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LB A.J. Hawk (2x All-American, Lombardi Trophy, National Champion, Super Bowl Champion)

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Scout.com: Backdraft: Packers Linebacker A.J. Hawk

In Scout.com's new series, Backdraft, NFL Draft Analyst Chris Steuber talks to current NFL players about their draft experience and how it's helped shape their current experiences in the NFL. He kicks off the series with an exclusive interview with Packers second-year linebacker A.J. Hawk.
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Hawk pumped up for title game
The Packers linebacker and Centerville grad says this team reminds him of 2002 Ohio State national champions.
By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer
Sunday, January 20, 2008

This isn't A.J. Hawk's first championship-caliber team.

The Green Bay second-year linebacker said this year's Packers ? who play the Giants tonight for a berth in the Super Bowl ? remind him of the Buckeyes.

"I feel a similarity in the teams with the type of guys we have," said Hawk, a freshman on Ohio State's 2002 national title team. "I think that's the biggest thing I've noticed since I got here.

"We have a lot of good, quality guys ? high-character guys that want to win. That's the attitude around here. That's how I felt at Ohio State for four years."

Preparation for the NFC Championship Game has been sprinkled with anxiety.

"We're getting pretty close to the game, so we're getting pretty excited," Hawk said. "Especially in big games like this, everyone just can't wait to get to game day. We had a good week of work. It's going to be a big game for us."

Despite the frigid temperatures, don't look for Hawk to be bundled up like a grade-schooler at recess.

"I'm not wearing sleeves or anything," he said. "It won't be too big of a problem. Once you get into the game, I think I'm fine. If I was sitting in the crowd, I'd definitely have a lot of layers on."

Hawk addressed some other on- and off-field subjects during a phone interview Friday. He said Brett Favre's steakhouse is good (and not too pricey) and that he's a spokesman for Special Olympics in Wisconsin. His hyperbaric chamber? It isn't in his bedroom at his new house.
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Hawk pumped up for title game
 
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AJ had a pretty rough game tonight. I know this can't be true, but he just wasn't intense at all this game.

Crazy, I know, since AJ was one of the most passionate players I've ever seen. This game, it didn't seem like he was around the ball a lot - he was getting pushed around by linemen and he was missing tackles.
 
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Oneshot;1071168; said:
AJ had a pretty rough game tonight. I know this can't be true, but he just wasn't intense at all this game.

Crazy, I know, since AJ was one of the most passionate players I've ever seen. This game, it didn't seem like he was around the ball a lot - he was getting pushed around by linemen and he was missing tackles.
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I thought AJ played well.....he did miss a big tackle at the end of regulation that put NY in a position to win the game, but other than that I thought he made a lot of assists and was around the pile all night.
 
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ScriptOhio;1071191; said:
AJ was credited with 7 tackles (4 solo) and one sack. A solid performance. The team leaders (Bigby and Williams) had 9 each.

ESPN - NY Giants vs. Green Bay Box Score, January 20 2008 - NFL Football
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Atari Bigby (UCF MUTHA PHUCKAS) had a whale of a game. The dude is a head hunter in the secondary.

Seemed to me that most plays, when the pile was unraveling, AJ was just getting there. It seemed he was either making a tackle or no where near the play. Nothing in betwen.

Still, 7 tackles and a sack is not a bad day at the office.
 
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3074326;1071491; said:
Unfortunately, his stats didn't tell the whole story.. not a great game for AJ. Certainly not a terrible game, but he wasn't his usual self out there.
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Agreed. Rating defensive players by tackles is one of the bigger wastes of time.

I don't know if he had a bad game. Just not a great game. He needs to keep getting better if he wants to be one of the best in the league...or even conference for that matter.
 
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I agree that AJ has quite a bit of work to do to be considered one of the leagues best. The game did seem to slow down for him some this year, so I think next year will really show whether he will just be solid (no shame in that) or special.
 
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ESPN - Sanders, Willis, Smith among decade's top sleeper recruits - Insider
5. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State: All of the recruiting services touted Mike D'Andrea as the big get for the Buckeyes in the class of 2002. Privately, the OSU coaches felt otherwise. They were bringing in four linebackers (Bobby Carpenter and Stan White, later an OSU fullback, were the others), and Hawk was the one who got them the most fired up. A few months after signing day, former OSU defensive coach Mark Snyder raved about Hawk's ability to play the pass and the run, saying he'd be surprised if Hawk didn't end up the best of the bunch. Nice call. Hawk was one of the best linebackers in OSU's storied history, and he's become one of the cornerstones of the Green Bay Packers' turnaround.
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I didn't know this was an insider article. If I can't post this, please delete it.
 
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News / Stories / March 19, 2008
Catching Up With ... A.J. Hawk

The offseason strength and conditioning program began for many of the team's younger players on Monday, giving Packers.com a chance to catch up with a few guys to get their thoughts on the past season, next season, and what they've been up to in between.

Linebacker A.J. Hawk followed up a strong rookie campaign with another solid season in 2007. He started all 16 games for the second straight year and finished second on the team behind fellow linebacker Nick Barnett with 129 tackles (81 solo), adding one sack, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one interception and four passes defensed.

Here's what Hawk had to say ...

How does it feel to be back?
It's good. I never really left, but I was back and forth between here and Ohio for some different things. Obviously it feels like time has gone quick, but I think I'm ready to start the season. This is one step closer, so I'm excited to be back.
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Packers.com » News » Stories » March 19, 2008: Catching Up With ... A.J. Hawk
 
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Hawk thoughts
One of Chillar's new running mates, weak-side linebacker A.J. Hawk, saw his numbers drop in most significant categories in his second NFL season ? tackles (129, from 155 in 2006), sacks (1, from 3?), interceptions (1, from 2) and passes defended (4, 9).

After four months to review and reflect on the season, Hawk said his focus is on consistency and improvement in every phase.

"Obviously, there's always tons of plays that you wish you would have made or you wish you would have had," said Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 draft. "There's good and there's bad. I always say I'm trying to stay out there, be consistent every play, every year. That's hard to do in the NFL."

Hawk spent most of the past two months in Green Bay, returning to Ohio State some weekends to work out with buddies.
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Around the NFL: One 3-win season is enough for Chillar | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
 
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Big plays put on chores list
Collins, Hawk seeking impact
By GREG A. BEDARD
[email protected]
Posted: June 17, 2008

When you're a linebacker selected fifth overall as A.J. Hawk was in 2006, it goes without saying that he possesses undeniable physical gifts.

"He has all the tools, there's no question," linebackers coach Winston Moss said.
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After tallying an impressive 155 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions as a rookie, Hawk saw all of those numbers decline in his second season. Not that Hawk thinks those statistics represent him as a player.

"As a defensive guy, if my tackles went down this year, I'd be happy, to tell you the truth, because that means our defense is playing better and we're on the field less," Hawk said. "You can never put too much attention on numbers. I just want to be consistent week in and week out and that's the hardest thing to do in the league."

Hawk would like to see some of his game-changing numbers improve, however.

"That'd be great; that's the goal for any defensive player is make some big plays and turnovers and stuff," Hawk said. "But I'm not going to press and do anything different. I'll take what comes to me and do my job and try to be a solid part of this defense."
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JS Online: Big plays put on chores list
 
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