Bracie Smathers said:
Hoping to hear any Cowboy perspectives on what is expected and any chatter of his progress to date. Also the status of Greg Ellis and I'm not sure that Wade Phillips plan of moving DeMarcus Ware to the opposite side of the TE so he's constantly on the weak side is foolproof. I know the plan is to ease Anthony on the field gradually, i.e., slowly but any insights into how he's progressing from a down lineman to a stand-up LB and what he is flashes in training camp would be appreciated. Haven't found anything substantial on him and I haven't seen him discussed here yet and figured others would also like any insights. Thanks in advance.
Notes from a Cowboys.com story found on the FBG Blogger:Cowboys.com articles cannot be cut and pasted, but the upshot is that Greg Ellis is hoping to be ready for training camp and will be the starter if healthy, according to Wade Phillips. Spencer got the usual "good things, bad things" OTA quote from Wade Phillips. He'll probably work in as a rotational rusher until he learns the nuances of run support from a standup linebacker perspective. Ware will be on the weak side primarily, although they moved Spencer around to get him into the playbook during OTAs.
Spencer has seen some discussion in the Forum, although not since OTAs have ended. Sig and CC debate him
here and
here (scroll through for the discussion. There were some early thoughts on Spencer's potential value in the
IDP draft thread.
For my part, I still think Spencer will do well as a strong side OLB. I don't think he has Shawne Merriman upside, but I don't see any reason he can't provide at least what Ellis did in 2006 over the long term -- good run support and another outside pass rush threat. Between the unhappiness Ellis has with the situation (contract issue, feeling inadequate with the Cowboys frequent drafting of OLBs in the first round) and an injury that is difficult to return from at his age, I think the Spencer era begins relatively soon, if not Week 1.