Aaron at cheeseheadtv hits the nail on the head when it comes to A.J. Hawk and what he needs to do to become the player we need him to be:



read the rest here.  

I have been watching all of the game footage in reviewing the linebackers.. and I know Foster hates it when I say it but Hawk on most plays in playing on his heels, waiting for the play instead of attacking like a backer should.

Is he thinking to much? Is the speed of this game too much for him to handle mentally?

Hawk was never the fastest player on the field, but going back and watching tape of him at OSU, he was a attacking, downhill smart football player. Year after year in this system he has become less of that attacking player and more of the plodding sit in the hole and react type linebacker. It looks like he has a hard time diagnosing the plays in my opinion.. he is a step later than the other backers.

Some thought I over punished Moss this offseason, but this is one of the primary reasons I thought it was time for him to go. Each of the Linebackers have seemed to regress under his watch or hold in there current state at best.. you still see Poppinga and Barnett overrunning plays, Hawk sitting looking lost, or any of the backers struggle in the passing coverage aspect.

Some point to the line play as the whole culprit, some to the scheme.

Schemes don't dictate pursuit angles, coverage techniques and the ability for the players to learn to read offensive plays and tenancies then proactively attack the play.. coaches and the players themselves do.

Hawk has regressed year by year.. started out very well (above average) and has regressed into a very average linebacker at this point. Making tackles when he should but not much beyond that.. not the game changer he appeared to be at OSU.

BTW.. damn skippy I like that piece.. been what I have been saying for the better parts of the past 5 plus freaking months.

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He's talented enough and smart enough to get coached up by Capers and Company.

Maybe Hawk was so assignment sure he overthought during plays but on the other hand the scheme called for being assignment sure and I don't believe at all that this guy can't play with more abandon if burdenend by less assignment.

I would be more concerned if he had been given more opportunity to be more aggressive and in a more attacking scheme and looked poor doing it. Let's not forget NOBODY really got BETTER in Sanders defense. Kampman and Jenkins held their own but the reason he's gone is neither as a team or individually there was not the improvement in play or numbers you would want to see.

Besides, who says Capers defense requires being any less assignment conscience? Just because guys move around more and are more aggressive doesn't mean any less emphasis on assignments.

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War.. As much as I agree on some of the issues stemming from the read react scheme, when Hawk had open lanes to attack, he still sat with that wide base and waited.. When he did engage it was generally high on the ball carrier and with little force.

Like he has become muscle bound in the mid section or something.. very tight player in space.. I just don't know if he has the agility to turn it loose.. at least on film by the looks of it.

Assignment vigilant is one thing, but becoming a analytical robot of a player is another.. I popped in games from late in the 07 season and that stiff look was there already...

I hope I am wrong come fall, but I refuse to buy into the notion that it is all scheme related. The issues start and end with Hawk himself.. I hope he wakes up this season and plays with the OSU fire he had.

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Good post. I hope Hawk unleashes this year. I think he has the tools to do so and with Greene as the linebackers coach and Capers as the D-coordinator, he can be as successful as everyone wants him to be.

His size, speed, and strength should allow him to go all out. I will be keeping my eye on the linebackers this season.

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I wonder how much he will work with Greene. Greene will be coaching OLBs and Moss will continue working with ILBs, as I understand it.

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I don't really see anything wrong with Hawk, nor am I a coach, just a beer guzzling Packer Fan. I would encourage people to go back and watch the game we stomped the Bears this year. That was Hawks first game in the middle and he dominated.

I know his stats aren't pro bowl type stuff but I have a feeling he's going to benefit from this defensive switch.

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Hawk along with Picket and Barnett both looked great in the opener but our entire D seemed to just dissolve (excluding a few our DBs) as the year progressed, Hawk has so much potential and I think the 3-4 can really bring that out of him, he was under and misused in the Jim Bates defense, hopefully playing as a 3-4 backer will allow him to get his head down and blow up plays like he did all those years playing for my buckeyes.

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God I hope so.

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I do think the injuries, played a big part in his performance. It was an injury that not only hurts, but has a drastic effect on how he could train and prepare that set him back even after healed.

Switching positions is also a thing that takes time.

I believe Hawk appeared to be waiting for plays because he was, and mostly do to scheme. I believe he was coached last year to not be to aggressive to avoid giving up the big play. And I don't think it worked.

I believe the 3-4 will be great for Hawk. I picture him being the MLB that shoots into the line run blitzing, and taking up blockers to allow the smaller Barnett to make tackles.

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