Moore: Cowboys move Hitchens to strongside LB in wake of injury to Carter

[boozeman]

Cowboys move rookie Anthony Hitchens to strongside LB in wake of injury to Bruce Carter

By David Moore

Follow @DavidMooreDMN

dmoore@dallasnews.com
4:05 pm on October 2, 2014 |

Rookie Anthony Hitchens has already spent time at middle and weakside linebacker for the Cowboys.

This week he’s been working at strongside linebacker where he and Kyle Wilber have filled in for the injured Bruce Carter.

“I’ve played Sam all week,’’ Hitchens said. “It’s much easier now that I know the other two.

“I think it’s the easiest one of the three, honestly. A little more blitzing off the edge and stuff like that. I should be ready to go.’’

Carter will not play this weekend against Houston. Hitchens and Wilber will take the snaps at strongside linebacker because defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli doesn’t want to move Justin Durant (weakside) or Rolando McClain (middle).

“He’s learned all three spots,’’ Marinelli said. “That is the position flexibility you like to see.’’

 

[DLK150]

Hitchens has been decent for a rook considering how he has been shuffled around. Still not a fan of the pick we used on him but he has played better than I expected.

 

[Rev]

Have to eat crow on this one. He looks classically decent.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Have to eat crow on this one. He looks classically decent.

How do you like it cooked or do you prefer raw?

 

[Rev]

Smoked.

 

[ravidubey]

I'm very surprised by him. He's only going to improve, so the question becomes whether as a smallish player he can stay healthy.

 

[NoDak]

I'm very surprised by him. He's only going to improve, so the question becomes whether as a smallish player he can stay healthy.

He's small? I saw him listed at 6'1" 240lbs.

 

[Carp]

I was not enamored with the pick either, mostly because he was viewed as a 6-7 round prospect, but we took him in the 4th.

 

[ravidubey]

He's small? I saw him listed at 6'1" 240lbs.

Huh. Looked small to me, but that's decent size. He's shown good instincts.

Man did we look like Swiss cheese without McClain and Carter in the lineup.

 

[Clay_Allison]

So with McClain maybe out vs. Seattle do we move Hitchens back to the middle, and start Wilber at Sam?

 

[NoDak]

So with McClain maybe out vs. Seattle do we move Hitchens back to the middle, and start Wilber at Sam?

What has happened to Wilber? Is he hurt or just fallen out of favor. He only had one snap in yesterday's game.

 

[Carp]

What has happened to Wilber? Is he hurt or just fallen out of favor. He only had one snap in yesterday's game.

They seem to be emphasizing speed over all else this year.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I'd like to see Wilber used more at DE in pass rushing situations.

 

[ravidubey]

So with McClain maybe out vs. Seattle do we move Hitchens back to the middle, and start Wilber at Sam?

Maybe. Pass coverage is not his strong suit, but you've got to try sometime I guess.

This is the really bad LB corps I thought we'd have. I've been truly surprised Carter, McClain, and even Hitchens have contributed, but things seem to be correcting themselves now just in time for the world champs at home with an elite RB, fine OL, and smartest QB in the conference.