This is a fantastic point that is frequently overlooked. More muscle and more mass are good to a point, but too much muscle can actually impede a player on the field. The team may simply need to intervene and order Hawk to shed some of the excess muscle so that he's better equipped to fly around the field.

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They tried that this camp.. remember the thread about locking him out of the training facility.. but cutting mass isn't going to help his instincts that have faded.. nor put some giddy up in his ass to bring out the angry Hawk..

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Well, if you aren't constantly improving your game you open yourself up to losing your job. AJ started out a solid player but he really has not improved at all since he was drafted. Hopefully something like this will motivate him to improve because he still has tremendous potential.

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Chillar is very good in coverage. He's nimble and he has speed. I think it's just logical to use him in that role.

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I still think it's physical - he got dinged somewhere, somehow and that's affected his ability to be a dynamic player. Also, if I recall correctly, Chillar was brought in last year because Hawk and Popp were liabilities on passing downs - so as you say, this isn't a new development.

If it's best for the team, I hope they make it so. One of Thompson/McCarthy's most admirable traits (to this point, anyway) is that they're not afraid to admit a player isn't what they thought he would be when drafted - they've done a good job overall of ignoring the "Ha! Another bust!" jackoffs and just doing what's best for the team. If pulling Hawk on nickel downs is the right thing, I have every expectation that they'll do just that.

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I know I would like to see bishop in there alot more once the season starts

To much thinking and not enough reacting. I'm not down on him like you, but Hawk needs to pickup his play. Perhaps not being on the field all the time will light a spark and he'll go out and make some plays. He has all the tools to be great, but he can't put them together for some reason.

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I think Hawk has played much more aggressive this preseason. I've seen plenty of plays where he has blown up the pocket in front of the QB, maybe not getting the sack, but definitely adding pressure. He has poorly played contain a couple times and been juked out of his cleats. I definitely think the LB corp deserves to try out all options and combinations to see which is most effective. I'll hold final judgement until then.

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I have tried to say this.. it isn't that I think he isn't a solid player.. it is that my expectations for Hawk coming out of OSU were higher than what he has achieved.

Hawk in college read the play and attacked it.. Hawk here as we have said many a time is slow to read the play and is reacting a couple beats late. Last year I thought it was coaching.. but seeing Lananash and Bishop perform this (pre)season, I think I was in error on Moss.. albeit it didn't jump Hawks ass until the end of the season.

Solid player.. but the talent and instincts in college projected much more than he has achieved to current date. Maybe it was the vanilla college offenses he played against in college.. maybe he just can't handle the game here from the mental side.

Maybe someday he will get pissed enough at me, that he will hunt me down, kick my ass, and then start to play freaking ball like he has the potential too.. :lol:

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doesn't Hawk wear the headset on our defense? i doubt the coaches would have him wear it all offseason just to bench him come game time.