Stephen Hodge: Late round steal?

[Doomsday101]

If Hodge can provide quality backup and knock people out on special team then this team just got better. Last few seasons Dallas opponent have had short fields to work with all too often and it is not just the kicker it guys getting down field and laying people out. Anything more from Hodge is icing on the cake, after all we are talking a 6th rd pick

 

[WoodysGirl]

9:10 AM Tue, Apr 28, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Ex-TCU safety Stephen Hodge should stick with the Cowboys because of his ability to wreak havoc on special teams. After listening to Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips talk about the sixth-round pick, it sounds like he has a chance to be a squatty, modern-day version of Bill Bates.

If Hodge develops into a dependable part of the defense, that'd be a bonus. The Cowboys will try to convert him into an inside linebacker.

Hodge, who is listed at 6-0, 234 pounds, often played in the box in the Horned Frogs' 3-3-5 scheme, making 20.5 tackles for losses during his junior and senior seasons.

It's not unusual to see an in-the-box safety converted into a 4-3 weakside linebacker, such as Tampa Bay's Cato June, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Colts. Wade Phillips said the Mo spot (weakside inside linebacker) in his scheme is basically the same position.

However, the Cowboys don't plan to limit Hodge to the weak side. They also want to see how he handles playing the strong side, hoping that he can serve as a backup to both spots.

"We'll have to see," Phillips said. "Obviously, he hasn't played linebacker. But he played safety and made a lot of tackles. He came up a lot and made a lot of plays and obviously was a real good safety. We see him as an inside 'backer and we'll just have to get a feel for if he can do both."


Comments (4) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[Bob Sacamano]

repost! to the Daily Zone!

 

[WoodysGirl]

repost! to the Daily Zone!

It's not in the daily zone... where is it posted and I'll merge the thread

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It's not in the daily zone... where is it posted and I'll merge the thread

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152403&page=2

read it and weep
don't ban me

 

[TellerMorrow34]

So this is a guy they hope will give us some depth at the ILB spot. If this guy shows us anything, during camp, I've got a feeling we could see Bobby traded during the summer.

 

[TheCount]

seems like an ILB to me. Zach Thomas was much smaller, and Bradie James does not weigh that much more than Hodge, maybe 5 or so pounds.

Not exactly true. Back in the Parcells day, Bradie was playing at 265, but dropped some under Wade, either way, he's much bigger than Hodge.

 

[WoodysGirl]

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152403&page=2

read it and weep
don't ban me

Thread is in the fan zone, not the daily. And it's buried in the middle of the thread...

But whatev.. my bad.

 

[BAT]

IMO Williams and Hodge are the future ILBs on the team. Williams weighed in at his pro day at 241 lbs. That's not much different from James' 242 lbs listed last season. Not only are Williams and Hodge about the same size (weight), but they are faster, better in coverage, and more natural pass rushers.


For now they will be prime time STers and compete for sub package roles, but they both are too talented, too tough, and have too many intangibles to be sitting on the sidelines for too long.



I'm excited. These guys will be fun to watch for sure.

 

[RumblinTumblinWitten]

Zach Thomas did not hold up well last year...

I think Bradie James is 6'3 in the 250s( I did not look this up, just going by what I think)

Hodge is Roy Williams (S) size but a little slower...
but a lot cheaper and maybe more hungry

I thought bradie slimmed down to 240 last year?

 

[AsthmaField]

It wouldn't shock me if they both get taken off the field.

Bradie has never been anything special in coverage but to his credit out of no where he became a monster pass rusher off the edge last season.

I could see, by the middle part of the season, both Hodge and J. Williams being at ILB on some passing downs. Phillips will find a way to use both of them if they prove they deserve time on defense.

 

[31smackdown]

The thing I like about this guy is his intensity. The guy will go full out every play and bring some much needed energy. You need some crazy people on the team who just go 100 mph until they hit something and then run around excited afterwards.

 

[Angus]

The thing I like about this guy is his intensity. The guy will go full out every play and bring some much needed energy. You need some crazy people on the team who just go 100 mph until they hit something and then run around excited afterwardsstarting .

Although Dallas is reluctant to give rookies (except high draft choices sometimes) an opportunity to really show what they can do in the regular season (see: Tashard Choice), I think there might be several veterans it could trade for good picks in the next offseason, or even before, if the people drafted this year and the hold overs from the practice squad last year are given a true chance.

 

[Aikbach]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/158485-stephen-hodge-nfl-sleeper-profile-number-one

College: TCU
Position: OLB/S
Physical Stats: 6'0; 235 lbs
Combined/Pro Day Stats: 4.58-second 40-yard dash; 22 reps; 10'2" broad jump
Projected Stock: Third to Fifth

Strengths:
- Physical
- Attacks ball
- Great tackler
- Great pass rusher
- Great ST player
- Very motivated and coach-able
- Can play multiple positions
- Fast
- Good size
- Low risk, high reward
Weaknesses:
- Change in position from college to pro
- Weird college system (4-2-5)
- Bad pass coverage for a safety, but above average for an OLB
- Played at non-BCS school
-Sometimes overattacks which puts him out of some plays

Teams Interested: The Bears and Cowboys are the front runners right now. Hodge is a cousin of Lovie Smith, so he's been on the Bears radar for a long time, and the Cowboys have been particularly interested in TCU players, sending multiple scouts and spending a particularly long time on Hodge.

Other Comments:
Hodge is this year's draft sleeper. I have never seen someone attack the ball carrier like Hodge. He's great at shedding blocks and he's an outstanding pass rusher. He is below average in coverage as a safety, but as an OLB he's above average. He's had great production in college, earning all MWC first team honors twice.

He's also a special teams standout. This guy is the most fearless player I have ever seen play college football. He is very versatile and can play many positions in the pros. You know he will always give 100 percent on the field.

This is the one player that shocks me how he's not being talked about as a 1st day pick. I do not see any weaknesses in him. In the Boise State game, he weighed 212 lbs, and he weighed in at the combine at 235 lbs. Even with that weight gain which was all muscle, he still ran an amazing 4.58-second 40-yard dash.

This guy is going to be a great OLB in the pros

Sounds like Roy Williams.

 

[RumblinTumblinWitten]

Sounds like Roy Williams.

except Hodge isn't soft and is big enough to play ILB.

 

[cowboys#1]

i seen this guy play last year.


guy is always around the ball. quick and hits hard