Watkins: Cowboys have options at middle linebacker

[Cotton]

Cowboys have options at middle linebacker
May, 27, 2014

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys are taking a wait-and-see approach with middle linebacker Sean Lee, down with a serious left knee injury.

The Cowboys have several potential replacements for Lee, should he miss any significant time. Sources have told ESPN Cowboys officials fear Lee could have torn his ACL, which most likely will end his season.

Fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens is the leading candidate, at least for now, to move to the first-team at middle linebacker.

But the Cowboys could also insert second-year player DeVonte Holloman, who impressed the team last year when he was healthy, into that position.

“I think all positions have their challenges, no question about that,” coach Jason Garrett said. “There’s a mental and intellectual challenge that comes with certain positions.

Quarterback would be one of them. Center would be one of them. Mike linebacker would be one of them. But we feel good about the linebacker options that we have. We drafted Hitchens for a reason and we feel like he’s a good football player and has some position flex. We’ll see how he responds to the opportunity he gets.”

The Cowboys have other options at the position in free agency.

The team could bring Ernie Sims back. Last season, Sims played in 12 games at various linebacker spots.

Sims even started in place of Lee, who missed a game at the New York Giants in November with a hamstring injury. Sims has a close relationship with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli from their days with the Detroit Lions.

Signing veteran free-agent middle linebackers Rocky McIntosh and Jonathan Vilma are also possibilities.

_______________________________

Ever the shill.

 

[boozeman]

Fourth-round pick says he is not where he needs to be right now to replace Sean Lee in the middle

Anthony Hitchens already knows a couple of things in the wake of the knee injury to Sean Lee.

No. 1, he is first in line to replace the veteran middle linebacker.

No. 2, he is not quite ready for that.

“It’s just letting me know that you’ve got to be ready and you’ve got to get in your playbook and stuff like that,” said Hitchens, who took Lee’s spot in the lineup after the injury Tuesday on the first day of organized team activities. “The tempo with the 1s was a little faster, so it just shows me that I’m not where I need to be right now and I need to still get better.”

But it is the reason Hitchens was drafted in the fourth round in May. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on draft weekend the team wanted to protect itself in case of another injury to Lee.

Hitchens said there will be urgency to get himself ready to play middle linebacker.

“They were already making me speed up the process, so it’s not going to slow down now,” he said. “Yeah, definitely, I’ve got to study that much harder now in case my number does get called. I have no idea what the coaching staff is going to do for tomorrow’s practice, so I’ve just got to be prepared. Either way, I’m going to home and be studying, so that doesn’t change my plans tonight.”

Asked if it is all an overwhelming thought, Hitchens said, “Not really. I’ve been through it once, coming as the guy that didn’t know everything at the start of it. Iowa definitely prepared me to keep getting better. You can never stop getting better.”

-- Carlos Mendez

 

[boozeman]

Kirwan was running through some names:

Pat Angerer
Michael Boley
Jonathan Vilma
Takeo Spikes
Ernie Sims

Angerer makes the most sense on one level, he's played in a Tampa style D in Indy. But he's as injury bit as Lee. He won't be able to work out in earnest until July.

Boley...not certain about him. I don't think he's a real MLB, although he might have enough left. He was always good in coverage.

Vilma...says he is healthy, but his play when he has played the last three years has been pretty average.

Spikes...kind of made me laugh when Kirwan and Jim Miller were talking about him.

Sims? C'mon, whotta lazy move for a guy that doesn't fit in the middle anyways.

They didn't mention Peris Lenon, but he's a safe durable guy, but limited. Didn't talkn about Dan Connor, either, but please....been there done that.

Honestly, I would look at maybe even trading for someone who might know the system. Oakland's Nick Roach filled in okay for Urlacher and knows Marinelli well.

Baltimore has a couple of guys that might be the odd men out in Josh Bynes and Albert McClellan.

Overall, most teams are not very fortified at ILB. It is pretty depth poor across the league.

Makes me wish we had picked up Christian Jones as a UDFA. I think that guy will end up being the next Burfict.

The internal options are probably Hitchens of course and Holloman. I don't think Hitchens is athletic enough to play MLB full time in this scheme. Durant maybe.

 

[ravidubey]

A trade makes sense, but as you said given the depth around the league you won't find a bonafide starter that way anyway unless you trade away a 3rd round pick or better.

I think Dallas is probably going to be left with standard roster churn/trade for a 7th round pick.

 

[boozeman]

A trade makes sense, but as you said given the depth around the league you won't find a bonafide starter that way anyway unless you trade away a 3rd round pick or better.

I think Dallas is probably going to be left with standard roster churn/trade for a 7th round pick.

I think you could get Roach away from the Raiders for a sixth. Or just wait out the cuts.

Unless the vet has played in this system, I would get them ASAP. It is not as easy as it seems.

Hell, if he is done, the Cowboys would be advised to call Urlacher up and telling him to get in shape.

