Pondering Green Bay's A.J. Hawk as a bust

The struggles of Green Bay fourth-year linebacker are becoming troublesome.

In Green Bay's last game, Hawk only played on nine snaps. In 125 plays over the last two games, Hawk has only been on the field for 31 snaps.

Hawk's playing time dipped earlier this season when the Packers took him out of their nickel formations. While Hawk towed the company line about his reduced role at first, he's clearly become a frustrated player.

He rarely talks to the media now and immediately left the field following the Detroit game.

"If I was A.J. Hawk, I'd be disappointed I wasn't playing either," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week. "Yeah, he hasn't played a whole lot the last two weeks, but I don't really think anything's going on. . . . He just doesn't have a lot of opportunities right now."

When Hawk came out of Ohio State, he was largely viewed as a can't-miss inside linebacker. He had a very good rookie season with 121 tackles, three and a half sacks and two interceptions.

But his play has dropped since then. While injuries can be attributed to his struggles last season, he's healthy this year.

Green Bay's new 3-4 scheme just doesn't suit Hawk's strength of being a straight-ahead run stopper. Hawk is best when a play develops in front of him, not when he has to work through blocks and make plays.

He has trouble flipping his hips and moving laterally and struggles mightily in pass coverage.

Because of where he wad drafted and that he's on pace for the worst season of his career, in a contract year no less, Hawk has to be considered a possible bust.

Not helping his cause is the play of fellow 2006 middle linebackers DeMeco Ryans and D'Qwell Jackson. Each has lead the NFL in tackles while Hawk, picked a whole round higher, is struggling.

Can Hawk still find success in his career? Absolutely. But it just might not be in Green Bay.

This is the first part of a five-part mini-series contemplating big-name players who might be busts.