Packers sign Hodge

[BooHoo]

Hodge? Is he a keeper?

Just read this...

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/draft/412896

The ariticle paints him like an up-and-coming super guy. His only draw back appears to be his lack of size. I guess we can be hopeful.

[ND72]

Just so all you Barnett haters know...Hodge won't be pushign Barnett for anything this year...maybe Taylor at the strong side...but Bob Sanders LOVES Barnett. Next year, they need to move Barnett to Strong Side, and put Hodge in the middle...IF all our boys pan out.

[wist43]

Boo, I've seen Hodge play maybe 7 to 10 times... everytime I saw him, he lived up to that evaluation and was clearly the best defender on the field for Iowa. Chad Greenway played in his shawdow, IMO.

As for Barnett vs Hodge??? Granted, Hodge hasn't played a down in the NFL, but with half his football brain tied behind his back he's more instinctive, and twice as tough, as Barnett will ever be.

If Hodge proves out to be the 3rd best LB, there has been talk of Barnett moving outside... perhaps his lack of instincts for the game wouldn't be as glaring on the outside.

[Rastak]

Boo, I've seen Hodge play maybe 7 to 10 times... everytime I saw him, he lived up to that evaluation and was clearly the best defender on the field for Iowa. Chad Greenway played in his shawdow, IMO.

As for Barnett vs Hodge??? Granted, Hodge hasn't played a down in the NFL, but with half his football brain tied behind his back he's more instinctive, and twice as tough, as Barnett will ever be.

If Hodge proves out to be the 3rd best LB, there has been talk of Barnett moving outside... perhaps his lack of instincts for the game wouldn't be as glaring on the outside.

I'm real interested in seeing how Greenway does, for obvious reasons.
The Vikings currently have no rookies at the top of any position depth charts so it will be inetresting to see if any win starting spots. As for Hodge, I like him also. Greenway was better in coverage but I think Hodge could be a solid MLB in the NFL, minus a little speed. I was really hoping the Vikings would grab this guy but GB beat them to the punch and got him later than projected. Kudos to them.

[BooHoo]

Boo, I've seen Hodge play maybe 7 to 10 times... everytime I saw him, he lived up to that evaluation and was clearly the best defender on the field for Iowa. Chad Greenway played in his shawdow, IMO.

As for Barnett vs Hodge??? Granted, Hodge hasn't played a down in the NFL, but with half his football brain tied behind his back he's more instinctive, and twice as tough, as Barnett will ever be.

If Hodge proves out to be the 3rd best LB, there has been talk of Barnett moving outside... perhaps his lack of instincts for the game wouldn't be as glaring on the outside.

Thanks for the info, Wist. Sounds like Hodge will perform well.
It is hard to get a clear picture of draft picks based upon "expert" commentator reports and early camp comments by coaches. First hand experience/observation is always the best judge.

[Tarlam!]

Just so all you Barnett haters know...Hodge won't be pushign Barnett for anything this year...maybe Taylor at the strong side...but Bob Sanders LOVES Barnett.

Since Barnett was drafted, he's never had a legitimate replacement breathing down his neck at his position.

Now he's got one in Hodge. My hope is that we field the best 11 players, regardless of politics, every game. If Barnett finds himself 4th best LB midway through the season, I hope our starting lineup reflects that.

I don't hate Barnett, but he is not really a big play maker, is he?

[ND72]

Barnett is easily one of the top athletes on our team. set a team record for tackles last season, on what i think was a very overrated defensive team, and now, with a better defense, he'll be better. he's still #1 on the depth chart at LB, like it or not. He's just out of position, he should be an OLB.

[Tarlam!]

ND72, I'm not trying to pick a fight over Barnett.

Wist has posted several times, Barnett rarely makes a tackle for a loss. The runner has usually made some 5 plus yard gain before Barnett gets to them.

As I posted previously, I hope the best players play. If Barnett remains the best Mike, let him play Mike.

