AJ HAWK

[ThunderDan]

I remember when I use to get hammered for suggesting that Bishop should start over Hawk back in the day, glad some fans are finally seeing the light. What a horrible draft to have the 5th overall pick. Could you imagine having a impact player like Eric Berry or Patrick Peterson? Both were taken with the 5th overall pick the past 2 seasons.

And it was that way for a reason. It is this season where Hawk's play has dropped off.

[bobblehead]

What are your thoughts on his performance this year ? He seemed to be taking a step backwards again this year and has been missing plenty of tackles.

In one of McGinn's opinionated takes last week, he slipped the following into his article. "The Packers made a mistake by resigning Hawk and letting Barnett go."

That one kind of shocked me. Would anybody agree with McGinnn ?

I said that at the time. Barnett is a better player when healthy. I didn't mind letting Barnett go, but giving Hawk a contract of that value was a mistake. What I was really confused about was how Hawk was valued at so much higher of a level than Bishop.

[collapse77]

That play really jumped out at me as well. He just looks slow physically and mentally. At this point he is who he is.

Here's another. http://youtu.be/F4FqIwDB0zU

[mmmdk]

Here's another. http://youtu.be/F4FqIwDB0zU

Detroits OL created a HUGE lane, three bodies wide, then Hawk bit on the juke and only with help from Peprah got runner down. Ok, Hawk didn't shoot to the gap but there's gotta be a "worse" play by Hawk as this one could hardly be pinned solely on Hawk.

[ThunderDan]

Here's another. http://youtu.be/F4FqIwDB0zU

Hawk gets fooled by a fake and goes into the wrong hole but then he comes back and makes the tackle 12 yards down field. Don't watch Bishop on that play if you really want to see the fool. 76 and 67 of Detroit are doubling Raji and than 67 while still engaged with Raji takes Bishop out of the play with 1 arm.

[mmmdk]

Hawk gets fooled by a fake and goes into the wrong hole but then he comes back and makes the tackle 12 yards down field. Don't watch Bishop on that play if you really want to see the fool. 76 and 67 of Detroit are doubling Raji and than 67 while still engaged with Raji takes Bishop out of the play with 1 arm.

You're right, AJ picks wrong gap but it seems a vision thing - he's almost standing on his toes to see the runner then a highway emerges and Hawk is misplaced to make an immediate tackle. Barnett would've roared after such a crappy tackle; at least that doesn't happen with Hawk.

[collapse77]

Hawk gets fooled by a fake and goes into the wrong hole but then he comes back and makes the tackle 12 yards down field. Don't watch Bishop on that play if you really want to see the fool. 76 and 67 of Detroit are doubling Raji and than 67 while still engaged with Raji takes Bishop out of the play with 1 arm.

The only hole was the one Hawk vacated. That was his gap. Not Bishop's.

[mmmdk]

The only hole was the one Hawk vacated. That was his gap. Not Bishop's.

Hawk wasn't fronting the gap; I think he lost vision of the play and took aim for an outside run. The Smith juke wasn't even to trick Hawk!

[collapse77]

Hawk wasn't fronting the gap; I think he lost vision of the play and took aim for an outside run. The Smith juke wasn't even to trick Hawk!

He was unblocked, one on one with Kevin Smith. There was outside containment. There was no where else for the back to go. It was perfect execution by the defense. Your middle backer is set up for a stick and he whiffs. That is a problem.

[ThunderDan]

The only hole was the one Hawk vacated. That was his gap. Not Bishop's.

Sorry but you are wrong. The LG and C double Raji. RG and RT double Pickett. Clay comes up the field and the TE pushes him out. There are now 2 holes on the play. Between Clay and Pickett and between Raji and Pickett. Smith makes a move as if he is going to the outside hole and Hawk goes there. Smith plants and takes it between Raji and Pickett where Hawk has vacated. Burnett was playing deep safety to Calvin Johnson's side so Peprah needs to come up and fill the open hole in the line.

Bishop easily could have slid over and made the tackle 4 yards down the field but gets blocked by one arm of the C who is engaged with Raji.

[mmmdk]

He was unblocked, one on one with Kevin Smith. There was outside containment. There was no where else for the back to go. It was perfect execution by the defense. Your middle backer is set up for a stick and he whiffs. That is a problem.

Yes it was Hawks gap but Hawk still takes a step in the wrong direction, I believe it's due to bad judgement/vision. I now agree that it's on Hawk; he missed his assignment as rest of D were spot on.

[Brandon494]

"AJ Hawk makes Kevin Smith look like Barry Sanders" LMAO

Capers defense scheme was to take away Calvin Johnson and the big plays which opened up the run game for Kevin Smith with both safeties playing deep. They put a lot of yards rushing the ball but that's exactly what Capers wanted them to do, Calvin Johnson was locked down all game.

[ThunderDan]

The only hole was the one Hawk vacated. That was his gap. Not Bishop's.

Actually with the blocking on that play Walden has the backside of that run and Bishop needs to scrape into the middle which is wide open.

[mmmdk]

Sorry but you are wrong. The LG and C double Raji. RG and RT double Pickett. Clay comes up the field and the TE pushes him out. There are now 2 holes on the play. Between Clay and Pickett and between Raji and Pickett. Smith makes a move as if he is going to the outside hole and Hawk goes there. Smith plants and takes it between Raji and Pickett where Hawk has vacated. Burnett was playing deep safety to Calvin Johnson's side so Peprah needs to come up and fill the open hole in the line.

Bishop easily could have slid over and made the tackle 4 yards down the field but gets blocked by one arm of the C who is engaged with Raji.

Sounds right, didn't catch the Bishop thing myself though!

[Cheesehead Craig]

I disagree, Bishop and Clay have been playing good this year. I don't think any extra OTAs would have helped Hawk when we are this far in the season.

Clay's been a better overall player this year instead of just a pass rusher, but Bishop hasn't done much of anything. On the whole, the entire LB corps looks out of synch.