I'm just thinking right now that purely in regards to "potential" and "athletic ability" the best player in our LB core is A.J. Hawk. That said, to this point in his career he's wildly inconsistent and was closest to "impact" in his rookie campaign.

That said -- with the new signing of the venerable Dom Capers (my favorite from BEFORE his name was mentioned as a contender) it gets me thinking: are we going to see the REAL A.J. Hawk next season? Whether that means Hawk is destined for greatness or mediocre is yet to be seen -- but mark my words, it WILL be seen next season. Hawk will immediately be given the reigns to be more active in the scheme. Gone will be the days where the weak-side linebacker sits back. Capers will play to Hawk's athletic talents. That would have to translate into blitzing or being involved -- at the very least -- in more unique pressure schemes than seen under Bob Sanders. And so, we will see what Hawk is made of. I'm still of the belief that he can be a great linebacker. If he's mediocre in a scheme that allegedly plays to his strengths, then his strengths are mediocre.

But right now I'm EXCITED ... because I think A.J. Hawk will shine in his new role.

Thoughts? :magnifyglass:

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here's hoping. it's not like he doesn't have "it". we all saw what he did at THE ohio state. I'm excited!

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I hope he does get unleashed. I want to have a strong LB core like we had last year.

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The first time I see AJ attack a run and shoot a gap, play downhill I will probably attempt a freaking back flip.

Wonder how Moss fits into the scheme.. you know with his "Assistant Head Coach" title.. while having an underperforming position group?

Maybe Moss's ideas will jell with Capers, that is if Moss stays, and the overall linebacker group starts to grow and improve, in contrast to the regressing they have done to this point.

We have worlds of talent at the backer position 5 deep that could play for most teams.. I concur... he is to them being unleashed and start hammering players.

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I don't understand the relationship between the title and the subtitle of this thread. I fail to see how you could possibly evaluate this DC hire on the performance of one player. Could you elaborate on this a bit?

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I think Moss is as good as gone. I think he was just kept on as a courtesy while he was in the running for some HC jobs.

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Agreed with that thought since the rest hit the streets..

But regardless that needs to be addressed in today's presser.. IMO.

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evad04 was just expressing in writing what we've all been hoping: that AJ is a good/great linebacker who's underachieving because he's being misused. Hopefully, Capers will scheme a way to let AJ play to his talents.

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I'm not evaluating the DC hire based on A.J. Hawk. I'm showing excitement that A.J. Hawk will be playing in a more creative, pressure oriented defense than what we've had in recent years.

The subtitle was [failed] sarcasm. Any time you bring in a new coach it makes you think about what impact it will make. For Hawk, I wonder if it will unleash him. And if he's mediocre next season then we can expect him to be mediocre overall -- because he will be given a big role in next year's defense. I think he'll shine, though.

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Normally I have a good nose for sarcasm (I actually suspected it from the optimistic tone of your post), but I think the effect may have been blunted (in my head anyway) by the lack of obvious relationship between title and subtitle.

/topic hijack

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