Young Hatcher's Play Starting To Draw Attention
Jana Wallis - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 26, 2007 5:03 PM
IRVING, Texas - Some of the Cowboys' recent games have more closely represented circus acts than professional football, with unbelievable comebacks and downright bizarre plays, like, say, a 298-pound defensive end scoring a touchdown.
In the Cowboys' 48-27 loss to New England in Week 6, there was second-year backup defensive end Jason Hatcher recovering a fumble by Tom Brady and going 29 yards for a touchdown. And then the very next week in a 24-14 victory over Minnesota, Hatcher forced Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson to fumble, which helped set up a Nick Folk field goal.
That's called playmaking in the NFL.
Hatcher, who plays backup to Marcus Spears at left defensive end and to Greg Ellis on the nickel defense, was the Cowboys' third-round pick in the 2006 draft, the club envisioning a gifted pass rusher from inside and out. They just realized he was going to be more of a developmental player coming from Division I-AA Grambling State.
Well, that maturation seems to be taking place.
"He's always rushed the passer real well, but now he's learning to be more physical in the run game," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said of Hatcher's development. "When he comes in with that second line, we expect not to have a letdown, and at times we've even gotten more.
"Now he's stepping up, and hope he continues to do what he's been doing. We substitute in waves, and they have that freshness going when they come in."
Hatcher got off to a nice start to his rookie season last year, working his way into the rotation at defensive end in the standard defense and onto the nickel defense some as an inside pass rusher on the four-man line. In his first five games, Hatcher totaled three tackles, a half-sack and three quarterback pressures.
Hatcher suffered a problematic sprained ankle in that fifth game, though, and would miss the next two games and would play sparingly in the two after that. Then the Cowboys lost starting outside linebacker and nickel defensive end Greg Ellis for the season with his torn Achilles.
So much for Hatcher's developmental process. He was thrown out there at the left defensive end spot on the nickel's four-man line, having to learn on the run. The rookie would finish his first season with 2½ sacks, 13 tackles and seven quarterback pressures, seemingly laying some serious groundwork for 2007.
Then of all things, early in training camp Hatcher tore a hamstring and basically missed nearly all of the preseason, but got back in time for the start of the regular season. In seven games, Hatcher has 13 tackles, two tackles for losses, one sack and three quarterback pressures backing up Spears and being inserted on some of the nickel packages.
Not to mention his touchdown.
"We have a good combination there," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said of the Hatcher-Spears duo at left defensive end. "You don't always see some of the other things that happen. Sometimes on the pass one of them does a better job. Sometimes on the run one of the other ones does a better job. Can't always tell. Both of them play screens well."
That's basically in response to those who have seen Hatcher's playmaking ability and think he should start ahead of Spears, one of the team's two first-round picks in 2005. But as Phillips will tell anyone who listens, the defense with the current rotation ranks seventh in the league and seventh against the run, giving up just 87 yards a game rushing.
"I need to get some more opportunities to rush the passer," Hatcher said of the strides he still needs to make. "Greg Ellis came back and he's doing a great job. He took my spot when he came back but he's a great player so he deserves it.
"I just want to get more opportunities in the pass rush."
Hatcher, from Jena, La., speaks of Ellis taking his spot on the four-man nickel defensive line, where he was rotating at the left defensive end spot with first-round draft choice Anthony Spencer. Now there is somewhat of a logjam there with Ellis returning, though the Cowboys are starting to use Spencer on both ends, also backing up DeMarcus Ware on the right side.
That should create a few more opportunities for Hatcher, who might just be creating opportunities for himself with his play.
"Jason Hatcher has been doing a great job," said defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, who came to the Cowboys from San Diego with Phillips. "When I first came in . . . I thought he was a very good player, and was a very good young player and that we could do some things to utilize him being such a good athlete.
"He's been able to make plays when he's been in, and I'm not surprised. Maybe we need to play him a little bit more."
