Rookie LBs Making Mark; Hitchens Gets Starter Reps

[TheDude]

You probably thought Fred was a reach also.

You can look at the 2009 draft to see what happens when you don't "reach" for the player that you really want.

The Cowboys top preference in the 2009 draft by far was Max Unger. They ended up with a total of 12 picks in that draft. Max Unger got picked just a few spots ahead of the Cowboys 2nd round selection. He's gone on to be a Pro Bowl player while the entire Cowboys draft class is gone and only 3 players remain in the NFL.

They could have traded ALL of their 12 picks to get into the first round and "reach" for Unger. They would have been much more successful than what actually happened in that draft.

Or they could have not traded the first pick to reach for a turd and been even better off.

Hindsight

 

[d_dub88]

Or they could have not traded the first pick to reach for a turd and been even better off.

Hindsight

Everyone's a guru with hindsight. But on draft day you have to trust your scouts and make the pick.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I think the kid has played well, but his inability to shed at times has me worried. I saw too many times where he and Holloman couldn't get off a block.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Ask him where he ever mentioned Hitchens before the draft because he didn't. No one did.

Very true. The guy really wasn't on my radar.

 

[TheDude]

Everyone's a guru with hindsight. But on draft day you have to trust your scouts and make the pick.

Exactly, but...

after trading 2 #1s on WR (Galloway), you really didnt need hindsight to see trading a #1 and #3 for another WR might have risks to future drafts. I mean since its a strawman discussion, we could have had Clay Matthews, Jarius Byrd or Percy Harvin with our #1 and stayed pat at #2 and taken LeSean Mccoy.

Also, we could have had Mike Wallace instead of Jason Williams, not reached for Stephen McGhee and taken Henry Melton in the 4th. etc, etc,

 

[ROUSH8692]

I don't know why but I am a big fan of Hitchens, and even Matt Johnson. Must be the round.

If you are in charge we go for it on 4th down.... Excuse me if I overlook your opinion.

 

[xwalker]

Or they could have not traded the first pick to reach for a turd and been even better off.

Hindsight

No doubt. I'm not lament hindsight issues, just pointing out why what the draft media analysts and fans call "reaching" is not always a bad move.

 

[xwalker]

It doesn't. But carry on.

Why doesn't it.

I gave you an example of when "reaching" paid off really well with Fred.

Then a I gave you an example of when they didn't "reach" but should have.

The Cowboys have tended to do well with draft picks that they were really focused on prior to the draft. Callahan personally worked out Fred prior to that draft. Dooley personally worked out Terrence Williams prior to that draft. Tyron was the player they most focused on prior to that draft.

On the flip-side, they didn't spend much time scouting Morris Claiborne and had no contact with him prior to that draft. They didn't think that he was going to be an option and just didn't check out his personality and those types of issues. They got a surprise offer to trade up and made a quick decision to make the trade. The result has been a guy that's soft.

They checked out Hitchens fairly extensively. I think it was the Cowboys LB coach that had coached with some of the coaches at Iowa. He gathered all of the background info on Hitchens. Hitchens wasn't just a guy they threw a dart at when the 4th round rolled around.

I know some people liked other LBs better like Tevin Smith; however, not only did he have fairly extreme size issues, he also had some rumored personality type issues. We've seen with Bruce Carter that you can have tons of physical talent, but if you don't have the right personality type, then you're probably going to have some problems in the NFL.

 

[Tawney88]

No doubt. I'm not lament hindsight issues, just pointing out why what the draft media analysts and fans call "reaching" is not always a bad move.

You'd be wrong it's always a bad move. Specifically when you take a project or draft a guy to be a backup. No matter how you spin it, it's not a good way to run your draft. Even if it works out from time to time.

 

[xwalker]

I know. But I'm expecting a lot of missed assignments early in the season because no one is truly focused on one true position (except maybe McClain).

Durant is expected to be the Will and that's the position that's he always played until last season.

 

[Tawney88]

Why doesn't it.

I gave you an example of when "reaching" paid off really well with Fred.

Then a I gave you an example of when they didn't "reach" but should have.

The Cowboys have tended to do well with draft picks that they were really focused on prior to the draft. Callahan personally worked out Fred prior to that draft. Dooley personally worked out Terrence Williams prior to that draft. Tyron was the player they most focused on prior to that draft.

