Name: Marcus Spears
Position: Defensive End
Height/Weight: 6-4/315
Experience: 7 seasons
College: Louisiana State
Key stat: Playing in a rotational role off the bench, Spears recorded 382 snaps in 2012, as compared to 404 for regular starter Kenyon Coleman and 422 for Jason Hatcher, who missed three games due to injury.
Contract Status: Signed through 2015.
2011 Impact: New coordinator Rob Ryan elected to go with Kenyon Coleman and Jason Hatcher as the starting ends in his 3-4, while playing the more costly Spears in a backup role for the first time in his career. With slightly fewer snaps than he played as a starter in previous years, Spears recorded 29 tackles, 15th on the team and fifth among defensive linemen, along with one sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback pressure and two pass deflections. Used almost exclusively on running downs, he has always been a space-eating lineman most effective at occupying blockers and allowing linebackers to make plays, and that was again his typical contribution in 2011.
Where He Fits: If the Cowboys add talent on the defensive line, Spears would be more likely to stick around than the comparable Coleman because of his relative youth and longer contract, so he could potentially re-take a starting job on running downs in 2012. The Cowboys have also been pleased with two-year pro Sean Lissemore, and Hatcher was solid in his first year as a starter, both offering more pass-rush ability. If the team does decide Jay Ratliff would work better as an end, Spears role could be further diminished, however.
Writers' Analysis:
Rob Phillips: Spears still got his share of reps despite being a non-starter for the first time in his seven-year career. Once again, he was one reason for the team's solid run defense. That will continue to be his primary role here, in addition to being a solid locker room guy. Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lissemore have become the main pass rushers on the line.
Josh Ellis: For what his role has been over the years, Spears is a nice fit. But in a league that is constantly shifting more toward the pass, one has to wonder just how valuable a running-downs-only defensive lineman is, and whether he is a progress stopper for a younger, more athletic lineman like Lissemore. The odds are pretty good that Spears sticks around, and he is the kind of team-first veteran Jason Garrett is glad to have, but an overhaul of the defensive line would somewhat jeopardize his place.
Position: Defensive End
Height/Weight: 6-4/315
Experience: 7 seasons
College: Louisiana State
Key stat: Playing in a rotational role off the bench, Spears recorded 382 snaps in 2012, as compared to 404 for regular starter Kenyon Coleman and 422 for Jason Hatcher, who missed three games due to injury.
Contract Status: Signed through 2015.
2011 Impact: New coordinator Rob Ryan elected to go with Kenyon Coleman and Jason Hatcher as the starting ends in his 3-4, while playing the more costly Spears in a backup role for the first time in his career. With slightly fewer snaps than he played as a starter in previous years, Spears recorded 29 tackles, 15th on the team and fifth among defensive linemen, along with one sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback pressure and two pass deflections. Used almost exclusively on running downs, he has always been a space-eating lineman most effective at occupying blockers and allowing linebackers to make plays, and that was again his typical contribution in 2011.
Where He Fits: If the Cowboys add talent on the defensive line, Spears would be more likely to stick around than the comparable Coleman because of his relative youth and longer contract, so he could potentially re-take a starting job on running downs in 2012. The Cowboys have also been pleased with two-year pro Sean Lissemore, and Hatcher was solid in his first year as a starter, both offering more pass-rush ability. If the team does decide Jay Ratliff would work better as an end, Spears role could be further diminished, however.
Writers' Analysis:
Rob Phillips: Spears still got his share of reps despite being a non-starter for the first time in his seven-year career. Once again, he was one reason for the team's solid run defense. That will continue to be his primary role here, in addition to being a solid locker room guy. Jay Ratliff, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lissemore have become the main pass rushers on the line.
Josh Ellis: For what his role has been over the years, Spears is a nice fit. But in a league that is constantly shifting more toward the pass, one has to wonder just how valuable a running-downs-only defensive lineman is, and whether he is a progress stopper for a younger, more athletic lineman like Lissemore. The odds are pretty good that Spears sticks around, and he is the kind of team-first veteran Jason Garrett is glad to have, but an overhaul of the defensive line would somewhat jeopardize his place.
