FanPost

Marcus Spears Underrated?

We've all been hearing for years about how Marcus Spears has yet to live up to his first round potential, but have we been expecting too much from a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme?  Are we expecting him to have double digit sacks every year?  Could he be doing his job well without anyone noticing?

I was reading Spagnola's article on the Cowboys website here.  He goes onto say:

 

Spears' first priority, especially playing the wide tackle, is to stop the run, and that job becomes more complicated since the left side of the defense is the right side of the offense, which usually is the strong side, or the side where the tight end lines up, putting an extra blocker to that side.

Now here's the next fact: The Cowboys finished No. 6 against the run in 2007. They gave up an average of 94.6 rushing yards a game. Only two teams gave up considerably less, Minnesota (74.1) and Baltimore (79.3). No other team gave up less than 89.9. So pretty good, right?

Plus, the number of rushing yards the Cowboys had given up decreased in each of Spears' three seasons. He should get brownie points for that.

But nope, Spears doesn't get a break. All anyone wants to look at are his sacks, and that's not much to look at. He has just 4½ in three seasons, probably not bad for a defensive tackle, but for a traditional defensive end, which he is not, not so good.

Then again, few want to factor into the equation that Spears is not on the nickel defense, so when it comes time to rush the quarterback, he's watching from the sideline.

Now again, just the facts. The perception of most is that Chris Canty, the right side defensive end, a guy playing on his restricted free-agency tender, deserves an extension, and frankly, I'm right there with that perception. And if not an extension, then certainly a new deal before heading into free agency next year.

Canty, who not only plays on the right side where there normally is less congestion on the line of scrimmage, has totaled seven sacks in his first three seasons. So a grand total of 2½ more than Spears, and that's not much when you consider he does play on nickel downs, inside from a defensive tackle position next to Jay Ratliff on the four-man line.

What are your thoughts?  I personally hadn't noticed much from Spears until this offseason.  He may be ready to have a break out season.  Do you think Jerry would extend both Canty and Spears' contracts?

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