Why Can't fans accept the facts about Spencer?

[Paniolo22]

It's not like DWare and Spencer are both playing DE in the 4-3. They are OLBs, and only one of them rushes the passer 95% of the time; that's Ware. We all recognize that Ware is one of the great pass rushers in the NFL, and he had to get 3 sacks in the final game of the season to get to 15 sacks, still less than one sack per game average.But for some reason fans think Spencer should have 10-12 sacks in far fewer opportunities.

This is a bad thing? No need to diminish Ware when comparing Spencer. Most fans would just like to see Spencer make better of his opportunities during the game. Most agree he is excellent vs the run, but this year more than the others, he ran himself out of plays. Not bashing, but he needs to play better. And Ware, every team in the league would pay millions to get one person to rack up 15 sacks a year, even if it's "less than one per game"

 

[speedkilz88]

B-I-N-G-O

I've been a big Spencer supporter since his days at Purdue...3 sacks in 15 games ain't gonna do it.

He had five sacks this last season. It was six if Garrett would have declined a penalty and it would have been seven had Newman not jumped on the qb after the whistle.

 

[speedkilz88]

Nobody said he wasn't effective on 1st and 2nd down.

So you wouldn't be happy with Carl Banks either?

 

[SDogo]

BINGO!

damn, I was just going to call it.:laugh2:

 

[DFWJC]

I'm not ready to give up on Spencer, but I do think he regressed some. We were expecting more--and not just in sacks--but he did not really deliver as hoped.

His year was a bit like Jenkins' but not quite as bad, imo.

But again, he's still young and has plenty of room to grow, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I think Spencer at his best is a dominant 2-down run stopper who gets an occasional sack. We probably expected more given his draft position but he's simply not a good pass rusher. Butler appears to have the ability to approach 10 sacks if he played the entire season as a nickel pass rusher.

 

[Sarge]

Maybe the OP can tell exactly what he DID like about Spencer this year and why he wasn't disappointed in his play. As far as I'm concerned, he played "ok" but I wasn't taken aback by his performance in the least.

Frankly, other than the end of last year, I haven't been real excited about his overall performance since he's been here given the expectations and where he was drafted....

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm not ready to give up on Spencer, but I do think he regressed some. We were expecting more--and not just in sacks--but he did not really deliver as hoped.

His year was a bit like Jenkins' but not quite as bad, imo.

But again, he's still young and has plenty of room to grow, so we'll see how it goes.

Almost every defender on the team regressed some. It was a team effort in that department. The team as a whole looked unprepared and disinterested from the get go in the preseason.

 

[batman36]

Kettle, I'd like to introduce you to pot. Pot, meet kettle.

Nice to make your acquaintance, sir!

 

[realtick]

and on the flip side it's him saying the exact opposite of

"OMG he suckz, no double digitz in the sack statz, hes outof position all the timez. Hes stright trash"

Far more complementary then anyone here is willing to give him credit for and basically addresses many of the complaints at the same time as his strongest attributes

Why would you expect fans to write in coach-speak or be diplomatic?

 

[realtick]

He had five sacks this last season. It was six if Garrett would have declined a penalty and it would have been seven had Newman not jumped on the qb after the whistle.

Yeah, I know he had five sacks on the season, but I hardly count racking up 2 sacks in the season finally against the Eagles' second and third-teamers in a meaningless game as on-the-level with what he did in the previous 15 games.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Victor Butler needs to be given a chance

If not Butler, someone needs to be given the chance to replace Spencer as a nickel pass rusher and make Spencer a 2 down player. I'd look at Derrick Burgess ... dude was a beast under Ryan in Oakland, and Ryan got way more out of him than Jim Johnson or Belichick ever did. He could be had cheap, too. At 32 he's not a 3 down player, he's someone who could be signed for around vet minimum that could fill a big role for your team.

 

[Cowboysfan22]

yeah, this thread blows.

Haha yea spencer isn't very good.

 

[Eskimo]

Spencer is okay as a 2-down OLB. However, he is not adequate as a LDE in the nickel because he is not an effective pass rusher in that package.

