Untold Super Bowl Stories: A.J. Hawk
Linebacker A.J. Hawk discusses his new play-calling duties this past season.
Rather than let them go to waste, I've found a few brief items from the Super Bowl we'll publish here, including this one from A.J. Hawk on Media Day...
Ever since Nick Barnett went down with a season-ending wrist injury in early October, fellow inside linebacker A.J. Hawk took over play-calling duties for the Green Bay Packers defense, a job that's become second nature to him.
“My comfort level is very high," said Hawk. "That’s something I’ve done on and off in the past and now it’s more of a full time thing now. I feel real comfortable and I enjoy it. I don’t fee like I have too many issues with it.”
Hawk gave an insider's peek into how a defensive play call is relayed to him.
“There’s a bunch of different people who have to communicate just to give me the call," said Hawk. "As soon as the play is over our guys up in the box, Coach Capers, they’re watching the offensive personnel – what they’re putting on the field. Once they figure out what they’re in, they relay that to Coach Capers. He’ll get on the headset, radio, to (Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebackers Coach Winston) Moss and Moss will radio it to me.”
Comments (13)
February 13, 2011 at 10:16 am
AJ has definently come out as a talent this year. I think that it was there and is the reason for being drafted #5. Barnett has overshadowed him until this year, but now will be gone with his big mouth. Barnett is good, but has proved to be replaceable. Hawk is younger and more disciplined. Maybe not pro bowl, but took the "I" out of the team.
February 13, 2011 at 10:47 am
Great article, Brian! Whatever you have, KEEP IT COMING!!
Regarding the article, that seems like a lot of channels to go through to get a call off. They must be very efficient at doing that!
February 13, 2011 at 11:44 am
AJ was a class guy here at Ohio State and has been a class guy while being with the Packers. Defense performed better when he was making the calls and hopefully the GM and coaching staff saw that as well. Barnett needs to go and AJ needs to rework his contract so he can stay in Green Bay and be the steadying influence on the best defense in the NFL!!!
February 13, 2011 at 01:33 pm
Hawk was as good as his SB counterpart, Farrior. And Hawk is younger.
His communication skills and knowledge of the defense are really underrated.
He's still not as physical as we would like, still tackling the RB past 5 yards the LOS sometimes. But has really come to age playing zone coverage, where he doesn't have to run with TEs, and is able to utilize his superior intelligence to read the QB, which materialized in 3 ints the season, leading all linebackers.
Unless Barnett shows up the most prepared he's ever been this preseason he's not gonna start on this team. That is, if there is a preseason.
February 13, 2011 at 05:36 pm
Barnett's due $6.5 mil in 2011 ...... Can't see how GB can pay him that amount as a BU ...... And can't see how he'll ever play inside before Bishop & Hawk ..... The real clue on Barnett's status for 2011 could come when GB re-works AJ's contract ..... If AJ signs on for a few more years, Barnett's probably gone ...... Barnett could be very valuable if TT wants to trade up come draft time ......
February 14, 2011 at 02:47 am
barnett doesnt really have trade value.. he is like 32?.. hes an old ass man i wouldnt trade you a draft pick for him unless i had an old ass team and was making a run for the superbowl and needed a LB somethin serious
February 14, 2011 at 03:52 pm
Barnett is still 30, and was one of the best ILBs in the nfl in 09, when fully healthy.
The problem is the fully healthy part. In the last 3 seasons, he has been fully healthy for only 14 or so games.
February 13, 2011 at 03:31 pm
I hope so much to see a Hawk/Bishop middle LB tandem next season. I am a fan of Barnett, I really enjoyed him, but I'm a bigger PACKER fan, and think this is what's good for the team. This seems to build more than it breaks.
February 13, 2011 at 08:16 pm
Had no idea it was communicated that way. Thanks for the info, Brian!
February 14, 2011 at 02:50 am
aj hawk needs a new contract.. barnett is injury prone and not the level headed player we should have at middle linebacker... i think aj being next to bishop has improved bishops play.. but barnett really doenst have trade value.. he has been hurt on the reg.. i really am suprised barnett isnt considering retirement.
now WHY DID WE GIVE CHILLAR ALL THAT DOUGH?! he is such a scrub.. biggest waste of a contract
February 14, 2011 at 02:16 pm
In 2009 there seemed to be times when the defenense was just out of sync. Blown coverages, missed gap assigments seemed to be happening at critical points.
AJ has done a great job getting every one in the right position. He seems ro be making adjustments all the time.
Not saying Nick couldn't do a great job in his second year in the system given a chance.
Beyond all his play calling AJ had a great year playing ilb
February 14, 2011 at 03:53 pm
That is true, and I thought the same, but we saw a lot of missing assignments once Woodson and Shields came out of the game and Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush came in.
February 14, 2011 at 02:18 pm
In 2009 there seemed to be times when the defenense was just out of sync. Blown coverages, missed gap assigments seemed to be happening at critical points.
AJ has done a great job getting every one in the right position. He seems ro be making adjustments all the time.
Not saying Nick couldn't do a great job in his second year in the system given a chance.
Beyond all his play calling AJ had a great year playing ILB. I hope we find a way to keep AJ on the team next year.