Hawk at MLB?

[Green Bud Packer]

after reading about A.J Hawk all off-season and now after his first mini-camp i think the Pack should try Hawk at mike and move barnett to will.moving hawk to the middle will put the most instinctive lb in a position to make plays on both sides of the o.l.i hope the pack didn't spend a #5 on a weak side backer.

[wist43]

We've been having these discussions since the draft, and I think most of us are in agreement that whoever is in the middle, it shouldn't be Barnett. Apparently everyone can see that except the Packers organization.

I'd prefer to see Hodge at mike, Barnett at will, and Hawk at sam... Barnett has no business in the middle.

[RashanGary]

I used to think the same thing but now I'm changing my tune a little bit. First of all, Why shouldn't someone spend an early pick on a MLB but not a OLB?

1st Round 2005 OLB

1 11 DeMarcus Ware OLB Troy
1 12 Shawne Merriman OLB Maryland
1 15 Derrick Johnson OLB Texas
1 17 David Pollack OLB Georgia

1st Round 2004 OLB

1 17 D.J. Williams OLB Miami
1 27 Jason Babin OLB Western Michigan

1st Round 2003 OLB

1 32 Tyler Brayton OLB Colorado

1st Round 2002 OLB

1 23 Napoleon Harris OLB Northwestern
1 31 Robert Thomas OLB UCLA

1st Round 2001 OLB

1 7 Andre Carter OLB California

1st Round 2000 OLB

1 2 LaVar Arrington OLB Penn State
1 16 Julian Peterson OLB Michigan State
1 30 Keith Bulluck OLB Syracuse

13 Players selected to play OLB between 2000 - 2005 as high as pick # 2 with Lavar Arrington.

1st Round 2005 MLB

NONE

1st Round 2004 MLB

1 12 Jonathan Vilma MLB Miami

1st Round 2003 MLB

1 29 Nick Barnett MLB Oregon State

1st Round 2002 MLB

NONE

1st Round 2001 MLB

1 11 Dan Morgan MLB Miami

1st Round 2000 MLB

1 9 Brian Urlacher MLB New Mexico
1 28 Rob Morris MLB Brigham Young

Between 2000 and 2005 only 5 MLB's have been selected in the 1st round. None higher than Urlacher at 9


What I'm trying to show here is that NFL teams do not really value their MLB's.

For the most part, the OLB's are the playmakers. They get open looks on the QB with different blitz oppertunities. They are required to have more speed and quickness because most early picks are drafted to play whe weakside and are required to cover a big area of open field. MLB's are usually role players that are used to eat up blocks. The Packers scheme is unique in that the MLB is allowed to run free because the DT's don't focus at all on rushing the passer and just keep blocks off the MLB. That is acctually unusual in todays NFL. There is nothing saying Sanders can's change his scheme a little bit to accomodate his new star OLB.

[RashanGary]

MLB's are not playmakers unless you surround them with big expensive DT's. Look at Ray Lewis' crappy few years since he lost his DT's. He was on T.V. whining that he has to take on tough blocks. No MLB can take on OG's and win. Lewis knows his job was pretty much a role player to take a block adn open up the paly for someone else. That is just a fact. He had a right to whine. They went out and got Ngata and that is what it takes to protect your investment at MLB.

I think people here have some sort of distorted belief that MLB's are important and OLBs are unimportant. Why? I don't know, maybe they are old and they only remember the old NFL...Whatever it is, NFL GM's and Coaches don't agree.

[Spaulding]

Wist, you're exactly right on that. Hodge is a natural at MLB (although some say a tad short but look at Zach Thomas and Dat Nguyen) and Barnett with his speed could excel at weakside. Hawk might have a learning curve at strongside but being much more physical than Barnett would likely equate to a better ability to shed the TE and build on his coverage skills.

[RashanGary]

You guys are just crazy...Why would you want your star LB shedding blocks. Sure he'll be better at just about everything than any LB we have on our roster but is that any reason to make his assignment to eat up blocks.

Ray Lewis wasn't too impressed with it. Urlacher played like crap when Chicago lost their bid DT's. It's funny how people here think MLB's are this rare breed of player when really they are just decoys. Kind of like a fullback. I completely disagree with you guys. Put A.J. over the tight end so he can shed blocks. I'm sorry but that is funny. Why don't they just put Arrington, Derrick Johnson, Julian Peterson on the TE as well becuase they are better at shedding blocks. Why you ask? Because they are better at everything and you'd rather give them open space to smack the QB or make the sometimes almost impossible open field tackle. Sorry guys, block eating is for the FB of the defense. The MLB/OLB.

