Editor's Note: Throughout the off-season, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing players' impact last season and how each fits into the team's 2014 plans. Today's Roster Rundown entry features defensive end George Selvie.)
Name: George Selvie
Position: Defensive End
Height/Weight: 6-4 / 265
Experience: 3 seasons
College: South Florida
Key stat: When George Selvie showed up in training camp, he was nothing more than a camp body to help out an injury-filled position. Who could've imagine he would have more sacks than DeMarcus Ware? Selvie had a career-high seven sacks, besting Ware's six. Just as surprising was that he started all 16 games, which proved to be a blessing considering Anthony Spencer played only one game.
Contract Status:Signed through 2014.
2013 Impact: When you have a player that had the type of season that George Selvie had in 2013, you want to give a lot of credit to the scouts that found him and the coaches that got him ready to play. But the overall key for Selvie himself was what the player brought each and every week he stepped on the field. There are some days where everything hits just right and in this case, it happened. The scheme was a perfect fit for Selvie and it allowed him to use the talents he had to excel in it. What Selvie did arriving just before camp opened and saving what would have been a potentially disastrous situation was nothing short of remarkable. When you look at the injuries to Anthony Spencer and to Tyrone Crawford, this club really was in a desperate state. Selvie though not always perfect against the run, gave this club the stability they needed at the left end spot. He played with explosive quickness and when this defense was really on, he was one of the main reasons that they were playing well. If you took Jason Hatcher out of the equation, Selvie would have been the best player on the line and that is saying a great deal considering that DeMarcus Ware lines up on the opposite side. As I studied his game each week, I was waiting for that moment where this would all come to an end but it never happened with Selvie. He was consistent throughout the entire season and even when physically he had his issues, he still managed to fight through them and still be productive. Give the scouts and coaches credit but give the player even more.
Where He Fits:Selvie should be the starter at left end unless there is a plan to move Crawford outside and use Selvie in a backup role. I do believe you will see Crawford be shifted inside to be paired with a [embedded_ad] potential draft pick and this will allow Selvie to once again get the majority of the work. Ideally as well as Selvie played in 2013, I think he would be even better if he didn't have the play the majority of the snaps. What we have seen from the Seahawks and what Monte Kiffin was trying to tell us, is that this defense functions better when you play with players in waves. The more bodies you can get in the mix, the better chance you have to make defensive stops. If this front office could add a player or two or maybe get something out of the many bodies they added along this defense line in 2013, that will go a long way into helping Selvie. It would be hard to believe that George Selvie could repeat on the type of season he had but he has proven a lot folks wrong before.
Writers' Analysis:
Nick Eatman: Even before the season, the Cowboys' pro scouting department deserved major kudos for its ability to find veteran players off the street and plug them into holes for this team. But without a doubt, getting Selvie a few days into camp and turning him into a starter in a few weeks was quite an accomplishment. We like to give credit to guys like Will McClay and Judd Garrett in the scouting department, or even defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who did a nice job with several obscure linemen this past year, but let's not forget about Selvie, too. Credit him for staying in shape while he waited for that phone call. He got the call and made the most of it. Even if Ware and Spencer both came back, the Cowboys should be ecstatic about Selvie's future. He would be one player I start looking at keeping around past his contract.
