Interesting (and very long) article from Bob Sturm about the Anthony Spencer debate.
I lean more toward letting him go, but he makes a good point about having to fill a hole you just created.
And his conclusion is to franchise him as others have said
Some highlights:
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The point of this exercise is to readily admit that you can do better than Anthony Spencer by acquiring a true #1 Linebacker opposite DeMarcus Ware. Of course, the costs will be substantial and we must remember that this is not fantasy football. In fantasy football, you acquire "pass rush specialists" at every spot an think you will get 100 sacks. But, in real football, if you don't have a player setting the edge and shutting down strong side rushing plays, then you get beat. Spencer, of all outside linebackers in the 3-4 in the last two seasons has more tackles than anyone. 53 in 2010 (ranked 2nd behind James Harrison) and 53 in 2011 (ranked 2nd behind Calvin Pace).
Is Pace available? No. Is Harrison available? No. Is Kerrigan? No. Is Orakpo? No.
And yet, I have people telling me that Victor Butler, Alex Albright, or "anyone" can do what Spencer has done?
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Spencer's sacks, pressures, QB hits, and tackles combine to show you a much more balanced view of his performance and while it is easy for a reader or fan to simply marginalize everything he does for this team, it is imperative for the brains in the Cowboys war-room to either upgrade him or remember what he brings to the table and keep him in the stable.
Now, I do not say all of this to say that he has been a great pick, or a suitable stud, or even someone who is not replaceable. But as I look at the draft and free agency, I do not see someone who is clearly better than him at the all-around game at his position. The only 3-4 outside linebackers that are on the market are Ahmad Brooks (a player that San Francisco is happy to replace), Eric Walden (discarded by Green Bay), and Clark Haggans (35 years old). Further, if I use pick #14 on another outside linebacker, then I cannot use that pick on a defensive lineman, defensive back, or offensive lineman - where I clearly still have holes.
So, do I take Courtney Upshaw or Melvin Ingram at #14 to fill a hole I just made? I don't think you make any progress letting a solid linebacker go if there is another alternative.
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I slap the franchise tag on him. The tag this year is $8.8 million and keeps him in a Cowboys uniform for another season so the franchise can fill their other holes and find his replacement.
Therefore, I am not married to him, and yet I do not open up another major hole. If he performs well in 2012, we talk extension. If I think he is holding me back, we move along.
But, I cannot fix this defense by subtracting a reasonable piece while adding another. That is called running in place while the clock continues to tick on the primes of Ware, Jay Ratliff, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Miles Austin.
Hm.
So is it Harrison or Woodley that “sets the edge” like Spencer does? Cause they both get sacks, too.
This is not an argument for or against franchising or even keeping Spencer. I just get tired of reading about the other things he does well. It’s similar, in my opinion, to Buehler. We have this kicker that can run and wants to get in there and make tackles and lalalala… but he can’t kick.
BigDumbFace - February 16, 2012
In that article, Sturm talks about 11 NFL teams that run a “true 3-4.” Of the OLB’s on those teams, if we’re talking about “Who would I want playing for my team,” I’d rank Spencer 16th out of the 22 starting OLB’s on those 11 teams, 17th out of 23 if you include the 3 guys on the Texans. You simply can allocate $9 million of your cap to that kind of player.
JimmyK - February 16, 2012
can’t allocate, that is.
JimmyK - February 16, 2012
agreed
Apparently there’s a bunch of guys amongst our ranks that sing Spencer’s praises.
For all his greatness on running plays where the eff was he when the Eagles were gashing us on the ground?
Rohpuri - February 16, 2012 via mobile
They Eagles were
runing sprint draws to Ware’s side to take advantage of his upfield rush. Check the tape. The big runs were to Ware’s side.
jevans1729 - February 17, 2012
of the 22-23
how many are available to replace spencer?
I think that’s his point…at least that’s the way I read it. That there are other more pressing needs to have to fill so its not best to create another one.
Now I would say…like you…9Mil on one guy who is average at best greatly reduces your chances of fixing the other more important needs.
beWARE94 - February 16, 2012
For one, I disagree that there isn’t talent elsewhere that can give you the same production as Spencer.
But more importantly, that $9 million can go to players that might plug 2 or even 3 holes. And then you can draft a player to fix the OLB spot, preferably on a permanent basis, as opposed to “putting it off for a year.”
JimmyK - February 16, 2012 via mobile
thank you
Archie Barberio - February 16, 2012
You can disagree
all you want but you don’t know that player you draft doesn’t become Aaron Curry or Mayin do you? Then where are you?
jevans1729 - February 17, 2012
Robert Quinn was drafted 14th overall last year. He signed a 5 year, $9.4 million contract ($1.88 million/year).
Now lets say the Cowboys draft, for example, Courtney Upshaw, and the worst case scenario plays out that he turns out to be Aaron Maybin. At least your disappointing OLB is only counting about $1.88 million against your cap, and not $8.8 million.
