News: ST: Cowboys notes: Rookie Hitchens ready to play bigger role

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm hoping for mediocre honestly.

I think out of a rookie 4th rounder...especially for THIS TEAM? A mediocre rookie linebacker would be a upgrade over what we've been having and its probably the most realistic thing to expect.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

He's better than Durant who is terrible.

I don't understand this opinion. 1)What makes Durant terrible and 2)What have you seen from Hitchens to make such a claim?

 

[Zman5]

Not at all. I think Hitchens will be a starter here for a long time. He has instinct that can't be taught. And no matter how many times people claim he's slow it won't be true.

Maybe in time, but what I've seen of him in preseason, he was terrible at times and not ready. One positive I did see is that when he does make a play, it's thump type of play and I've read somewhere he is very coach-able. I know he's a rookie and it will take time for him to be consistent but I don't want to see him start for long stretches this season.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Maybe in time, but what I've seen of him in preseason, he was terrible at times and not ready. One positive I did see is that when he does make a play, it's thump type of play and I've read somewhere he is very coach-able. I know he's a rookie and it will take time for him to be consistent but I don't want to see him start for long stretches this season.

I'd be careful on judging him strictly on his preseason though. For some guys.....they just play better in the regular season than they do in practice and preseason. Not saying that's the case here but I wouldn't rule it out. And he plays a position that he can learn on the go.

 

[Zman5]

I'd be careful on judging him strictly on his preseason though. For some guys.....they just play better in the regular season than they do in practice and preseason. Not saying that's the case here but I wouldn't rule it out. And he plays a position that he can learn on the go.

That's very possible but only thing I can go by is the preseason performance with him. I just hope they are not putting too much on his plate, moving him around like they have. That many end up making him think too much instead of just playing with his instincts.

Good thing for him replacing Durant is, he is back to playing the Will which was his position in college.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That's very possible but only thing I can go by is the preseason performance with him. I just hope they are not putting too much on his plate, moving him around like they have. That many end up making him think too much instead of just playing with his instincts.

Good thing for him replacing Durant is, he is back to playing the Will which was his position in college.

I'm not a fan of the moving him around thing. I don't know if that effects players but I don't like that we've done it with Wilber either. Play them at their strength's and stick with that position regardless of injury.

I'm rooting for him man. I think all the concern about Carter and McClain this offseason.....its still early but it seems to be once the regular season started they played up to their potential with room to grow.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We now more than ever need to have Scandrick back. Claiborne/Wilcox/Hitchens could be brutal in coverage assignment wise.

 

[Kaiser]

We now more than ever need to have Scandrick back. Claiborne/Wilcox/Hitchens could be brutal in coverage assignment wise.

I have to think Toomer will play in the Nickel to replace Hitchens. The writeups sounded like Toomer could do well in that role, I think Hitchens could do OK on run downs.

 

[Idgit]

That's like saying I prefer the ugly girl because at least she's better than the super fat girl.

Or that you prefer the misguided argument to the unnecessarily tactless one.

 

[Idgit]

I have to think Toomer will play in the Nickel to replace Hitchens. The writeups sounded like Toomer could do well in that role, I think Hitchens could do OK on run downs.

I think it's McClain/Carter in the nickel package this week...

 

[waving monkey]

This is why I hated the pick from the beginning. I REALLY don't want to see Hitchens down the field trying to cover a TE or RB. That scares me as I really don't think he's capable. He's strictly an in the box LB imo.

Does the coaching staff really distrust Carter that much that they will stick a rookie with 1/2 the athletic ability on the weakside over him? I'm by no means a Carter fan, but he (sadly) seems like the most logical choice.

that's what you get in the fourth round or later normally, a less then perfect player
Hitchens is solid but not perfect

 

[waving monkey]

That's like saying I prefer the ugly girl because at least she's better than the super fat girl.

you always have the choice of making a good analogy
you missed on this one

 

[morasp]

I'd like to see what he can do. When I went through his plays against Miami he had more good plays then bad. Several of his tackles were for gains of less than two yards as opposed to 4-6 yards. Some of his bad plays were when the DL got pushed back a couple yards and on some he was just a step late which should improve with experience.

 

[Boyz981]

I am pulling for the kid. Being a Hawkeye fan I have seen alot of him over the last few years. I think he can be a steady performer. Durant wasn't a world beater, so IMO we won't see that much of a drop off if any!

 

[DuDa]

I don't understand this opinion. 1)What makes Durant terrible?

He's horrible in coverage. He constantly gets whipped by his guy consistently.

 

[Zman5]

you always have the choice of making a good analogy
you missed on this one

Everyone is entitle to their own opinion. Only time will tell, who will be correct. And I'm not just talking about 1 game.

 

[Bullflop]

It's a good time for the youngster, Hitchens, to get his feet wet. He may lack the experience but I think he has the passion and the work ethic to get the job done. It may take time for him to get comfortable in playing that position under pressure but if he's got to start sometime, now would seem to be as good a time as any. This team isn't very likely to be in contention for winning the big one anytime soon but perhaps if enough young rookies like this one get their chance and succeed, we'll have some good players to count on in the future.

 

[CCBoy]

The Cowboys really wanted his character and base skill set. As he gets into a few years of professional quality conditioning, and instruction from the current staff...I'm on board for watching.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It's a good time for the youngster, Hitchens, to get his feet wet. He may lack the experience but I think he has the passion and the work ethic to get the job done. It may take time for him to get comfortable in playing that position under pressure but if he's got to start sometime, now would seem to be as good a time as any. This team isn't very likely to be in contention for winning the big one anytime soon but perhaps if enough young rookies like this one get their chance and succeed, we'll have some good players to count on in the future.

This kid has a chance for long term success. After he gets his feet wet this year he could develop into a steady (but probably not spectacular) LB for us. I am very anxious to see what he brings to the table in 2015.

 

[tm1119]

that's what you get in the fourth round or later normally, a less then perfect player
Hitchens is solid but not perfect

Athletic ability goes a long way in the nfl....character and work ethic are great traits for a special teams players and part time players, but a guy who is going to play every down needs to have the prerequisite athletic ability to play in the NFL. I don't see Hitchens as a smooth enough athlete to play in space and cover.