Atlanta Falcons: Falcons Sign Linebacker A. J. Hawk
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Falcons defensive unit has been hit hard by injuries and have signed the veteran A.J. Hawk. Is this a sign that the Falcons are in trouble?
The Atlanta Falcons have signed A.J. Hawk to help solve their problems at linebacker. The Falcons have been bitten by the injury bug at linebacker going through the depth they did have very quickly.
Signing A.J. Hawk will help the Falcon’s depth issue but may not aid the talent level of a defense that is already challenged. Hawk is a thirty-two year old linebacker who has seen his better days with the Packers. The fact that he is still on the market should say something for his talent level and what he will bring to the Atlanta defense.
Sure A.J. Hawk had some nice seasons with the Packers and helped them by making big plays during a playoff run but the Falcons will not care what he has done rather what they expect him to do now. Fans should limit their expectations on what to expect from the veteran linebacker.
He has had a decent career appearing in 158 games with both the Packers and the Bengals. He should be considered a depth piece and not an immediate starter for the Falcons. If he does become a starter the Falcons might be in more trouble then their defense is already.
The problem for the Falcon’s defense has been their defensive line and linebackers not being able to get pressure or take care of their assignments. Adding an older linebacker who is past a prime that wasn’t all that impressive to begin with is a sign of the state that this defense is in.
The Falcons are on a high after taking down the Carolina Panthers but fans need to remember to check their expectations of a team that is relying solely on their offensive unit to keep them in games.
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The offense has been the best in the league this year and Matt Ryan is the MVP at the quarter pole of the season but unless they can maintain these numbers for the rest of the season the holes in the defense may be too much for the offense to overcome. Signing A.J. Hawk is a sign of the state they are in and the direction that they are headed this season.