he had a very good season last year.

Because I'd rather see Spears play well enough that we didn't want to take his snaps away. Bowen played OK but he's really just getting by on the system

 

[ethiostar]

Why give Bowen’s snaps away? I think he is an underrated player, i thought he had a very good season last year.

I agree that Bowen has some potential but he doesn't get on the field that much. I think the coaching staff wants to keep Rattlif on the field as much as possible so he will have to take snaps away from somebody/s who is on the field a lot.

 

[montgod]

Because I'd rather see Spears play well enough that we didn't want to take his snaps away. Bowen played OK but he's really just getting by on the system

Well... sometimes system guys aren't bad if they actually produce.

Would you rather have a more talented player who never shows up on Sunday or a less talented player who produces in the system he is playing in?

Besides that, Bowen is resigned for another two years I believe at a very affordable rate vs Spears who is in his last year and might bring a little bit more effort this year just to get a new contract.

Sorry... I dont' see Spears with the Boys next year. He is just filler... and "is what we thought he is..."

 

[tunahelper]

I hope 30-40 snaps a game as a situational run stopping DE.

 

[dcfanatic]

Spears will never be on the field on 3rd downs.

He should be and most likely will be phased out of the starting lineup in favor of Ratliff at DE.

Then he's gone by next season.

That's my opinion on where he's headed and how much playing time he's looking at this season.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I doubt Jay takes any snaps away from spears at all. Spears will still be the starting DE and will be on the field on 1st and 2nd downs. I think you will see a 3rd down rotation between, bowen, hatcher and Jay though but that will not change the number of snaps that Spears gets.

 

[AbeBeta]

Well... sometimes system guys aren't bad if they actually produce.

Would you rather have a more talented player who never shows up on Sunday or a less talented player who produces in the system he is playing in?

Besides that, Bowen is resigned for another two years I believe at a very affordable rate vs Spears who is in his last year and might bring a little bit more effort this year just to get a new contract.

Sorry... I dont' see Spears with the Boys next year. He is just filler... and "is what we thought he is..."

Sorry, Spears is a far far far far far better player than Bowen. Bowen does fine in the situations he's given but Spears is out there doing a ton of dirty work that he isn't getting much credit for. I'd take Spears over Bowen any day.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Spears imho will be regulated to running downs.....and will come out on obvious passing downs.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Spears will never be on the field on 3rd downs.

He should be and most likely will be phased out of the starting lineup in favor of Ratliff at DE.

Then he's gone by next season.

That's my opinion on where he's headed and how much playing time he's looking at this season.

 

[skinsscalper]

Sorry, Spears is a far far far far far better player than Bowen. Bowen does fine in the situations he's given but Spears is out there doing a ton of dirty work that he isn't getting much credit for. I'd take Spears over Bowen any day.

A refreshingly objective and accurate post regarding Spears and his counterparts. Spears did not live up to what Parcells sold him to be. No doubt about it. It doesn't mean the guy isn't pretty solid at what he does. The force that Spears is against the running game is far underrated.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Spears imho will be regulated to running downs.....and will come out on obvious passing downs.

So you're saying he'll get the same amount of playing time as in 2007?

 

[ethiostar]

So you're saying he'll get the same amount of playing time as in 2007?

That's what i thought too WG. I think this year Ratliff and Hatcher are going to take even more snaps away from him, Sprears. I just hope Hatcher has improved against the run since last year.

 

[AbeBeta]

A refreshingly objective and accurate post regarding Spears and his counterparts. Spears did not live up to what Parcells sold him to be. No doubt about it. It doesn't mean the guy isn't pretty solid at what he does. The force that Spears is against the running game is far underrated.

He's a solid NFL player -- if healthy, he'll have a long career in this league. He's not living up to the first round pick status but that's the case for about 2/3rds of the guys who get picked in Round 1

 

[theogt]

That's what i thought too WG. I think this year Ratliff and Hatcher are going to take even more snaps away from him, Sprears. I just hope Hatcher has improved against the run since last year.

Hatcher hasn't really done much to make me think his playing time will be increased.

I think instead of the 80-20 split that Ratliff and Tank saw in '07, they'll split about 50-50 at the nose and Ratliff will pick up that 30 from the DE spot (most likely rotating in for Canty).