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http://dcfanatic.com/2009/05/06/is-hodge-the-roy-we-were-looking-for-under-wade.aspx
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Is Hodge the Roy we were looking for under Wade?
No, I didn't screw up the title of this blog entry. I am going to explain what I mean right now.
When Wade Phillips came here in 2007 we were all hoping that he would find a way to get Safety Roy Williams back to being a 'Playmaker' when he was on the field.
Even the most staunch Roy fans were saying that it was time for him to be playing closer to the line of scrimmage instead of being aired out twenty to thirty yards downfield playing the deep half.
Wade was on board and started using Roy as a hybrid S/LB in the Nickel situations. In this role he would drop down 'in the box' and allow another Safety to come on the field on passing situations
.
Just about everyone thought the plan was solid in it's theory because that seemed to be where Roy flourished over the first five seasons of his career. So all of us Cowboys fans got excited about it, looked forward to it and talked about it all the time.
Then the 2007 season began and we waited for the 'Old Roy' to show up an do his thing.
The problem was that in 15 games (missed one due to suspension) that season Roy wound up with 0 Sacks, 0 Forced Fumbles and 0 Tackles for losses. There were no bit hits any longer either. It just seemed like Roy wasn't 'Roy' anymore.
Today Roy signed a deal with the Bengals after being released from the Cowboys roster back on March 5th.
Ok, now onto Stephen Hodge. He is a 230lb rock who runs fast, has quickness and hits people with reckless abandon. At TCU he was a Strong Safety, but in the NFL the position of 'Strong Safety' is quickly becoming a bad word.
Hodge is playing Inside Linebacker for the Cowboys. He even looks like the part in his new #55 jersey we saw him running around in over the weekend. As a rookie sixth round draft pick he's not being looked at as a viable threat to push veterans Keith Brooking or Bradie James for their jobs.
But he could push for some playing time in the Nickel Defense. Not as the 'Nickel LB' though because that job is probably going to rookie Jason Williams or veteran Bobby Carpenter.
I think Hodge could be the 'Roy we were looking for under Wade'. He could be that dynamic hybrid S/LB that is rushing the passer, blowing up RB's behind the LOS which causes fumbles and covering TE/RB's in the flat.
That player we were all looking for Roy to be in 2007 may have just arrived in 2009 and he's wearing #55.
Now some are already saying the following. That's a lot to ask of a rookie who's just learning how to be a professional football player.
True, and I can agree somewhat that not putting too much stress on a rookie, especially one learning a new position, is usually the right way to go about things. I mean we really don't know this kid all that well yet to know if he could handle this role as well as being the special teams ace he was brought in here to be.
So let's hear from his former position coach at TCU to get more info on what type of player we are getting in Stephen Hodge...
TCU Safeties Coach Chad Glasgow
Coach Glasgow just described a coaches dream. And did he just say that 'Brutus' scored 99 TD's as a high school QB?
Now I am not saying one way or the other whether or not Hodge gets a shot at being this hybrid S/LB for Wade, but I am saying that if he does get the shot at it there is a good chance we as fans are going to be in for a treat in watching him play that role.
And just for clarification. The interview with Coach Glasgow was done right in between the practices on Friday.
As most of you already know Hodge bounced back nicely in his next two practices and was probably the most impressive of all the rookies on the field over the weekend, read here, here and here.
Friday Afternoon Practice - *Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge looked much better in coverage during the afternoon practice than he did this morning. He had several deflections on passes to the flat.
Saturday Afternoon Practice - *Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge was impressive in pass coverage for the second consecutive practice. He batted down a pass intended for sixth-round TE John Phillips on a curl route, then slammed the ground in disgust, angry that he didn't get a pick.
*After some confusion in Friday's morning practice, sixth-round linebacker Stephen Hodge has turned it around nicely, putting together a couple nice sessions. Phillips bragged on the former TCU safety in Friday's press conference, and Hodge did a good job in coverage again Saturday morning, breaking up a pass for a near interception.
The ability to forget some bad plays and make sure you perform better on the next ones is an attribute you can't teach. In the interview with Coach Glasgow you heard about this kids work ethic and his will to play to the whistle. Seems that Hodge went in after the Friday morning practice and refocused himself which allowed him to put up a strong showing for the remainder of mini camp.
