News: So You've Drafted Anthony Hitchens: A New Owner's Guide

Texas_Pete · May 10, 2014

Matthew Holst

Congratulations! You've just made the wonderful decision to draft Anthony Hitchens! Like most new Hitchens owners, you're no doubt filled with questions about your new family member. We here at BHGP will try our best to answer any questions you might have.

HELLO DALLAS!

RD4 - PK19 @dallascowboys: A. Hitchens (OLB-Iowa) - http://t.co/vOzNMlJhkd #NFLDRAFT

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 10, 2014

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT ANTHONY HITCHENS? He arrived at Iowa as a Rivals two-star recruit from Lorain, Ohio, with offers from Indiana, Kansas and a handful of MAC schools. He was a running back in high school and was generally viewed as a running back prospect. He started his career there at Iowa, but most of his playing time that irst season on campus came on on special teams.

After moving between offense and defense during bowl prep in 2010, Hitchens would end up at linebacker entering the 2011 season. He was second string at weak side linebacker and played in eight games while missing five others due to injury.

He became the starter in 2012 and ended up starting all but one game that season. He had an extremely productive season: he led the Big Ten in tackles and ranked fifth in the nation with 11.2 tackles per game. He earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors that year. He again earned honorable mention all-Big Ten honors in 2013 (media) after this most recent season. The coaches named him to the second team all-Big Ten team after the 2013 season.

WHAT DID HE DO THAT WAS SO GREAT? Hitchens was Iowa's leading tackler over the last two seasons. He finished 2013 with 112 tackles and 2012 with 124. For a career, he recorded 270 total tackles, good enough for 20th all-time at Iowa. He earned the Roy J. Carver Defensive MVP Award in 2013.

While he led Iowa and the Big Ten in tackles his junior season ,he still improved his game this past season and was a better all-around player as a result. Over the last two seasons Iowa has transitioned from a defense led by Norm Parker to a defense under the direction of Phil Parker. Iowa also added former Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid to the staff in 2013. Reid and Parker implemented new strategies that better utilized their linebacking corps.

Hitchens was a definite beneficiary of the tweaked Iowa defense: he saw his tackle for a loss statistic take a big jump from 5.5 in 2012 to 13.5 in 2013. Iowa used their linebackers to blitz the passer far more often in 2013 and he was effective doing so. He also became a better tackler and learned to step into the hole and initiate contact.

More at link: Black Heart Gold Pants

RamziD · May 10, 2014

Even his biggest supporters think his ceiling is an NFL backup and special teams player. I think this is a depth pick and not much else.

Idgit · May 10, 2014

Love this thread title, though.

ConstantReboot · May 10, 2014

Bad pick. Should have taken Caraun Reid.

dcstands4 · May 10, 2014

I don't like these small linebackers

speedkilz88 · May 10, 2014

dcstands4 said:
I don't like these small linebackers

It's a 4-3 defense. Jimmy got the same type of guys. Speed Kills

dcstands4 · May 10, 2014

speedkilz88 said:
It's a 4-3 defense. Jimmy got the same type of guys. Speed Kills

OK the 4.6 range looks consistent but he still has to get on the field. Lawrence may be A LB as well

gmoney112 · May 10, 2014

He's going to come in and compete at Will.

His measurables are pretty similar to Lance Briggs and he did okay in Chicago.

Chuck 54 · May 10, 2014

dcstands4 said:
I don't like these small linebackers

If by small, you mean height, okay, but he weighs more than Shawn Lee.

dbonham · May 10, 2014

Guess they didn't like Telvin smith

FuzzyLumpkins · May 10, 2014

dbonham said:
Guess they didn't like Telvin smith

He weighs under 220. That is tough. unless you project him to safety he is without a position.

FuzzyLumpkins · May 10, 2014

gmoney112 said:
He's going to come in and compete at Will.

His measurables are pretty similar to Lance Briggs and he did okay in Chicago.

He played teams at Iowa. He represents depth at LB that has been sorely needed.

Alexander · May 10, 2014

RamziD said:
Even his biggest supporters think his ceiling is an NFL backup and special teams player. I think this is a depth pick and not much else.

Broaddus column on the pick was a hilarious read as well. He was grasping for superlatives.

RonSpringsdaman20 · May 10, 2014

I really wish we would have had 1 to 2 more picks in the top 6 rounds..
well, here comes the 7th!!!

xwalker · May 10, 2014

dcstands4 said:
I don't like these small linebackers

He lost weight to get down to 240 for the combine.

Sean Lee is 236 and said that he would never play at over 240.

casmith07 · May 10, 2014

I think this is a decent pick. We have depth issues at linebacker and addressed it by taking this guy in the 4th.

He led the Big Ten in tackles, which is pretty good. Obviously he won't be required to start. We've got two penciled in starters in Sean Lee and Bruce Carter. Holloman seems like he might be able to start. We've also got some other guys.

Still, the primary issues have been centered around the defensive line...to that end we bring back Selvie, added Melton, Lawrence, and return Bass, Crawford, and Spencer, along with Hayden. Also have added Mincey...so we have what has the makings of a solid, with no flash rotation. If it gets to the QB and makes the DBs' jobs easier, that's fine with me. We don't need a 20 sack season from one guy like we did with Ware before if it means we get 20 sacks spread among the guys starting or rotating at DE.

casmith07 · May 10, 2014

xwalker said:
He lost weight to get down to 240 for the combine.

Sean Lee is 236 and said that he would never play at over 240.

So much conjecture comes out around these picks, lol.

DandyDon1722 · May 10, 2014

casmith07 said:
I think this is a decent pick. We have depth issues at linebacker and addressed it by taking this guy in the 4th.

He led the Big Ten in tackles, which is pretty good. Obviously he won't be required to start. We've got two penciled in starters in Sean Lee and Bruce Carter. Holloman seems like he might be able to start. We've also got some other guys.

Still, the primary issues have been centered around the defensive line...to that end we bring back Selvie, added Melton, Lawrence, and return Bass, Crawford, and Spencer, along with Hayden. Also have added Mincey...so we have what has the makings of a solid, with no flash rotation. If it gets to the QB and makes the DBs' jobs easier, that's fine with me. We don't need a 20 sack season from one guy like we did with Ware before if it means we get 20 sacks spread among the guys starting or rotating at DE.

I heard Norm say we need 17 sacks combined from Melton and Laurence to maintain where we were at last year or we have regressed and regressing from last year's defense in any way would be awful.

casmith07 · May 10, 2014

DandyDon1722 said:
I heard Norm say we need 17 sacks combined from Melton and Laurence to maintain where we were at last year or we have regressed and regressing from last year's defense in any way would be awful.

Well, there are probably going to be 7 or 8 other guys on the roster on the DL, so Norm's stat seems like BS.

Deep_South · May 10, 2014

It sounds like this guy could play fullback.

News: So You've Drafted Anthony Hitchens: A New Owner's Guide

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The Boognish

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What's it going to be then, eh?

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It's been a good 'un, ain't it?

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