Hawk (and Wolf, Urlacher) article

[Ayt]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7120340

"I offered more than two first-round picks to jump six spots in order to draft Urlacher," said Ron Wolf, the former general manager. "I couldn't get a team to make a trade and that's how we lost him. I tried everything I could because I had a special feeling about Urlacher."

The rest of the article is good, with more quotes from Wolf. I'm so glad we drafted Hawk over VD.

"What impressed me was that I never saw him knocked off his feet once," Wolf said. "He can take on the blocker and shed him and make the tackle. We talked about who he reminds me of and after thinking about it, I'd say (Steelers Hall of Famer) Jack Ham.

[paulpressey25]

I'm glad we drafted Hawk as well.....

This will be an interesting year of the offense versus defense debates and which is more important.....(cue Kirby)....

....this defense could be really good....good enough to allow a team with a crap offense to still finish 8-8. Maybe the best we've seen in these parts outside of the 1996-97 teams.

I'm excited about this season despite Favre's decline and our crummy skill position guys on offense....

[Ayt]

We'll see how crummy our skill position guys are. Our WR group has the chance to have a big year collectively. I also think that if Morency hadn't gotten hurt a lot of pub would be about him.

If the safety position cleans itself up (go Atari), then I think our D could be a lot of fun to watch. I'm not as worried about our nickel D as I was before after seeing all of our backup CB's in action this year.

[ReasonablySober]

I think the D's major weakness is the safety position and when you have two average to below average ones back there it's a huge problem. Teams are gonna attack us deep all year.

[deep throat]

[quote="Ayt"]http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7120340

"I offered more than two first-round picks to jump six spots in order to draft Urlacher," said Ron Wolf, the former general manager. "I couldn't get a team to make a trade and that's how we lost him. I tried everything I could because I had a special feeling about Urlacher."

[quote]

Interesting that he offered two 1sts.

That year it looked like this:

Round Pick Player Name Team Position College
1 1 1 Courtney Brown Browns DE Penn State
2 2 LaVar Arrington Redskins LB Penn State
3 3 Chris Samuels Redskins T Alabama
4 4 Peter Warrick Bengals WR Florida State
5 5 Jamal Lewis Ravens RB Tennessee
6 6 Corey Simon Eagles DT Florida State
7 7 Thomas Jones Cardinals RB Virginia
8 8 Plaxico Burress Steelers WR Michigan State
9 9 Brian Urlacher Bears LB New Mexico
10 10 Travis Taylor Ravens WR Florida
11 11 Ron Dayne Giants RB Wisconsin
12 12 Shaun Ellis Jets DE Tennessee
13 13 John Abraham Jets LB South Carolina
14 14 Bubba Franks Packers TE Miami (FL)

Most of these guys looked good early, but for a variety of reasons didn't have staying power. Even though Franks now sucks, he did make it to a couple Pro Bowls. Courtney Brown maybe the biggest bust in the group. Warrick had his moments early, then -what happened to him by the way? Simon looked great early, then imploded. Arrington = injuries.[b] Knowing what you know now , how should this draft have gone?[/b

I'm basing this production up to now, and future worth
1. Urlacher
2. Chris Samuels
3. Jamal Lewis-one of the best for a few, even though now about done
4. Shaun Ellis
5. John Abraham
6. Plaxico Burress-a little lean early, but borderline star later
7. Thomas Jones-looked like a bust early, then came on.
8. Bubba
9. Corey Simon-crash and burn
10. Lavar Arrington-Super Star potential- bad locker room guy and injuries
11. Travis Taylor
12. ROn Dayne
13. Peter Warrick


14. Courtney Brown-Expensive for sub par guy and now out of the league

[LUKE23]

I think the D's major weakness is the safety position and when you have two average to below average ones back there it's a huge problem. Teams are gonna attack us deep all year.

I definitely think Collins is an above average safety, and a guy that is primed for a big year. I've just had a feeling about him since seeing him on the field that he's going to be a really good player, but given his background it might take him a few years.

The other safety spot is definitely a big time question mark. Personally I hope Bigby beats out Manuel there because he's a MUCH better athlete, and Manuel didn't strike me as an intelligent player last year anyway. Might as go with athletic ability if both safeties are going to have mental breakdowns.

I think this D will be VERY good though, even with one safety spot a question mark. Jenkins at DE over KGB is going to be a huge upgrade, because now both our DE's can stuff the run and get to the passer. DT we're loaded, and with how our DL will hold it's point, our LB's are going to run rampant.

[MickeyDavis]

I think Hawk is going to be a great linebacker. Last year he was very very good, as a #5 pick should be. The guy is all about football. The only top draft pick in 2006 who didn't spend draft week in New York partying and doing interviews. He stayed him so he wouldn't miss working out.

[deep throat]

I think Hawk is going to be a great linebacker. Last year he was very very good, as a #5 pick should be. The guy is all about football. The only top draft pick in 2006 who didn't spend draft week in New York partying and doing interviews. He stayed him so he wouldn't miss working out.

