AJ Hawks progression this year

A.J. Hawk Fan · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:25 pm Post subject: AJ Hawks progression this year

Is it just me, or has he taken a major step forward this year? He's been all over the ball and hasn't been making nearly as many mistakes as prior years. It seems like he's finally taking that next step, and is really impressing me early on.
_________________

Back to Back Elite League Champion

MNPackfan32 · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 5576

He has always been a solid player but as most stated in our top 10 thread, he has really turned it on this year. Much more agressive, and has been very good in coverage.

blankman0021 · Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 1428 Location: Eau Claire

justo · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject:

I think it has to do a lot with Bishop not being there TBH. It's not so much he wasn't good in the past years..it was just his role as "defensive fullback". Not that his role has changed much this year, more so that he's having to make up for Smith while doing his job as well. That's how I see anyway.
_________________

PackFan4Life · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 3530 Location: De Pere, WI

He is not being asked to cover as much this year. He is rarely out there on passing downs. And when he is, he is pretty much being asked to blitz or spy. Much better usage of his strengths moreso than anything he was and was not doing well this year compared to last year IMO.

rbens06 · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 537

I do also remember reading an article about him this offseason that he slimmed down. He said that he did not shed a ton of weight, just a little to give him better mobility and speed. He is listed at 242lbs right now and I thought he was listed at around 250 other years. Either way I like to see he is getting more credit, I always felt he got the short end of the stick. Yes he was a 5th overall pick, but he is still a very solid football player that does what is asked of him and he did not cause any trouble when his playing time dropped.

jfinley88 · Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 4636 Location: Orlando

Pretty sure he's on the juice. Anybody else notice Hawk just spazzing out like all the time this year. Prior to this year I'd never seem do anything that resembled a show of emotion. Like every time he makes a tackle he pounces up and gets in peoples faces haha.
_________________

mxr124 · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 424 Location: Dubuque, Ia.

A.J. Hawk Fan · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject:

PACKRULE · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 1271 Location: saskatoon

packfan4 · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 10599 Location: South Jersey

Hawk really does look like a different player this year, seems like he's reacting to the ball faster and making more plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. Still think we really miss Bishop. DJ Smith has been good enough, while Hawk really seems to have upped his game.
_________________

incognito_man · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 26377 Location: Madison

Like someone else said, pretty sure he cut like 10 or so pounds this offseason.

Makes a difference.

JCamGOPACKGO · Joined: 14 Jan 2012 Posts: 719 Location: New Jersey

With the way Hawk is playing right now, it almost just makes me angry about what coulda been with him and a healthy Bishop. They were always a very respectable duo but now that Hawk is playing as good as ever, I just can't help but think of what would have been with Bishop next to him.
_________________

2012-13 ADOPT-A-PACKER: John Kuhn #30
55 yds/1TD Rushing-11 receptions/119 yds

Shout out to justo on the avatar!

CallMeBarrett · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject:

He was the spare wheel that everyone cursed when it had to be used, but used it every chance they got.

Now that he's playing well, it seems like the bias has absolutely vanished from most people.

This forum is cra'y.

Abalow7 · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 248 Location: New Richmond, WI

Hawk has always been awesome, he's just getting more of the glamorous stuff this year. My favorite though was when he sacked Sam Bradford last year and then flipped the bird lmao
_________________

Packerbacker87 on the SIG ^