News: DMN: Cowboys' Justin Durant expects 'fight' for linebacker spots in training camp

[jobberone]

Holloman is 6-2, 242. Size is not an issue in terms of holding up.

Durant is the one that's a bit undersized at 6-1, 228; although, the listed weights are not always accurate. I think they probably like the idea of having his veteran presence on the field.

I like the pick of Hitchens based on his college game footage; however, I don't think they need a rookie playing LB if they can help it. Having said that, I think he could handle it if needed. The issue it that Carter is most likely the WLB and is not exactly the savvy veteran. The SLB is most likely Wilber or Holloman who are both young players. They're going to have a young Safety and several young players up front. LB is probably the best place to have some veteran presence.

My guess as well. Will=Carter, Sam=Wilber, and Mike=Durant. To start with. I won't be at all surprised if Holloman takes some snaps away from one. He's not ready to play any position but I think he can although Sam may not be his thing. He needs seasoning.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

My guess as well. Will=Carter, Sam=Wilber, and Mike=Durant. To start with. I won't be at all surprised if Holloman takes some snaps away from one. He's not ready to play any position but I think he can although Sam may not be his thing. He needs seasoning.

He's not going to get seasoning on the bench. Also it's not like Wilber has played that much more than Halloman.

Team Halloman

 

[jobberone]

He's not going to get seasoning on the bench. Also it's not like Wilber has played that much more than Halloman.

Team Halloman

Wilber played 511 defensive snaps and Holloman 214 in 2013. Wilber only played 16 defensive snaps in 2012 but he does have an extra year under his belt. Wilber is more a Sam and Holloman I think can play Mike and Will esp Will. But they will get their chance to shine.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I do not think that the starting middle linebacker is on the team yet.

There is a bold statement. We have the cap room if needed. Jerry could surprise if the coaching staff is nervous. My gut tells me that would be the last resort because you know they are praying for a solution to already be on the roster.

 

[xwalker]

My guess as well. Will=Carter, Sam=Wilber, and Mike=Durant. To start with. I won't be at all surprised if Holloman takes some snaps away from one. He's not ready to play any position but I think he can although Sam may not be his thing. He needs seasoning.

I think Holloman will be 1 of the 3 starters. I don't know if it will be in place of Wilber or Durant.

There is a small chance that Holloman is not a starter but is 1 of the 2 LBs in the Nickel.

 

[jobberone]

I think Holloman will be 1 of the 3 starters. I don't know if it will be in place of Wilber or Durant.

There is a small chance that Holloman is not a starter but is 1 of the 2 LBs in the Nickel.

I think the latter is more likely. They will all get some significant snaps. I like Holloman and he has a nose for the ball.

 

[ccb04]

IIRC, it's been mentioned that a few of the LB's will get looks at different spots...and they're simply looking to get the best 3 on the field. They even had Holloman and Hitchens take snaps at the Will, etc. once both returned to practice and the competition is supposed to increase once training camp begins.

I'm still currently among those that would like to see Holloman win the Mike job. He has a solid combination of size/athleticism, his safety background helps in coverage, and he seems to have a nose for the football. In the biggest game of last season, Holloman led the team with 11 tackles & matched Hatcher with 2 sacks, while playing against a fast paced & diverse offense. He over pursued vs. the run in the 1st half...but made adjustments and was quite a bit better in the 2nd half. Those around the team...to include Sean Lee, have spoken about how quickly he seems to pick things up...and Lee also mentioned how difficult it can be to play against the Eagles offense.

Holloman missed time in the OTA's, and Durant was the 1st option up last year behind Lee until he got hurt. Holloman started 3 games...and made strides in each one. But Durant & Holloman are 2 guys that also need to stay healthy, as both missed time last year. Durant could also have value given his ability to potentially play any of the 3 spots.

As things stand now player wise (without any additions), I wouldn't mind seeing the competition sort out something like.....

Sam: Wilber, Durant, C. Lawrence (valuable on ST's with 12 tackles in 11 games)
Mike: Holloman, Durant, Hitchens
Will: Carter, Smith, Durant/Hitchens
**Sapp to practice squad

If they can add a versatile vet or a younger player with some upside...so much the better. They seem to have at least some confidence in Durant's ability to cover, as IIRC...he and Carter were often the NLB's in OTA's. But I think Holloman has the skill set to be consistently better in coverage. It'll be an interesting competition to watch when camp opens. I simply hope everyone remains healthy enough to compete during all of TC & the preseason.

