Greg Ellis - Poor Man's TO

Greg Ellis is at it again. In an exclusive interview with Ben and Skin on 105.3 The FAN, Ellis provided a verbal expose on contradiction.

His Role:
Ellis wants to play every down, not solely in passing situations. He indicated that he was unhappy about the fact that Anthony Spencer generally played on 1st and 2nd down...allowing Ellis to enter the game only on 3rd down plays. He also mentioned that when in the game, he was often asked to drop in coverage rather than rush the passer.

So he did not play on every down, and when in the game, he was not put in the position to make an impact on the game.

Contradiction:
From the age of 23 to 32, Greg Ellis started 133 games. He was the primary pass-rushing option for the Cowboy defense. During those 133 starts, Ellis totaled 56.5 sacks.

During his prime years, in which Ellis was used "properly" as a full-time player focused on rushing the quarterback, he averaged .45 sacks each game. His season high was nine sacks, in 2004.

During the Wade Phillips era, the 32-33 year-old Ellis has been used as a 3rd-down specialist in 29 games. In those 29 games, Ellis has totaled 20.5 sacks.

During his later years, in which Ellis was used "improperly" as a part-time player in passing situations, he averaged .71 sacks each game. His season high was 12.5 sacks, in 2007.

Breakdown:
Prime Years (age 23-31) as a full-time player
124 Games
56.5 Sacks
.45 Sacks/Game

Veteran Years (age 32-33) as a part-time player
29 Games
20.5 Sacks
.71 Sacks/Game

NFL players typically slow down as they approach their mid-30's. Ellis, on the other hand, has increased his productivity during that time. But yet, he feels that he has been used "improperly?" He set his career mark last year by registering 12.5 sacks, 3.5 more than his previous high, but he wasn't positioned to be successful. Really?

In 2008, while being asked to "drop into coverage" on many of his plays, Ellis registered his third highest sack total of his career. But Ellis isn't happy about his role? I don't get it.

Team chemistry:

Ellis indicated that the 2008 Cowboys did not feature good team chemistry. He said that the team consisted of a collection of talent but that each person was not pulling in the same direction. He said that distractions prevented the team from gelling together.

Contradiction:
Greg, when you say that guys were "pulling in different directions," do you mean like when an aging player complains about the way that he is being used, despite the fact that he is coming off of the two most productive seasons of his career? Would that be an example of guys not pulling in the same direction?

Pot, meet kettle. On one hand, Ellis proclaims that the team needs to focus on working towards a common goal, but on the other, he continues to complain about his role on the team.

Guys like Ellis and Owens just don't get it. They are all for team...as long as the team does things their way. Sure, anyone can be a team player when things are going your way, but how do they respond when something goes against them? Ellis and Owens respond by complaining. They don't say that they will have to find a way to be more productive on each opportunity, they just project the blame on others.

And sorry, but for Ellis and Owens, it is not team-first, personal-second...it's personal-first, second, third...team-fourth. Ellis complained immediately after the 2007 season, the season in which Dallas went 13-3, about his lack of playing time.

Owens complained after the second Redskin game in 2008, a game in which Dallas won, about his lack of touches.

Seriously, Ellis is not a bad guy, by all accounts, but Dallas needs someone that can simply call it like it is. They need someone on the staff that can sit a player down and explain the facts to them:

"Greg, you set your career high with 12.5 sacks in 2007...in this system. You made your only Pro Bowl appearance...in this system. You totaled your third-highest sack total of your career in 2008...in this system. We are getting more out of your ability than anyone has up to this point in your career. Period."

Ellis is right about one thing, this team lacks chemistry. Hopefully someone will help him understand that he is part of the problem, not the solution.