Which is usually what happens with playmakers.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 26, 2007 5:03 PM
IRVING, Texas - Some of the Cowboys' recent games have more closely represented circus acts than professional football, with unbelievable comebacks and downright bizarre plays, like, say, a 298-pound defensive end scoring a touchdown.
In the Cowboys' 48-27 loss to New England in Week 6, there was second-year backup defensive end Jason Hatcher recovering a fumble by Tom Brady and going 29 yards for a touchdown. And then the very next week in a 24-14 victory over Minnesota, Hatcher forced Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson to fumble, which helped set up a Nick Folk field goal.
That's called playmaking in the NFL.
Hatcher, who plays backup to Marcus Spears at left defensive end and to Greg Ellis on the nickel defense, was the Cowboys' third-round pick in the 2006 draft, the club envisioning a gifted pass rusher from inside and out. They just realized he was going to be more of a developmental player coming from Division I-AA Grambling State.
Well, that maturation seems to be taking place.
"He's always rushed the passer real well, but now he's learning to be more physical in the run game," Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James said of Hatcher's development. "When he comes in with that second line, we expect not to have a letdown, and at times we've even gotten more.
"Now he's stepping up, and hope he continues to do what he's been doing. We substitute in waves, and they have that freshness going when they come in."
Hatcher got off to a nice start to his rookie season last year, working his way into the rotation at defensive end in the standard defense and onto the nickel defense some as an inside pass rusher on the four-man line. In his first five games, Hatcher totaled three tackles, a half-sack and three quarterback pressures.
Hatcher suffered a problematic sprained ankle in that fifth game, though, and would miss the next two games and would play sparingly in the two after that. Then the Cowboys lost starting outside linebacker and nickel defensive end Greg Ellis for the season with his torn Achilles.
So much for Hatcher's developmental process. He was thrown out there at the left defensive end spot on the nickel's four-man line, having to learn on the run. The rookie would finish his first season with 2½ sacks, 13 tackles and seven quarterback pressures, seemingly laying some serious groundwork for 2007.
Then of all things, early in training camp Hatcher tore a hamstring and basically missed nearly all of the preseason, but got back in time for the start of the regular season. In seven games, Hatcher has 13 tackles, two tackles for losses, one sack and three quarterback pressures backing up Spears and being inserted on some of the nickel packages.
Not to mention his touchdown.
"We have a good combination there," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said of the Hatcher-Spears duo at left defensive end. "You don't always see some of the other things that happen. Sometimes on the pass one of them does a better job. Sometimes on the run one of the other ones does a better job. Can't always tell. Both of them play screens well."
That's basically in response to those who have seen Hatcher's playmaking ability and think he should start ahead of Spears, one of the team's two first-round picks in 2005. But as Phillips will tell anyone who listens, the defense with the current rotation ranks seventh in the league and seventh against the run, giving up just 87 yards a game rushing.
"I need to get some more opportunities to rush the passer," Hatcher said of the strides he still needs to make. "Greg Ellis came back and he's doing a great job. He took my spot when he came back but he's a great player so he deserves it.
"I just want to get more opportunities in the pass rush."
Hatcher, from Jena, La., speaks of Ellis taking his spot on the four-man nickel defensive line, where he was rotating at the left defensive end spot with first-round draft choice Anthony Spencer. Now there is somewhat of a logjam there with Ellis returning, though the Cowboys are starting to use Spencer on both ends, also backing up DeMarcus Ware on the right side.
That should create a few more opportunities for Hatcher, who might just be creating opportunities for himself with his play.
"Jason Hatcher has been doing a great job," said defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, who came to the Cowboys from San Diego with Phillips. "When I first came in . . . I thought he was a very good player, and was a very good young player and that we could do some things to utilize him being such a good athlete.
"He's been able to make plays when he's been in, and I'm not surprised. Maybe we need to play him a little bit more."
Which is usually what happens with playmakers.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:29 AM
<< Home