ABDUL HODGE BEGINS WORKING AT STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER

[Creepy]

Earlier in the TC they stated that once a LB becomes efficient at a position he will be moved over to learn another. The exception is hawk, as they will keep him at WLB. Now Hodge has picked up and played the Mike slot well in TC. It would be interesting if Hodge was in the middle with LT on Saturday. IMO, by the time Hodge is on the field the LT will be sitting down, but that is another story.

They want to see if Hodge can play Sam, if he can pick up the coverage fine, if not then they know he is a MLB only. If that happens that means that Barnett had better play great football at Mike. As the coach may start looking to see if Hodge is better in the middle and Barnett outside. They have already stated that Barnett & Hawk are the nickel LBs for coverage, so it doesn't matter on certain downs whether Hodge or Barnett is in the middle.

I would like to see Hodge excel at Sam, but his natural abilities and his current stature makes him a better fit at Mike. Well starting tomorrow night
We will start seeing who is better suited to MLB.

Still I would like to see a head-on between LT and Hodge.

[pittstang5]

Wist,

I'm kinda surprised that you like Poppinga in the starting line up. He had a lot of rookie mistakes. Granted, he was a special teams demon and was a great pass rusher when asked to do so, but we blew up a quite a few plays last year. The one Viking's game comes to mind. He needs to settle down and stop over pursuing plays. The kid shows heart and tenacity, but he needs to control it.

Now don't get me wrong. In time I think Poppinga will be a great LB, but to start right now.....I just don't see it.

[RashanGary]

In a few years Poppinga will be collecting social security.

I am very disappointed in not moving Barnett to the strongside. The more I think about it the sicker it makes me feel. Although I agree it simply doesn't come down to your best three linebackers, especially if Barnett the bitch that he is has a problem with moving to the strong side.

I felt the same way, kind of sick about it. I hate to see Barnett in the middle for the long term when you have HOdge on the roster.

I do think they are just thinkering as well. Barnett will start this year and HOdge's first chacne to win the spot will be next year. I hope he gets on the field in a short yardage package. That would be teh best this year IMO.

[vince]

I am very disappointed in not moving Barnett to the strongside. The more I think about it the sicker it makes me feel.

I think you will see Barnett playing the outside yet. They're just looking at all their options at this point, and appeasing a veteran leader for the time being.

It just makes too much sense to have it any other way.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I think this is a great move. This will teach Hodge how to cover and when hes ready to take over the middle he will be as complete a middle line backer as there is out their. People keep saying he can't cover and this is a bad move, but in every game Barnett has played hes had to cover someone at least 4-5 times a game. If hodge can't cover what makes you think he will every be a good middle line backer.

[Scott Campbell]

I don't like the idea of putting the LB who has been given the title of weakest LB in coverage the position that requires the most coverage responsibility.

I also don't like how this looks. Barnett whines to the media about not wanting to move, so McCarthy moves Hodge instead to the Sam.

[Scott Campbell]

this could be to see if hodge can even play out there. i wouldn't be surprised if we see barnett line up out there a few times too in practice, to see what he can do

They need to line him up out there just to teach him to keep his big yapper shut.

[pbmax]

Re: ABDUL HODGE BEGINS WORKING AT STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER

Hodge will have to learn new coverage responsibilities to make the switch - particularly in the passing game, where he will be called on to cover tight ends. Although Hodge's college coach, Kirk Ferentz, has expressed doubts that Hodge can play outside, Barnett said Hodge can pull it off.

"I definitely think so," Barnett said.

We have got to get this settled. Sam in this defense isn't necessarily over the TE. So AJ has got to learn man coverage against the TE too.

Does anyone remember if the OLBS switched sides last year?

[RashanGary]

They don't think they did so much last year, but I doubt they are going to put Hawk over teh TE at all this year. It's only football, you don't have to be crippled by schemes, you adjust to the players you have. Hawk will never play over the TE unless it's a 2 TE set. That is just my guess anyway.

[Lare]

So why don't they switch Hawk to Sam, Barnett to Will and Hodge to Mike? That would seem to make everybody happy and also suit their talent and physical abilities.

[MJZiggy]

I think that the only thing that would piss Barnett off more than moving to Sam is moving to will. From what I've heard Hawk is a good will and would not be as effective in the sam or mike.

[Dune]

From the article i just read it sounded like Barnett was afraid if he played outside his tackles would go down at it would cost him $$ on his next contract if that happend. I believe this is his final year of his contract.

I also got the impression that if he got a contract extension he would not be as worried about moving outside.

[gbpackfan]

It is a very interesting move. If Hodge can master the strong side position and Popps can stay healthy, they may have a little trade bait in Ben Taylor. I know the Saints need help at LB (and we always seem to trade with them) and other teams could loose someone in camp. We seemed to be stacked at the position. If we only keep five, we may keep Barnett, Hawk, Hodge, Popps and Manning. Go with some youth!

I am not sure if Hodge has what it takes to be an outside backer. He doesn't look all that fluid when he moves and may get beat by more athletic TE's. However, I am all for giving him a shot.

Let's see how does in a game before we make him a starter.

[woodbuck27]

From the article i just read it sounded like Barnett was afraid if he played outside his tackles would go down at it would cost him $$ on his next contract if that happend. I believe this is his final year of his contract.

I also got the impression that if he got a contract extension he would not be as worried about moving outside.

Dune. Hi.

2007 is the final year of Nick Barnett's Contract.

[Partial]

So why don't they switch Hawk to Sam, Barnett to Will and Hodge to Mike? That would seem to make everybody happy and also suit their talent and physical abilities.

Barnett couldn't blitz to save his life.