Did The Cowboys Finally Get A Fourth Round Pick Right?

[Future]

It does provide context though. If the whole league is sucking in the 4th round then is it reasonable to bash Dallas for sucking in the same round?

Yea.

You can bash them all evenly.

 

[CATCH17]

That is a really pathetic list.

Indeed.

Which makes me more shocked that Hitchens is playing well.

 

[CCBoy]

Versatile Rookie Linebacker Among New Faces on the Defense
Nov 12th, 2014

by Kristi Scales
http://www.5pointsblue.com/versatile-rookie-linebacker-among-new-faces-defense/




Through the first ten games of the season a strong argument can be made that linebacker Anthony Hitchens, thanks to his versatility, has been the most pleasant surprise of the 2014 Cowboys draft class. Hitchens has started five games, at least one each at all three linebacker positions. He’s led the Cowboys in tackles in each of the last two games and, for the season, is the 5th leading tackler on the team (38 total tackles).



Hitchens got the start in London at middle linebacker in place of the injured Rolando McClain (knee). He made the defensive play-of-the-game in the win over the Jaguars when he stuffed running back Toby Gerhart for no gain with a punishing tackle on a 4th-and-1 gamble by the Jags. He also made a touchdown-saving tackle, thanks to sheer hustle (and a burst of speed), by chasing down receiver Cecil Shorts who was sprinting down the sideline for a score that would have cut the Cowboys’ lead to three points.

As for the trip to England, Hitchens is just happy that now he can travel wherever he wants anytime he wants. He said getting his passport was ‘a bucket list’ item.

When the Cowboys selected Hitchens with their 4th round pick (#119) overall, the plan was for him to backup Sean Lee at middle linebacker. But a season-ending knee injury to Lee during offseason workouts changed that plan altogether. Linebacker Devonte Holloman (neck) also suffered an injury which turned out to be career-ending. So Hitchens was moving up the depth chart, albeit by injury. The Cowboys then signed veteran Rolando McClain at the start of training camp.

Hitchens continued to get work at middle linebacker, but now he would work behind McClain. Because of his versatility and acumen in picking up the defensive scheme, he would also work behind Justin Durant at weakside linebacker….and behind Bruce Carter at strongside linebacker.

That’s a heavy workload for a rookie, not only physically, but mentally. He’s had to learn all three positions, each of which requires unique skill sets (like dropping into coverage, run support, etc.). To expedite the learning curve, he’s taken extra meeting time with linebackers coach Matt Eberflus.

And in his two starts in the middle (Week 2 @ St Louis; Week 10 @ Jacksonville/London), he’s also worn the radio helmet to relay the play calls in the defensive huddle. The middle linebacker is also responsible and ‘checks’ and ‘calls’ at the line of scrimmage, just before the snap. That’s a lot of responsibility for a young player, but he’s handled it well.

“I’m so proud of that kid because he’s so calm and mature for his age,” veteran defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey said of Hitchens.

Hitchens NFL debut came on special teams and backup linebacker in the season opener versus the 49ers. By the next week, he was in the starting lineup on the weakside in place of Justin Durant (groin) for the Week 2 victory at Tennessee. The next week in St Louis, McClain was sidelined by a groin injury, so Hitchens moved to the middle. Fast-forward to Week 5 versus the Texans and Hitchens was starting on the strongside in place of Bruce Carter (thigh injury). After Justin Durant suffered a season-ending biceps injury, Hitchens was back in the starting lineup again on the weakside.

If your head is spinning trying to keep up with all the movement, imagine his!

But if you research Hitchens’ college career at the University of Iowa, you wouldn’t be surprised that he would be able to contribute immediately to the team.

Hitchens played as a true freshman in 10 games and was a letterman all four years with the Hawkeyes. He would finish his Iowa career with 270 tackles, including 124 his junior season which led the entire Big 10 Conference. He earned his degree in recreational sports management.

Even though he played college ball in Iowa as Hawkeye, Hitchens is actually a Buckeye who was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio which is on the shores of Lake Erie, about 30 miles west of Cleveland. He starred at Clearview High School and was first-team All State not only at linebacker, but also at running back and kick/punt returner...

 

[LatinMind]

That is a really pathetic list.

i bet if you looked at the the rest of the nfl lists. they looks somewhat similar.

 

[morasp]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the trend. Two out of the three most recent have worked out for us so far with the nod going to Hitchens.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Through the first ten games of the season a strong argument can be made that linebacker Anthony Hitchens, thanks to his versatility, has been the most pleasant surprise of the 2014 Cowboys draft class. Hitchens has started five games, at least one each at all three linebacker positions. He’s led the Cowboys in tackles in each of the last two games and, for the season, is the 5th leading tackler on the team (38 total tackles)

 

[burmafrd]

what is bad about too many on that list is that they never were evaluated by anyone ELSE as worth a 4th.

