Dallas Cowboys rookie Anthony Hitchens plays well in first start at MLB (team-high 13 tackles)

[MissouriCowboy]

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Rookie Anthony Hitchens received his first start at middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys in place of Rolando McClain, who missed the game with a strained groin.

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And Hitchens played well. He led the Cowboys with 13 tackles and made two game-changing plays.

Midway through the third quarter, St. Louis had driven to the Cowboys’ 15-yard line. They went for it on fourth-and-1. Hitchens was the first Cowboys defensive player to make contact with running back Zac Stacy on his carry up the middle. Hitchens grabbed Stacy’s hips and pulled him back, taking him down for a 1-yard loss and giving the Cowboys the ball back.

Late in the fourth quarter, St. Louis had first-and-goal from the 4. Austin Davis tried to hit Rams tight end Lance Kendricks over the middle, but Hitchens closed quickly to knock the pass down near the end zone.

“Hitch got more comfortable as the game went on,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said, and was around the ball more.”

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[Boyz981]

Shhhhh.... Don't say he did ok in his FIRST NFL start MLB. Some people won't like it.

 

[Flinger]

Shhhhh.... Don't say he did ok in his FIRST NFL start MLB. Some people won't like it.

Are you saying, "They have an agenda?"....

 

[The Natural]

Ok.

 

[Doomsday101]

OK would be about right. Made some mistake early on but also made a couple of big plays the 4th and 1 and almost got an int at the goal line but at least knocked it away from WR

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I was not a fan of the pic, but this game did not surprise me at all.

 

[xwalker]

Hitchens played what would be a reasonably good game for a veteran, but considering that he is a rookie 4th round pick making his 1st start at a position, MLB that he didn't play in college, it was terrific, IMO.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The kid did OK considering.

 

[Boyz981]

Hitchens played what would be a reasonably good game for a veteran, but considering that he is a rookie 4th round pick making his 1st start at a position, MLB that he didn't play in college, it was terrific, IMO.

Agreed!

 

[stilltheguru]

None of the tackles caused a relevant collision and no turnovers. I'm not encouraged

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

None of the tackles caused a relevant collision and no turnovers. I'm not encouraged

Sarcasm?

 

[stilltheguru]

Sarcasm?

What did he do that was considered physical? One play where he grabbed hips , while it was a big play , doesn't make me optimistic.

 

[morasp]

None of the tackles caused a relevant collision and no turnovers. I'm not encouraged

A fourth down stop turns the ball over on downs.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

What did he do that was considered physical? One play where he grabbed hips , while it was a big play , doesn't make me optimistic.

You said he had no tackles that were a relevant collision and no turnovers......btw, when did that determine how well a linebacker played? But either way, he made a tackle on 4th and inches that ended in a turnover lol. I honestly thought you were being sarcastic. He did exactly what you said you were looking for. NFL rookie, 4th round pick? Solid first start. No he doesn't belong in the ROH or anything like that but with rookies you're looking for SOMETHING. Potential. He was around the football a lot yesterday. You might want to lower the bar a bit.

 

[speedkilz88]

What did he do that was considered physical? One play where he grabbed hips , while it was a big play , doesn't make me optimistic.

To make that your argument in this game is ignorant to times he's had big hits in past games.

 

[Ken]

Comical is this notion that he only playef 'ok'. Unbelievably high standards on this board.

 

[morasp]

Hitchens was almost always around the ball and had some really good stops. He'll only get better with experience.

 

[Crown Royal]

I compare Hitchens not to a player like Lee or McClain, but a player like Ernie Sims who was second or third on the depth chart and played significant snaps due to injury.

As far as I'm concerned, he played phenomenally when you make that comparison. His issues were never positional, but rather lack of aggressiveness early on and the fact that he just isn't the athletic freak that some other guys are. But he was sound on his assignments and didn't get us absolutely killed, and then made two fantastic plays in the fourth quarter.

Hitchens may never be a full time starter, but he played EXACTLY how you want your linebacking depth to play.




My bigger concern is Kyle WIlber. He doesn't have the athleticism for a 4-3 OLB, nor the strength of a 4-3 DE. Not a fit in this defense - I feel like he is a backup 3-4 OLB and not a really good one at that. Need to upgrade there.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Okay I admit. I stated he was a bust. So I'm eating crow and was wrong about him. I think he played great. So Im hoping to be wrong again about him in the future.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Comical is this notion that he only playef 'ok'. Unbelievably high standards on this board.

Compare him to how Rolando McClain has been doing...I think saying OK would be fair. I also think it is fair to judge players against other players on your team.

I give him kudos for being a rookie and doing it...but we could also make a comparison between rookies....How has he been doing compared to Z.Martin?

So again...I think ok is fair.