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I am starting to read more and more that rookie LB AJ Hawk isn't making the type of plays that a top 5 pick should make. I watched Family Night over and over and only watched Hawk during one of those viewings. Hawk was always "right there" but just a second too late as another Packer had the ball carrier wrapped up. He got stoned on his attempt to russ the passer and blew a coverage on the TE. Hawk looked like he was thinking too much and not playing enough. I will say that he was covering the FB and the TE out of the back-field a lot. Except for that one blown coverage, he was always in position. Should we be worried? I can't wait to see the game on Sat. to get a real "read" on his progress but I would have liked to have read some more training camp reports praising his play.
Here is a portion of Chrisl't camp report from today, Aug. 9, 2006. AJ Hawk is the "thumbs down."
THUMBS DOWN
If linebacker coach Winston Moss has been at all disappointed in rookie A.J. Hawk’s play to this point, he isn’t willing to admit it, at least not publicly. Moss said he sees a “very talented player†with some pop to his game. “He has all the tools,†said Moss. “He’s still learning the defense. Once he settles down, people are going to be pleased.â€Â
But after 15 practices, Hawk hasn’t stuck out in a way that you’d expect from the fifth pick in the draft. Third-round choice Abdul Hodge seems to have more snap to his game, at least to this point. The big-time hitters at linebacker have a knack for rolling their hips and striking with such force that they’ll even jolt a 300-plus pound lineman. If Hawk has that kind of explosiveness, it hasn’t been apparent from the sidelines. More often, he seems to get engulfed with blockers and even take bad angles to the ball. And like most rookies, Hawk has struggled with pass coverage.
Maybe there’s no reason for alarm at this point. Maybe Moss is right, that it will only be a matter of time before Hawk starts making people take notice. After all, Moss has an up-close look on the field and then watches every practice over again on tape. Moreover, Hawk hasn’t even played an exhibition game yet. But fifth picks in the draft are supposed to be special players; players who jump out on the practice field. And so far, Hawk has been hard to find. Not only is he short at 6-foot-1, but he also looks light in the shorts.
Here is a portion of Chrisl't camp report from today, Aug. 9, 2006. AJ Hawk is the "thumbs down."
THUMBS DOWN
If linebacker coach Winston Moss has been at all disappointed in rookie A.J. Hawk’s play to this point, he isn’t willing to admit it, at least not publicly. Moss said he sees a “very talented player†with some pop to his game. “He has all the tools,†said Moss. “He’s still learning the defense. Once he settles down, people are going to be pleased.â€Â
But after 15 practices, Hawk hasn’t stuck out in a way that you’d expect from the fifth pick in the draft. Third-round choice Abdul Hodge seems to have more snap to his game, at least to this point. The big-time hitters at linebacker have a knack for rolling their hips and striking with such force that they’ll even jolt a 300-plus pound lineman. If Hawk has that kind of explosiveness, it hasn’t been apparent from the sidelines. More often, he seems to get engulfed with blockers and even take bad angles to the ball. And like most rookies, Hawk has struggled with pass coverage.
Maybe there’s no reason for alarm at this point. Maybe Moss is right, that it will only be a matter of time before Hawk starts making people take notice. After all, Moss has an up-close look on the field and then watches every practice over again on tape. Moreover, Hawk hasn’t even played an exhibition game yet. But fifth picks in the draft are supposed to be special players; players who jump out on the practice field. And so far, Hawk has been hard to find. Not only is he short at 6-foot-1, but he also looks light in the shorts.
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