Would Marcus Spears be a good NT?

[dallasfan]

If he doesn't improve drastically, do you think he'd be good at a different position. I know he may be a tad small, weighing less than 300 lbs, but in this scheme quickness is supposed to be more important in a NT, and while he may lack the speed to play outside, he may thrive inside.

 

[dogunwo]

A lot of people here seem to think he would be good. He is kind of a space eater. Whereas he sometimes look slow as a DE, he would look pretty quick at DT

 

[BourbonBalz]

Maybe, but from what I've seen so far, Spears isn't tough or strong enough to play the nose. You would think at 300 lbs. he would be, but "show me the money" before I agree with that. He would probably be good as a tackle in the 4-3, but a nose has to be nasty and strong as a bull. He has to sorta like getting his nose bloodied as to speak.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

At this point, I cannot let myself believe he is a bust at DE. I saw this guy play in college, and he could run a bit and get at the QB. I think this year he will do okay. Of course, fans are going to be fickle no matter what he does. Even the best 3-4 ends aren't going to get more than 6-8 sacks in a pro bowl season, but if he has like 4 or 5 I don't think most people will be impressed.

 

[Sarge]

He'd make a good boat anchor.

 

[superpunk]

I think he'd be one heck of a defensive end if he didn't suck so badly.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

he is not tough enought to be a 3-4 NT. and he is not good enough to hold of jason hatcher. hatcher will have his job by week 5 or 6.

 

[burmafrd]

By the end of september Hatcher will be starting unless somehow Spears shows signs of life. And no way is he tough enough for more then a few plays at NT.

 

[dooomsday]

No, the transition from DT to NT isn't quit that simple. I would try him if we have no choice. I think he is best suited for DT in a 4-3.

 

[THUMPER]

It is funny you should ask that as I was thinking yesterday that we might be better suited to a 4-3 right now with a lineup of:

LDE-Hatcher/Spencer
LDT-Spears
RDT-Ratliff/Ferguson
RDE-Canty/Ellis
LOLB-Ware
MLB-Ayodele/James
ROLB-Burnett/Carpenter

That would be one BIG front-4 averaging 6'5" 296.5 lbs and all of them can rush the passer.

At LB I think Ware could play in the 4-3 with his quickness but Spencer and Ellis would move back to DE. Either Carpenter or Burnett could start but I gave the nod to Burnett as he is more suited to the 4-3. Ayodele and James would make nice MLBs in the 4-3.

Not that Phillips is likely to move to a 4-3 but I was just thinking about the possibilities based on who we have.

 

[AbeBeta]

It is funny you should ask that as I was thinking yesterday that we might be better suited to a 4-3 right now with a lineup of:

LDE-Hatcher/Spencer
LDT-Spears
RDT-Ratliff/Ferguson
RDE-Canty/Ellis
LOLB-Ware
MLB-Ayodele/James
ROLB-Burnett/Carpenter

That would be one BIG front-4 averaging 6'5" 296.5 lbs and all of them can rush the passer.

At LB I think Ware could play in the 4-3 with his quickness but Spencer and Ellis would move back to DE. Either Carpenter or Burnett could start but I gave the nod to Burnett as he is more suited to the 4-3. Ayodele and James would make nice MLBs in the 4-3.

Not that Phillips is likely to move to a 4-3 but I was just thinking about the possibilities based on who we have.

Now how would we be better suited to ANYTHING by taking our best pass rusher and putting him further off the line?

 

[THUMPER]

Now how would we be better suited to ANYTHING by taking our best pass rusher and putting him further off the line?

Ever heard of a "blitz"? Sure you have. Lots of teams who run a 4-3 defense blitz their OLBs.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

He'd make a good boat anchor.

:laugh2:

Spears has the talent to play anything on the line, but I don't think he has the mental toughness and tenacity you need to play NT.

 

[Rack]

He'd make a good boat anchor.

I think he'd be one heck of a defensive end if he didn't suck so badly.

 

[dbair1967]

I really hope he has a good game Sunday...

David

 

[AbeBeta]

Ever heard of a "blitz"? Sure you have. Lots of teams who run a 4-3 defense blitz their OLBs.

I see.

So your idea is to take one of the league's best passer rushers -- our best defensive weapon -- and make him a PART-TIME pass rusher?

 

[zeromaster]

It is funny you should ask that as I was thinking yesterday that we might be better suited to a 4-3 right now with a lineup of:

LDE-Hatcher/Spencer
LDT-Spears
RDT-Ratliff/Ferguson
RDE-Canty/Ellis
LOLB-Ware
MLB-Ayodele/James
ROLB-Burnett/Carpenter

That would be one BIG front-4 averaging 6'5" 296.5 lbs and all of them can rush the passer.

At LB I think Ware could play in the 4-3 with his quickness but Spencer and Ellis would move back to DE. Either Carpenter or Burnett could start but I gave the nod to Burnett as he is more suited to the 4-3. Ayodele and James would make nice MLBs in the 4-3.

Not that Phillips is likely to move to a 4-3 but I was just thinking about the possibilities based on who we have.

After all the time it took us to get to a 3-4 and (finally) a coach that knows what to do with it, let's not even put a toe on that "back to a 4-3" path.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Spears = on the hot seat this year.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The problem with Spears is Spears. All the natural ability in the world is there and always has been. The book on Spears coming out is that he was lazy. Still is IMO. He doesn't have the drive to be that Reggie White type of player. He has the skills to be like that. That's what BP saw when he drafted him. It's the desire that is lacking.

In a normal 34, I'd say he could not play NT. However, in Phillips 34, he probably could. Phillips uses the NT to slant and disrupt through penatration. Spears has this ability but again, it comes down to want to and Spears has not shown me that he wants to do much of anything as yet.

 

[dallasfan]

I see.

So your idea is to take one of the league's best passer rushers -- our best defensive weapon -- and make him a PART-TIME pass rusher?

Not that I'm advocating it, but Peter Boulware was great in a similar role in Baltimore before injuries ended his career.