Last year's first-round pick Anthony Spencer provided another pass-rushing presence and insurance in case Greg Ellis didn't make a full return from his Achilles' injury. After sitting out the first three games, Ellis actually played the best football of his career and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Once the 2007 season ended, however, the veteran outside linebacker voiced concern about his role next season because of Spencer's first-round status. Ellis wasn't at Wednesday's OTA session for an unspecified reason, which meant more snaps for Spencer.

How should the Cowboys divide time between the two? Does Ellis have a reason to be worried about his role?

I think Ellis should be used as a pass rushing specialist and Spencer should start and play on first and second downs. this would prolong Ellis's career and shape Spencer for the years to come.

The report I got was that Ellis is not at the OTA's because he is mad about not getting enough reps.  The staff stated they wanted to save Ellis' old legs, and let Spencer get most of the reps.  Sounds like Ellis is getting a little paranoid about his position.  If this blows over without a big 'to do' , then I will suspect that Ellis will rotate in on passing downs and Spenc will get 1st and 2nd downs, maybe !?  Just a guess, on my part.  I think Ellis needs to get over it.  He might want to look at it like this,  if he rotates often, it seems to me that it would just prolong his career a year or two.  He can still get his sacks, if that's what he is after.

GrizzlyBear:

I think Ellis should be used as a pass rushing specialist and Spencer should start and play on first and second downs. this would prolong Ellis's career and shape Spencer for the years to come.

Trade Ellis and start Spencer full time! 

Webber:

Trade Ellis and start Spencer full time! 

 Though I like the idea of keeping Ellis and perhaps others like Zach Thomas in for mostly passing downs.  Let the younger guys take the abuse of the running plays (e.g., Spencer, Carpenter). 

I think it would be a good idea if we can get our best players in for 3rd down, and have them fresh.  It seemed like there were a lot of 3rd and longs that we should of been able to get off the field from last season.   So, perhaps let the younger guys play 1st downs, and 2nd/3rd & short.  Then have Ellis/Zach and crew in for 2nd and 3rd downs.

rphillips:

Last year's first-round pick Anthony Spencer provided another pass-rushing presence and insurance in case Greg Ellis didn't make a full return from his Achilles' injury. After sitting out the first three games, Ellis actually played the best football of his career and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Once the 2007 season ended, however, the veteran outside linebacker voiced concern about his role next season because of Spencer's first-round status. Ellis wasn't at Wednesday's OTA session for an unspecified reason, which meant more snaps for Spencer.

How should the Cowboys divide time between the two? Does Ellis have a reason to be worried about his role?

Should Ellis be worried about his role?  No he shouldnt. Will he get less playing time?  Probably.  He is going to be kept with the way he has played and he should be saved some to be more effective on 3rd down.  What is wrong with being a pass rush specialist in your mid 30s? 

I think doing it like we did the RB position last season would be good, maybe let Ellis start the first few series on first and second down and then let Spencer come in and play first and second down a couple series (with some rotation during each series obviously).  That would allow you to keep both players more fresh, Ellis is allowed to be a "starter" and get significant playing time, and Spencer is given more playing time as well.  Then have both Ellis and Spencer on the Nickel/Dime packages along with Ware.  That makes for a real good pass rush! 

ellis will start. it will depend on spencer's overall development when the season starts how/ when he gets his snaps, but nobody could stop both ware and ellis last year. how many times did we see them racing and meeting at the quarterback?

fresher legs does means better pass rush, especially on third downs and in the second half when we got the other team down and playing catch up. so, ellis needs to get over it; i predict that he will play fewer snaps but get to rush the qb just as much. also, more versatility means more packages and movements, adding more to the defense in the second year.

do you seriously think that phillips isn't salivating over getting spencer, ware AND ellis in there on critical pass rushing downs? sending 4? why not ellis, spencer, ware and ratliff/canty/tank/hatcher...you get my point. or sending canty, ellis, spencer and ratliff/tank/hatcher with ware blitzing from the linebacker spot? better be third and real short if you wanna get that ball out for a first down. oh yeah, and with corners like a healthy newman and henry, pac, mike jenkins, maybe ball or scandrick if pac don't work out, good f***in luck.

(...and go Patrick Watkins. if he gets PT, he will have a breakout year. he is the reason JJ won't even think about breaking the bank on Hamlin just yet. this is the year to let him prove what a major steal he was in that draft...imho) 

BigDaddyBodine:

GrizzlyBear:

I think Ellis should be used as a pass rushing specialist and Spencer should start and play on first and second downs. this would prolong Ellis's career and shape Spencer for the years to come.

Wow!! get out of my head, Grizz, your scaring me !!!! lol !

LOL.........You have taught me well. I guess I am your "grasshopper."

GrizzlyBear:

BigDaddyBodine:

GrizzlyBear:

I think Ellis should be used as a pass rushing specialist and Spencer should start and play on first and second downs. this would prolong Ellis's career and shape Spencer for the years to come.

Wow!! get out of my head, Grizz, your scaring me !!!! lol !

LOL.........You have taught me well. I guess I am your "grasshopper."

Ellis is really just a good pass rusher who can stop the run, Spencer has the speed for containment and pass coverage, they may be telling Ellis he will be the starter but I think anything short of a serious attitude adjustment and a brilliant camp and Ellis will be "reduced" to a pass-rushing role that will both boost his stats to probably double digit sacks and extend his playing career for awhile longer. 

Weapon_X:

...boost his stats to probably double digit sacks...

didn't he have double digit sacks last year, even with missing those games? just wondering. i agree, though. less overall snaps, but mostly spent rushing the qb and double digit sacks.

Well he's only had double digit sacks in one season in his career and I think he could do it again, especially if he gets to come in like he did in those first 3 games just on 3rd downs to bullrush linemen into the quarterback and disrupt plays with his power and experience. 

word. and if he played mostly on the four man lines, he wouldn't have to worry about playing linebacker. dude will never be happy. think that he would be complaining about getting too many reps if he was in there on every OTA rep??? just play football. take your millions and smile.

You don't get more reps by skipping the OTA. I just wonder if that's his real gripe this year.  

Greg Ellis is a really good football player.  I've always liked him, but i really, really, don't like it when he acts like my seventeen-year-old-daughter.  It's been something with that guy for the last 3 years now and it's starting to get old.  He's not a youngster anymore, he should appreciate the time off, he should be helping Spencer, he should be embraceing his role not crying about it.  I'm gonna have to listen to "talkin' Cowboys" tomorrow to see if Ray from Ft.Worth chimes in. 

Hey Greg, how about we see some commitment from you now.