Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills: Packers’ Keys to Victory
Sep 28, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
3. Find clarity at Inside Linebacker.
One of the most persistent story lines around the Green Bay Packers over the past two weeks has been the declining playing time of long-time Linebacker A.J. Hawk. Earlier this week, I detailed the situation that has led to Sam Barrington overtaking the lead role on the inside. Expect Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers to distribute his playing time based largely on the matchup, but I feel it is important to establish some level of clarity at the position this week in Buffalo.
Speculation had risen this week that Hawk has been playing injured, but he put that to rest upon hearing the news. “I’m not hurt,” Hawk told reporters. “My body has bounced back every week. I feel better older than I did younger.”
Hawk is the ultimate “company man” for the Green Bay Packers, and by all accounts, has done and said all the right things in relation to this. “Nothing is about me,” insisted the 9-year veteran. “It shouldn’t be about me. It’s dumb to talk about me… I didn’t want to make anything about me. I shouldn’t be a storyline.”
That being said, if work ethic, professionalism and the mental game were all that mattered, Hawk would not have been largely out-snapped by a sophomore 7th-Rounder the past two weeks. Hawk has looked small on the field this season and a half-step behind on his assignments, constantly lunging at the feet of missed tackles.
Enter Sam Barrington, who started his coming out party against the New England Patriots with several big stops at the line of scrimmage against the run. Barrington has flaws of his own, and is still miles behind Hawk mentally, but his on-field abilities were enough to convince Mike McCarthy to bench one of Green Bay’s longest-tenured and most reliable defensive players.
Heading into the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers would like to have an established plan at the position. Against an elite mental Quarterback such as Peyton Manning, I’m more comfortable with Hawk being the brains of the defense, but the door is wide open for Barrington to seize this job. Week 15 could be a great opportunity to see what the Packers really have in Sam Barrington, and playing him in as many high-pressure situations as possible will allow the coaching staff to evaluate the ILB position as January nears.