AJ Hawk

[Bretsky]

The scheme of the defense has much to do with this, IMO. Our LBs are not asked to attack like the Iggles, Bucs, Steelers, Ravens etc. I think if Hawk were in a better defensive scheme he would be doing better. I just don't think he's being put into a position to succeed to start with.

I look at it just the opposite. The linebackers are expected to be the ones making the plays in this defense. The DTs are there to keep the linebackers clean. Hawk has had opportunities against the run and in coverage, he just hasn't made significant plays. The only thing they aren't asked to do a lot is blitz.

On the other hand, in this Vanilla system a piss poor DL (which we have) that can't hold up the blocks will destroy the capability of a LB to make plays

Hawk needs to be able to attack and flow to the ball; the blockers are getting to him. And he can't shed them.

It's a combo of the system sucking wind, the DL sucking wind, and Hawk being very average.

[Patler]

On the other hand, in this Vanilla system a piss poor DL (which we have) that can't hold up the blocks will destroy the capability of a LB to make plays

Hawk needs to be able to attack and flow to the ball; the blockers are getting to him. And he can't shed them.

It's a combo of the system sucking wind, the DL sucking wind, and Hawk being very average.

That's a convenient excuse, but one I don't buy completely. Hawk is showing nothing. In far fewer opportunities Chiller has made plays in coverage and against the run. Bishop did too. When was the last time Hawk made a stop for -3 on a play like Bishop did yesterday?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Hawk has had a bad year, plain and simple. I think he was good his first two years. He looks much worse than his first two years. For now, I'll assume that injuries have more to do with it than him bulking up too much. Next year is very important for him.

[Bretsky]

On the other hand, in this Vanilla system a piss poor DL (which we have) that can't hold up the blocks will destroy the capability of a LB to make plays

Hawk needs to be able to attack and flow to the ball; the blockers are getting to him. And he can't shed them.

It's a combo of the system sucking wind, the DL sucking wind, and Hawk being very average.

That's a convenient excuse, but one I don't buy completely. Hawk is showing nothing. In far fewer opportunities Chiller has made plays in coverage and against the run. Bishop did too. When was the last time Hawk made a stop for -3 on a play like Bishop did yesterday?

I won't argue with that; hate to say it but Chillar, to me, has been our best LB this year. Bishop shows flashes but he also makes terrible plays. I think Chillar may be our best LB this year.

[texaspackerbacker]

The scheme of the defense has much to do with this, IMO. Our LBs are not asked to attack like the Iggles, Bucs, Steelers, Ravens etc. I think if Hawk were in a better defensive scheme he would be doing better. I just don't think he's being put into a position to succeed to start with.

I look at it just the opposite. The linebackers are expected to be the ones making the plays in this defense. The DTs are there to keep the linebackers clean. Hawk has had opportunities against the run and in coverage, he just hasn't made significant plays. The only thing they aren't asked to do a lot is blitz.

Very astute observations, Patler.

The hope to cling to at this point, and it's a fairly strong hope, I think, is that Hawk is diminished by playing hurt. Chalk up the first two years to inexperience and this one to the injuries--maybe.

It all kinda makes you appreciate a GM who likes to trade down, doesn't it?

[KYPack]

For that matter as sad as it is to say Ernie Sims looks better than Hawk also.

I disagree. Sims had a wonderful first year - he flew around and made lots of plays. His play has diminished since.

As for Hawk, wasn't there a poster here - that knew someone that knew someone's girlfriend who was a friend of someone's wife who knew Hawk - who wrote that in fact Hawk was hurt far worse this year then he let on. This would explain why he seems worse this year than last year.

I have noticed that he gets washed out of almost every play now. He rarely sheds blocks any more.

It was me with the "he said she said" post about Hawk.

There was a small article in the Dayton Daily News about Dayton area players that made their mark in football. The story was about what a stud AJ Hawk was in HS, etc. The story also quoted a family member who had spoken to Hawk about the coming season. This family member stated that Hawk's chest injury was very painful and had limited him severely. Hawk had stated to the family member that he felt he wouldn't play the first month or so of the '08 season and hoped he would heal to play well this year.

That was the only news to that effect I heard about it. Hawk had progressed slower than I hoped, but he had improved in the second half of the season his first two years. This year? not shit, really. I can't help but wonder if he wasn't damaged goods all year and never was capable of deliverying the breakout we all wanted.

