Bill Parcells Is Gone, but Marcus Spears Continues to Struggle

One of the big issues heading into the season was whether defensive end Marcus Spears deserved to be in the "first-round bust" conversation. Some felt he was miscast in former head coach Bill Parcell's version of the 3-4 defense, and that things might be different under new sheriff Wade Phillips.

So far, it's the same ol', same ol' for Spears. Or so thinks San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn:

Roy Williams wasn't the Dallas Cowboys' worst defender last week. Neither was Jacques Reeves, Anthony Henry or any other member of the team's woefully weak secondary. That distinction, hands down, belongs to ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty.

Yep, that's not good for Spears and Canty because the secondary was a joke last week against the Giants. One of the glaring differences between the Chargers' D that wreaked havoc under Phillips the past few seasons and this Cowboys unit is the defensive line. Merril Hoge pointed out as much last week, and he was right.

And now, with Jason Ferguson done for the year (Dallas is even flirting with the idea of bringing Tank Johnson after he serves his suspension), things could get worse before they get better. Lucky for Spears/Canty, Phillips ain't worried:

"I got their back. They may not have mine all the time ... I just don't think it's right, especially when you win, to go into who didn't do this well and let's dwell on the negative and all that."

So as long as the Cowboys keep winning, it's all good, I guess.

Hat tip: Blogging the Boys