What happened to Anthony Hitchens?

[Floatyworm]

he may be like a several of the other players on this team not as good as we thought.

yup...Plus I think he quit caring yesterday....that long TD run where he had the angle and just quit running....that should sound big alarms IMO

 

[TonyRomo17]

In my opinion he was overrated because he wasnt horrible as a 4th round rookie, in my opinion his ceiling is as a backup that can step up when there are injuries.

 

[TwentyOne]

Indeed he did... Hence my curiosity.

OK i understand.

Of course we could have expected a steeper development curve and that he should have outplayed McClain over the course of the season to meet our expectation. So maybe a bit of a disappointment is appropriate.

But in all fairness to him IMO Lee and McClain are both exceptional players. Hitchen was a 4th rounder who had a stellar rookie season. It would be unfair to expect from him to be a starter in the midst of this competition. That said i still think alot of him. He just needs time to develop.

 

[maxdallasfan]

One day Jerry will listen to my voice mails where I tell him over and over to play 2 small and fast LBs (or hybrid safeties) next to Lee that shuts down this pass happy league.

One day.....

 

[dallasdave]

He seems to have regressed this year. He's played the same amount of games at last season, but his snaps are down about 100 snap and his tackles are also down. He seems to be healthier but he hasn't been as active as he was last year. Last season he was getting TFLs, Ints, PDs...what do you guys think? Is he a marginal starter in this league?

Did not here his name much the last half of the season !!!!

 

[Staubacher]

It really seems like a lot of our players get worse the more they are in our system. Our only two cornerback INTs are from new guys the last two weeks what does that say?

Hitchens, Wilcox, Escobar, Street to name several have not progressed or have gotten worse. Probably could add Twill, Beasley and Hanna to that mix too.

Then guys go elsewhere and flourish - Dwayne Harris, Bennett, Weeden (OMG), to name several.

There is something wrong with this Garrett way of doing things. All this talk about how they play hard for him but something is off. Playing hard is not the same as playing well or playing smart. I really think there is such an emphasis on the psychological stuff (speeches, grand gestures, field trips), that the Xs and Os take a back seat. I think the instincts and joy are taken away from these guys and they are programmed to be robots but with bad data. I think Garrett fills their heads with just try and fight and it will all work out but this isn't Little Giants it's the NFL.

I dunno but something is way off.

 

[Bleu Star]

OK i understand.

Of course we could have expected a steeper development curve and that he should have outplayed McClain over the course of the season to meet our expectation. So maybe a bit of a disappointment is appropriate.

But in all fairness to him IMO Lee and McClain are both exceptional players. Hitchen was a 4th rounder who had a stellar rookie season. It would be unfair to expect from him to be a starter in the midst of this competition. That said i still think alot of him. He just needs time to develop.

I believe you have me confused. I actually believe Hitchens may be able to take over the MLB position for good. I would love to see him moved there for good. The sample size is small but he did play well when asked to fill in for McClain at that spot. I still think we need to draft another thumper as well. My patience is beginning to become short with players that require extra coddling.

 

[Bleu Star]

It really seems like a lot of our players get worse the more they are in our system. Our only two cornerback INTs are from new guys the last two weeks what does that say?

Hitchens, Wilcox, Escobar, Street to name several have not progressed or have gotten worse. Probably could add Twill, Beasley and Hanna to that mix too.

Then guys go elsewhere and flourish - Dwayne Harris, Bennett, Weeden (OMG), to name several.

There is something wrong with this Garrett way of doing things. All this talk about how they play hard for him but something is off. Playing hard is not the same as playing well or playing smart. I really think there is such an emphasis on the psychological stuff (speeches, grand gestures, field trips), that the Xs and Os take a back seat. I think the instincts and joy are taken away from these guys and they are programmed to be robots but with bad data. I think Garrett fills their heads with just try and fight and it will all work out but this isn't Little Giants it's the NFL.

I dunno but something is way off.

Yup.... It has been that way for awhile now. Several years.

 

[Floatyworm]

One day Jerry will listen to my voice mails where I tell him over and over to play 2 small and fast LBs (or hybrid safeties) next to Lee that shuts down this pass happy league.

One day.....

Still banging my head against the desktop.....passing on Telvin Smith

 

[TwentyOne]

I believe you have me confused. I actually believe Hitchens may be able to take over the MLB position for good. I would love to see him moved there for good. The sample size is small but he did play well when asked to fill in for McClain at that spot. I still think we need to draft another thumper as well. My patience is beginning to become short with players that require extra coddling.

Maybe i am a bit more patient with him. ;-)

I do think our DL is a weak link in our defense. Especially the DTs are not good and not good against the run. Thats one reason we need a big physical MLB. I do think thats the main reason the coaches give McClain the starting job. Our run defense suffered against the Jets without him and with Hitchens in the middle.

I really hope our FO will adress what i think is the weak link in our defense. Thats both DTs (i still hate that Crawford deal). Maybe with one great 1-tech Hitchens has a better chance to get the starting spot at MLB.

 

[darthseinfeld]

He played mostly at Mike and Will last year. This year he has been a SAM. Your not going to see him in on that many plays.

 

[SportsGuru80]

He's a middle linebacker

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Hitchens excelled when he played MLB last year. At OLB he wasnt that great of a factor. With Lee returning McClain occupies the MLB spot. Thats in short what happend to him.

He hardly played MLB last year. McClain was the primary MLB with Durant at the WILL. Then when McClain got banged up, Durant moved to the MIKE and Hitchens moved to OLB. Then when McClain came back and Durant got hurt, Hitchens played the WILL.





YR

 

[Zman5]

It really seems like a lot of our players get worse the more they are in our system. Our only two cornerback INTs are from new guys the last two weeks what does that say?

