It’s time for Carpenter, Spencer, Spears to bust out for Dallas Cowboys

Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News jjtaylor@dallasnews.com

SAN ANTONIO – Jerry Jones drafts players in the first round and gives them seven-digit signing bonuses because he expects them to be difference-makers.

Jerry expects a significant return on his investment, though we all know half the players selected in the first round don’t play to their pedigree.

When that happens, the players get labeled busts. Or disappointments.

For now, former first-round picks Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Spencer and Marcus Spears fall into one of those two categories.

There are a thousand reasons. Some valid; some not.

But when it’s all said and done in the bottom-line business that is the NFL, reasons are synonymous with excuses.

This season, however, won’t be about excuses.

Each of those three players has been given a significant role in Wade Phillips’ defense. Each enters training camp with more opportunity than ever to contribute.

When this season ends, we’ll know for sure how they should be classified.

Carpenter, Bill Parcells’ last first-round draft pick with the Cowboys, has only 50 tackles in his first three seasons. He has been labeled soft because he runs around too many blockers instead of taking them on, shedding them and making the tackle.

Carpenter, who will play linebacker in the nickel defense, has a defined role in training camp for the first time.

He’s making the most of it. He’s been considerably more physical and aggressive.

In a recent practice, he deflected a pass 10 yards downfield and made a 180-degree turn to locate the ball before intercepting the pass. It provided a glimpse of his athletic ability.

“I’d like to think that I’d be further along in my career, but that’s just motivated me even more,” Carpenter said. “The coaches are showing some confidence in me, and they’re putting me in position to make plays.

“It has been a tough road, but if it gets you where you’re going, then it’s all worth it. I’ve always known I had the athletic ability, and I’ve always put in the work, but it can be a tough transition from college to the NFL. I can attest to that.”

So can Spencer, who has only 4 ½ sacks in his first two seasons. He’s shown glimpses of his ability but hasn’t sustained it.

Now, he’ll get the opportunity because Greg Ellis is gone, and Spencer’s backup is a rookie who played defensive end in college, just like Spencer did at Purdue.

If Spencer plays poorly, no other good options exist. The most important players in the 3-4 defense are the outside linebackers.

Spencer must be an impact player for this defense to thrive. He’s displaying speed and power in pass rush drills and athleticism in pass defense during seven-on-seven drills.

“He’s making plays on the backside because he has so much speed,” linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. “He’s being stout against the run, and he’s playing pass defense.

“He’s playing with a lot more confidence. He knows he’s the guy – and sometimes that’s all you need.”

A few weeks before training camp began, Spears weighed 327 pounds. He arrived in San Antonio weighing 307 pounds.

It’s the lightest and quickest he has been as a pro.

Spears, a free agent at the end of the season, has started 57 of 64 games, so he’s been more of a disappointment than a bust.

At LSU, Spears was an attacking 4-3 defensive end, who used his quickness to split gaps and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. In the NFL, he’s been asked to hold the point of attack against 330-pound offensive tackles so the linebackers can make the tackles.

It’s a thankless task. Still, Spears will tell you he hasn’t played to his own expectations.

“I want to be good, and I’m working hard to get there,” Spears said. “If I’m not good enough, they’ll find someone to replace me.”

That’s not what Jerry wants.

He needs Carpenter, Spencer and Spears to play to their pedigree. It’s one of the keys to the Cowboys ending this franchise’s wretched streak of 12 consecutive seasons without a playoff win.

Todd Archer, Dallas Morning News:

** Before practice rookie safety DeAngelo Smith spent time fielding punts. At one point he caught punts one handed while holding a ball in his other hand. It reminded me of Adam Jones juggling six footballs while catching punts in last year’s camp..

** With Montrae Holland missing practice for personal reasons, rookie Greg Isdaner worked with the second team at left guard.

** Miles Austin had a productive morning. His best catch – and Tony Romo’s best throw – came when Romo waited for the last second as the pocket collapsed and threw a fastball in a tight window.

** Romo had a similar type throw earlier to Martellus Bennett that eluded Orlando Scandrick and Bobby Carpenter. Overall Romo was 10 of 14 in the morning work out.

** In a four-play span center Andre Gurode injured his left ankle and left tackle Flozell Adams grabbed his right knee. Both players missed at least the next play. It will be interesting to see if Adams practices in the afternoon. He’s been given some two-a-days off in the past.

** Alonzo Coleman was flung to the ground by Mike Jenkins, leading Coleman to flip the ball angrily at Jenkins. Coleman had some words with Jenkins and Ken Hamlin and was upset after practice too.

** The morning practice focused on third down work.

** Roy Williams found the end zone on a Jon Kitna pass inside the red zone. Williams made the snatch between Jenkins and Mike Hamlin.

** Defensive end Derreck Robinson made his first play that I noticed, stopping Coleman behind the line of scrimmage.

** Felix Jones is fast. Real fast. With Bradie James waiting for him in the hole he took one step back to his right and accelerated through the line of scrimmage in a ‘Did he really do that?’ type of moment.

** Of the five kickoffs I saw David Buehler hit in the morning, all of them went at least 2 yards deep in the end zone. He hit one Tiger Woods-like low stinger but the rest had the desired height and depth.