Star Mag - Marcus Spears: Big, Athletic

[AdamJT13]

I don't know where you're seeing coaches film

I'm not seeing the film, just the stats the coaches compiled from the film.

Look at the people you are comparing him to in that sentence

You mean, our other two starting defensive linemen and the guy a lot of people want to start in place of Spears?

 

[WoodysGirl]

1st round pick the expectations r high he is in boat as carp imo

I wouldn't say Spears is in the same boat as Carp. Spears has been a starter every year he's been in the league. Carp is still trying to get PT in the regular defense.

 

[Manster68]

Do you know what is kind of funny?

Some people today are ragging on Spears the same way I heard countless threads ragging on Gurode a couple of years ago.

People, it is awfully difficult to master what they do. Some players pick it up real quick, others takes several years. We have seen this with several Cowboys who play in the trenches.

Russell Maryland didn't go to a Pro Bowl until his 5th year in the league. Even the Great Randy White had a couple of years of adjustments.

Newton, Teunei, and Gogan are players on the other side of the trench who needed seasoning and plenty of it.

Getting away from the trench, what about Ken Norton? People wanted him out of Dallas in 1990 after three season with the Cowboys. How do people revere him now?

I just think we fans need to be patient. Not every player can make a huge play every play. We for the most part have set the bar extremely high for these players.

 

[TheCount]

You mean, our other two starting defensive linemen and the guy a lot of people want to start in place of Spears?

Look at where they were all drafted.

As I've said, you can coax anything out of numbers if you're crafty enough.

My point is that those numbers you stated mean about as much in Spears defense as his sack numbers do for people that bring that up as a reason he should be dumped.

Spears is a solid 3-4 DE and not much more than that. I'll take solid, but I won't settle for it.

 

[jrumann59]

I will take spears and his paltry sack numbers as long as he is position to do what he is supposed to do, with that, if him making more big plays because he gambles and gets out of position is the other option he just needs to keep, keeping on.

 

[AdamJT13]

Look at where they were all drafted.

As I've said, you can coax anything out of numbers if you're crafty enough.

My point is that those numbers you stated mean about as much in Spears defense as his sack numbers do for people that bring that up as a reason he should be dumped.

Spears is a solid 3-4 DE and not much more than that. I'll take solid, but I won't settle for it.

I stated those numbers because DaBoys4Life says he wanted to see Spears make plays in the backfield. Well, he did that better than any of our other defensive linemen, and he did it despite playing a lot less than some of them.

He's not a great pass-rusher, but he did make plays against the run, he did force some fumbles, and he had as many sacks on first and second downs as any of our defensive linemen (he almost never played on third downs).

 

[theogt]

Spears finished second on the team in tackles behind the line of scrimmage behind Ware and third on the team in total stops behind the line (TFL plus sacks) behind Ware and Ellis. Spears' rate of making plays behind the line (based on playing time) was much better than any other defensive lineman on our team.

RATE OF SACKS OR TACKLES FOR LOSS
Spears = 1 every 55.5 snaps
Johnson = 1 every 70.0 snaps
Hatcher = 1 every 73.4 snaps
Canty = 1 every 90.0 snaps
Ratliff = 1 every 101.5 snaps
R.Ayodele = none
Bowen = none

Spears also tied Ellis for second on the team with three forced fumbles, one behind Ware.

Hey Adam, clear out your PM inbox, so I can send you a damn PM.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

What 3-4 DE gets 5-7 sacks a season?

Chris Canty, this year.

 

[Eskimo]

Getting away from the trench, what about Ken Norton? People wanted him out of Dallas in 1990 after three season with the Cowboys. How do people revere him now?

Cowboys fans revering Ken Norton Jr. is a bit of a stretch. He left us for the 49ers in the middle of the dynasty. I realize it was all business but it still does sting a little as a fan.

 

[DallasDomination]

Hatcher > Spears

Come on man Spears is....LOL that's all I have to say.

 

[theogt]

Hatcher > Spears

Come on man Spears is....LOL that's all I have to say.

Hatcher was pretty disappointing last year. I don't know if it was the injury from training camp/preseason, but he didn't perform anywhere near where I expected from him. Mediocre player at this point and certainly not better than Spears.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Hey Adam, clear out your PM inbox, so I can send you a damn PM.

I think he wants it that way

not being able to receive PMs from you:

 

[TheCount]

Hatcher > Spears

Come on man Spears is....LOL that's all I have to say.

Well you didn't really say anything at all.

Hatcher was pretty disappointing last year. I don't know if it was the injury from training camp/preseason, but he didn't perform anywhere near where I expected from him. Mediocre player at this point and certainly not better than Spears.

What did you expect from him?

I think he performed about as well as you'd expect from a 2nd year, 3rd round, situational player would.

I think as a group, our 3-4 linemen are performing about league average, maybe slightly better, we just happen to have pretty good LB's out there as well.

 

[theogt]

What did you expect from him?

I think he performed about as well as you'd expect from a 2nd year, 3rd round, situational player would.

I expected him to progress significantly, not slightly regress.

 

[TheCount]

I expected him to progress significantly, not slightly regress.

What makes you say he regressed? And why would you expect him specifically to progress so much?

None of our DL guys are exactly world class.

 

[theogt]

What makes you say he regressed?

He just didn't seem to play as well as he did his rookie season.

And why would you expect him specifically to progress so much?

Why wouldn't you? Small school player given a full pro offseason. In the 2nd or 3rd year, you should see some significant progression.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I wouldn't say Spears is in the same boat as Carp. Spears has been a starter every year he's been in the league. Carp is still trying to get PT in the regular defense.

Both mid 1st round prospects
Both from big colleges
both are under acheiving

Only fact Spears has been the starter is because he was a 1st round pick and we had no1 else.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Both mid 1st round prospects
Both from big colleges
both are under acheiving

Only fact Spears has been the starter is because he was a 1st round pick and we had no1 else.

do you have anything good to say about the Cowboys?

 

[TheCount]

He just didn't seem to play as well as he did his rookie season.

Why wouldn't you? Small school player given a full pro offseason. In the 2nd or 3rd year, you should see some significant progression.

I always expect progress, but you seemed to be pointing him out for whatever reason.

I wouldn't expect a small school guy to catch on any quicker than anyone else though.