Hitchens, Wilcox, Escobar, Street to name several have not progressed or have gotten worse. Probably could add Twill, Beasley and Hanna to that mix too.

Then guys go elsewhere and flourish - Dwayne Harris, Bennett, Weeden (OMG), to name several.

There is something wrong with this Garrett way of doing things. All this talk about how they play hard for him but something is off. Playing hard is not the same as playing well or playing smart. I really think there is such an emphasis on the psychological stuff (speeches, grand gestures, field trips), that the Xs and Os take a back seat. I think the instincts and joy are taken away from these guys and they are programmed to be robots but with bad data. I think Garrett fills their heads with just try and fight and it will all work out but this isn't Little Giants it's the NFL.

I dunno but something is way off.

It's called getting infected by the "Process".

 

[big dog cowboy]

Then guys go elsewhere and flourish - Weeden (OMG), to name several.

Weeden flourishing? Holy moly. In what weird reality?

 

[TwentyOne]

It really seems like a lot of our players get worse the more they are in our system. Our only two cornerback INTs are from new guys the last two weeks what does that say?

Hitchens, Wilcox, Escobar, Street to name several have not progressed or have gotten worse. Probably could add Twill, Beasley and Hanna to that mix too.

Then guys go elsewhere and flourish - Dwayne Harris, Bennett, Weeden (OMG), to name several.

There is something wrong with this Garrett way of doing things. All this talk about how they play hard for him but something is off. Playing hard is not the same as playing well or playing smart. I really think there is such an emphasis on the psychological stuff (speeches, grand gestures, field trips), that the Xs and Os take a back seat. I think the instincts and joy are taken away from these guys and they are programmed to be robots but with bad data. I think Garrett fills their heads with just try and fight and it will all work out but this isn't Little Giants it's the NFL.

I dunno but something is way off.

I do think that is a bias distortion.

Why ? Because you are trying to find a tendency by picking the players that seem to approve your point of view and not by examine the whole roster or every aspect of it.

So if you say that players regress in our system then

• why is Frederick voted to his 1st probowl in his 2nd year and to his 2nd probowl in his third year ?
  
• Why did Smith need some years at right and left tackle but now is considered as one of the best at his position ? To me thats pro- and not regression.
  
• Why is Martin going to the probowl again in his 2nd year ?
• Why is DMC having one of the best years of his career when he shouldnt given your argumentation ? He should have played better in Oakland when i follow your logic.
  
• Why is Witten under Garrett still a great TE ?
• Why had Romo his best season last year ? Shouldnt he already been benched given your thesis ?
• Isnt Lee still playing at a high level after being in Dallas for how long now ?
• Didnt McClain ressurrect his career with us after being a dissapointement in Oakland ?
• Isnt Beasly someone who progressed over the last two years ?
• Hana is now a good blocking TE.
• Didnt DeMarco Murray developed over the years before leaving to the Eagles ?
• Didnt Dwayne Harris progressed as a return and kickoff/punt covering specialist over the years in Dallas ? I dont think he would have gotten that kind of deal in NY if he regressed in the last years with us.
• Orlando Scandrick, J. Parnell, Leary all progressed with us.

I also have to question that players that left us all are much better now that they are playing with other teams:

• Murray for instance. Given your logic he should have played even better. Last time i checked he was benched in Philly.
  
• Harris has slightly better stats at WR then in his years in Dallas. The main reason is because he started 6 games in NY where in Dallas with Bryant/Williams/Beasly he was not good enough to break the lineup. His punt return stats and his kickoff return stats are nearly the same as in Dallas. Slightly better or worse doesnt matter: its not like he mutated into something he wasnt in Dallas. He is the same player he was for us. No progression i can sense here.
  
• Weeden had one good game against TENNESSEE. I mean come on. And it wasnt like he lit up the air. He had 200 yds passing. The game before he had 108 yds passing. He is the same captain checkdown he was in Dallas. Maybe he has better players around him ? Ever thought about that ?
• Jason Hatcher had his best season (and so progressed) under Garrett. After he left to WAS he regressed.

I give you Bennett. But he never had a chance to start in Dallas. And in those years he was with us i still prefer witten over him because at those times Witten was the better player.

I do think most players prosper in the right system. If they dont fit it they wont crack the starting lineup or wont be very productive. There are exceptions - great players - but they are as the noune says not the norm. Most players need to find a system fit and so do coaches find players who fit their system. You cant expect coaches to change the whole system to maximize players abilities. Maybe with great one coaches twinker their plays but they dont change their philosophy.

Short: That players play good or bad has nothing to do with the values Garrett is trying to establish or emphasizes.

You have to find players that fit your system. With some you see talent in them but you have to develop them. That takes time. If you change system in the meantime players suffer in their abilities to fit the new system. That makes it even harder. Thats why i am a big believer in JJs approach to have stability in the coaches. At least with those who influence the system most that the team is using (HC, OC, DC).

 

[cowboyschmps3]

He came on the field and couldn't make a play to tackle the Runningback and he goes all the way for 50 yards.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

He looked slow on that 50 yard run where he couldn't even make the corner is what I noticed.

Exactly!!!!

 

[Zordon]

One day Jerry will listen to my voice mails where I tell him over and over to play 2 small and fast LBs (or hybrid safeties) next to Lee that shuts down this pass happy league.

One day.....

Well we had the opportunity to draft Tevin Smith....I begged for it to happen. We took Hitchens. The numbers so far aren't on our side.

 

[Cmac]

He seems to have regressed this year. He's played the same amount of games at last season, but his snaps are down about 100 snap and his tackles are also down. He seems to be healthier but he hasn't been as active as he was last year. Last season he was getting TFLs, Ints, PDs...what do you guys think? Is he a marginal starter in this league?

....yes....he is a marginal starter in this league....except in Dallas.