I would be fine with bringing in a better pass rusher for the 3-4 if a good prospect drops to us (i.e. Quinn) or with signing a pass-rush specialist for the nickel.

 

[BAT]

You jump on him even if you had two Ware's.

Never have enough pass rushing stud OLB's in a 3-4.

THIS is the the most salient point in this thread. And this is coming from a pro-Spencer guy. Bravo!

Quinn is too much talent to pass up. Like you said, one Ware is great, TWO Wares would be unstoppable. No brainer.

 

[Hoofbite]

Maybe the OP can tell exactly what he DID like about Spencer this year and why he wasn't disappointed in his play. As far as I'm concerned, he played "ok" but I wasn't taken aback by his performance in the least.

Frankly, other than the end of last year, I haven't been real excited about his overall performance since he's been here given the expectations and where he was drafted....

Spot on.

He got really hot at the end of last year and aside from that has been alright. He makes just as many mistakes as he does plays which I guess is all some people look for.

I might be hoping but I think he's a guy that will really flourish if he is put in an environment where he has to work hard all the time.

I think he's one of those guys that needs a constant harping to stay on top of his game.

 

[Wood]

Blah blah blah....post after post about Spencer being a huge disappointment because he didn't get a bunch of sacks.

Could Spencer do more with his opportunities? yes

Should fans expect him to get more than 6-7 sacks per season? Probably not.

It's not like DWare and Spencer are both playing DE in the 4-3. They are OLBs, and only one of them rushes the passer 95% of the time; that's Ware. We all recognize that Ware is one of the great pass rushers in the NFL, and he had to get 3 sacks in the final game of the season to get to 15 sacks, still less than one sack per game average.

But for some reason fans think Spencer should have 10-12 sacks in far fewer opportunities.

From the 3-4, the standard pass rush comes from Ware and the front D-linemen. Spencer has other responsibilities...he's only coming on the pass rush when we bring 5 (and that's when the 5th guy isn't an ILB, CB, or S)...or when we try to surprise the other team by dropping Ware into coverage.

Spencer had a pretty good year for what he's asked to do. Is it fair to continue to expect him to improve? yes. Is it fair to want him to win more 1-1 battles when he does get turned loose in the pass rush? Of course, just as we should expect more wins in the 1-1 battles with our 3 DLmen.

But let's keep in mind that Spencer is not rushing the QB even half the plays that Ware is rushing the QB. You just cannot live rushing 5 guys most of the time.

I hope Spencer gets better, but fans need to stop thinking of Spencer as one half of a bookend DE pair...he's not. How many can even name the OLB who plays opposite Clay Matthews or list his sack totals compared to Spencer's?

stop. no he didnt ...on any level. But we are bringing in a very aggressive coordinator....and I think Spencer might benefit the most. Expecting a huge bounce back year for this defense.

 

[speedkilz88]

If not Butler, someone needs to be given the chance to replace Spencer as a nickel pass rusher and make Spencer a 2 down player. I'd look at Derrick Burgess ... dude was a beast under Ryan in Oakland, and Ryan got way more out of him than Jim Johnson or Belichick ever did. He could be had cheap, too. At 32 he's not a 3 down player, he's someone who could be signed for around vet minimum that could fill a big role for your team.

Odd reasoning there. Why can't Ryan get more out of Spencer?

 

[BAT]

Odd reasoning there. Why can't Ryan get more out of Spencer?

Wade is actually the pass rushing guru. Burgess was the only pro bowl pass rusher that Ryan mentored. Ryan gets his sacks from multiple positions, but is not as prolific in that area as Wade.

So if Wade & his proven pedigree of developing pass rushing champs: Rickey Jackson, Reggie White, Clyde Simmmons, Karl Mecklenburg, Bruce Smith, Bryce Paup, Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Ware, Ratliff, etc. could not develop Spencer, then the guy is probably a lost cause as a dominant pass rusher.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Cowboys play quite a lot of nickel D where Spencer and Ware both have to rush the passer and Spencer is ineffective.