Hawk a bust?

[sharpe1027]

I was thinking more along the lines of Buckley. Sort of a bust for where he was picked, but still managed to have a reasonable successful NFL career. Enis and Mandarich were total failures.

But that #5 pick position kinda skews things in your head. For example, how would Driver's career be looked at had he been a #5 pick overall?

I actually, think Hawk will have a good career - maybe the LB equivalent of Donald Driver. That wold be pretty good stuff, but at the #5 pick, you're kinda hoping for an LT, for example.

Sounds like you are talking about a mild dissappointment rather than a failure/bust.

[wist43]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

[woodbuck27]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

Your one of the best on observing our team at the LBer position wist43.

He looked pretty special in College and made a ton of plays there but that leap to the NFL is huge. Was he worth a fith pick? When you come right down to it he's a WSL or Nick Barnett refused to let go of his status in the middle.

This is a huge season for AJ Hawk and for Ted Thompsons credibility with picking him. Is that fair to say even? I re-call a lot of us expected and hoped TT would choose Hawk. It just seems to me that his speed in the college game didn't translate as well to the NFL.

He did appear right on in his rookie season too. I have Packer fan friends back in the Maritimes that were really high on his play in year one.
GO PACK GO!

[cheesner]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

Your one of the best on observing our team at the LBer position wist43.

He looked pretty special in College and made a ton of plays there but that leap to the NFL is huge. Was he worth a fith pick? When you come right down to it he's a WSL or Nick Barnett refused to let go of his status in the middle.

This is a huge season for AJ Hawk and for Ted Thompsons credibility with picking him. Is that fair to say even? I re-call a lot of us expected and hoped TT would choose Hawk. It just seems to me that his speed in the college game didn't translate as well to the NFL.

He did appear right on in his rookie season too. I have Packer fan friends back in the Maritimes that were really high on his play in year one.
GO PACK GO!

It is one thing to judge Hawk on his play and another issue to judge TT on the pick. Hawk's judgement should entirely be based his play. In rating TT on drafting Hawk, you not only have to look at his play, but also on who TT could have drafted. I think there is a fair shot, that if the draft was reheld today, TT would take Hawk again. In that respect, you have to give the draft pick an 'A' for a grade. There just wasn't much better drafted.

Ideally, if I redid the draft, I would have traded down for picks the next year and taken Demeco Ryans late in the 1st. But it is difficult to criticize a pick because in hindsight you can come up with a plan that was just a little better. Also, no telling if I would have found a trading partner or not.

[woodbuck27]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

Your one of the best on observing our team at the LBer position wist43.

He looked pretty special in College and made a ton of plays there but that leap to the NFL is huge. Was he worth a fith pick? When you come right down to it he's a WSL or Nick Barnett refused to let go of his status in the middle.

This is a huge season for AJ Hawk and for Ted Thompsons credibility with picking him. Is that fair to say even? I re-call a lot of us expected and hoped TT would choose Hawk. It just seems to me that his speed in the college game didn't translate as well to the NFL.

He did appear right on in his rookie season too. I have Packer fan friends back in the Maritimes that were really high on his play in year one.
GO PACK GO!

It is one thing to judge Hawk on his play and another issue to judge TT on the pick. Hawk's judgement should entirely be based his play. In rating TT on drafting Hawk, you not only have to look at his play, but also on who TT could have drafted. I think there is a fair shot, that if the draft was reheld today, TT would take Hawk again. In that respect, you have to give the draft pick an 'A' for a grade. There just wasn't much better drafted.

Ideally, if I redid the draft, I would have traded down for picks the next year and taken Demeco Ryans late in the 1st. But it is difficult to criticize a pick because in hindsight you can come up with a plan that was just a little better. Also, no telling if I would have found a trading partner or not.

I'm not judging TT on that pick and I won't disagree with your analysis there cheesner.

[Freak Out]

I have Packer fan friends back in the Maritimes that were really high on his play in year one.

Lot's of love for the Green and Gold back in the Maritimes?

[woodbuck27]

I have Packer fan friends back in the Maritimes that were really high on his play in year one.

Lot's of love for the Green and Gold back in the Maritimes?

Several of my friends and acquaintances are Packer fans Freak Out. We enjoy our Packer game get togethers especially with a few drinks of dark rum and pepsi over rocks. I do the mixing to ensure the bottle lasts an entire game.

GO PACKERS!

[Fritz]

I think the fact he looked the part - ugly mofo, stupid crazy hair - is what gave people the big expectations.

Being drafted at #5 is less important than the looks and the name - fuggin' A.J. Hawk. If you're writing a football novel for middle school boys you couldn't come up with a better name.

If he had looked like Clay Aiken and had a name like Timmy Toole no one would be upset about his production.

[Gunakor]

100%

Sanders defense was way too easy to read. In the Capers world, the LB's will be all over the place, but their initial technique won't "tip" anything. Sometimes both the middle backer will blitz in a cross, called the "Fire X". The LB's have a great deal more flexibility and Don's fire zones will be perfect for quick guys like Hawk and Barnett.