Arkin and company were BAD picks anyway you look at it; never should have been taken.

Just because other teams make the same mistake is NO excuse at all.

 

[bayeslife]

This thread is hilarious. Hindsight is 20/20, people.

 

[honyock]

what is bad about too many on that list is that they never were evaluated by anyone ELSE as worth a 4th.

Arkin and company were BAD picks anyway you look at it; never should have been taken.

Just because other teams make the same mistake is NO excuse at all.

Arkin was a bust, but he was not a reach. He was drafted about where he had been projected by many of the draft services/draft gurus. In fact, there were several of the draftniks who complimented the Arkin pick and who gave the Cowboys high marks for their Day Three haul that year.

He didn't work out. But if your criteria is how the draft gurus had players ranked at the time, he wasn't a reach. Fourth rounders can look like good picks on draft day and still be busts.

 

[DeaconMoss]

ewww....
Isiah Stanback, AOA, Stephen McGee and Skylar Green.... yuk...

I would have loved to have McGee playing QB two weeks ago.

 

[8FOR!3]

4th round and 4 guys are still on the team, a few of em are starting. Victor Butler's playing on another team and I'm pretty sure he's starting. Don't think this is a bad list. If it were 3rd round it would be bad.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

I would have loved to have McGee playing QB two weeks ago.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I just gave stats that since 2006, only 10% of players drafted in the 4th round become starters.

IOW, compared to the rest of the league and not just our division opponents we are ahead of the curve for drafting Doug Free 7 years ago. If we hit on Hitchens then we are that much ahead.

Some people just have unreasonable expectations and fail to realize that failure is inevitable and it is efficiency relative to your opponents that is the key.

 

[honyock]

I just gave stats that since 2006, only 10% of players drafted in the 4th round become starters.

To further your point, there was an article floating around last draft season, that provided a lookback at draft picks by round and how many finished out their rookie contract with their original team. Not starters, just those made it through their rookie deal.

Beyond Round 2, it was a really low percentage. For Round 4 draft picks in particular, about 25% last to the end of the rookie deal.

For round 3 it wasnt a lot better - below 35% if I'm remembering it correctly (I thought I saved the article but can't find it now).

And yeah, for all the grief Doug Free got here for many years, he was a great round 4 selection.

 

[burmafrd]

Arkin was a bust, but he was not a reach. He was drafted about where he had been projected by many of the draft services/draft gurus. In fact, there were several of the draftniks who complimented the Arkin pick and who gave the Cowboys high marks for their Day Three haul that year.

He didn't work out. But if your criteria is how the draft gurus had players ranked at the time, he wasn't a reach. Fourth rounders can look like good picks on draft day and still be busts.

depends on which services you are talking about; the more reputable ones never had him in the top 6 rds

 

[burmafrd]

To further your point, there was an article floating around last draft season, that provided a lookback at draft picks by round and how many finished out their rookie contract with their original team. Not starters, just those made it through their rookie deal.

Beyond Round 2, it was a really low percentage. For Round 4 draft picks in particular, about 25% last to the end of the rookie deal.

For round 3 it wasnt a lot better - below 35% if I'm remembering it correctly (I thought I saved the article but can't find it now).

And yeah, for all the grief Doug Free got here for many years, he was a great round 4 selection.

once again making excuses for not doing better - you guys are all pros at that

 

[Christiann]

This list is burning my eyes.

 

[honyock]

once again making excuses for not doing better - you guys are all pros at that

It's either making excuses or understanding context.

Looking only at the Garrett era later round picks, there have been three round 4 failures (Webb, Johnson and Arkin), and two still on the team (Hitchens and Wilber).

And there have been four 3rd round picks. Murray, Crawford, Wilcox and Williams. All four are starters and one may end up being the league MVP this year.

Round 5 has 2 out of 4 that were washouts (Coale and Josh Thomas) and two yet to be determined (Randle and Street).

Round 6 has Dwayne Harris, James Hanna and Devonte Holloman. That's really good production from sixth rounders, with some unfortunate luck for Holloman with his career ending injury.

Round 7 has a bunch of guys already gone, and a couple of possibilities from this year.

So I'd say the Cowboys are way, way above expectations in round 3. Round 4 is probably the weakest of all those rounds...it really depends on how Hitchens ends up developing. Same for round 5 with Street and Randle. Round 6 I'd say is very good - two productive players and one who may have been headed to starting soon if not for the injury. So I just don't sweat what's happening in round 4 very much. I'd love them all to be good productive players. But the context is there if you look at the rounds before and after round 4. I'd guess if anything that the Cowboys might be in the top half of the league or better in players on the roster and games started from rounds 3-7 over that period.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Im liking what I see from him. Good pick.

 

[iceberg]

I would settle for a Wilber that can come in and be a rotational guy in the 4th round. But you can't completely miss like on the Owosu and Matt Johnson picks.

Yea cause only the cowboys miss...