Meet the Packers New Middle Linebacker
by Brandon on Nov 13, 2008 1:43 AM CST
in News
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Whoever he is.
With LB Nick Barnett out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear, the Packers will start someone else at middle linebacker for only the 2nd time since he became the full time starter early in 2003. He broke his hand during the 2006 season and missed one game while former Packer LB Abdul Hodge started in his place.
It's expected by most beat writers that LB A.J. Hawk will start in the middle with LB Brady Poppinga and LB Brandon Chillar on the outside. I would agree that Hawk should be in the middle too, but Mike McCarthy isn't saying who will start:
"(Did you decide what to do at linebacker?)
Yes, we're working all the combinations between A.J. Hawk moving to mike, Brandon Chillar and Desmond Bishop. We're double-training, and also you could put Brady Poppinga into that sort there. We're going to double-train all those guys to make sure we're ready to get in and out of our different personnel groups.
(Any inclination whom to start?)
They're all going to be ready. You guys go to practice. I'm sure you may have an opinion on who's going to be there. We just can't wait to get to Sunday for a number of reasons, particularly who's going to play mike linebacker. A.J. is getting a lot of work there, and we just have to be ready just to be able to move in and out of our different personnel groups."
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AJ needs to get a neck brace
Then he’ll look like a middle linebacker. He certainly is big enough to be a mike linebacker, though you just know the Bears are going to iso Matt Forte on AJ similar to what the Buc’s did to Barnett with Warrick Dunn.
But lets look at the bright side: AJ Hawk has a hell of a motor, even at less than 100% and now he can focus that motor more at stopping the run.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
by jobe on Nov 13, 2008 2:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I am kinda psyched about this...
I wrote the other night how people (mostly fans) speculated on Hawk being more “natural” at middle linebacker…way back when he came in 2006…I feel he could really gel at this position! we shall see and hopefully it can help the run defense…
by PackFaninFL on Nov 13, 2008 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Moving Barnett
When Hawk and Hodge were drafted in 2006, I thought it meant Barnett was moving to the outside to chase the TE in pass coverage. Instead Hodge stayed on the bench and Hawk was on the weak side. I’ve always thought it was a poor place to put Hawk.
by Brandon on Nov 14, 2008 12:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Couldn't agree more
Barnett has always seemed suited to the outside more to me
Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb
by verno329 on Nov 14, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
He played outside at Oregon State
The advantage with putting Barnett in the middle is that hes maybe the fastest Mike linebacker in the game, and playing outside hes just another coverage linebacker, but I’d rather have guys play in the spots that fits them.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
by jobe on Nov 15, 2008 6:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Abdul Hodge
I bet they’re regretting cutting Hodge. I thought he was a beast, and we could really use him in place of Barnett.
by Spurs20 on Nov 13, 2008 4:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Desmond Bishop is probably just as good if not better than Abdul Hodge
If the coaches thought Abdul Hodge could be a spot-starter in this league, trust me he would still be on our roster.
Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey
by jobe on Nov 13, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Injuries
I think injuries had to play a role in the decision. They still might have thought Bishop was better, but they had to have considered Hodge’s fragility. I didn’t think it was a big one, but I would have said Hodge was slightly better than Bishop.
by Brandon on Nov 14, 2008 12:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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