ESPN: Jason Hatcher is an undervalued player

[jobberone]

The fellas at Pro Football Focus released their annual Performance Based Value list for the 2012 season.

Defensive end Jason Hatcher topped the list as the most undervalued player on the Cowboys team for 2012.

Here's what PFF said in part:

Someone who just looks at sacks for defensive linemen wouldn’t notice it, as he had five in both 2011 and 2012, but he more than doubled his amount of hurries from 14 to 29, and did the same with his run stops from 11 to 24.

Also making the list was Sean Lee, DeMarco Murray, Anthony Spencer, Nate Livings and Tony Romo among others.

However, the player who led the overvalued list was nose tackle Jay Ratliff.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowbo...rvalued-player

[speedkilz88]

I think people are really going to like Hatcher playing the 3 technique. Rat wasn't healthy enough to gauge his play.

[Ren]

Ratliff should bennefit greatly from playing on a 4 man line, if he can stay healthy i dont think his name pops up in this list again next year

Our DL could be pretty good depending on what we get playing DE opposite Ware

[TheCount]

I thought Hatcher has steadily improved, which is why I was surprised to hear both Mickey and Broaddus say he'd be better coming off the bench and shouldn't be a fulltime starter.

Not sure what they saw or didn't see, but they also think Bernadeau was better than Livings last year.

---

BTW, the post on ESPN isn't even of import really. PFF did the analysis and here's the direct link for the full list: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blo...allas-cowboys/

[jobberone]

I've liked Hatcher since his second year. He's always played well when he's not injured. Phillips said he was a very good player and that means something to me. I see him at the 3 and 5 this year.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by jobberone

I've liked Hatcher since his second year. He's always played well when he's not injured. Phillips said he was a very good player and that means something to me. I see him at the 3 and 5 this year.

Yes, I can see him playing those two positions as well in the new defense. I think his time split there will depend a great deal on what ends up happening in the draft.

The one thing that people aren't grasping about the Spencer decision is that the LDE is supposed to be a 5-Tech. This is a role that doesn't really suit Spencer but is a perfect fit for Hatcher. Now that we have an equally good in-house option for the position it makes sense to let Spencer walk at 8 figures and 29 years old. The problem now becomes who plays the 3-tech if Hatcher is out there at the 5-tech since that is more of a playmaking position in this defense. We could put Rat there but then who plays the 1-tech with Brent a big question mark.

The draft looks strong at DT and I think that is most likely what we are going to come up with at that slot unless Ansah or Werner slide. So I think our best 4-man line is likely to be:

Hatcher/Crawford Rat/Lissemore/Brent Rookie/Hatcher Ware/Wilber/rookie

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

Yes, I can see him playing those two positions as well in the new defense. I think his time split there will depend a great deal on what ends up happening in the draft.

The one thing that people aren't grasping about the Spencer decision is that the LDE is supposed to be a 5-Tech. This is a role that doesn't really suit Spencer but is a perfect fit for Hatcher. Now that we have an equally good in-house option for the position it makes sense to let Spencer walk at 8 figures and 29 years old. The problem now becomes who plays the 3-tech if Hatcher is out there at the 5-tech since that is more of a playmaking position in this defense. We could put Rat there but then who plays the 1-tech with Brent a big question mark.

The draft looks strong at DT and I think that is most likely what we are going to come up with at that slot unless Ansah or Werner slide. So I think our best 4-man line is likely to be:

[View Full Quote]Hatcher/Crawford Rat/Lissemore/Brent Rookie/Hatcher Ware/Wilber/rookie

I agree. A lot depends on what we do with Spencer. Personally, I think he will do well as a 4-3 DE. I'm worried about depth and rotations as well as the 1. You're right. With Hatcher and Ratliff as the 3 then who are the other DT including the 1. But I think it will come together at the end of camp.

I wonder what happens here if we go DT at 18.

[JDSTAR]

Where would Lissemore fit into the line? He was the talk of the offseason town last year?

[TheCount]

Originally Posted by JDSTAR

Where would Lissemore fit into the line? He was the talk of the offseason town last year?

What I've heard is that he'd line up as a 1 tech.

[Manwiththeplan]

Originally Posted by JDSTAR

Where would Lissemore fit into the line? He was the talk of the offseason town last year?

If Spencer returns, you'll likely see a D-Line of

RDE- Ware, Wilbur
RDT- Hatcher, rookie
LDT- Ratliff, Lissimore
LDE- Spencer, Crawford

[Chocolate Lab]

I remember when newnationcb said forever that Hatcher was better than Spears, and very few agreed with him...

Good times.

[InmanRoshi]

The issue with Hatcher has always been chronic injuries. Not a huge surprise to see him play well when he stays on the field for an entire season.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by InmanRoshi

The issue with Hatcher has always been chronic injuries. Not a huge surprise to see him play well when he stays on the field for an entire season.

He's gotten steadily better, too. This was a player I think a lot of people had hopes for when, on draft day, the story broke that Belichick told us we stole a good one from the Pats. He's been underrated for the last several years here, and I have no idea why Broaddus or Mickey would think he's a better player coming off the bench. I'd love to see a small, fair extension for him for a few seasons before 2013 starts.