I had posted this under Rushing Defense topic, but thought it was out of place and deserved it's own thread.

Don't get me wrong from below--I love Hawk (in a manly way), but I just don't see the production from his position that we should be getting.

*******

Hawk isn't a playmaker. A non-entity in too many games. He's the 4th best linebacker of the starters, statistically, and if you count the Matthews/Poppinga platoon as one starter he's the 5th best.

LB--------------Tack/Assist Tot Sacks Fum Rec
Barnett------------------24/7 31 0.5 0
Chillar------------------20/9 29 1 0
Kampman-------------18/6 24 2 0
Matthews/Poppinga-13/10 23 3 1
Hawk---------------------18/5 23 0 0

I don't have play stats, but I'd bet money that Hawk's played more downs than Chillar.

Hawk's stats have dropped every year, and this year he's on pace for his worst year yet. 2009 stats below take his stats through 5 games and extends them to 16.

Year T/A Tot Sacks Int
2006 83/37 120 3.5 2
2007 78/27 105 1 1
2008 67/19 86 0 0
2009 57/16 73 0 0

Bottomline: We're getting less production from Hawk than the other linebacker positions, and it's getting worse, not better. Barnett's our best, statistically speaking.

---

Can't compare stats on these guys. I have used this analogy before. Hawk is the FB of the defense. He many not be making as many tackles or getting huge sacks and making the highlights. He is just doing his job. He takes on the lead blockers so Barnett or who ever can make the tackle. He is sacrificing himself for the team.

---

There is more to defense then just stats. So its tough to base how good someone is by their stats on defense.

---

I'm not buying it. He was a 1st round, 5th pick in the draft. He needs to be more than the FB of the defense. He needs to be the star QB/RB/WR.

---

So what is Hawk doing that Lansanah or some other big LB couldn't have? It seems like a waste to me.

---

Well, I'm glad you brought this up. Not to denigrate Hawk, but to silence Barnett's critics. I've always loved Nick (in a manly way). He's consistent. Sure, he gets caught doing something dumb, but name one LB who ever played the game who never got juked or missed a tackle.

---

I guess after 32 threads on hiw bad Hawk is, it must be the truth!!!

ANOTHER TED THOMPSON FUCK UP!!!!

Hell the guy couldn't play in college, I don't know why Thompson ever drafted him.

The leas he could do now is cut the worthless bastard and put in someone else, who may or may not actually know his assignments.

Every year there has to be one, this year it is AJ Hawk, some of you don't get it, never had , and never will, so I say let's cut Hawk loose so he can go play somewhere else.

I damn guarantee you he would be picked up in 30 seconds.

---

I tend to think if Hawk's performance is the worst thing we have to complain about, we're fielding a pretty damn good team. 🙂

---

Ted Thompson made a lot of dumb mistakes. Hawk wasn't one of them.

If you take ANY sports rag from that year discussing the draft, I guarantee you more than 90% would have AJ Hawk in their top 10 for mock drafts. Hawk was good in college, and he was exactly who I wanted as our 1st round pick.

Now, I bet on this forum, if everyone was honest, the vast majority were happy when it was announced that AJ Hawk was our 1st round pick. I know I was.

---

A.J. Hawk was the best pick at the time at the 5th spot. He was heralded by all as the safest defensive player on the board even before the first selection was made.

Huff or Ngata could have been better, but at the 5 spot, it was the best pick at the time and I think we also had a need at LB. Best player available and fit a need.


I can't fault Ted on that pick.

I can fault for Hawk declining in production year after year. I like it when he hits someone, because he hits them hard. It's neat. I like Hawk more than Barnett.

---