I know it's only May and we have a long way until September, but I got a good feeling we are going to be cheering often and very loudly for Brutus this Fall.
--------------------------------------
Is Hodge the Roy we were looking for under Wade?
No, I didn't screw up the title of this blog entry. I am going to explain what I mean right now.
When Wade Phillips came here in 2007 we were all hoping that he would find a way to get Safety Roy Williams back to being a 'Playmaker' when he was on the field.
Even the most staunch Roy fans were saying that it was time for him to be playing closer to the line of scrimmage instead of being aired out twenty to thirty yards downfield playing the deep half.
Wade was on board and started using Roy as a hybrid S/LB in the Nickel situations. In this role he would drop down 'in the box' and allow another Safety to come on the field on passing situations
.
Just about everyone thought the plan was solid in it's theory because that seemed to be where Roy flourished over the first five seasons of his career. So all of us Cowboys fans got excited about it, looked forward to it and talked about it all the time.
Then the 2007 season began and we waited for the 'Old Roy' to show up an do his thing.
The problem was that in 15 games (missed one due to suspension) that season Roy wound up with 0 Sacks, 0 Forced Fumbles and 0 Tackles for losses. There were no bit hits any longer either. It just seemed like Roy wasn't 'Roy' anymore.
Today Roy signed a deal with the Bengals after being released from the Cowboys roster back on March 5th.
Ok, now onto Stephen Hodge. He is a 230lb rock who runs fast, has quickness and hits people with reckless abandon. At TCU he was a Strong Safety, but in the NFL the position of 'Strong Safety' is quickly becoming a bad word.
Hodge is playing Inside Linebacker for the Cowboys. He even looks like the part in his new #55 jersey we saw him running around in over the weekend. As a rookie sixth round draft pick he's not being looked at as a viable threat to push veterans Keith Brooking or Bradie James for their jobs.
But he could push for some playing time in the Nickel Defense. Not as the 'Nickel LB' though because that job is probably going to rookie Jason Williams or veteran Bobby Carpenter.
I think Hodge could be the 'Roy we were looking for under Wade'. He could be that dynamic hybrid S/LB that is rushing the passer, blowing up RB's behind the LOS which causes fumbles and covering TE/RB's in the flat.
That player we were all looking for Roy to be in 2007 may have just arrived in 2009 and he's wearing #55.
Now some are already saying the following. That's a lot to ask of a rookie who's just learning how to be a professional football player.
True, and I can agree somewhat that not putting too much stress on a rookie, especially one learning a new position, is usually the right way to go about things. I mean we really don't know this kid all that well yet to know if he could handle this role as well as being the special teams ace he was brought in here to be.
So let's hear from his former position coach at TCU to get more info on what type of player we are getting in Stephen Hodge...
TCU Safeties Coach Chad Glasgow
Coach Glasgow just described a coaches dream. And did he just say that 'Brutus' scored 99 TD's as a high school QB?
Now I am not saying one way or the other whether or not Hodge gets a shot at being this hybrid S/LB for Wade, but I am saying that if he does get the shot at it there is a good chance we as fans are going to be in for a treat in watching him play that role.
And just for clarification. The interview with Coach Glasgow was done right in between the practices on Friday.
As most of you already know Hodge bounced back nicely in his next two practices and was probably the most impressive of all the rookies on the field over the weekend, read here, here and here.
Friday Afternoon Practice - *Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge looked much better in coverage during the afternoon practice than he did this morning. He had several deflections on passes to the flat.
Saturday Afternoon Practice - *Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge was impressive in pass coverage for the second consecutive practice. He batted down a pass intended for sixth-round TE John Phillips on a curl route, then slammed the ground in disgust, angry that he didn't get a pick.
*After some confusion in Friday's morning practice, sixth-round linebacker Stephen Hodge has turned it around nicely, putting together a couple nice sessions. Phillips bragged on the former TCU safety in Friday's press conference, and Hodge did a good job in coverage again Saturday morning, breaking up a pass for a near interception.
I know it's only May and we have a long way until September, but I got a good feeling we are going to be cheering often and very loudly for Brutus this Fall.
