Spencer still going
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Albert Breer
Remember Anthony Spencer? The Cowboys first-round draft pick?
Yeah, he's still around. But with Greg Ellis going from broken down to breaking out, plenty of the playing time Spencer had in the first half of the season has vanished. And the team's first-round pick is handling it well.
Despite seeing just 12 defensive snaps against the Packers -- in addition to his duties on the Cowboys' kickoff, kickoff return and punt teams -- Spencer registered a pair of pressures. That, in fact, is a strong sign of maturity. Instead of belly-aching over lost reps, after he performed real well in six starts, Spencer's making the most of every chance he's getting.
"Everyone wants to be out there playing it, that’s what you’re here to do," Spencer said. "At the same time, it’s not like we’re really hurting anywhere. If we were, then I’d probably be more frustrated. But I definitely happy here playing my role."
Putting Spencer in hasn't always meant taking fellow OLBs DeMarcus Ware and Ellis out. In some cases, all three have been in the field, and against the Packers, it wasn't just in traditional nickel situations.
In some cases, the Cowboys lined up Ellis as a 5-technique end (head up on the tackle) with Spencer outside him and Ware playing on the opposite edge. In others, they'll float the three over the line to disguise who's rushing and who's dropping.
It's all an effort to get Spencer, clearly one of the team's best rushers, on the field, something they've clearly said they want to work to do.
"(Ellis) is having that kind of year, it's really amazing," the big boss, Jerry Jones, said. "But we need Spencer out there more than we've got him out there. (Ellis) is playing at such a level that it's hard to get Spencer on the field."
Wade Phillips made it clear, too, today that Spencer played at pretty high level himself when Ellis was out, and that he'd like to find more ways to utilize his skills. For now, though, Spencer's content in focusing on doing the same job no matter how many snaps he gets, be it six or 60.
"It’s a team game, and I’m gonna do whatever I can to help out wherever I can," Spencer said. "I’m still learning a lot of stuff, I got good people in front of me, so I’m not worried about it too much."
Albert Breer
Remember Anthony Spencer? The Cowboys first-round draft pick?
Yeah, he's still around. But with Greg Ellis going from broken down to breaking out, plenty of the playing time Spencer had in the first half of the season has vanished. And the team's first-round pick is handling it well.
Despite seeing just 12 defensive snaps against the Packers -- in addition to his duties on the Cowboys' kickoff, kickoff return and punt teams -- Spencer registered a pair of pressures. That, in fact, is a strong sign of maturity. Instead of belly-aching over lost reps, after he performed real well in six starts, Spencer's making the most of every chance he's getting.
"Everyone wants to be out there playing it, that’s what you’re here to do," Spencer said. "At the same time, it’s not like we’re really hurting anywhere. If we were, then I’d probably be more frustrated. But I definitely happy here playing my role."
Putting Spencer in hasn't always meant taking fellow OLBs DeMarcus Ware and Ellis out. In some cases, all three have been in the field, and against the Packers, it wasn't just in traditional nickel situations.
In some cases, the Cowboys lined up Ellis as a 5-technique end (head up on the tackle) with Spencer outside him and Ware playing on the opposite edge. In others, they'll float the three over the line to disguise who's rushing and who's dropping.
It's all an effort to get Spencer, clearly one of the team's best rushers, on the field, something they've clearly said they want to work to do.
"(Ellis) is having that kind of year, it's really amazing," the big boss, Jerry Jones, said. "But we need Spencer out there more than we've got him out there. (Ellis) is playing at such a level that it's hard to get Spencer on the field."
Wade Phillips made it clear, too, today that Spencer played at pretty high level himself when Ellis was out, and that he'd like to find more ways to utilize his skills. For now, though, Spencer's content in focusing on doing the same job no matter how many snaps he gets, be it six or 60.
"It’s a team game, and I’m gonna do whatever I can to help out wherever I can," Spencer said. "I’m still learning a lot of stuff, I got good people in front of me, so I’m not worried about it too much."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:50 PM
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