Ordered to take off
Packers want Hawk to raise his game
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Dec. 10, 2008
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Photo/Mark Hoffman
A.J. Hawk stops Houston running back Steve Slaton on Sunday. The linebacker finished with five tackles, two solo.
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Photo/Mark Hoffman
A.J. Hawk stops Houston running back Steve Slaton on Sunday. The linebacker finished with five tackles, two solo.
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Linebacker:
The comparison - inevitable.
In his first career start at weakside linebacker on Sunday against the Houston Texans, Desmond Bishop had a team-high 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss on a third-and-1 play and forced a fumble at the goal line.
For Bishop, a former sixth-round draft choice in his second year with the Green Bay Packers, it was a career game.
Unfortunately for A.J. Hawk, it brought his career into question.
If Bishop can do that in one start, why hasn't Hawk - the fifth overall pick in 2006 - been able to do the same?
The coaches seem to be asking themselves the same thing.
"That's a legitimate question," linebackers coach Winston Moss said on Monday. "I think in just one game, Desmond was very impactful."
When asked specifically how that relates to Hawk, Moss, in effect, called out Hawk.
"A.J. needs to get going," Moss said.
"We need to get some more production out of him. I think his talent-level and the position that he's in right now, we can expect more, we're demanding more."
On Wednesday, Hawk did not disagree with his position coach.
"Yeah, obviously I would have loved to make more impact plays and do things like that," Hawk said. "So, yeah, I agree with him saying that. I think, obviously, if I started having some impact plays personally in this defense, we can start to turn it around and get this thing going in the right direction."
In his three-year career, Hawk has made 45 starts. His last four have come at middle linebacker, since Nick Barnett went down with a season-ending knee injury.
In 41 starts at weakside linebacker, Hawk has had six games that were on par with Bishop's performance in terms of a variety of impact plays - those that stop drives, put the opposing team in tough down and distances, or produce turnovers.
Curiously, Hawk's big games have dwindled as he gets more entrenched in the Packers' defense. Hawk had three standout performances as a rookie: at Miami, at Minnesota and at San Francisco. He also led or tied the team in total tackles in three other games.
In 2007, Hawk had two big games: at Kansas City (seven tackles, interception and two passes defensed) and at Dallas (14 tackles, two for a loss).
This season, as Hawk missed the better part of two games with a groin injury and has switched positions, only against Detroit (first career two-sack game, seven tackles and two pressures) has he had an impact on defense.
Hawk, who has posted five or less total tackles in three of his past five games, including Sunday's five-tackle performance, said he's at a loss to explain his lack of production.
"I wish I knew, believe me. I have no idea," Hawk said. "Obviously, my approach and preparation hasn't changed. Nothing like that has changed. I think just taking advantage of the opportunities when they're there and make my own opportunities; I need to do that a little bit more."
Moss said Hawk can start by just playing the game. Too often, Hawk focuses solely on his own responsibility during each play, and doesn't see some of the opponent's weaknesses that would allow him to burst through the line and make a play.
"He's extremely focused on being assignment-correct at this time," Moss said. "And that's probably affecting his ability to let loose and make some plays. So as a coach, I'm obviously trying to find that medium between, 'Hey, you need to get your assignment done, but you also have to be a football player. Your talent level and your ability and the positions we're putting you in, go out there and make some plays.' "
Bishop gave a perfect example of how to just play the game. In the second quarter, he came off his man to force a touchdown-saving fumble at the goal line against Texans tight end Owen Daniels.
Hawk said he understands what Moss is trying to tell him.
"Obviously, you have to find a balance between knowing what you're supposed to do, knowing what everyone else around you is doing and at the same time just playing football and not thinking," Hawk said. "What it comes down to is doing what you're supposed to be doing and then just playing. Just like when you were a little kid."
Unfortunately for the Packers, it's way past late for Hawk to be getting this message. With all the injuries they've had, with all the problems the defense has dealt with, the Packers needed their most talented players to help the team get over the hump.
But in losing five of their past six games, the Packers' season is all but over. If Hawk was ever going to just let loose and let his natural ability take over - what the Packers saw when they made him the highest linebacker drafted since LaVar Arrington went second overall to the Washington Redskins in 2000 - now is the time.
"Whatever they give, I'll try to take, obviously," Hawk said. "I'm always trying to find ways to make plays, but I don't know, I'm not going to sit there and press and try to do someone else's job or do anything else."
When you're drafted fifth overall, teams - and especially their fans - expect you to make plays in just about every game and be one of the guys the team can count on to change games.
Hawk has not done that to this point. Until he does, questions are going to continue to linger as to whether or not he was worthy of being the fifth overall pick.
"Obviously, I'm not satisfied with how I've played or how many wins we've had since I've been here. I'm definitely not satisfied with that," Hawk said. "But as far as proving whatever my worth is or where I was picked, that's not really up to me to judge. But I think you can never really do enough. I think as players, we are always trying to do more, make more plays, and I'm no different."