Chew on this Hawk Lovers!

[bobblehead]

I think APB wanted Mangold...

Or wasn't it Logan Mankins? If that was the same draft.

I'll say this, I don't believe in drafting LB's in the top 10. In the one draft I have been right on ever I wanted to trade down and take Cromartie. I'm almost always wrong on college guys, but that would have been a much better pick. I don't watch a ton of college, don't rewatch any, so its safe to say, anyone I wanted at the time was irrelevant.

[Rastak]

I agree, but that's why I'm asking who they were supposed to take. Ngata was the only one some folks here wanted, I think. Some wanted Vernon Davis, others wanted Michael Huff. And nobody was advocating for Greenway.

So - you coulda done worse than Hawk. Look at Vince Young. Look at Huff.

That's true, on Greenway. Hell, people here were claiming Hodge was better than Greenway.

[Fred's Slacks]

I think APB wanted Mangold...

I remember him distinctly having a woody for Micheal Huff.

Anyway, I know I wanted VD (not the disease) although I was very happy with the Hawk pick. I really thought he'd be an impact player that would bring an attitude to this defense. I was wrong.

The thing that sticks out to me about Hawk isn't the lack of a ton of big plays. Rather its the times he has a clear opportunity to make a big play and hasn't gotten it done. The one that sticks out in my mind was the NFC championship game 2 yrs back when he had Bradshaw one on one in the open field on a 3rd and short just outside of field goal range. That would have been a huge play. Bradshaw made one jab step outside, got Hawk leaning, then cut inside him for a big gain and easy first down.

Now, one on one in open field with Bradshaw is a tough task but its one you'd think a 5th overall pick would be up to. That's just one example but it seems like every time he's in the open field with a ball carrier, he's left hugging air. He seems to play tentatively like he's afraid to make a mistake, rather than be aggressive and attack. I'm hoping this lack of playing time lights a fire and he says F--- it and stops worrying about mistakes and just start playing and having fun.

[wist43]

I agree, but that's why I'm asking who they were supposed to take. Ngata was the only one some folks here wanted, I think. Some wanted Vernon Davis, others wanted Michael Huff. And nobody was advocating for Greenway.

So - you coulda done worse than Hawk. Look at Vince Young. Look at Huff.

That's true, on Greenway. Hell, people here were claiming Hodge was better than Greenway.

Yeah, I didn't like Greenway coming out I remember... and I loved Hodge; however, his knees put him into Terrence Murphy territory, IMO. Can't play the game without knees.

As for Greenway... I haven't followed Minnesota's defense that closely, other than the basics, i.e. Allen, Winfield, the Williams'... I did notice Greenway played fairly well in the Packer game, from what I saw of him.

They seemed to use him to his strenths... and protected him in his coverages, didn't put him in mismatch situations - coordinator seems to get it. Who is their coordinator btw??? lol... I suppose I could be unlazy and look it up

[Rastak]

Greenway has been outstanding the last two years now....a bigtime playmaker for Minnesota.

Les Frazier is the coordinator since Tomlin left.

[wist43]

Do tell, oh Rats, who you wanted - at the time. Not now. Not with hindsight. So who'd you want them to take at #5??

Round One
1. Houston - Mario Williams, DE North Carolina State
2. New Orleans - Reggie Bush, RB USC
3. Tennessee - Vince Young, QB Texas
4. N.Y. Jets - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT Virginia
5. Green Bay - A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio State
6. San Francisco - Vernon Davis, TE Maryland
7. Oakland - Michael Huff, DB Texas
8. Buffalo - Donte Whitner, S Ohio State
9. Detroit - Ernie Sims, LB Florida State
10. Arizona - Matt Leinart, QB USC
11. Denver (from St. Louis) - Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
12. Baltimore (from Cleveland) - Haloti Ngata, DT Oregon
13. Cleveland (from Baltimore) - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida State
14. Philadelphia - Broderick Bunkley, DT Florida State
15. St. Louis (from Atlanta through Denver) - Tye Hill, Cb Clemson
16. Miami - Jason Allen, DB Tennessee
17. Minnesota - Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
18. Dallas - Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio State
19. San Diego - Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida State
20. Kansas City - Tamba Hali, DE Penn State
21. New England - Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota
22. San Francisco (from Washington through Denver) - Manny Lawson, DE/OLB North Carolina State
23. Tampa Bay - Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma
24. Cincinnati - Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
25. Pittsburgh (from N.Y. Giants) - Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio State
26. Buffalo (from Chicago) - John McCargo, DT North Carolina State
27. Carolina - DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
28. Jacksonville - Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
29. NY Jets (from Denver through Atlanta) - Nick Mangold, C Ohio State
30. Indianapolis - Joseph Addai, RB LSU
31. Seattle - Kelly Jennings, CB Miami (FL)
32. N.Y. Giants (from Pittsburgh) - Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College

I wanted Davis... as I saw him as a much more explosive athlete than Hawk. SF is offensively challenged and has been for a while; so Davis hasn't been utilized properly, and he has had some bouts of acting up. Even now though, he has more upside than Hawk. In the right offense, he has "Gates-like" potential... which is how I viewed him coming out.

Of course, no. 1 for me was Mario Williams... next on my wish list was Ngata - however, I saw that as unlikely, and didn't really research Ngata too extensively.