JimmyK - February 17, 2012
What happens if Dallas drafts Upshaw, he turns out to be Maybin, and Dallas skips DeCastro or Kirkpatrick, or some other player that filled a need. I’m not trying to argue that Dallas should franchise Spencer. I’m just trying to point out that more than money can be wasted when it comes to draft picks.
Grimlock83 - February 17, 2012
We’re getting way far away from the point here. The bottom line is that you can’t spend $8.8 million on a below average starter.
JimmyK - February 18, 2012
I agree
Archie Barberio - February 16, 2012
First of all
you added weakside OLBs in with SOLBs and you should know better than that. If we just use 3-4 SOLBs for the true apples to apples comparison, we find Spencer was first in total tackles, tied for first in forced fumbles, tied for first in tackles for loss, tied for second in QB hits, and tied for fifth in sacks. I can’t find stats on QB hurries or what I consider a more important stat QB throw aways because they are just as good as sacks.
However, I think something of even greater importance, which is not being considered, is the fact that Spencer plays opposite DeMarcus Ware. The popular thinking is that Spencer should get more sacks because Ware will get all the attention. So just for giggles I said “who is considered the best 3-4 WOLB sack artist of all time and who played the strong side LB with him?” I don’t think there is too much argument that Lawrence Taylor was that man. The similarities between Spencer and Banks are stark. Banks was the third pick in the 1984 draft and was drafted to compliment Taylor.Spencer was the 26th pick in the 2007 draft to compliment Ware. In 9 years, Banks got a total of 36 sacks with a high of 9 in 1987. That is an average of 4 a year. Since Spencer has been a starter, he is averaging over 5 a year. If one looks at it in that light, Spencer is a really good player and a bargain to boot.
People on this board continually make the comparison of Spencer with Woodley. Woodley was a second round pick, Spencer was a 1st rounder at 26, and Banks was the THIRD pick of the 1984 draft!!! If people don’t believe that playing with a HOF player matters, think again.
jevans1729 - February 17, 2012
Completely agree.
Creasy729 - February 18, 2012
Victor Butler might be as good as Spencer.
The money on Spencer ought to be used on Jason Jones.
Butler and Jones > Spencer and Coleman/Spears
Jonathan Stern - February 16, 2012
jason jone won't work in the 3-4
butler is not as good as spencer
ratware - February 17, 2012
Why not ? He is only ten pounds less than JJ Watt who is close to the perfect 3-4 end.
3-4 defensive ends don’t have to be space cloggers.
Bulter is pretty close to Spencer.
Jonathan Stern - February 18, 2012
Choosing Butler over Spencer
is choosing to man the position on the cheap. Which is pretty much how DAL has manned S and DE the past few years. And has gotten pretty much what we’ve paid for.
I don’t believe Spencer is anything but Average, but on a D where so many players are Below Average, why would he be a priority over those? It is classic treading water/whack-a-mole to mix a few metaphors. And it’s the wrong approach anyway – building from the outside in again
tdships - February 17, 2012
I understand your point but you use the Spencer money for Jason Jones.
Who would be a nice upgrade at DE. I think he would be cheaper too.
I don’t think we lose that much from going to Spencer to Bulter and we potentially gain a lot from moving from Coleman to Jason Jones.
Jonathan Stern - February 18, 2012
It's 2012 not 1912, this is the NFL not the SEC
Football has evolved into a passing league.
Screw run defense, serioulsy, I could care less if we had a middle of the pack run defense. If we play the Ravens, Jets, Texans, or Tebow Broncos in the SB then I’ll worry.
The Steelers have been to two SBs with Harrison and Woodley as their starting OLBs, and won one of them. I think they’re doing just fine. You don’t invest a first rd draft pick on a 34 OLB to set the edge on running plays. You draft him to knock the QB on his a$$.
Rohpuri - February 16, 2012 via mobile
For all of Spencer's greatness against the run
We still got gashed by Philly in the two games: they out ran us by nearly 3-1;
The Giants ran for over 100 in both games
The Cardinals ran for over 100
Marshawn Lynched and Fred Jackson shredded our run defense for a combined 250 yards.
The Steelers went to two SBs with Harrison and Woodley sacking the QB and won one of those. The Giants won two SBs in the last 4 years with a great pass rush, and ok run defense.
Alabama needs their 34 OLBs to set the edge against the run inorder to win in the uber conservative SEC.
NFL teams that play the 34 don’t draft OLBs for their ability to set the edge and stop the run; they draft them for pass rush.
Rohpuri - February 16, 2012 via mobile
In the 3 game stretch vs Philly Seattle and Buffalo
Where LeSean McCoy, Marshawn Lynch, and Fred Jackson ran for a combined total of 430+ yards
Our boy Almost Anthony totaled 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack.
Rohpuri - February 16, 2012
Didn't you just say
Screw run defense?
tdships - February 17, 2012
I was making a point
That he didn’t do much.
Rohpuri - February 18, 2012 via mobile
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