The AJ Hawk debate gets ignited?

by TrevorR on Jan 19, 2011 2:23 PM CST

I know we've debated on A.J. Hawk all year but I ran into something today from NFP on Yahoo while I was looking for interesting stories. Dan Pompei is one of their authors who wanted to make HIS selections for All Pros. His list included a few Packers...still none on offense but I don't object to those omissions. While we have elite talent at a few positions, I wouldn't argue they are better than the people he nominated.

What caught me off guard was his selections on D. The obvious was Matthews at OLB...heck if he wasn't there I probably wouldn't have made it to the other two. He recognized Tramon Williams for the talent he is by teaming him with Revis for one SICK CB tandem. There are others that could be ahead of him BUT I think Tramon deserves it!

The show stopper was when I looked at ILB and saw AJ Hawk listed next to Urlacher. Now I am not an AJ Hawk hater but I have to say seeing his name there was a show stopper. So lets open the debate...are we missing something? It seems like outside of Packer nation, people LOVE him but the majority of Packer fans seem to dislike him. What are we missing here that the non-Packer nation sees?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20110119_one_mans_allpro_vote

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We don’t see a player who makes flashy plays like a high draft pick is “supposed” to do. AJ is just a very solid ILB who allows others to work off him to make the flashy plays. Guy is a great team player, and when put in a leadership position after Barnett went down, has elevated his game to a higher level.

by Gotty033 on Jan 19, 2011 2:53 PM CST reply actions

Really like AJ, never understood everyone wanting to hang him from the nearest tree

I think he has had a great season as a all around inside linebacker this season and seems to be a team leader. I have noticed high praise for him by NFL insiders all season. As much as I love Aj there are probably 4-5 guys that had better seasons. Willis, Lewis, Timmons to name a few

by the yooper on Jan 19, 2011 3:00 PM CST reply actions

led the team in tackles, career high in INTs

LIke Yooper said, there are others. I would also throw in Dansby, the Arizona LB that made the big play against us last year. I also think Bart Scott of the Jets has elevated his play. He’s also more of playmaker.

But Hawk is not THAT far behind! Solid play all around by Hawk. On top of all that, Hawk NEVER seems to get hurt. And as Greg Bedard used to point out “Staying healthy is also a talent”. It seems like Nick Barnett gets hurt every year. Hope we keep him over Barnett.

I will still hesitate in calling AJ Hawk an all pro because of his pass defense. But the guy is very good all around.

by PackFaninFL on Jan 19, 2011 4:16 PM CST reply actions

Hawk deserves some recognition

He seems to be getting alot more nationally than locally, which is rarely the case! Good for him! He’s played very well for the Packers especially after Barnett went down! I would put him up there behind Willis and Urlacher in the NFC, but behind most of the AFC guys listed by others above. He’s very solid… Most just wanted an exceptional playmaker at #5 in the draft. Fans aren’t know for being rational tho…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jan 19, 2011 4:24 PM CST reply actions

Ya, Urlacher is one didn't want to mention him this week

by the yooper on Jan 19, 2011 5:16 PM CST up reply actions

Everybody else sees the fact that he was taken #5 overall

Most fans equate high draft picks to All-Pro talent; which, by that logic, makes JaMarcus Russell one :|

"And at the end of fear... OBLIVION!" - Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow

by mike_o on Jan 19, 2011 5:37 PM CST reply actions

Kinda crazy if you ask me. I also heard Hawk referred to as one of the “key” guys on defense on ESPN, to which I had to laugh at. He really hasn’t been any better this season than he was last year in my opinion. If you ask me, Bishop has been much more impressive than Hawk has this season. They’ve both got the tackles, but Bishop has had more impact plays. I think he’s got 3 sacks, a couple of forced fumbles, and a pick 6.

Hawk seems kinda one dimensional too me. He basically just plays the run. He’s not great in coverage, and he’s a really, really poor blitzer. Bishop can play the run, but he can also cover and blitz too.

I really think a lot of people that aren’t Packer fans, or fans that don’t watch the Packers much just think Hawk is better than he really is because of where he was drafted.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 19, 2011 5:40 PM CST reply actions

I wish I had access to that segment

What exactly were there reasons for this? Most times, they don’t just come up with this out of their ass. They do after all have to do a lot of research. It’s a part of their profession.

I’m not saying Hawk is a great player, but I think a lot of us do tend to underappreciate what he does for this defense. Hawk is a key player when it comes to stopping the run. He is reliable being that he’s always healthy and is assignment sure. He just isn’t flashy. If I could grade him this year, I’d give him a B-. He’s better than average, but there are some better ILB’s than Hawk. His pass coverage has improved, but he’s still not great at it. His pass rushing skills are not beastly, but a lot of times he’s asked to take out the blockers on cross blitzes so guys like Bishop or Matthews can get a free shot at the QB. When you’re bigger and you can absorb those kind of beatings, you will be asked to sacrifice yourself for the team.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

REVENGE 4 DEANNA !!!
Brent Favre is the cheater!!!!!

by Jabooty on Jan 19, 2011 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

I don’t disagree that he’s solid.

He definitely does the dirty work. He takes on blocks for sure but he doesn’t ever seem to be able to shed those blocks and then go and make a play on the ball carrier. That’s what an elite LB does in my opinion, and I just don’t see Hawk do that much. An elite LB also is good in coverage, and Hawk surely is not.

