AJ HAWK

[Brandon494]

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

Yea because Hawk was a high draft pick, since Bishop has recieved the starting job he has outplayed Hawk.

[Brandon494]

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.

Bishop leads the team in tackles and is tied with Clay for most sacks on the team (5). He had a bad game covering Gates in the Chargers game but besides that hes had a really good season.

[mraynrand]

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.

Not only that, but he put Matthews in coverage on Pettigrew most of the time (other times he doubled with Peprah and CWood). Took away their big two weapons and asked everyone else to slow down their pedestrian run game. Good game plan.

[collapse77]

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.

This is right before Hawk jumps to his left. You're telling me there is a hole between Pickett and Matthews? That is pretty sound defense if that is the lane the back chooses.

[mraynrand]

Bishop leads the team in tackles and is tied with Clay for most sacks on the team (5). He had a bad game covering Gates in the Chargers game but besides that hes had a really good season.

It's absurd to ask Bishop to cover an elite TE all the way across the field for 4 seconds. They've done that to Bishop in several games, and predictably, when there's no pass rush, he looks bad. The ironic thing is that Bishop has been probably the best or second best pass rusher this season, so when they have him in coverage, it cripples the defense in two ways.

[ThunderDan]

Yes in the NFL that is a running lane. Two unblocked ILBs in your picture. Only Shields beating the block of the WR close the outside hole some.

[collapse77]

It's absurd to ask Bishop to cover an elite TE all the way across the field for 4 seconds. They've done that to Bishop in several games, and predictably, when there's no pass rush, he looks bad. The ironic thing is that Bishop has been probably the best or second best pass rusher this season, so when they have him in coverage, it cripples the defense in two ways.

Agreed. Their best rushers are their best cover guys. It says a lot when they prefer Bishop and his 4.8 forty to Hawk in coverage.

[collapse77]

Yes in the NFL that is a running lane. Two unblocked ILBs in your picture. Only Shields beating the block of the WR close the outside hole some.

Well it's a minimal gain if that is the hole he chooses. Good thing Hawk snuffed out that threat.

[ThunderDan]

Playing a 2-4-5 defense against a one back one TE set for Detroit is exactly what the Lions wanted. It looks like a passing formation with 3 WR but with the safeties playing high all day to take away Clavin Johnson that is really a 6-on-6 blocking situation. Double team the 2 down lineman let the two OLB contain the outside and push them out and you have 3 running lanes and 2 ILBs to cover the holes. Peprah being on the off-side from Calvin Johnson has to come up and "plug" one of the holes. That is the run fit on that play for the Packers.

[ThunderDan]

Well it's a minimal gain if that is the hole he chooses. Good thing Hawk snuffed out that threat.

Really, you are going to argue that an outside hole where if the Detroit WR makes the block on Shields there is only one player between the running back and the endzone is better than pushing the RB back to the middle of the field where Bishop and Burnett plus Peprah could make the tackle.

[collapse77]

Playing a 2-4-5 defense against a one back one TE set for Detroit is exactly what the Lions wanted. It looks like a passing formation with 3 WR but with the safeties playing high all day to take away Clavin Johnson that is really a 6-on-6 blocking situation. Double team the 2 down lineman let the two OLB contain the outside and push them out and you have 3 running lanes and 2 ILBs to cover the holes. Peprah being on the off-side from Calvin Johnson has to come up and "plug" one of the holes. That is the run fit on that play for the Packers.

10 defenders played it well. There was one hole and it was wearing #50.

[collapse77]

Really, you are going to argue that an outside hole where if the Detroit WR makes the block on Shields there is only one player between the running back and the endzone is better than pushing the RB back to the middle of the field where Bishop and Burnett plus Peprah could make the tackle.

He doesn't get by Matthews in my opinion.

[RashanGary]

Sometimes, I do think a player can be better than his actual physical play indicates. Hawk isn't a dominating player like Collins, Bishop, Clay, Raji, Williams and Woodson are. He's more of a leader / communication / responsibility guy. I think the coaches really trust him in there, to keep things flowing the way they want them to. Offenses, more and more are trying to dictate tempo. Defenses can get caught reeling in basic, base defense. The Packers practice fast and furious. Maybe Hawk helps the defense keep up with that fast and furious pace without getting forced into predictable D. . . . Mayber there are a host of other variables we're not aware of.

One thing we do know, TT loved him enough to pay him and I'm certain the coaches had a say in that. Sometimes we just don't know what goes into it.

That said, Bishop is a beast. There is room for primary beasts and primary communication guys. 6M isn't through the roof in todays NFL. It just says, they really like AJ Hawk.

The unfortunate thing, other personnel people don't know what intangibles Hawk brings. They only see his play on the field. I wonder if they could have gotten him cheaper. But he's been probowl alternates. . . . who the hell knows. . . He doesn't flash, but who the hell knows.

[Brandon494]

Hawk should be making half what he is making right now. I honestly believe DJ Smith would be a better fit starting next to Bishop next season but that wont happen. Also I'm tired of hearing this leader/communication crap like the guy is Ray Lewis out there. I never see him take control of the defensive huddle, hes just a guy.

[3irty1]

Hawk is really becoming a mystery to me. I've never seen a player turn major strengths into major weaknesses like he has so far in his career. For his first two season's in the Bob Sanders defense he was a superb coverage linebacker even in man to man with a TE or RB. Then he just became stiff and ineffective one offseason. At least he was still a solid tackler--one of the few guys in the league you'd take one on one with any ball carrier. Now he's whiffing on that too. I'm not sure what he still does well.