Phillips + Potential = Production?

One of the groups happiest about Wade Phillips’ hire had to be the defensive line, and it’s seemed to show so far in training camp.

The line will see the same three starters as it did last season, with third-year ends Chris Canty and Marcus Spears, and defensive tackle Jason Ferguson. But, you could say it’s almost a different group of guys, with a new coach, a new scheme, and a whole new attitude, which should translate into the best year for the defensive line in quite a while.

The D-line has performed well for the most part as a whole in camp, but Canty might currently be the camp MVP, or at least the front-runner for having the most intensity, day in, day out. Canty has brought it hard from the start, including a takedown of Julius Jones in the first weekend of camp that set off a small scuffle between the two.

Canty, and the rest of his mates on the line, are already benefitting from the new, more aggressive scheme that will be used under Phillips. During Bill Parcells’ tenure, the D-line wasn’t particularly productive, minus the consistent production of Greg Ellis prior to his move to linebacker last season. La’Roi Glover had some solid years, but he was nowhere near what he had been in New Orleans, when he’d produced two double-digit sack seasons from his tackle spot.

Last season, Canty and Spears each had only one sack, and Ferguson didn’t have a single one, despite each starting every game.

But, you can expect the line to be like a bunch of lions after their prey. The new scheme calls for more blitzing, more movement, more attacking than seen in Parcells’ tenure, when production dwindled every season to last year’s near barren haul. As a comparison, last season, the Phillips-led Chargers defense accounted for an NFL-leading 61 sacks, with 17.5 coming from the front three.

And, for the two young ends, who have unlimited potential with their imposing combination of size and quickness (Canty is 6′7 and 300 pounds, and Spears is 6′4 and nearly 300 pounds as well), that means they finally have the chance to show what they’ve had to hold back thus far. And Ferguson will have the chance to display the form that made him a prize free-agent acquisition in 2005, and show that he’s still got plenty to give.

And, what’s going to help them is the fact that all three are in better shape, having toned up and toned down in order to maximize their ability to bring it as hard as possible as often as possible. One of the things you have to look during a transitional period is how the players react to new responsibilites and styles, and this is one sure sign of a positive reaction. This isn’t to say that Parcells was a bad coach, because that’d be a stupid statement, but some players are a better fit for certain systems than others are, and that’s the case here.

The backups should even benefit from the new-look defense. Jason Hatcher and Jay Ratliff have both done well in camp, though Hatcher has been out for a week due to hamstring issues. Ratliff had four sacks last season, in his second year out of Auburn, and Hatcher had 2.5 as a rookie last season, so the opportunity is there for both to see more time and production if either of the starters struggles early on in the season. You’d have to wonder, though, if one of them would see any time at tackle behind Ferguson, considering there’s no experienced depth at the position, and both are capable of playing the position well. Second-year tackle Montavious Stanley is the likely backup, but it’s safe to say that it’d be nice if Ferguson is able to continue his current run of five straight seasons without missing a game. If anyone becomes available through waivers before the season starts, it’d be a reasonable option considering how little experience (read: none) there is behind Ferguson at DT.

All in all, it looks like the defensive line is going to be a strong point for Dallas this season, and if they play up to their potential and expectations, then I have two words for opposing offensive lineman, quarterbacks, and running backs.

Watch out!