Say what you will about AJ's performance to date, he sure has replaced (and made everybody forget) Robert Thomas.

Didn't Hawk replace Paris Lenon? Or did Lenon play on the other side that Pop has been playing? I can't remember...

[Gunakor]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

I fully expect him to make plays. I've always looked at Hawk as a playmaker who was bound to a scheme that did not utilize his strengths. Hawk is more than a block eater/road clearer, and I've always thought this going way back to OSU. I think as soon as Hawk is actually put in a position to make plays, and is specifically asked to make plays, we'll see the playmaker I envisioned Hawk to be.

[KYPack]

100%

Sanders defense was way too easy to read. In the Capers world, the LB's will be all over the place, but their initial technique won't "tip" anything. Sometimes both the middle backer will blitz in a cross, called the "Fire X". The LB's have a great deal more flexibility and Don's fire zones will be perfect for quick guys like Hawk and Barnett.

Say what you will about AJ's performance to date, he sure has replaced (and made everybody forget) Robert Thomas.

Didn't Hawk replace Paris Lenon? Or did Lenon play on the other side that Pop has been playing? I can't remember...

I thought Thomas was the Wil, but I did just make a WAG, Gun.

Lenon was the SAM, I thought?

Neither one of 'em could run.

Man, I don't even want to look it up.

We'll go with yer version, that's fine w/me.

[Deputy Nutz]

Hawks problem isn't speed, it is the same problem that every linebacker in the NFL currently has, if the d-line doesn't eat up blocks, linebacker gets consumed at the point. Especially last year. All the linebackers played like garbage last season, Hawk had a pretty good first month, last year, but the loss of Jenkins, and KGB falling apart and cut, and top it with his own injuries made last season very difficult for him.

I think this might be his make or break year. He is going to be asked to make a lot of tackles and to fly around the field. he is going to have to make quick reads and then knife through at the point of attack. When the outside linebackers are playing up on the line him and Barnett should be tackling machines. If not then is there really a reason to sign him going forward with this defense?

Hawk is one of the better linebackers in coverage, especially in the flat on running backs. Again, any linebacker matched up down field on a tight end is at disadvantage.

[ThunderDan]

Hawks problem isn't speed, it is the same problem that every linebacker in the NFL currently has, if the d-line doesn't eat up blocks, linebacker gets consumed at the point. Especially last year. All the linebackers played like garbage last season, Hawk had a pretty good first month, last year, but the loss of Jenkins, and KGB falling apart and cut, and top it with his own injuries made last season very difficult for him.

I think this might be his make or break year. He is going to be asked to make a lot of tackles and to fly around the field. he is going to have to make quick reads and then knife through at the point of attack. When the outside linebackers are playing up on the line him and Barnett should be tackling machines. If not then is there really a reason to sign him going forward with this defense?

Hawk is one of the better linebackers in coverage, especially in the flat on running backs. Again, any linebacker matched up down field on a tight end is at disadvantage.

That is a great post.

Same thing happened to Urlacher when Chicago let Ted Washington go early in his career. All of sudden a guard was able to get a hat on him and he disappeared for long stretches of game.

[wist43]

He is what I thought he would be - a JAG.

Will probably start every game for the next 7 years, and make a bunch of tackles. Just don't expect him to make any plays.

I fully expect him to make plays. I've always looked at Hawk as a playmaker who was bound to a scheme that did not utilize his strengths. Hawk is more than a block eater/road clearer, and I've always thought this going way back to OSU. I think as soon as Hawk is actually put in a position to make plays, and is specifically asked to make plays, we'll see the playmaker I envisioned Hawk to be.

I'll agree that the scheme held him back... but that doesn't account for the fact that he was involved in virtually no turnovers or game changing plays.

How many forced fumbles??? How many Int's??? How many recovered fumbles??? How many sacks??? Average in coverage, average in taking on and shedding, slow to diagnose, etc...

Even in a scheme as pathetic as what the Packers were running, a half way decent LB should at least be involved in a few plays.

Maybe Hawk will be more effective in a 3-4... he better be. I expect he should have a handful of sacks - but he's not a pass rusher; I expect he may be involved in a few more turnover plays - but, he's not really above average at anything.

Again, he's a JAG. LB'ers like Hawk are a dime/dozen... he's not a bust, but he's certainly not worth the 5th pick.

I wanted Mario, or Davis, or trade down... Mario has proven to be a stud; Davis is being wasted in the mess that is the 49ers.

[Tarlam!]

I wanted Mario, or Davis, or trade down... Mario has proven to be a stud; Davis is being wasted in the mess that is the 49ers.

Many wanted Mario and they all knew he'd be gone by pick 3 at the latest.

I remember some wanting Davis. He has conributed to the mess in SFC; wasn't he sent to the showers early during practice and told not to come bak until his attitude changed by Mike S., the new HC?

I do recall his huge ego and some of the things he's jibbered since being in the NFL. I'm glad we didn't pick him.