TexasTerror
April 29th, 2006, 09:52 PM
From SWAC Guru, Nick Deriso and his Monroe News-Star blog...
An important day
A classic 'tweener, Jason "Hatchet" Hatcher is perfectly suited for the Cowboys, who were looking for taller hybrid lineman that could penetrate quickly in the 3-4 scheme.
Dallas took the Jena product in the third round on Saturday, making him the highest draft pick out of Grambling since receiver Jake Reed was picked up by Minnesota at No. 68 back in 1993. Before that you have to go back to 1986, defensive end Leonard Griffin was chosen at No. 63.
He had been variously predicted as a second-day guy.
So this was an important day indeed for Hatcher, and not just because of the rarity of such a high selection for his alma mater. A married father, he's remained tightly focused on what this opportunity could mean for his family and his hometown throughout the process.
He plays football with such fiery intensity because he sees it as a responsibility. There is too much riding on him to fail.
That's meant a steep incline in his proficiency at defensive end, notable because he only played the position for a couple of years. Even so, Hatcher came to master is well enough to become a first-day pick.
Having a frame like his, of course, doesn't hurt. He now famously measured out at 6-5 7/8, the tallest defensive lineman at the NFL Scouting Combine - something that garnered him special notice on NFL.com.
But you can't measure this guy's heart.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/news/blogs/blog3/index.html
An important day
A classic 'tweener, Jason "Hatchet" Hatcher is perfectly suited for the Cowboys, who were looking for taller hybrid lineman that could penetrate quickly in the 3-4 scheme.
Dallas took the Jena product in the third round on Saturday, making him the highest draft pick out of Grambling since receiver Jake Reed was picked up by Minnesota at No. 68 back in 1993. Before that you have to go back to 1986, defensive end Leonard Griffin was chosen at No. 63.
He had been variously predicted as a second-day guy.
So this was an important day indeed for Hatcher, and not just because of the rarity of such a high selection for his alma mater. A married father, he's remained tightly focused on what this opportunity could mean for his family and his hometown throughout the process.
He plays football with such fiery intensity because he sees it as a responsibility. There is too much riding on him to fail.
That's meant a steep incline in his proficiency at defensive end, notable because he only played the position for a couple of years. Even so, Hatcher came to master is well enough to become a first-day pick.
Having a frame like his, of course, doesn't hurt. He now famously measured out at 6-5 7/8, the tallest defensive lineman at the NFL Scouting Combine - something that garnered him special notice on NFL.com.
But you can't measure this guy's heart.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/news/blogs/blog3/index.html