Rookie review: James Hanna

[CowboysYanksLakers]

Originally Posted by Wood

he looked like a dynamic player who was grossly being under-utilized.

Agreed, his speed for a TE is very dynamic!

[Cajuncowboy]

I believe Witten has maybe two or three more years at top level and that is when Hannah will become the #1 TE on this team.

I would imagine that we see him getting more and more involved next season.

[RastaRocket]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

when Romo is desperate he will try anyone- but if he is not he will not throw to a guy he does not trust to get it done. And he trusts Witten above all others and for good reason. But he can learn to trust quickly- look at Robinson.

Exactly, Robinson is a great example.

[Eskimo]

I don't believe it is fair to criticize the staff for Hanna's development. This was a kid from a major program who had off the chart measurables for a TE and still slipped all the way to the 6th round. Not many in the league believed he could be a competent pass catching TE. By the end of his rookie year it looked like he could be a dangerous receiving option. There was obviously a lot of work to do to make him look that way and the coaching staff should be congratulated for developing someone who looks like a future weapon for the offense.

My basic point is that outside of the top 10 most players are not quite ready to step in and play in the NFL. You pick someone with potential whose holes you can fix with fitness training, technique and fundamentals training, film study and play recognition. Hanna looked every bit like a second round pick out there just getting his feet wet. The staff is likely bringing him along properly and inserting him into spots where they think he can be successful today without making a grave error on the field.

[Redball Express]

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Jan 23
7:00
AM CT

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

[View Full Quote]What he did: Hanna finished the season with just eight catches for 86 yards. Hanna was third on the depth chart behind John Phillips and, of course, Jason Witten for the majority of the regular season. But injures to Miles Austin and Dez Bryant in the regular-season finale at Washington forced the Cowboys to put Hanna on the field in key situations. Hanna had three catches for 20 yards -- with his longest catch going for eight yards -- against the Redskins. Hanna was considered a pass-catching tight end coming out of Oklahoma, but there was some concern about whether he could block well enough on a consistent basis. Hanna struggled in this area until later in the regular season, but he did a nice job in the passing game overall.

Where he fits in the future: Phillips is a free agent, and it appears he in unlikely to return. If that's the case, Hanna would move into the role of No. 2 tight end behind Witten.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowbo...ew-james-hanna

First Fascano, then Bennett now this guy.

No wonder the offense struggles so much. All the passing attack goes to Witten, he's slowing down and injury-prone, scares nobody past 6 yards past the line of scrimmage..

..and we can't develop anybody to replace Witten or compliment him.

It's a paradox followed by a cunumdrum underlined by lack of willingness to get receiving help at the flanker spots and out of the backfield.

Ugh.

RedBaLL EXPreSS

[Chocolate Lab]

Originally Posted by Woods

Just wondering, CL, what did you really like about Phillips game? From what I read, Hanna supplanted him as the number 2 TE as the season progressed.

Oh, not that he's anything special, but he seemed solid enough before he hurt his knee.

I guess I was disappointed because the way it was worded, it sounds like either he wants out or the team doesn't even want him back.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lab

Oh, not that he's anything special, but he seemed solid enough before he hurt his knee.

I guess I was disappointed because the way it was worded, it sounds like either he wants out or the team doesn't even want him back.

The problem with Phillips is that Hanna has surpassed him as a receiving threat because of the vertical threat and mismatch opportunities he presents because of his athleticism. As the #3 TE, Phillips is too expensive and not a good enough in-line blocker to maintain his spot on the roster.

I hope Woicik gets Hanna stronger so that he can be a more effective in-line blocker than most of the other top receiving TEs. Hopefully Witten's modeling of a lunchpail work ethic rubs off on Hanna. If Hanna commits himself he can become a top TE with his athleticism and ball catching skills. It'd be nice if he were a dual threat like Witten instead of just a big WR. This would help create passing game mismatches in the 2-TE offense if defenses stay in their base alignment.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Redball Express

First Fascano, then Bennett now this guy.

No wonder the offense struggles so much. All the passing attack goes to Witten, he's slowing down and injury-prone, scares nobody past 6 yards past the line of scrimmage..

..and we can't develop anybody to replace Witten or compliment him.

It's a paradox followed by a cunumdrum underlined by lack of willingness to get receiving help at the flanker spots and out of the backfield.

Ugh.

RedBaLL EXPreSS

I know it's your schtick to pretend-post like this, but I wonder: do you actually think anybody buys this? I mean, anybody? Witten-is-injury-prone?

Even for what it is, it's not believable or interesting as far as an opinion is concerned. It's really not.