It sounds kind of blue collar ched speak - Giving credit to the guy for being a lunch pale blue collar guy because he didn't attend-I woudn't go that far. You seem to be assuming that non-attendance makes them football throwack type guys. I know what your saying, but it has the I'm a ched Milwaukee guy smell. I don't care what these guys do within reason-go have some fun with your hard work-If you want to be Joe Thomas or Hawk then more ower to yu, but no issue with the rest.

[ReasonablySober]

The guy "installed a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in his Green Bay bedroom, which simulates high altitude and is designed to increase red blood cell count and enhance endurance; also has a weight room in his house".

Everything about him says his one concern is football.

[MickeyDavis]

-= original quote snipped =-



It sounds kind of blue collar ched speak - Giving credit to the guy for being a lunch pale blue collar guy because he didn't attend-I woudn't go that far. You seem to be assuming that non-attendance makes them football throwack type guys. I know what your saying, but it has the I'm a ched Milwaukee guy smell. I don't care what these guys do within reason-go have some fun with your hard work-If you want to be Joe Thomas or Hawk then more ower to yu, but no issue with the rest.

I don't know about you but I find it refreshing that a guy is more concerned with getting ready for football than seeing how much bling he can wear for a TV interview. And unlike Joe Thomas, Hawk didn't feel the need to have TV cameras covering his workout the day of the draft.

[deep throat]

-= original quote snipped =-



I don't know about you but I find it refreshing that a guy is more concerned with getting ready for football than seeing how much bling he can wear for a TV interview. And unlike Joe Thomas, Hawk didn't feel the need to have TV cameras covering his workout the day of the draft.

I think it's kind of hard to say what someones motivation is for doing something. I don't want to judge someone on if or not they show up for a event. This is a huge moment for them, and I hold no grudge if they want to dress up and be with there close ones in NY.

[BuckPack]

The book is certainly not closed on the Vernon Davis/AJ Hawk pick yet, in my estimation. I love AJ, but playmakers win in the NFL today and unfortunately, we have too many on AJ's side of the ball and not enough on Vernon's side of the ball. If Hawk were Urlacher and Davis were Gates, you'd take Hawk....but Hawk isn't and doubtfully will ever become an Urlacher, IMO.

I wanted Mario Williams (1) and Vernon Davis (2), but was pleased with the AJ pick. I love his character, attitude and physicality, but I wouldn't be ending the debate quite yet....

[deep throat]

The book is certainly not closed on the Vernon Davis/AJ Hawk pick yet, in my estimation. I love AJ, but playmakers win in the NFL today and unfortunately, we have too many on AJ's side of the ball and not enough on Vernon's side of the ball. If Hawk were Urlacher and Davis were Gates, you'd take Hawk....but Hawk isn't and doubtfully will ever become an Urlacher, IMO.

I wanted Mario Williams (1) and Vernon Davis (2), but was pleased with the AJ pick. I love his character, attitude and physicality, but I wouldn't be ending the debate quite yet....

My feelings as well. I liked the pick, but I have to say I wanted them to take Davis a little more. How would you like to have initals like that = VD!
Davis has the potential to be the kind of player you have to build a scheme around.

[smacks1]

The book is certainly not closed on the Vernon Davis/AJ Hawk pick yet, in my estimation. I love AJ, but playmakers win in the NFL today and unfortunately, we have too many on AJ's side of the ball and not enough on Vernon's side of the ball. If Hawk were Urlacher and Davis were Gates, you'd take Hawk....but Hawk isn't and doubtfully will ever become an Urlacher, IMO.

I wanted Mario Williams (1) and Vernon Davis (2), but was pleased with the AJ pick. I love his character, attitude and physicality, but I wouldn't be ending the debate quite yet....

Nor is Vernon Davis even close to becoming Antonio Gates so that point really doesn't make much sense.

There is also the "defense wins championships" philosophy that has proven succesful for many Super Bowl champions in the past.

[MickeyDavis]

It takes 3 years to judge a draft. So far it's Hawk 1, Williams 0, Davis 0. Let's see where we stand after year 2.

And yes the saying goes:

If you score you may win. If they never score, you will never lose. Defense wins championships

[El Duderino]

Thanks for the link Ayt,great read

As for Hawk/Davis,i figured we'd be picking one of the two prior to the draft and wanted Hawk slightly more than Davis,but in general would have been happy with either one.

Watching Hawk last year,i just get the feeling he's ready to break out more this year and by his third season,will be a top 5 LB in the NFL.One aspect of the game for AJ that i love and expect to keep getting better and better,is he's very instinctual on the blitz and explodes to the QB.For quite a few years the Packers had a brutal LB core when it came to those guys blitzing.Now with Hawk,hopefully Poppinga more comphy at LB,and a speedy Barnett,we should have a group at that position that can cause some havoc when asked to blitz.That whole front seven should be able to bring alot of pressure.

No doubt though that Veron Davis would look nice in a Packer uniform,the TE situation for this team is in worse shape than i can remember.Sizable problem for an offense that really could use a threat down the center of the field.