 

[jobberone]

Holloman needs more experience.

 

[SportsGuru80]

I think Sean Lee is done so hopefully they'll draft a true MLBer in 2015.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think Sean Lee is done so hopefully they'll draft a true MLBer in 2015.

Might be Hitchens at MLB long term. Really it's such a mess right now at LB with all our moving parts that thinking about next years draft this far out will only give you a headache.

 

[Bullflop]

I'm quite sure Durant realizes Holloman is salivating right now at the thought of competing with him for the MLB spot.
I imagine there'll be some pretty spirited competition at that position with Hitchens giving his best effort there as well.
All three of those participants are pretty talented prospects for the job -- Durant with the experience and the other two
with the advantage of their youthful vigor. It should be an intriguing experiment to see who'll put his best foot forward.

 

[jobberone]

Durant is right rapid. It's his coverage recognition that bothers me.

 

[xwalker]

I think Sean Lee is done so hopefully they'll draft a true MLBer in 2015.

Might be Hitchens at MLB long term. Really it's such a mess right now at LB with all our moving parts that thinking about next years draft this far out will only give you a headache.

I agree with big dog that Hitchens could be the long term answer. I reviewed a significant amount of his college game footage and I believe that he is very talented. He does many things that don't show up in a combine workout but are keys to being a good football player. It seems obvious in reviewing the Cowboys picks and some players that they liked in the draft, that they have placed a big focus on getting "football" players over workout warriors.

 

[Fredd]

#1, the statement in the title humors me, does he?
#2, what scares me a little is that we cannot definitively state one name as a starter currently, not one...carter? he has to earn his way back to starting...the rest need to earn a starting gig PERIOD...let's hope the revamped DL rotation makes the LB's look a little better come september

 

[speedkilz88]

I think Holloman will be 1 of the 3 starters. I don't know if it will be in place of Wilber or Durant.

There is a small chance that Holloman is not a starter but is 1 of the 2 LBs in the Nickel.

I think I read somewhere that they were just under 70% of the time in the nickel anyway. If that's correct then that could be the reason to not start him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It seems obvious in reviewing the Cowboys picks and some players that they liked in the draft, that they have placed a big focus on getting "football" players over workout warriors.

It's about damn time.

 

[xwalker]

I think I read somewhere that they were just under 70% of the time in the nickel anyway. If that's correct then that could be the reason to not start him.

61% is the number that I've seen for playing the Nickel in 2013.

 

[AsthmaField]

I agree with big dog that Hitchens could be the long term answer. I reviewed a significant amount of his college game footage and I believe that he is very talented. He does many things that don't show up in a combine workout but are keys to being a good football player. It seems obvious in reviewing the Cowboys picks and some players that they liked in the draft, that they have placed a big focus on getting "football" players over workout warriors.

Yeah, I've thought since the draft that it looks like the team made a concentrated effort to add toughness and violence to the team. Hard nosed players with an edge.

I think they realize they've been lacking that a tad and that they set out to get it in free agency, the draft, and all of the UDFA's. Hitchens is a good example of that, and I think it is why Dallas had him ranked higher than maybe some other teams.

It is notable that when they called Hitchens to tell him they just drafted him, that they mentioned "bringing the Iowa toughness" with him. It is also notable, IMO, that the other two teams who were rumored to have him ranked similar to Dallas was San Fran and Seattle... both teams that value toughness and hard nosed football players.

For the record, I am 1000% in agreement with the team that they needed to add some of that... particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[xwalker]

Yeah, I've thought since the draft that it looks like the team made a concentrated effort to add toughness and violence to the team. Hard nosed players with an edge.

I think they realize they've been lacking that a tad and that they set out to get it in free agency, the draft, and all of the UDFA's. Hitchens is a good example of that, and I think it is why Dallas had him ranked higher than maybe some other teams.

It is notable that when they called Hitchens to tell him they just drafted him, that they mentioned "bringing the Iowa toughness" with him. It is also notable, IMO, that the other two teams who were rumored to have him ranked similar to Dallas was San Fran and Seattle... both teams that value toughness and hard nosed football players.

For the record, I am 1000% in agreement with the team that they needed to add some of that... particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Yes, Hitchens is the opposite of Bruce Carter. Carter is a super freak athletically, but a questionable football player. Hitchens has average athleticism, but is, IMO, in the mold of Sean Lee type of "football player".