Schottenheimer: Hooker and Locke are co-starters

[nate dizzle]

"Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Malik Hooker and PJ Locke are co starters at safety opposite Jalen Thompson. It will depend on packages."

Weird that it's coming down to a measurement

 

[Bigrandrn]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

Exactly. He was a safety on college, not JUST a cornerback.

 

[Kwyn]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

He won’t be. Nickel is our base defense and his position is “DB”. The defjese is all about disguise and deception. He lines up in various places and even when it looks like he might be in “the slot”, that’s jsut a presnap look.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

"If you have costarters, you don't have a starter."

Remember that being used at QB, thought Lou Holtz said that back in the day. Lol

 

[Floatyworm]

"If you have costarters, you don't have a starter."

I'm surprised both made the cut.....I still think Downs will end up being your strong safety that plays down in the box....

 

[jazzcat22]

Doesn't Hooker get smoked alot? I'm supprised he is on the roster IMO

No he does not. He is there because he is. Good and solid player.

 

[coult44]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

Maybe they should’ve hired you instead of CP

 

[coult44]

He won’t be. Nickel is our base defense and his position is “DB”. The defjese is all about disguise and deception. He lines up in various places and even when it looks like he might be in “the slot”, that’s jsut a presnap look.

We have a ton of people in here who have no idea what “multiple” is. This is 2026 not 2015

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Some great one liners here!

 

[big dog cowboy]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

Oh Lordy. Do you really think CP is that stupid?

 

[gimmesix]

I didn't expect Locke to play a lot other than on special teams. Of course, he might not as a co-starter depending on the package.

I just think No-Schott wants to call them all starters. You get to start! You get to start! You all get to start!

 

[reddyuta]

Maybe they should’ve hired you instead of CP

they should, I will work free of charge!!.

 

[Kwyn]

I didn't expect Locke to play a lot other than on special teams. Of course, he might not as a co-starter depending on the package.

I just think No-Schott wants to call them all starters. You get to start! You get to start! You all get to start!

We didn’t pay him $5m as a free agent to play special teams .

Your obsession with Schottenheimer distracts you from what’s actually going on with the team.

 

[plasticman]

Who is going to step onto the field first?

That is the starter.

The Cowboys must officially name a starter. There are a lot of contracts that include incentives for the number of games started.

They are not going to enter the field for the first time holding hands.

 

[Kwyn]

Who is going to step onto the field first?

That is the starter.

The Cowboys must officially name a starter. There are a lot of contracts that include incentives for the number of games started.

They are not going to enter the field for the first time holding hands.

That might seem like common sense, and I get your point, but it’s not really accurate.

Depth charts are unofficial and are for media use. Fans and media make a big deal out of it, but the coaching staff not so much. Who walks on the field first is dictated by the package the opposition has out there.

also, while nfl contracts can have per game roster bonuses/game appearance or snap count incentives, being the “starter” is not part of contracts except for some narrow bits in rookie deals about escalators.

 

[AbeBeta]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

slot means he's pretty much on the field for all of the snaps. He can excel at covering the slot WR and blitz, play close to the line.

Pretty sure the experts on the coaching staff might have some thought-out plans -- do you even follow the team coming here with a lame question like that?

 

[DandyDon52]

This isn’t an only thing lol, he lined up everywhere in camp. We’ll have 5-6 db’s on the field a lot, Downs is as positionless back there as it gets.

Also, the slot in CP’s scheme does a lot, it’s one of the most important parts of his defense. Slots in this scheme have so much versatility, run and pass. I wouldn’t be concerned about him being underutilized.

I think they want him near LOS so he can play the run or blitz when he sees that is the thing to do.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I dont want him to be a slot guy ONLY,this is not the best use of his skills.

Someone finally said it thank you!! Move him around let him do what he does best

 

[John813]

Doesn't Hooker get smoked alot? I'm supprised he is on the roster IMO

I'm willing to see him in another defense scheme. Was fine with Quinn and ok with Zimmer. Last year was a tire fire all around.

 

[30yearsstillwaiting]

Malik Hooker shouldn’t even be in the equation