Also argued that Cutler had to be considered... if trading down into the area he was projected - somewhere around 10. As I said then though, QB's are next to impossible to project. I thought Cutler had the arm and physical ability, but that doesn't always translate on an intellectual level.

Still, this was after Rodgers had been drafted, and he has proven better than I could have hoped. Rationale was Rodgers had been iffy enough, that if they really felt Cutler had a chance to be a franchise QB, then they'd be foolish not to consider him.

Those are my memories of that draft anyway... too lazy to go back and look at our arguments - do remember never liking the Hawk pick though. You guys beat me down, and forced me into accepting it as "safe"

[Brandon494]

Do tell, oh Rats, who you wanted - at the time. Not now. Not with hindsight. So who'd you want them to take at #5??

I honestly wanted TT to take Vernon Davis, you rarely see a TE with 4.3 speed and would have given Favre another weapon. Looks like he wouldnt have been much better but you never know how he would have done with Favre/AR throwing him the ball instead of Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.

[wist43]

Greenway has been outstanding the last two years now....a bigtime playmaker for Minnesota.

Les Frazier is the coordinator since Tomlin left.

Yes, Frazier... good coordinator. I have a lot of respect for the Vikings defense.

Losing Winfield hurts... be interesting to see how their secondary holds up in his absence. Winfield is one hell of a football player.

You guys are definitely looking like you could have a shot at winning it all... hate to say it - but, good luck

[Rastak]

Greenway has been outstanding the last two years now....a bigtime playmaker for Minnesota.

Les Frazier is the coordinator since Tomlin left.

Yes, Frazier... good coordinator. I have a lot of respect for the Vikings defense.

Losing Winfield hurts... be interesting to see how their secondary holds up in his absence. Winfield is one hell of a football player.

You guys are definitely looking like you could have a shot at winning it all... hate to say it - but, good luck

Thanks Wist. Lots of games to play, anything can happen.

[Gunakor]

Do tell, oh Rats, who you wanted - at the time. Not now. Not with hindsight. So who'd you want them to take at #5??

Round One
1. Houston - Mario Williams, DE North Carolina State
2. New Orleans - Reggie Bush, RB USC
3. Tennessee - Vince Young, QB Texas
4. N.Y. Jets - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT Virginia
5. Green Bay - A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio State
6. San Francisco - Vernon Davis, TE Maryland
7. Oakland - Michael Huff, DB Texas
8. Buffalo - Donte Whitner, S Ohio State
9. Detroit - Ernie Sims, LB Florida State
10. Arizona - Matt Leinart, QB USC
11. Denver (from St. Louis) - Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
12. Baltimore (from Cleveland) - Haloti Ngata, DT Oregon
13. Cleveland (from Baltimore) - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida State
14. Philadelphia - Broderick Bunkley, DT Florida State
15. St. Louis (from Atlanta through Denver) - Tye Hill, Cb Clemson
16. Miami - Jason Allen, DB Tennessee
17. Minnesota - Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
18. Dallas - Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio State
19. San Diego - Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida State
20. Kansas City - Tamba Hali, DE Penn State
21. New England - Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota
22. San Francisco (from Washington through Denver) - Manny Lawson, DE/OLB North Carolina State
23. Tampa Bay - Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma
24. Cincinnati - Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
25. Pittsburgh (from N.Y. Giants) - Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio State
26. Buffalo (from Chicago) - John McCargo, DT North Carolina State
27. Carolina - DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
28. Jacksonville - Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
29. NY Jets (from Denver through Atlanta) - Nick Mangold, C Ohio State
30. Indianapolis - Joseph Addai, RB LSU
31. Seattle - Kelly Jennings, CB Miami (FL)
32. N.Y. Giants (from Pittsburgh) - Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College

I wanted Vernon Davis, but with hindsight I'm glad he wasn't the one we took. I think Finley is going to be just as good, and we didn't have to use a top 10 pick to get him. But at the time we really needed a TE, and Vernon Davis looked to be the answer.

[Cheesehead Craig]

If Hawk is labeled as a bust, what is Davis to be labeled then? A uber-bust? He's been Donald Lee except with a much bigger cap number.

[Brandon494]

If Hawk is labeled as a bust, what is Davis to be labeled then? A uber-bust? He's been Donald Lee except with a much bigger cap number.

Well its not like Davis has had at QB to throw him the ball.

[Bretsky]

If Hawk is labeled as a bust, what is Davis to be labeled then? A uber-bust? He's been Donald Lee except with a much bigger cap number.

Davis has shown flashes this year of being very talented as a receiving TE...more than we can say about Lee

[Gunakor]

If Hawk is labeled as a bust, what is Davis to be labeled then? A uber-bust? He's been Donald Lee except with a much bigger cap number.

Davis has shown flashes this year of being very talented as a receiving TE...more than we can say about Lee

Lee showed flashes a couple years ago. That's why he got his contract extension. One year is one year.

[Brandon494]

If Hawk is labeled as a bust, what is Davis to be labeled then? A uber-bust? He's been Donald Lee except with a much bigger cap number.

Davis has shown flashes this year of being very talented as a receiving TE...more than we can say about Lee

Lee showed flashes a couple years ago. That's why he got his contract extension. One year is one year.

Well this year he finally has a half decent QB, and I'm being generous when I say half decent.