A Case for Spencer
by beautifultyrant on Jun 4, 2009 5:28 PM CDT
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As fans we have heard all the negativity towards Anthony Spencer: He’s a bust! He’s not starting material! He can’t even beat out an old Greg Ellis! The Cowboys should have drafted Lamarr Woodley!
The truth of the matter is Spencer could have beaten out Ellis if he hadn’t been held back by injuries. As a matter of fact, he did beat out Ellis toward the end of last year as evidenced by the amount of playing time he received.
People are so quick to dismiss Spencer as a bust. Why? Because he couldn’t beat out Ellis his rookie year? Ellis was the comeback player of the year in 2007 recording 12 sacks. Anybody not named Ware or Merriman would have had trouble beating out Ellis that year. Spencer is a bust because he didn’t do anything in 2008. Hey genius, it's hard to do much when you’re sidelined for half the football season with arthroscopic knee surgery. It’s also hard to come back from that surgery and pick up where you left off. That’s like asking a sprinter to give his competition a three second head start in the hundred meter dash and expect him to catch up. It’s not gonna happen. Now, this is year three, Tom Landry’s and Bill Parcells’ barometer for a player to excel. Excelling is Spencer’s priority and he knows it.
What about Lamarr Woodley? He has developed faster than Spencer, but in the long run, he will not be a better player than Spencer. At Michigan Woodley was a "Three-year starter who played outside rush linebacker," which is the reason for his fast development as an OLB in the NFL. He had experience. Spencer was a defensive end at Purdue that was "Effective against wide running plays, [couldn’t] be hooked or pinned inside, and [could] play in space." Obviously it has taken time for Spencer to develop into an OLB having played three years as a defensive end in college. Spencer is good with room to be great because he hasn’t even tapped his potential. In year three of his NFL career Spencer will best Woodley.
During the 2007 NFL Draft, Joe Thomas, the third overall player taken in that draft and now a Pro Bowl left tackle for the Cleveland Browns, was asked what defensive player gave him the most trouble in his college career. Spencer, Woodley, and Thomas all played in the Big Ten, so they played each other regularly. Thomas, with unflinching conviction, answered "Anthony Spencer."
People have been saying that Spencer is a party animal, that it will get in his way, that partying is his priority. Utter nonsense! I heard it from a friend... who heard it from a friend... who heard it from a friend... You get the picture. If Spencer wants to party, he can do it after the game, win or lose.
Why will Spencer finally become a force? Spencer will become a force because he is now a seasoned veteran. He has learned the nuances of being a 3-4 OLB and will be a force against the run and pass opposite Ware. Spencer will become a force because Ellis is gone and will no longer stunt his development. When Spencer looks over his shoulder, Ellis will not be the pass rush specialist, and unless the rookies are studs and ready, only Williams and Butler will be there (to back him up).
Just for the record, scouts for Athlon Sports described Spencer as "relentless" and taking "good angles." He is described as "more than just a pass rusher" and playing the run with "strength and explosion." Offenses better watch out!
This season we can say without a doubt that Spencer will bust… on lineman, running backs, and quarterbacks.
Works Cited
Athlon Sports Draft Guide 2006
CBS Sports.com
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
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Waiting for Carl Shelton to weigh in here...
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just wait.
Thats all Im sayin. Imma leave Spence alone till its time to say “I told you so.”
WELCOME HOME SEVEN!!
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jun 4, 2009 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Wait
So you’re rooting for a Cowboy to fail whilst holding the torch for a divisive player that’s not even on the team any more?
I demand satisfaction. Defend your honor, sir!
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Jun 5, 2009 5:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not rooting for any Cowboy to fail...EVER
I just know what I know. You see the hat in my picture. Thats not a stocking cap, that’s the Swami’s turban.
WELCOME HOME SEVEN!!
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jun 5, 2009 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions
I loved the pick at the time
…but the devil is always in the details. Carl’s knowledge of him off the field is cause for concern.
