Cowboys' Spears anxious for a fresh start
Adam Schein / Special to FOXSports.com
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft.
Eight picks later, San Diego selected a player with similar skills in defensive end Luis Castillo.
Both were pegged to make an immediate impact in the 3-4 defense on their respective clubs.
Two years later, there's no comparison.
Spears' play has been spotty, showing great flashes but no consistency.
Castillo has emerged as the best defender on a team that boasts Shawne Merriman and Jamal Williams.
And that's coming from new Cowboys coach and former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. He told John Madden that Castillo was his top player before a December battle between San Diego and Kansas City.
Spears hopes Phillips can help him reach his potential.
"You can't even imagine how I felt when I heard the announcement made," Spears said. "Coach Parcells called me out in the media. Now it's on the players shoulders and I welcome that. You have no idea how excited I am."
The former LSU star says the Cowboys' defense was under the microscope quite a bit last season.
"I've been under a lot of scrutiny in Dallas, man," Spears said. "We as a defense, especially down the stretch, playing a mix of 3-4 and 4-3, have been under intense scrutiny. I'm really looking forward to letting loose and showing these Cowboys fans my potential."
But starting next season, it seems fair to expect that many of the Dallas defenders will have a chance to start anew.
"It's a fresh start now for us," Spears said. "It's a fresh start for me and Chris Canty. Look at what (Shawne) Merriman has done under Coach Phillips. Now think of what DeMarcus Ware will do. It's scary when you think about it. His players' production is a product of the 'Phillips' 3-4. It's different and better than most. I would rather have Coach Phillips and his way.
"It's a golden opportunity to show people what you can do and what kind of athlete you are and why you were drafted where you were drafted."
Castillo met Spears at the combines and the two became friendly. He says Phillips is perfect for Spears and his defensive mates.
"Marcus is the perfect example on what Wade is going to be able to do for this defense," Castillo said. "And to be honest guys, where you will see the difference is specifically in the front seven, especially the defensive ends and the outside linebackers who get to the quarterbacks."
Castillo says he is aware of what Spears has experienced in Dallas, and that there are plenty of challenges when it comes to playing his postion on defense.
"I pay a lot of attention to Spears," Castillo said. "We came out at the same time. We play the same position. We got drafted near each other. I look at what he has been able to do in Dallas and I watch him line up in the two-gap. And that means he has to line up over the offensive tackle, read him, go lateral, try to stay in front of the block, and that's tough to do. You aren't getting up the field and you aren't in a pass rush mode. You are in a really wide stance going lateral."
How will Phillips help Spears excel as a player?
"What Wade is going to do is make Spears fly," Castillo said. "Wade's defense has more 4-3 principles up front. It's more of a reduced front. Spears and these guys are going to be able to make a difference. Marcus and the defensive linemen are going to love him. DeMarcus Ware is going to love him. Look at what we did last year leading the league in sacks."
Spears, for one, is excited.
"Eight-five percent of my game last year was two-gapping with Coach Parcells. There really wasn't a lot of movement and that's what the guys on the defense were asking for. Coach Parcells had his way. Coach Phillips has his way. I am excited for the new way."
Castillo clearly understands why Spears is so anxious to begin working with Phillips.
"(Phillips is) the kind of guy who does so much. It's even more than calling the plays. He is a players' coach. He gets guys ready to play physically and mentally. He does a great job in teaching."
And don't forget that Phillips has been around some truly great players, too.
"He (Phillips) always came up to me and talked about Bruce Smith and what Bruce did for him in Buffalo and how I could do the same thing," Castillo said. "He's been around so many great guys, whether that's players or coaches, so you pay attention. What he is best at is putting guys in position to make plays.
"He isn't an ego guy. He'll take accountability in a meeting if he made a rare mistake."
And that's another example why Cowboys' fans should be excited about the Dallas defense this year.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft.
Eight picks later, San Diego selected a player with similar skills in defensive end Luis Castillo.
Both were pegged to make an immediate impact in the 3-4 defense on their respective clubs.
Two years later, there's no comparison.
Spears' play has been spotty, showing great flashes but no consistency.
Castillo has emerged as the best defender on a team that boasts Shawne Merriman and Jamal Williams.
And that's coming from new Cowboys coach and former Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. He told John Madden that Castillo was his top player before a December battle between San Diego and Kansas City.
Spears hopes Phillips can help him reach his potential.
"You can't even imagine how I felt when I heard the announcement made," Spears said. "Coach Parcells called me out in the media. Now it's on the players shoulders and I welcome that. You have no idea how excited I am."
The former LSU star says the Cowboys' defense was under the microscope quite a bit last season.
"I've been under a lot of scrutiny in Dallas, man," Spears said. "We as a defense, especially down the stretch, playing a mix of 3-4 and 4-3, have been under intense scrutiny. I'm really looking forward to letting loose and showing these Cowboys fans my potential."
But starting next season, it seems fair to expect that many of the Dallas defenders will have a chance to start anew.
"It's a fresh start now for us," Spears said. "It's a fresh start for me and Chris Canty. Look at what (Shawne) Merriman has done under Coach Phillips. Now think of what DeMarcus Ware will do. It's scary when you think about it. His players' production is a product of the 'Phillips' 3-4. It's different and better than most. I would rather have Coach Phillips and his way.
"It's a golden opportunity to show people what you can do and what kind of athlete you are and why you were drafted where you were drafted."
Castillo met Spears at the combines and the two became friendly. He says Phillips is perfect for Spears and his defensive mates.
"Marcus is the perfect example on what Wade is going to be able to do for this defense," Castillo said. "And to be honest guys, where you will see the difference is specifically in the front seven, especially the defensive ends and the outside linebackers who get to the quarterbacks."
Castillo says he is aware of what Spears has experienced in Dallas, and that there are plenty of challenges when it comes to playing his postion on defense.
"I pay a lot of attention to Spears," Castillo said. "We came out at the same time. We play the same position. We got drafted near each other. I look at what he has been able to do in Dallas and I watch him line up in the two-gap. And that means he has to line up over the offensive tackle, read him, go lateral, try to stay in front of the block, and that's tough to do. You aren't getting up the field and you aren't in a pass rush mode. You are in a really wide stance going lateral."
How will Phillips help Spears excel as a player?
"What Wade is going to do is make Spears fly," Castillo said. "Wade's defense has more 4-3 principles up front. It's more of a reduced front. Spears and these guys are going to be able to make a difference. Marcus and the defensive linemen are going to love him. DeMarcus Ware is going to love him. Look at what we did last year leading the league in sacks."
Spears, for one, is excited.
"Eight-five percent of my game last year was two-gapping with Coach Parcells. There really wasn't a lot of movement and that's what the guys on the defense were asking for. Coach Parcells had his way. Coach Phillips has his way. I am excited for the new way."
Castillo clearly understands why Spears is so anxious to begin working with Phillips.
"(Phillips is) the kind of guy who does so much. It's even more than calling the plays. He is a players' coach. He gets guys ready to play physically and mentally. He does a great job in teaching."
And don't forget that Phillips has been around some truly great players, too.
"He (Phillips) always came up to me and talked about Bruce Smith and what Bruce did for him in Buffalo and how I could do the same thing," Castillo said. "He's been around so many great guys, whether that's players or coaches, so you pay attention. What he is best at is putting guys in position to make plays.
"He isn't an ego guy. He'll take accountability in a meeting if he made a rare mistake."
And that's another example why Cowboys' fans should be excited about the Dallas defense this year.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:44 PM
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