Our scheme is a little differeent the way we use our DT's but who's to say we can't change a little to accomodate our difference maker at WLB?

[Green Bud Packer]

nice research nick.ware and babin play d.e in the pros. harris is a mlb with minn. pollack has a total 28 tackles. meeriman was rook of the year cuz of ten sacks which is a highly overrated stat in my world.57 total tackles for merriman.lewis,urlacher,vilma are the backbones of their respective "d"s. move hawk inside and he'll wreck havoc in the opposing teams backfield. i do agree if he plays outside it should be on the weak side.

[RashanGary]

Ware and Babin play OLB in a 3-4. I was going to take them off the list. NFL.com has Harris listed as an OLB. He played there in Oakland.

No matter how you cut it, the MLB's are rarely taken early. If you do take one early, you better surround him with great DT's becuase alone he will not be a playmaker.

[RashanGary]

The only problem I have with putting Hawk in the middle is that he would then be a one dimensional run stuffer. Sure he'll be better than Hodge or Barnett at anything he does but why limit him ot one aspect of the game.

Hodge on the other hand is only good at stuffing the run and he's real good at it. Why not put him where he is most able so succeed.

Barnett is the only really good man cover TE we have. Why not have him cover the TE's?

I just think you're most versitile playmaker should be on the weak side in most defenses. The MLB is a run stuffer only. Those gusy can be had in the 3rd round.

[MadtownPacker]

Yeah get Barnett out the middle, he is fast and athletic. His time in college as a S makes him perfect for covering the TE. Plus he has good hands(more INTs then FF).

Hodge sure sounds like a good fit at MLB though.

[Green Bud Packer]

i think part of the reason mlb isn't taken high is the position in college doesn't transfer over to the pros.in college mlb is nothing but a run stuffer.in the n.f.l. mlb has to be able to stuff the run and drop back in coverage.if hawk never leaves the field he'd be in coverags as mlb in nickle and dime situations.i beleive a "d"s idenity comes from the mlb more times than not.

[Tony Oday]

Makes sense take the team record holder for tackles out of the MLB spot.

I think Favre would be good at WR too.

Work Hodge in but he isnt, I PRAY TO GOD, a starter this year.

Hawk weakside, Barnett in the Middle and Taylor or Poppigna at Strongside.

With Pickett and another big body in the middle it will be scary back there this year.

If Taylor is a bust ala Thomas then Poppigna but man Hodge in the Middle as a Rookie that scares me.

[wist43]

Hodge is a very, very good football player, and needs to be on the field.

I find it inconceivable that Hodge wouldn't be one of the 3 best LB's on the Packer roster. If he doesn't start, it would only be b/c Moss and the defensive coaching staff might lack confidence in starting two rookies at LB... that wouldn't be a problem for me. I'd have Hodge penciled in in the middle, and work it out as to which side I put Barnett and Hawk.

That said, I also consider Hawk to be a more natural MLB, than an OLB... Hawk is just a good football player though, so I think they have a lot of flexibility on where they play him.

I'm not going to go off on a rant about Barnett, but I think he is so uninstinctual that he's simply not a good fit in the middle... he has other deficiencies to his game that I think make him a liability just about anywhere he's lined up, but I think his lack of instincts can be hidden more easily if he were lined up on the weakside.

As for "taking on and shedding"... all, LB's have to take on blocks. SLB's in a traditional 4-3 have to routinely take on the RT, TE, and pulling guards to either force the play back inside, or to string it to the side line. The system the Packers run doesn't require their SLB to do that as much, but they still have to be able to shed blocks, or just as importantly, hold the point of attack and string the play out.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I find it inconceivable that Hodge wouldn't be one of the 3 best LB's on the Packer roster.

I don't know that he is any better than Manning. Lets see what he does this summer, college ball is college ball.

Poppinga certainly has fallen off the map! I wonder when he'll get back on the field.

[Green Bud Packer]

if hodge wows the coaches and they have to get him on the field then yes hodge at mike,hawk at will,barnett at sam.but if hodge ain't one of the top three then i like hawk at mike, taylor at sam, barnett at will.