Zero2Cool
16 years ago

[img_r]http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/sep08/shawk0923.jpg[/img_r]Green Bay - He is solid. Dependable. Durable. We know this about third-year linebacker A.J. Hawk. No. 50 is a sure tackler rarely caught out of position who has played with maturity even though he is still relatively young.

Teammates have nothing bad to say about the guy. Coaches take comfort in knowing what they have in Hawk and count on it every week. So its hard to figure out what more Hawk can do short of making the kind of plays that might get him a little more attention.

Linebacker all the way around it is under-appreciated, Hawks teammate Nick Barnett said. Im not talking linebacker that lines up at defensive end and blitzes. I dont even consider that linebacker they get a lot of credit and the things that get a lot of attention in the NFL are sacks and interceptions.

Thats not us. Were kind of in-between to prevent run and pass.

While Hawk has been one of the leading tacklers since he got to Green Bay, the door is for him to push himself to be a little more than what he is. The standards are high for the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft. The expectations are higher still because hes fortunate enough to play behind an exceptionally talented defensive line.

A.J. has been fine. Hes does a very solid job, very adequate job, said linebackers coach Winston Moss. I have very, very high standards for A.J. and when I say adequate, hes doing well right now. He could do better.

By that, Moss is referring to impact plays. Hawk now aims to make more of those.

Impact plays could be anything from a sack to a tackle for loss on third down, Hawk said. You always want to make more plays. I didnt make a whole lot of them last year.

To date, Hawk has 6.5 sacks, three interceptions and 10 passes defensed in his career. There are chances for Hawk to make waves and change the momentum of the game in favor of the defense. He demonstrated that at Detroit.

Hawk got his second sack of the game with pure determination. The running back had cut him down earlier, stopping Hawk short of the quarterback. So on the next pursuit, Hawk jumped over the back to slide in for the sack.

Hes done a good job of improving his intensity of play so far, Moss said. I think he definitely think hes starting off at a higher point this year.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson said that if Hawk keeps playing the way he is, hell enjoy a long career in the NFL. He seems less concerned about the big splash plays that lead to Pro Bowls.

To play that position the way that he and Nick play it, theyre very impactful already, Thompson said. Maybe a few more interceptions, pick up a fumble (could help) but theres the example of that sack he made over in Detroit. When he just dives over everybody, I mean theres not a lot of people that can do stuff like that.

Perhaps Some players seem more focused when theyre playing with an injury. Moss experienced that himself in his 11 years in the NFL and believes the same is for Hawk.

Ive had a chest injury so its something I can relate to, Moss said. And I knew my body and I knew what I could do and I blocked it out . . . Its actually just toughness to put yourself in a position to make extra plays without obviously trying to irritate or re-injure it. The A.J. situation is very, very similar.

Hawk suffered a strained chest muscle early in training camp. It was newsworthy because it was the first practice he had missed in six years (including college). Yet he was ready for the season and has never missed a game 35 and counting.

Hes one of those workout guys we have to open the workout room early for, Thompson said. Hes very diligent about taking care of his body and quite frankly he kind of talked all of us in to playing in the first game. We were a little bit hesitant but his insistence that he would be OK, he finally kind of turned the medical people, myself and coach around.

Hawk is sort of a health nut he sleeps in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to increase his red blood cell count and enhance his endurance.

I just try to take it seriously, how to take care of your body, Hawk said. You see the guys we had here in training camp that got cut, so staying in this game is really hard, I know. Id like to play for a while.


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Rockmolder
16 years ago
That he's trying to push himself even harder to become even better than he is now, is just crazy. The man is, in my eyes, one of the greatest LBs in the league, especially together with Barnett, they're a sick duo.

If he can actually manage to make more impact plays like that, he'll be one of the best that ever played imo.
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dfosterf (7h) : FYI civilian companies swipe the S2 designation from the military. S2 is the intelligence branch up to brigade level. G2 is division level.
dfosterf (8h) : Google it. Make sure to tack NFL on it or you will get the military meaning
Zero2Cool (9h) : S2?
beast (9h) : Seems like the S2 has a love/hate relationship with professional scouts.
beast (9h) : In theory, the S2 test how quickly a QBs brain can solve game like issues and how quickly they can do it.
dfosterf (10h) : Are you gentlemen and at least one lady familiar with the S2 cognition
Zero2Cool (10h) : Maybe there isn't an issue.
beast (11h) : NFL really needs to fix their position labeling issue, but I don't think they care
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Packers did not activate the fifth-year options for linebacker Quay Walker, with the goal of signing him to a contract extension.
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Matthew Golden spoke with Randall Cobb before draft. Looked like chance encounter.
packerfanoutwest (1-May) : from a head left turn?
packerfanoutwest (1-May) : someone drunk?
Zero2Cool (1-May) : Unlikely.
dfosterf (30-Apr) : How long until Jeff Sperbeck's family sues John Elway ?
Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : Packers are exercising the fifth-year option on DT Devonte Wyatt, locking in a guaranteed $12.9M for the 2026 season.
beast (30-Apr) : Sounds like P Luke Elzinga has a rookie try out opportunity from the Titans
dfosterf (30-Apr) : Luke Elzinga Punter Oklahoma stil unsigned. Green Bay has been mentioned as good fit
beast (30-Apr) : The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents WR Melton, P Whelan and RB Wilson.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
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