 

[ravidubey]

Hell, if he is done, the Cowboys would be advised to call Urlacher up and telling him to get in shape.

He must have been asking for a shit ton of money more than he's worth or else I can't see how they didn't call him up last year.

 

[boozeman]

He must have been asking for a shit ton of money more than he's worth or else I can't see how they didn't call him up last year.

A little different when he resolved to take a year off. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a story or two about us reaching out in the next few days.

 

[ravidubey]

A little different when he resolved to take a year off. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a story or two about us reaching out in the next few days.

What I like about it is you couldn't really call him a progress stopper with no one of any talent or consequence behind him.

 

[GShock]

It's pretty clear why this happened.

Booze with his Shazier hate.

Took 1st team snaps at ILB () with the Steelers today, btw.

 

[boozeman]

It's pretty clear why this happened.

Booze with his Shazier hate.

Took 1st team snaps at ILB () with the Steelers today, btw.

Shazier would be a horrible MLB in our system.

 

[Cotton]

Options for Cowboys at middle linebacker in wake of Sean Lee’s injury
By David Moore
dmoore@dallasnews.com
8:15 pm on May 27, 2014

The Cowboys selected Anthony Hitchens in the fourth round of the NFL draft earlier this month as an insurance policy.

The club had no idea it would need to cash in so quickly.

Sean Lee was unable to make it through the first practice of organized team activities before suffering what sources believe is a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Confirmation of the injury is expected to come Wednesday.

Hitchens finished practice working with the starting defense at middle linebacker.

“The tempo with the ones was a little faster,’’ Hitchens said. “It just shows me I’m not where I need to be right now.

“I need to get better.’’

Lee’s injury history played a significant role in the Cowboys decision to select Hitchens. The club ran through three different linebackers _ Justin Durant, Ernie Simms and DeVonte Holloman _ trying to fill in for Lee near the end of last season. The idea was to take a young player in Hitchens, put him behind Lee and let him develop.

Linebackers coach Matt Eberflus declined to comment Tuesday as he came off the field after Lee’s injury. But at rookie minicamp earlier this month, Eberflus raved about Hitchens’ ability to hit and what he saw on tape.

Hitchens spent his time at Iowa as an outside linebacker. Asked if the rookie could immediately fill a backup role for Lee, Eberflus responded, “time will tell. As you look at it, you always make sure guys are in the right position.’’

It’s difficult to project Hitchens as the starting middle linebacker at this point. The club will discuss what Lee’s injury means for where Durant and Holloman will play moving forward. The need to add a veteran free agent like Jonathan Vilma and Rocky McIntosh will be explored.

Whatever happens, there is an increased urgency for Hitchens to learn the position.

“They were already making me speed up the process,’’ Hitchens said. “It’s not going to slow down now. But definitely, I’ve got to study that much harder now in case my number does get called.

“I have no idea what the coaching staff is going to do for (Wednesday’s) practice. I’ve just got to be prepared if I do go in with the ones or stay with the twos.

“Either way, I’m going home and studying. It doesn’t change my path tonight.’’

 

[E_D_Guapo]

It’s difficult to project Hitchens as the starting middle linebacker at this point. The club will discuss what Lee’s injury means for where Durant and Holloman will play moving forward. The need to add a veteran free agent like Jonathan Vilma and Rocky McIntosh will be explored.

I'm assuming Vilma is washed up if he's still doesn't have a job. He can't be any worse than Ernie Sims though, right? Expecting them to bring in someone that I've never heard of who has ties to Marninelli or Kiffin.

 

[VA Cowboy]

Options or quality options? Rookie reaches, street FA's and washed up vets are options, but...

 

[boozeman]

 

[boozeman]

FFFFFFfffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

[L.T. Fan]

 

[Cotton]

 

[boozeman]

Normally I would agree with you.

But this defense has absolutely no on the field leaders right now.

So when the shit hits the fan, who brings the guys into the huddle to calm them down?

We laughed back in the Phillips era, but I do think Brooking was a stabilizing force when dorks like Bradie James and Terence Newman failed.

There is a veteran void on the defense. And I don't think guys like Carr, Scandrick or Church are capable.

 

[boozeman]

I get Holloman since he did start the final couple of games and didn't embarrass himself.

Durant? Feh. Ordinary to me.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Normally I would agree with you.

But this defense has absolutely no on the field leaders right now.

So when the shit hits the fan, who brings the guys into the huddle to calm them down?

We laughed back in the Phillips era, but I do think Brooking was a stabilizing force when dorks like Bradie James and Terence Newman failed.

There is a veteran void on the defense. And I don't think guys like Carr, Scandrick or Church are capable.

That's a valid point but often times some veterans sign a late career contract just to put the money in the bank. Since he has a connectin with Maranelli he might have his heart in the game but it's a dice roll. It would be a last resort option for me.