I like to think that he could respond to Reggie Herring and Wade Phillips’ style, but not if he is preoccupied with other things. Joe Tiller was losing his competitive zest at the time Spencer was @ Purdue but he still had good statistical seasons.
Spencer has shown flashes, but he hasn’t had enough snaps to suggest that he will have what many think will be a breakout year.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I still believe in Spencer
I did see flashes of brilliance his rookie year, so I would not be so quick to call him a bust. I’d be worried if I hadn’t seen anything yet.
I think he will turn into a good-to-great 3-down player for us. He’ll never be Ware, but he can complement Ware like S. Phillips does S. Merriman in San Diego.
I will say this: I think he has a great killer instinct when he’s got the QB in his sights. He definitely brings the pain, maybe moreso than Ware. I still remember E. Manning cringing after a Spencer hit.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Jun 4, 2009 5:43 PM CDT reply actions
I agree with you...
He’ll never be as good as Ware, even though Jerry stated he looked “as good as Ware” in training camp last year. I think he’ll be a very good complement.
He really does bring the pain. He slung Eli to the ground pretty hard. Eli was sidelined for the rest of the game and was in pain for a week.
by beautifultyrant on Jun 4, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Great post
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Jun 4, 2009 8:06 PM CDT reply actions
My only concern is injuries
If he stays healthy all year, he won’t be our problem. The film I saw on him showed stout play at the line – better than most of our front five. I think the tackles and sacks will come as he improves his technique.
Injuries will be the only thing preventing Spencer
from becoming a really good player. So far he’s been a china doll, hopefully it’s not a trend.
In Romo we Trust
If he's not so motivated by football
I think the question becomes – who is going to light a fire under his a$$? We saw this with Marty B last year in camp in the famous ‘high and tight’ sequences. Then J Whit, the consummate pro, basically said ’I’ll help you when I think you’re ready/deserving’. Don’t think ’Tellus was unmotivated, but he was unfocused. Not so much anymore.
I do think the talent is there, but it will take a combination of assertive coaching and team mate peer pressure to help Spencer understand anything less than full out is unacceptable. Believe B James will have no problem doing that, but it will probably have more impact coming from DWare. Can the LB coaches – RHerring/D Nguyen instill that in him as well? Can WP, back off the effusive praise and demand some intensity?
PS – I live in downtown Indy, Red Eye Cafe is basically where you go for the proverbial 3AM breakfast to counteract the imbibings of the evening with some quality grease, aka breakfast. They recently stopped serving alcohol, the manager stating, I’m trying to get the drunks to leave, not stay.’ Cops in that area are notoriously intolerant of drunken stupidity. It’s a common site to see wasted patrons in cuffs as you exit several of the watering holes around there.
'It is not enough for me to win. My enemies must lose' - David Merrick
I think that spencer knows that his time there may not be in jeopardy this year
but if he wants to stay a starter he needs to bring it this year because ellis is no longer there to come in if he is not upto the challenge. If spencer cannot live up to their expectations he will see a drafted replacement come in or have one of the other guys come in because they will want to take his job.
Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!
Spencer will have plenty of motivation
That motivation is called Victor Butler and Brandon Williams….they may be rookies this year, but I think they will push him in a few years if he isn’t consistently good.
In Romo we Trust
A seasoned veteran?
He may pan out, but that is a stretch. He has played a part time role for two years, and has one sophomoric off-field incident.
2 years ago Ellis had 12 sacks and Spencer had 3.5. for a total of 15.5 from ROLB position.
I see no reason in the world why Spencer in this D with Wade running the show why he can’t have 10 sacks barring injury. That puts him on par with Woodley. I see no reason why he cant take the next step.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the goverment from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Lifting shoes
I personally saw him lift Staley out of his shoes one time, so I know he can do it.
"The Most Dangerous Man in the world is the one with nothing to lose"
"Bye, Dawk" needs a damn hobby
WELCOME HOME SEVEN!!
