DMN Blog: If the season started now, Hodge would get more playing time than J. Will

[WoodysGirl]

3:21 PM Tue, May 05, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Third-rounder Jason Williams and sixth-rounder Stephen Hodge are expected to be core special teams players right away.

The rookie inside linebackers' defensive roles are to be determined.

Barring injury, Keith Brooking will start at the inside linebacker spot next to Bradie James. Williams and Hodge are part of the group competing for the role Kevin Burnett filled in the sub packages. Based on an abbreviated rookie minicamp, Hodge is ahead of Williams.

Hodge acknowledged that he struggled in coverage during the first practice, because he was used to lining up at safety depth instead of lining up as a linebacker. But it didn't take him long to make the adjustment. The former TCU Horned Frog excelled in coverage drills the rest of the minicamp, batting down several passes.

"The thing that sticks out with Hodge is he has excellent ball skills, and he has great space instincts," LB coach Reggie Herring said. "He has a great feel for coverage - when to speed up, when to slow down, when to break on the ball, when not to break on the ball. He has a great feel for routes and things for that nature. He's instinctive in coverage."

Williams, who is bigger and faster than Hodge, has the potential to be outstanding in pass coverage. But he has a lot of work to do, which was made clear when guys like sixth-round TE John Phillips and undrafted FB Asaph Schwapp beat him for big gains.

There's a long time between rookie minicamp and the regular season. Williams, a remarkable athlete, should make great strides in the next four months. He'll have to if he wants to catch up with Hodge.


Comments (1) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[Woods]

Not really surprising.

Williams is really raw, and it's going to take him more time to get up to speed.

I think both Hodge and Williams will end up being good players for the Cowboys.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

kind of glad we signed Brookings

 

[Catch-22]

Sounds like another Scandrick/Jenkins scenario.

 

[Woods]

Sounds like another Scandrick/Jenkins scenario.

I don't really see it that way.

We knew Williams was raw when we drafted him. He has tremendous athletic skills and has tremendous upside. No one thought that given his background he was going to start Day 1. He was going to be eased into the position over the next couple of years. And in the meantime, he could at least contribute on STs. Hopefully, later this year, he could challenge Carpenter for the nickel role.

As for Hodge, he played a hybrid SS/LB position in college and was used to playing more in space. (Williams played closer to the LOS during the end of his college career.) As a result, the transition has been a bit easier for Hodge.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't really see it that way.

We knew Williams was raw when we drafted him. He has tremendous athletic skills and has tremendous upside. No one thought that given his background he was going to start Day 1. He was going to be eased into the position over the next couple of years. And in the meantime, he could at least contribute on STs. Hopefully, later this year, he could challenge Carpenter for the nickel role.

As for Hodge, he played a hybrid SS/LB position in college and was used to playing more in space. (Williams played closer to the LOS during the end of his college career.) As a result, the transition has been a bit easier for Hodge.

that's where the comparison comes from

Jenkins was the raw guy with oodles of upside, while Scandrick, though no slouch, isn't the prospect, but is the more polished one

 

[big dog cowboy]

That is exactly what I would have expected.

A former safety should cover better than a inside linebacker.

 

[Bluefin]

Barring injury, Keith Brooking will start at the inside linebacker spot next to Bradie James. Williams and Hodge are part of the group competing for the role Kevin Burnett filled in the sub packages.

Nothing against Keith Brooking, but I hope one of the kids is ready to start in 2010.

It'd be nice if they both end up as nickel 'backers at some point during this season.

 

[Woods]

that's where the comparison comes from

Jenkins was the raw guy with oodles of upside, while Scandrick, though no slouch, isn't the prospect, but is the more polished one

I guess for me I expected Jenkins to be considerably ahead of Scandrick initially given Jenkins' 1st round pedigree. My expectations for Jenkins were considerably more since he was a 1st round draft pick, whereas Williams was a 3rd rounder and my initial expectations were more muted.

But yhea, Hodge is more polished than Williams, so it appears.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I'd put Williams and Hodge both out there on third downs. You don't know which one is blitzing!

 

[Apollo Creed]

kind of glad we signed Brookings

Me too....

And we couldn't really afford Kevin Burnett play another half season for us.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't really see the comparison to Jenkins adn Scandrick Those guys did not have to make position changes in the NFL. They just needed to adjust to being NFL corners. Both Williams and Hodge are having to change positions. Hodge is having the easier time at one specific task of his new position because he has the history of playing coverage as a safety. I wouldn't get too high or too low on either guy this early in the process. They both have a long way to go.

 

[Duane]

So from one rookie min-camp we know that Hodge would get more playing time?

Sounds like a slow news day for Timmy.

 

[cowboyjoe]

If the season started now, Stephen Hodge would get more playing time than Jason Williams
3:21 PM Tue, May 05, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2009/05/if-the-season-started-tomorrow-stephen-h.html

Third-rounder Jason Williams and sixth-rounder Stephen Hodge are expected to be core special teams players right away.

The rookie inside linebackers' defensive roles are to be determined.

Barring injury, Keith Brooking will start at the inside linebacker spot next to Bradie James. Williams and Hodge are part of the group competing for the role Kevin Burnett filled in the sub packages. Based on an abbreviated rookie minicamp, Hodge is ahead of Williams.

Hodge acknowledged that he struggled in coverage during the first practice, because he was used to lining up at safety depth instead of lining up as a linebacker. But it didn't take him long to make the adjustment. The former TCU Horned Frog excelled in coverage drills the rest of the minicamp, batting down several passes.

"The thing that sticks out with Hodge is he has excellent ball skills, and he has great space instincts," LB coach Reggie Herring said. "He has a great feel for coverage - when to speed up, when to slow down, when to break on the ball, when not to break on the ball. He has a great feel for routes and things for that nature. He's instinctive in coverage."

Williams, who is bigger and faster than Hodge, has the potential to be outstanding in pass coverage. But he has a lot of work to do, which was made clear when guys like sixth-round TE John Phillips and undrafted FB Asaph Schwapp beat him for big gains.

There's a long time between rookie minicamp and the regular season. Williams, a remarkable athlete, should make great strides in the next four months. He'll have to if he wants to catch up with Hodge.

 

[DavidS]

That is exactly what I would have expected.

A former safety should cover better than a inside linebacker.

Couldnt have said it any better Big Dog....

J Will is raw and was blitzing about every-play in college.