FanHouse A.J. Hawk

Editor's Note: Bruce Ciskie, a lifelong Packers fan, opines about the state of his beloved team.

High expectations greeted the Green Bay Packers in August, as the team arrived at training camp. Practices -- held across the street from Lambeau Field -- were very physical, as the Packers tried to show they wouldn't be bullied around like they were far too often in 2008.

That 6-10 season, we all were told, was a memory. It was a fluke. It wasn't how things would be conducted in Green Bay. Bad tackling, soft defense, poor special teams play, and stupid penalties were going to be a thing of the past.

Or not.

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Injuries are not an excuse. It's also not permissible to point fingers at guys on the other side of the ball when your team has problems. No one in Green Bay will do this, despite the way things went down last year. The Packers lost eight of their ten games by a combined total of 30 points. Despite this, no one in the locker room pinned the blame on the three-ring circus in training camp, major injuries on defense, or anything else.

GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- When head coach Mike McCarthy hired Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, it was all about changing the culture. What had been a passive defense under former boss Bob Sanders would be passive no more.

Capers installed the 3-4, which puts the onus on linebackers to make plays in space. While not everyone on last year's Green Bay roster will end up a perfect fit in this new defense, it's clear that the team is high on a few young guys who could become major players.

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

By dealing up into the last part of the first round for Clay Matthews, Ted Thompson may have forever changed his image in Green Bay. He went from being consistently ripped for his trade-downs and seemingly passive nature during the draft to being branded a genius. Of course, if either of his first-round selections fail, he'll be back to being an idiot again.

Ah, the ESPY's, the sports world's answer to the Oscars, the Emmys, the BAFTAs, so on and so forth. Anyway, as superstars, has-beens, wannabes and the like made their way down the red carpet, several marginally relevant characters were interviewed about the prospect of Brett Favre making his triumphant return to, well, some NFL team.

First up, Aaron Rodgers, who offered the predictable, "it's not my concern" response, which sounds about right. More than that, Rodgers was very respectful of the whole bizarre situation, even though he has every right to be pretty upset with Favre's inability to make a freaking decision.

Packers teammate A.J. Hawk, with his George Jefferson suit and Steven Seagal do, also stopped to give his thoughts. And finally, Matt Leinart was consulted for his opinion, because, really, no awards show would be complete without him or Nick Lachey going on record about ... something. Plus, he has some experience with being unable to beat out a grizzled veteran for a starting job.

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...

Team that won't miss a beat without a certain someone. Yeah, that's right. With Ryan Grant ready to keep this the same balanced offense that he made it in the second half of last season, a QB (Aaron Rodgers) that won't mind becoming a "game manager, and a very strong defense; the Pack is armed and ready to be just as solid as they were in 2007.

The Breakout

Aaron Rodgers has been waiting for his chance for three years, and the timing couldn't be better. Had it been last year that he took the reins, there would have been issues. Now the emergence of Grant makes the offense more balanced, though. The defense is good enough that Rodgers will never be forced to become a gunslinger, and the receiving corps is very solid with the growth of Greg Jennings and expected emergence of a couple young wideouts. He's got a good offensive line that knows how to pass protect, and a reliable tight end ... plus, he's in a place that loves their QBs. As long as he doesn't think of himself as the "replacement," he'll be a fantasy stud before the season ends.

Missed this for last week, but we're back for week 13. Here's how former Buckeyes fared in NFL action this past weekend:

• Tim Anderson (BUF): 4 tackles
• Nate Clements (BUF): 7 tackles, 2 pass deflections
• Donte Whitner (BUF): 7 tackles, 1 pass deflection
• Simon Fraser (CLE): 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
• Mike Vrable (NE): 7 tackles, 2 INT, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery
• Mike Nugent (NYJ): 1-1 FG (24), 5-5 PAT
• Santonio Holmes (PIT): 1 reception for 18 yards, 2 returns for 12 yards
• Matt Wilhelm (SD): 5 tackles
• Ben Hartsock (TEN): 1 reception for 16 yards
• Michael Jenkins (ATL): 4 receptions for 43 yards and 1 TD
• Drew Carter (CAR): 1 reception for 5 yards
• Na'il Digs (CAR): 2 tackles, 1 pass deflection
• Chris Gamble (CAR): 3 tackles, 1 pass deflection
• Bobby Carpenter (DAL): 3 tackles
• Terry Glenn (DAL): 4 receptions for 52 yards
• A.J. Hawk (GB): 8 tackles, 1 pass deflection
• Ryan Pickett (GB): 3 tackles, 1 pass deflection
• Will Allen (TB): 2 tackles
• Joey Galloway (TB): 3 receptions for 37 yards

Former Buckeye of the Week is a pretty easy decision this go round. Mike Vrable had an absolutely monster game for the Patriots, participating in three turnovers, while also recording seven tackles and breaking up a couple of passes. Very impressive game, and a very impressive season so far for Mike Vrable.