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jun 5, 2009 10:49 PM CDT reply actions
totally!
"Grow where you are planted."
by Aaron Novinger on Jun 8, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions
you have pull on this site
Block him. He’s a punk/troll. Have you noticed he doesn’t contribute much to the discussion?
He brags to his fellow inbreeders on the angry green site about how riled up he gets everyone.
It is time!
BTW, I love your posts. Stay classy.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
-Winston Churchill
Haha...
I don’t name-call or use offensive language… I pretty much just express opinions usually backed up by some kind of statistical evidence or insight, so not to sound smug, but I’m not going anywhere.
Asking for me to be blocked is like telling on me to mommy and daddy. You’re better than that, brother.
Why?
They blocked me on the Eagles site for posting a great merger idea with the Bengals.
They are insulated and refuse to have any fun loving dialogue about their legacy of folly.
I for one, don’t mind BD since he conjures up rich and spirited conversation. I like to think we are quantum leaps ahead of his brethren in Philly in our willingness to engage.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
conversation?
I don’t mind BD for the most part, but the ONLY reason he’s here is to stir up the nest. He does a very good job of it but I’d hardly call it conversation. More like lofty, long winded, digressive arguments. He tosses a match because he knows it will start a blaze. If anyone here doesn’t want him here, it’s as ez as not responding. No fuel, no fire, the match must extinguish.
GD88 he has a hobby...
blogging the boys.
I had the misfortune of living in PA for 3 plus years, so I look at Bye Dawk in a different light. He is better than most from Pennsyltucky. I mean really, the eagles have won a playoff game! Maybe before he dies they can win a super bowl. Wishful thinking I know, but at least we can give the guy some hope.
I don’t mind people with different opinions posting. I am surprised at how many people can’t take every player being called the best at their position in the NFL on this team. Other than Witten and Ware can anybody else even be argued to be the best at their position?
I am a homer with my Cowboys goggles securely on, but I don’t mind others posting their differing opinions as long as they’re not talking out their arse.
by christmasisdraftday on Jun 6, 2009 1:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I love it
“I had the misfortune of living in PA for 3 plus years.” That’s just beautiful. I’m a native Pennsylvanian and I can’t stand it here and unfortunately given my circumstances I can’t relocate but I wish I could.
In Romo we Trust
As a native altoonan, who relocated out west long ago
For once we agree on something Terry. At least you have the chiefs ; )
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
LOL!!
You’re from Altoona?? No kidding, then you know all about the armpit of the universe known as Johnstown, PA.
At least we have some pro athletes from our town, most notably Jack Ham and just maybe that Hawkins kid will have people here becoming Cowboys fans this summer….one can only dream, lol.
In Romo we Trust
True, but its not like Altoona
is all that better. But I don’t envy you having to be around insufferable steelers fans all the time. Every once in a while I forget why I hate the steelers. Then I visit my family and friends in the area and then it all comes back to me.
I am a fan of Jack Ham because he went to PSU, where I went. You’re probably a Pitt fan? If I remember, Ham went to Bishop McCort? I went to Bishop Guilfoyle and we used to play McCort and that was their claim to fame if I remember correctly.
By the way, I didn’t know the Hawkins kid was from Johnstown. I liked what he showed last night and he’s the youngest guy on the show. But because I now know that he’s from our neck of the woods, I now like him even more.
"Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a result of something... hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." --Roger Staubach
yeah, both he and his brother Artrell
are from Johnstown and both went to Bishop McCort. Artrell played for the Bengals, Panthers and Patriots before he retired 2 years ago. I run into him once in a while when I go out and pick his brain on the ins and outs of pro football.
Yeah, Ham went to McCort as well. Now that the student body of Johnstown High School has decreased, McCort is now our biggest rivals instead of Altoona. I do miss the Johnstown/Altoona high school rivalries though.
In Romo we Trust
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