This season seems to have a list of guys that didn't deliver with a superstar year.

Jones
Hawk
Bigby
Either one of the two anonymous fullbacks

All seemed like young guys who could explode, but got hurt and flopped.

[DonHutson]

First the chest injury, then the groin. I think that's the main reason for the lost year for Hawk. Basically the groin would mean he's slower getting to the play, and if the chest would mean he's less effective making tackles or shedding blocks. That would match what I've seen pretty well. He also seems like the type that would downplay injuries. The disastrous DL play doesn't help either.

I would write this season off as shit happening, and see what he does next year. The results have been underwhelming even prior to this year, but I think if Ted was going to spend top 5 money on a pick he didn't want to waste it on a bust. He went safe and took Hawk.

I suspect he'll pick up where he left off last year, and he'll end up as a good player for a long time. Maybe more John Anderson than Brian Urlacher, but there's worse things.

[Freak Out]

We should have just traded down and drafted Williams. Who the hell did we have at RB then anyway? Gado? Hindsight.......

[Patler]

I suspect he'll pick up where he left off last year, and he'll end up as a good player for a long time. Maybe more John Anderson than Brian Urlacher, but there's worse things.

If he plays like John Anderson, I will be satisfied. Anderson was a darn good, reliable linebacker. Very good in pass coverage. Hawk isn't there yet.

I'm willing to chalk this year up to injuries, and for the overall year to overall bad play by most of the defense. But the line isn't bad on every play, but Hawk has been nonexistent. Could be the injuries.
I thought his hyperbaric bedroom was supposed to take care of that!!??

[DonHutson]

We should have just traded down and drafted Williams. Who the hell did we have at RB then anyway? Gado? Hindsight.......

Looking at that list is instructive. Everyone expects their first round pick to be great. How many truly great players on that list? Mario Williams. Reggie Bush. Antonio Cromartie. Joseph Addai. A few more are very good. At least half are disappointments.

[Patler]

We should have just traded down and drafted Williams. Who the hell did we have at RB then anyway? Gado? Hindsight.......

Looking at that list is instructive. Everyone expects their first round pick to be great. How many truly great players on that list? Mario Williams. Reggie Bush. Antonio Cromartie. Joseph Addai. A few more are very good. At least half are disappointments.

I'm not sure I would even include Bush in the list yet. He was a disappointment at first, had a nice start to this season, but if he is going to miss a bunch of games every season due to injuries, he, too, will be a disappointment.

[red]

i think everyone on the d side has taken a big step back this year. with the exceptions of woodson, and collins

[Packers4Ever]

Re: AJ Hawk

Is he still playing for the Packers?

In all seriousness, what has happened to him? Why are we talking about Desmond Bishop and impact plays he made from Hawk's former position, where Hawk made very few? Many argued that Hawk had been out of position and should be in the middle. Now he has been in the middle for 4 games and has been virtually unseen. He has been in on some tackles, sure, but he has had no impact on the games.

Hawk was described as a very instinctive player. That usually means a guy who senses and disrupts plays, making the big play to stop a first down, force a turnover, etc. I am seeing none of that from Hawk.


I expected more.

I was pretty confident that Hawk would have a big year this go round. He seems to be hurt, with assorted groin and leg injuries, but....

The 3rd season is supposed to be the explosion year. The player has been thru 3 camps and has been in an NFL weight room for 24 or more months. He knows the job and should be reacting and not thinking.

Hawk got hurt in camp, but he showed no signs of making any kind of leap before he was injured. Obviously, he gets next year to show that he can make the big leap. But he doesn't seem like a difference maker guy, just a "make plays" guy.

Hawk's having a mediocre year in a bad season. Maybe he can get right and explode when the the team is having a big season next year.

But I really doubt it will happen. I think we got a decent player, but not a star.

I read/heard there was still a problem with that chest and/or groin injury, sorry, wish I could remember where. Also don't forget he got married that summer before he started with the Pack - maybe something about his
eating habits now?

I think we got a decent player too, as KYP said, and with his youth he should get back into shape and once again be a dominating player.

[Freak Out]

He'll have a lot of time to get healthy here soon and hopefully study a new defensive scheme.

[Bretsky]

i think everyone on the d side has taken a big step back this year. with the exceptions of woodson, and collins

And Al Harris