[ND72]

that's exactly what i mean by our overrated D last year. watchign some of the tapes i kept from last year, he was making tackles 5 yards downfield, cause that's where the "pile" ended up. Our DT's were horrible, just horrible, especially grady jackson in helping Barnett. And besides that, we had HORRIBLE LB's around him. Now that we have some guys that will actually step up and attempt to make a play, that might change as well. Barnett has had to play the entire LB'ing corp all by himself in his 3 years he's been in the leauge, not to mention 3 different defensive schemes. now that he's in one for 2 years, and he's able to progress in that defense, there will be a huge change. MY thing, that bugs me...I'm a huge Hawk and Hodge fan...HUGE...but both could completely suck. Too many people are already buying a bus ticket for Barnett for Hodge, when Hodge has never been on an NFL game field yet. Until Hodge does anything, he's not a starter yet...sorry. My top 3 in the future will be Hawk, Hodge, BArnett...but Hodge has to do something. Barnett has done something, he just needs to grow a bit still, which being able to stay in the system he's now been in might and should help. The guy is crazy athletic, actually has been clocked at a 4.4 for his physical when he showed up...that's crazy fast at MLB. With our added depth and talent at DT this year, and LB, i truly believe you will see a different Barnett.

[Partial]

that's exactly what i mean by our overrated D last year. watchign some of the tapes i kept from last year, he was making tackles 5 yards downfield, cause that's where the "pile" ended up. Our DT's were horrible, just horrible, especially grady jackson in helping Barnett. And besides that, we had HORRIBLE LB's around him. Now that we have some guys that will actually step up and attempt to make a play, that might change as well. Barnett has had to play the entire LB'ing corp all by himself in his 3 years he's been in the leauge, not to mention 3 different defensive schemes. now that he's in one for 2 years, and he's able to progress in that defense, there will be a huge change. MY thing, that bugs me...I'm a huge Hawk and Hodge fan...HUGE...but both could completely suck. Too many people are already buying a bus ticket for Barnett for Hodge, when Hodge has never been on an NFL game field yet. Until Hodge does anything, he's not a starter yet...sorry. My top 3 in the future will be Hawk, Hodge, BArnett...but Hodge has to do something. Barnett has done something, he just needs to grow a bit still, which being able to stay in the system he's now been in might and should help. The guy is crazy athletic, actually has been clocked at a 4.4 for his physical when he showed up...that's crazy fast at MLB. With our added depth and talent at DT this year, and LB, i truly believe you will see a different Barnett.

if you're sold, then i'm sold!!

[ND72]

i really like Barnett, not gonna lie. I think his athletic ability is insane...now if he can find a mean-ness or a real feel for what's going on, which could help with finally being in the same system for 2 years, i think we might have somethign special. I don't know if Barnett is the man for the middle, I've said since after his rookie year he should be an OLB cause of his speed. But for now, that's what's going on. IF Hodge does what I really think he can, then I donno why you don't put the 2 young guys along with Barnett on the field and let those 3 grow together and just destroy the NFL.

[Tarlam!]

'kay, ND, plus if you count Barnett's last college year, that's an additional defense in as many years. I count that!

My only minus on Barnett is his focus. He has so many non-football deals going on, I sometimes wonder if he has the commitment.

Non-the-less, I agree on his athleticism and his record to date.

[the_idle_threat]

...now if he can find a mean-ness or a real feel for what's going on ... i think we might have somethign special.

If those are the qualities Barnett is lacking, then there is reason for concern. It seems to me that in both traits, either you have it or you don't. They aren't things that become significantly better over time.

[PackerPro42]

If Hodge is impressive the Packers should think about bumping Barnett to the outside and thinking about stating Hodge. It would even be O.K. if they just started him on the outside over Ben Taylor.

[woodbuck27]

I've read that:

The four-year deal rookie linebacker Abdul Hodge signed was worth $2.418 million, including an $808,000 signing bonus. The deal includes an escalator that could raise the value of the contract another $800,000