NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Should the Cincinnati Bengals sign linebacker A.J. Hawk?

By Nick Ziegler

facebooktwitterreddit

The Cincinnati Bengals will be entering the 2015 with the same goal that they have had for the last few years, and that is to finally win a playoff game.

A main reason for the Bengals’ success in those years has been because of their very good defense. Despite making the playoffs in 2014, the Bengals’ defense did take a step back. They lost defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to the Minnesota Vikings, as he took the head coaching position there after success running the Bengals’ defense.

Last season, the Bengals had the 20th ranked passing defense, and the 20th ranked rushing defense in the NFL, which are both below average. Ranking that low in those categories were a huge step back for a team that was a Top 5 defense in the NFL just one year earlier.

More from Cincinnati Bengals

One cause of the Bengals’ defensive struggles was because of injuries to their defense. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict only played in five games last season for the Bengals. In 2013, Burfict was great for the Bengals, as he made the Pro Bowl in just his second year. Burfict was a tackling-machine for the Bengals, as he totaled 171 tackles to go along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. Replacing the production of a Pro Bowl player mid-season is a nearly impossible thing to do, and the absence of Burfict clearly hurt the Bengals’ defense.

Burfict wasn’t the only linebacker for the Bengals to miss time, as Rey Maualuga also missed time in 2014. The Bengals’ middle linebacker only played in 12 games in 2014, and was forced to leave their playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts early with an injury he couldn’t return from.

Even though Maualuga only played in one less game last season than in 2013, his production dropped due to the injuries. In 2013, Maualuga had 75 total tackles, and then in 2014 had 59 total tackles. Maualuga is considered the leader of the Bengals’ defense, which is why he was given a three-year contract extension despite not being the most durable player throughout his career.

With some durability concerns for the Bengals at linebacker, the interest the Bengals have in former Green Bay Packers’ linebacker A.J. Hawk makes a lot of sense. Hawk was recently let go by the Packers, as his production on the field didn’t deserve the money he was set to be paid. He may not have lived up to the hype that he had after an amazing career at Ohio St, but Hawk has been a solid NFL linebacker.

Oct 26, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

In nine seasons, Hawk has 923 total tackles with 19 sacks, and nine interceptions. The most appealing thing about Hawk for the Bengals is his durability, as in his nine NFL seasons, he has missed just two games total in the 2011 season.

If the Bengals were to sign Hawk, they would be adding some important depth at the linebacker position with an experienced player, who just simply is always healthy. If the Bengals are looking to once again become a Top 5 defense in the NFL, staying healthy and adding depth in case injuries occur is a good plan towards that goal.

Next: What were Andy Dalton's 5 worst games of 2015?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Cincinnati Bengals