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Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is defensive end Jason Hatcher.)
Name: Jason Hatcher
Position: Defensive End
Height/Weight: 6-6 / 311
Experience: 5 seasons
College: Grambling
Key Stat: The significant number for Hatcher that will likely hurt him going into free agency is just the one start last season. And it just so happened that Marcus Spears, who has played in front of him his entire career, actually got hurt in the eighth game and finished on IR. However, Hatcher was already hurt himself and ended up playing 12 games, but with only one start. In fact, that start against Houston, which occurred because the Cowboys opened the game in a nickel package, is Hatcher's only credited start of his career.
Contract Status: Signed through 2010 / expected to be unrestricted free agent.
2010 Impact: Once again, Hatcher found himself as a role player. And that was somewhat disappointing considering he was in a contract year, and Spears got hurt which would've opened the door him. Instead, Hatcher had already suffered a strained groin injury against the Giants and missed four games. Overall, Hatcher had 17 tackles - good for 17th on the defense - with one sack and two quarterback pressures.
Where He Fits: It'll be interesting to see how the dominoes fall at defensive end this offseason, or whenever free agency begins. And it's not likely that the first domino will include Hatcher. Once the Cowboys figure out the situation with Stephen Bowen, possibly Marcus Spears and maybe even a veteran free agent, then they will likely get around to Hatcher. It doesn't mean he won't be back, but after playing five seasons with no starts, that's not exactly the production they're looking for from a former third-round pick. Then again, Rob Ryan has a new scheme and might have a place for Hatcher that would fit better in this defense.
Writers' Analysis:
Nick Eatman: I think it would be wise of Hatcher and his agent to simply test the free-agent waters and see what kind of value he's got on the open market. Teams look at backup players differently. Although he hasn't started regularly in five pro seasons, it hasn't stopped other players from landing deals. I can't see Hatcher getting huge money from any team, including the Cowboys. But it's likely he will get a fair deal and might end up being in Dallas if Rob Ryan pushes for him hard enough. Personally, I think it's probably time the Cowboys move on from that experiment, unless he's willing to play for an average deal.
Rob Phillips: Wouldn't surprise me if fellow free agent Stephen Bowen, Marcus Spears' eight-game injury replacement, is a higher priority than Hatcher for the Cowboys. Rob Ryan does apparently like Hatcher's skills, however. He never became a huge factor in Wade Phillips' defense, and his run defense has struggled at times. But he's a natural pass rusher who might benefit from a schematic change in Ryan's 3-4.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is defensive end Jason Hatcher.)
Name: Jason Hatcher
Position: Defensive End
Height/Weight: 6-6 / 311
Experience: 5 seasons
College: Grambling
Key Stat: The significant number for Hatcher that will likely hurt him going into free agency is just the one start last season. And it just so happened that Marcus Spears, who has played in front of him his entire career, actually got hurt in the eighth game and finished on IR. However, Hatcher was already hurt himself and ended up playing 12 games, but with only one start. In fact, that start against Houston, which occurred because the Cowboys opened the game in a nickel package, is Hatcher's only credited start of his career.
Contract Status: Signed through 2010 / expected to be unrestricted free agent.
2010 Impact: Once again, Hatcher found himself as a role player. And that was somewhat disappointing considering he was in a contract year, and Spears got hurt which would've opened the door him. Instead, Hatcher had already suffered a strained groin injury against the Giants and missed four games. Overall, Hatcher had 17 tackles - good for 17th on the defense - with one sack and two quarterback pressures.
Where He Fits: It'll be interesting to see how the dominoes fall at defensive end this offseason, or whenever free agency begins. And it's not likely that the first domino will include Hatcher. Once the Cowboys figure out the situation with Stephen Bowen, possibly Marcus Spears and maybe even a veteran free agent, then they will likely get around to Hatcher. It doesn't mean he won't be back, but after playing five seasons with no starts, that's not exactly the production they're looking for from a former third-round pick. Then again, Rob Ryan has a new scheme and might have a place for Hatcher that would fit better in this defense.
Writers' Analysis:
Nick Eatman: I think it would be wise of Hatcher and his agent to simply test the free-agent waters and see what kind of value he's got on the open market. Teams look at backup players differently. Although he hasn't started regularly in five pro seasons, it hasn't stopped other players from landing deals. I can't see Hatcher getting huge money from any team, including the Cowboys. But it's likely he will get a fair deal and might end up being in Dallas if Rob Ryan pushes for him hard enough. Personally, I think it's probably time the Cowboys move on from that experiment, unless he's willing to play for an average deal.
Rob Phillips: Wouldn't surprise me if fellow free agent Stephen Bowen, Marcus Spears' eight-game injury replacement, is a higher priority than Hatcher for the Cowboys. Rob Ryan does apparently like Hatcher's skills, however. He never became a huge factor in Wade Phillips' defense, and his run defense has struggled at times. But he's a natural pass rusher who might benefit from a schematic change in Ryan's 3-4.
