FWST: James Hanna emerged thanks to Kyle Orton, says Cowboys' TE coach Wes Phillips - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**WoodysGirl** · 02-15-2013

James Hanna began to deliver on the Cowboys’ investment in him late last season, and one person they can thank is backup quarterback Kyle Orton.

“People saw the end result where he started making plays, but we also saw when he was running scout team at the beginning of the year and Kyle Orton is on him every single day about how to practice, how to be a pro, how to work,” Phillips said Thursday in meeting reporters for the first time in his new job. “He really made some strides.”

“He really impressed us as far as his work ethic and how he went about his job,” Phillips said. “Learning how to finish, learning how to go about meetings and study and prepare, all those sort of things. He’s a very intelligent guy, and we’re looking forward to continuing his development.”

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**ABQCOWBOY** · 02-15-2013

I think Kyle Orton is a lot better QB then most on this board give him credit for.

CowboysYanksLakers · 02-15-2013

Nice to see growth and development out of a TE besides Witten...

TheCount · 02-15-2013

The way people keep talking about Hannah, you'd think the dude had 80 catches, not 11.

We heard this with Bennett and John Phillips. Hopefully, this time, it's for real.

DFWJC · 02-15-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQCOWBOY

I think Kyle Orton is a lot better QB then most on this board give him credit for.

One of the 2-3 best backups in the league and a solid pro. Just a great guy to have your team.

Hannah was just a rookie, so we should see some nice growth this year. I think he is potentially the most explosive TE that we've had in a long time, but there's a guy who get 90+ catches every year in front of him.

mldardy · 02-15-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCount

The way people keep talking about Hannah, you'd think the dude had 80 catches, not 11.

We heard this with Bennett and John Phillips. Hopefully, this time, it's for real.

In order to have a chance to get 80 catches Hanna has to start and that's not happening with Witten on the team. It didn't happen for Bennett either but you saw when he got a chance that his numbers went up. So it's kind of hard for Phillips, Bennett and Hanna to shine when they don't have the opportunity to shine.

lostar2009 · 02-15-2013

Interesting read on how leadership can push other players

Galian Beast · 02-15-2013

We're really using the word "emerged" really loosely here, aren't we?

**big dog cowboy** · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

“He really impressed us as far as his work ethic and how he went about his job,” Phillips said. “Learning how to finish, learning how to go about meetings and study and prepare, all those sort of things. He’s a very intelligent guy, and we’re looking forward to continuing his development.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCount

We heard this with Bennett

I never heard anything like that when someone described Bennett.

Tenkamenin · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galian Beast

We're really using the word "emerged" really loosely here, aren't we?

TheCount · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

I never heard anything like that when someone described Bennett.

No one ever said THAT about Phillips either. You know what my point is, but feel free to take your shot.

burmafrd · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by mldardy

In order to have a chance to get 80 catches Hanna has to start and that's not happening with Witten on the team. It didn't happen for Bennett either but you saw when he got a chance that his numbers went up. So it's kind of hard for Phillips, Bennett and Hanna to shine when they don't have the opportunity to shine.

yeah bennett really shined when given the chance. NOT

CowboysYanksLakers · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCount

No one ever said THAT about Phillips either. You know what my point is, but feel free to take your shot.

Phillips before his knee injury was turning heads a couple of years ago.

burmafrd · 02-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboysYanksLakers

Phillips before his knee injury was turning heads a couple of years ago.

yeah he was. His story is a cautionary tale that not everyone returns 100% from a serious injury

TheCount · 02-16-2013

Any TE that comes in here is going to be a role player as long as Witten is getting 80 - 100 catches a year. If we get a 2nd TE that can rack up 500 yards and a few TD's, that would be a gigantic success.

Hanna is lucky that he has some unique physical tools, but so did Bennett. Phillips was never going to be anything more than a role player, I have no idea what people saw there other than the fact that he wasn't Bennett.