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Green Bay - Anybody thinking that rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk was going to walk in and take the Green Bay Packers' training camp by storm would be disappointed.
Not only has Hawk yet to show the punishing big-play capability that led the Packers to make him the No. 5 pick in the draft but he hasn't had any more impact than fellow all-Big Ten linebacker Abdul Hodge, a third-round selection.
Of course, Hawk hasn't even been asked to make his first tackle in the National Football League. An eighth day of limited contact drills will give way to a semblance of the real thing Saturday night during the intrasquad scrimmage at Lambeau Field.
"Any time you get a game-type atmosphere it helps, especially for a rookie like me," Hawk said Thursday. "I need to have that game-type experience."
Part of the problem trying to evaluate Hawk is the hype associated with him. As the NFL's highest-drafted linebacker since LaVar Arrington went No. 2 in 2000, Hawk and impending greatness have become almost one and the same in the minds of some fans.
But as practices stack up, Hawk has done little to distinguish himself as the starting linebacker on the weak side.
"I think the guy's really done a good job," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's shown toughness and his ability. But he's made rookie mistakes. He still is a rookie."
As for Hodge, McCarthy said, "I like the way he's playing. He's very aggressive against the run. As far as running sideline-to-sideline, that's something he's going to have to work on."
There's little doubt that Hawk's decision to marry his fiancée, Laura Quinn, in a civil ceremony 10 days ago might still be on his mind. Given the unexpected nature of the wedding, the couple undoubtedly had to do some long-distance explaining with family members who were caught completely off-guard.
Then came contract negotiations. They were completed last Friday afternoon when Hawk agreed to a six-year, $37.5 million deal. Becoming an instant millionaire takes some getting used to as well.
On the field, Hawk appears to be feeling his way through Week 1 of pro football in a defense that is much different from Ohio State's.
"It's something that's pretty new so it takes a little longer to get comfortable with it," Hawk said. "I'm learning every day. Watching the older guys. Just listening to my coaches."
Taking on the strong-side counter play in college football basically is the same as taking it on in the NFL. Because there hasn't been any live tackling, it's almost impossible even to begin judging how effective Hawk will be against the run.
Even before drafting Hawk, linebackers coach Winston Moss indicated that the Packers were well aware that he would need extensive work in pass coverage. Ohio State played mostly zone whereas the Packers generally employ a matchup scheme in which defenders are assigned to a zone but have responsibility for a man once he declares himself in their area.
"We played some man but we played more of a spot-drop zone defense most of the time," Hawk said. "That was kind of the backbone of our defense. At Ohio State, you'd sit 10, 12 yards taking away your zone and then react to the pass instead of man-turning with guys and running with them all over."
Most first-year linebackers, including Hodge, must endure the trials and tribulations of NFL pass coverage before getting on the field. In Hawk's case, he is being asked to start as he learns.
"I wouldn't say he's gotten exposed," McCarthy said. "But there's so much running and recognition for a young guy. It is challenging. It's not spot drops."
The advantage Nick Barnett had entering the NFL in 2003 was his expertise in coverage. Although he moved from strong safety to linebacker after his freshman year, the Oregon State coaches continued using him extensively in coverage.
"Man (coverage) was pretty easy for me but it's still a lot of work," Barnett said. "In the NFL you just don't have tight ends that are slow. And the zone match scheme here was totally different than in college."
Thickly built and very strong, Hawk looks the part of a linebacker even though his height (6 feet 1 inches) was considered a slight negative by some scouts. As he thinks his way through situations, there have been precious few plays in which his outstanding speed has been noticeable.
In any event, Hawk should at least be able to outrun some of the mistakes that he makes in coverage early on.
"Everybody in this league is fast," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "Hopefully, he won't be in position to have to use that speed. What we're trying to get is that he doesn't make those mistakes and get out of position. If he needs to get a head start, get a head start."
Barnett, who has had a strong camp, seems entrenched as the lone linebacker in the 4-1 dime defense. He was there Thursday morning when the Packers practiced 2-minute plays. The coaches then surprisingly waved in Hodge with the No. 2 defense, replacing Barnett. Later, Hawk took over for Hodge. Unlike Hawk, Hodge played almost all man-to-man coverage at Iowa, assigned to a running back or the tight end. His job was to stuff the run, and he did it exceedingly well.
"I'm definitely going to have to cover," Hodge said. "I want to learn techniques to my advantage so I won't have to worry about chasing them all over the field. There's a lot of veteran quarterbacks and veteran receivers that can expose you. It's something I have to work on."
Hodge didn’t go higher than he did (third round, third pick) largely because of his pedestrian speed, borderline size and concerns about his ability to play in space.
As long as Hodge remains at middle linebacker, and Sanders doesn't appear the least bit inclined to move him to the strong side as a challenger for Ben Taylor, he figures to back up Barnett, maybe perform in the goal-line defense and scuffle for playing time in the nickel defense.
Camp is just a week old and already the Packers have an inkling that Hodge could start blowing people up when the rough stuff arrives.
"He had a hell of a day (Wednesday)," McCarthy said. "He stoned the fullback a couple times. I think the kid's really picked it up."
---For all that talk of him being the "safest" pick in the draft and the most NFL ready I wouldn't have expected this. From the sounds of it just needs some work in pass coverage. This could mean that he is no longer a 3 down LB and Hodge could replace him in the nickel if he doesnt get it together. Only time will tell. When is the Scrimmage versus another team? that will be the true test for these young and new guys.
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