I’d take Urlacher, Willis, Beason, Vilma, Timmons, Lewis, Bishop, Mayo, D. Johnson, and Fletcher over Hawk. But that’s just me.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 19, 2011 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

Right

Your point in that he struggles to shed blocks is what seperates him from the elite class. In no way would I ever in my right mind consider AJ Hawk an elite RB. We tend to underappreciate what he brings to the Defense, but we don’t overrate him like ESPN did here. AJ Hawk is a solid player that does his job, but not to the level of being an All Pro. Overall (considering everything he does), he’s better than average. His biggest contributions to the team are being a solid tackler, healthy, assignment sure, and reliable.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

REVENGE 4 DEANNA !!!
Brent Favre is the cheater!!!!!

by Jabooty on Jan 19, 2011 9:33 PM CST up reply actions

Hawk blitzing...

Nearly every time I’ve seen Hawk come on a blitz its both ILB coming and Hawk is the one that basically is assigned to tie up any last blocker so the other ILB coming has a free shot! I’ve seen that happen far too often for it to be a coincidence! Hawk even in the run game is the one who takes on the OL so the weak ILB can run free, same when the blitz… Hawk takes any blitz pickup guys so Barnett/Bishop can have a free run!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jan 19, 2011 8:16 PM CST up reply actions

I have noticed that alot too.

I think he is a solid player. Maybe not a top 5 pick, maybe not an all pro. But I think there is for sure a place for him in the league. He does pretty much everything well but nothing outstanding.

I would hate to see where we would be without him

by o-lineu on Jan 19, 2011 8:19 PM CST up reply actions

Either

We would be drafting another ILB high in the draft. Someone that is big enough to absorb the blocks and can do everything AJ does, only better.

We will have Barnett and Bishop in, and see a Defense that really struggles against the running game.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

REVENGE 4 DEANNA !!!
Brent Favre is the cheater!!!!!

by Jabooty on Jan 19, 2011 9:40 PM CST up reply actions

I’ve seen that be the case most times recently but I’ve also seen him come free, and the guy almost never can get home. He’s just too slow or not instinctive enough.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 20, 2011 3:32 PM CST up reply actions

I was watching that day too…I chuckled and thought of some of you on here!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 20, 2011 9:33 AM CST up reply actions

AJ

First of all, I’m a lifelong Buckeye fan. Having said that, I’m not crazy about AJ as an NFL LB. I loved him in college but pretty disappointed in him as a Packer. I’d keep him if he took a pay cut, but not at $11M. I think most people outside of GB fans recognize AJ’s name and his rep as a Buckeye.

by bigbill992001 on Jan 19, 2011 7:01 PM CST reply actions

Insert Lame picture of Quinn/Hawk jersey here

by o-lineu on Jan 19, 2011 8:12 PM CST up reply actions

Two seasons ago, DirecTV used him as their Packer in the "group shot" advertising their Sunday Ticket package

I guess they figured he was the most recognizable of the bunch. Next year, they’re gonna have a lot to choose from if they want another pic like that…

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Jan 20, 2011 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, he has the name recognition

Afterall, he has that great LB name, A.J. Hawk. He’s a decent LB but not great. I’d keep him if the salary was low enough, otherwise let him go. As much as I love AJ, I think we’d not miss him on the field with the group of LB we have now. Whatever happens, I’ll be pulling for him to succeed.

by bigbill992001 on Jan 20, 2011 5:28 PM CST up reply actions

CUT HIM

Jags would love to have him. :)

by rhettchrystal on Jan 19, 2011 8:57 PM CST reply actions

We'd trade him way before we'd ever cut him

I’m sure you would like to have him though.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

REVENGE 4 DEANNA !!!
Brent Favre is the cheater!!!!!

by Jabooty on Jan 19, 2011 9:38 PM CST up reply actions

I’d be interested to hear how many fanbases would love to have AJ around if we got rid of him.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 20, 2011 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

Josh Sitton was on there for Offense

Just wanted to point that out. I think he definitely deserves it.

by JDub37 on Jan 19, 2011 11:11 PM CST reply actions

Oh did I miss him? I think I skimmed over the O line! haha

I will point out that NFP has a CLEAR Packer bias so you have to take that partially into account since the guy who runs it is a former front office guy of the Pack!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 20, 2011 9:35 AM CST up reply actions

Anyone who knows anything about football has a Packer bias.

by Wiedmann on Jan 20, 2011 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Not sure what you mean, many fans that know football are Bear biased

by the yooper on Jan 20, 2011 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

If your saying people who know football favor the Packers, in general I would agree with that

by the yooper on Jan 20, 2011 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

I am referring to the fact that the site itself has a bias due to Andrew Brandt kinda runnign the show there. He’s a former Packer front office guy and they have a LOT of articles and stuff about the Packers…these guys KNOW this team well and have a BIT of a bias.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 20, 2011 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

AJ Hawk Has One Disadvantage

and that’s that the rest of the defensive team has pretty much played lights out.

But Hawk has been great. I think the non-start at the earlier part of the season got something buring inside of him. I remember there being some speculation of him being the tradable player when Marshawn Lynch was the hot topic.

Although Lynch made the eternal highlight reel, I look at Hawk’s play and feel no regrets. He’s definitely a contributing factor to a defense that has pretty much gotten the Pack to where they are today.

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi

by AdamA on Jan 20, 2011 3:49 PM CST reply actions

Just in case you haven't seen it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueR1TFFEt3g

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Jan 20, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

Not Worth Money Spent

Hawk is perfect in the middle with Bishop. They both play the position very well and can prove a play when needed. Sad thing is, Hawk is being paid over $6 million a year to do that. Bishop just signed a new contract and is being paid $4.75 million a year and performing better than Hawk.

Hawk knows his role and performs it well, just he is overpaid.

by king.nothing on Jan 22, 2011 11:10 AM CST reply actions