Spencer Practicing with 1st Team

[Perchoutofwater]

Mini-Camp Notes: Spencer Steps Right In

Josh Ellis - Email

DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

May 12, 2007 6:54 PM

 

First-round pick Anthony Spencer worked with the first-team defense here Saturday.

 

IRVING, Texas - Rookie linebacker Anthony Spencer didn't take long to work with the Cowboys' first-team defense. When the team shifted to 7-on-7 drills in the first practice of a three-day mini-camp Saturday morning, there was Spencer, manning the left outside linebacker spot.

 

But it's not time to pencil the Cowboys' 23-year-old first-round pick in as the full-time starter just yet.

 

"(Greg Ellis) is our starting outside 'backer," said new head coach Wade Phillips after the morning practice out here at Valley Ranch. Phillips did say later that every position on the team was up for grabs, though the rookie generally has to beat out the veteran for a starting job.

 

"I'm loving the possibility of starting," Spencer said. "Having a little competition is good, it builds character. I did a lot of learning out there today. I was basically doing a lot of rushing stuff."

 

The incumbent Ellis spent the morning practice continuing to rehab the surgically-repaired Achilles tendon he tore last year, and while Phillips said the team hopes Ellis can be back in time for training camp, it certainly won't hurt Spencer to run with the first team in the meantime.

 

"Spencer did some good things," Phillips said. "He has some technique things that we can help him with. I was pleased with him, with his natural ability, just to see the stuff we saw him do naturally in college."

 

That natural ability helped Spencer register 10½ sacks while piling up 26½ tackles for loss in his senior season at Purdue while playing defensive end in a 4-3 alignment. He also forced five fumbles and batted down six passes in 2006, and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

 

While Greg Ellis seemed nervous about switching from defensive end to linebacker this time last year, Spencer says he is open to change.

 

"That's what I'm just working on now is learning the defense as fast as I can," he said. "The more I do it, the better I become at it."

 

And whether it's Ellis or Spencer lining up with the A-team in games, Phillips said the ultimate goal will be the same: More pressure.

 

"The more pressure you get, the better your secondary gets," he said

 

Phillips also said the team would use outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware as a pass rusher more in 2007.