On the flip-side, they didn't spend much time scouting Morris Claiborne and had no contact with him prior to that draft. They didn't think that he was going to be an option and just didn't check out his personality and those types of issues. They got a surprise offer to trade up and made a quick decision to make the trade. The result has been a guy that's soft.

They checked out Hitchens fairly extensively. I think it was the Cowboys LB coach that had coached with some of the coaches at Iowa. He gathered all of the background info on Hitchens. Hitchens wasn't just a guy they threw a dart at when the 4th round rolled around.

I know some people liked other LBs better like Tevin Smith; however, not only did he have fairly extreme size issues, he also had some rumored personality type issues. We've seen with Bruce Carter that you can have tons of physical talent, but if you don't have the right personality type, then you're probably going to have some problems in the NFL.

It's not smart and if you weren't trying to so hard to be right you'd see that. TheFredrick's reach and the Hitchen's reach aren't even closely the same one wasn't even projected to be drafted. Jerry does this a lot and it doesn't work. Even if we get lucky once it doesn't excuse the missed. It's a horrible strategy.

 

[xwalker]

You'd be wrong it's always a bad move. Specifically when you take a project or draft a guy to be a backup. No matter how you spin it, it's not a good way to run your draft. Even if it works out from time to time.

The majority of 4th round picks are a "project" to some extent. Very few are immediate starters.

If you really believe that they drafted Hitchens (a college WLB) with the idea that he would always be the backup MLB, then I've got some ocean front property in Kansas to sell you.

 

[Tawney88]

All that said, if they did their due diligence and the guy is a great pick up that's awesome for our team. The issue lays in what else we may have been able to do by using the 4th on a lineman or another lb and using a later pick on on Hitchens. It is what it is now but it's not a sound drafting strategy in my mind, even if you occasionally hit.

 

[Tawney88]

The majority of 4th round picks are a "project" to some extent. Very few are immediate starters.

If you really believe that they drafted Hitchens (a college WLB) with the idea that he would always be the backup MLB, then I've got some ocean front property in Kansas to sell you.

They said it specifically. I had the conversation with people here at the time of the draft and provided links.

 

[blumayne38]

at the goal line against the ravens hitchens had a tackle for a loss in the bag instead of wrapping up he dove for the legs maybe thinking someone behind would clean up maybe he was doubting his ability...either situation he was there to make the tackle he just didnt...i feel for him that's a very easy fix..one of those okay I missed that time but next time ....OOOO imma lite it up

 

[xwalker]

It's not smart and if you weren't trying to so hard to be right you'd see that. TheFredrick's reach and the Hitchen's reach aren't even closely the same one wasn't even projected to be drafted. Jerry does this a lot and it doesn't work. Even if we get lucky once it doesn't excuse the missed. It's a horrible strategy.

Right after the draft, a Seahawks beat reporter said that the Seahawks were going to draft Hitchens if he was available. They did draft a LB in the 4th and apparently, they had Hitchens rated higher than the guy they drafted.

You give the draft media way to much credit for ranking players. Most of them had Jackson Jeffcoat as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. He went undrafted. That's just one example of thousands.

Hitchens was the leading tackler in the Big Ten Conference. He was Iowa's defensive MVP. There was nothing in his game footage, size or athleticism that indicated that he would go undrafted.

 

[xwalker]

They said it specifically. I had the conversation with people here at the time of the draft and provided links.

They projected him to be the backup MLB as a rookie.

 

[ZappaFrank]

Is he actually good or is everyone else BAD? I know which one I am betting on.

 

[xwalker]

All that said, if they did their due diligence and the guy is a great pick up that's awesome for our team. The issue lays in what else we may have been able to do by using the 4th on a lineman or another lb and using a later pick on on Hitchens. It is what it is now but it's not a sound drafting strategy in my mind, even if you occasionally hit.

You have NO possible way to know that Hitchens would be available later just like people had NO possible way to know that Fred would be available later.

Obviously, if teams had a time machine and could go forward in time to see where players would be drafted, then they wouldn't take a guy in the 4th that would be available later.

While you have NO possible way to know if the Draft Media was right or wrong on Hitchens, you can look at the same Draft Media and know for certain that they were wrong on guys like Jackson Jeffcoat.

 

[Idgit]

Is he actually good or is everyone else BAD? I know which one I am betting on.

Ooohhh. Don't hold out on us!!!