A little late this week, but here's how former Ohio State Buckeyes did in the NFL for week 11:

• Tim Anderson (BUF): 3 tackles
• Nate Clements (BUF): 4 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 INT
• Donte Whitner (BUF): 7 tackles
• Mike Vrable (NE): 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble
• Santonio Holmes (PIT): 5 receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD, 2 returns for 13 yards
• Michael Jenkins (ATL): 3 receptions for 23 yards and 1 TD
• Na'il Diggs (CAR): 2 tackles
• Chris Gamble (CAR): 4 tackles, 3 returns for 13 yards
• Bobby Carpenter (DAL): 1 tackles
• Terry Glenn (DAL): 6 receptions for 78 yards
• A.J. Hawk (GB): 12 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
• Ryan Pickett (GB): 5 tackles
• Darrion Scott (MIN): 3 tackles
• Antoine Winfield (MIN): 4 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 INT
• Will Smith (NO): 4 tackles, 1 sack
• Will Allen (TB): 3 tackles
• Joey Galloway (TB): 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1 TD
• Shawn Springs (WAS): 7 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 INT

Lots of touchdowns for former Buckeye receivers, but the former Buckeye player of the week has to go to Mike Vrable. Vrable had a pretty big game and was instrumental in the Patriots blowout of Green Bay.

Here's how former Ohio State Buckeyes fared in week 10 of NFL action:

• Tim Anderson (BUF): 1 tackle
• Nate Clements (BUF): 5 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble
• Donte Whitner (BUF): 4 tackles
• Simon Fraser (CLE): 1 pass deflection
  
• Dan Wilkinson (MIA): 1 tackle
• Mike Vrabel (NE): 1 tackle
• Mike Nugent (NYJ): 1-1 FG (34), 2-2 PAT
• Santonio Holmes (PIT): 2 receptions for 57 yards
• Matt Wilhelm (SD): 1 tackle
• Michael Jenkins (ATL): 2 receptions for 17 yards and 1 TD
• Na'il Digs (CAR): 5 tackles
• Chris Gamble (CAR): 3 tackles, 3 returns for 20 yards
• Bobby Carpenter (DAL): 1 tackle
• A.J. Hawk (GB): 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
• Ryan Pickett (GB): 3 tackles
• Darrion Scott (MIN): 2 tackles
• Antoine Winfield (MIN): 7 tackles
• Will Smith (NO): 2 tackles
• Joey Galloway (TB): 5 receptions for 87 yards
• Shawn Springs (WAS): 4 tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble

Kind of a down week for most former Buckeyes, but A.J. Hawk had a monster game. I think it's clear that he's the former Buckeye Player of the Week.

Here's how former Ohio State Buckeyes fared in Week 9 of NFL action:

• Tim Anderson (BUF): 5 tackles
• Nate Clements (BUF): 9 tackles, 2 pass deflections
• Donte Whitner (BUF): 3 tackles
• Simon Fraser (CLE): 2 tackles, 1 sack
• Mike Vrable (NE): 6 tackles, .5 sacks
• Santonio Holmes (PIT): 6 receptions for 58 yards, 3 returns for 53 yards
• Matt Wilhelm (SD): 6 tackles
• Michael Jenkins (ATL): 3 receptions for 26 yards
• Terry Glenn (DAL): 3 receptions for 26 yards, 1 TD, 1 rush for -8 yards
• A.J. Hawk (GB): 4 tackles
• Ryan Pickett (GB): 7 tackles
• Darrion Scott (MIN): 4 tackles
• Antoine Winfield (MIN): 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 pass deflection
• Will Smith (NO): 7 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
• Joey Galloway (TB): 4 receptions for 97 yards, 2 TD
• Shawn Springs (WAS): 8 tackles, 1 pass deflection

Joey Galloway had a great day with his two touchdowns, but I'm going to award the former Buckeye player of the week award to Will Smith. Just looking at the stat line, it looks like Smith was a one man wrecking crew for the Saints.