October, 17 2011 | Rob Demovsky | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) and other Packers defenders stuff St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) in the third quarter during the game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011. / Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette
When the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coaches grade film the day after a game, they compile their own tally of tackles, and it’s usually different from what the post-game statistics show.
In the latest case, it showed just what kind of performance their two inside linebackers, Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk, turned in during Sunday’s 24-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams.
For Bishop, who after the game was credited with 14 tackles (nine solo and five assists), the coaches found 20 combined tackles. For Hawk, who was credited with nine tackles (seven solo and two assists), the coaches found 13.
“I thought yesterday, as a combination, might have been their best game in terms of their production,” Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said Monday after reviewing the game film. “They were all over the field. They affected both the run and the pass game.”
Sunday was the 22nd straight game, including the postseason, that Bishop and Hawk have worked side by side as the inside linebackers in Capers’ 3-4 defense. Bishop took over as a starter in Week 5 of last season after Nick Barnett sustained a season-ending wrist injury. The pairing of Bishop and Hawk took time to develop, but their work together last season laid the groundwork for what has been a productive start to this season for the duo.
“I think now they’ve got a comfort level with each other and they kind of play off each other,” Capers said. “I think they both complement each other.”
Though Bishop replaced Barnett in the lineup, it was Hawk who took over the defensive play calling from Barnett after his injury. The coaches have praised Hawk for his ability to communicate calls quickly and made the right pre-snap reads and adjustments.
Meanwhile, Bishop has become the bigger playmaker of the two.
“If you look at the first six games, they’ve been consistent both in the base and the sub,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “A.J. does an excellent job with the command of the defense, particularly in (Sunday’s) game with all the no-huddle (the Rams ran). Just able to make the calls and keep us in a clean defense, I think he does a great job of that. Very fundamentally sound. Desmond is extremely active. I think he had 15 solos and five assists, so 20 overall tackles. That speaks (to his) style of play. Desmond’s always around the ball. That’s something he’s always done. I’m very pleased with the inside linebackers.”
Bishop has become an effective blitzer and already has matched his career high with three sacks. He’s had two in the last three weeks.
“I think he’s one of our better pressure players,” Capers said. “He’s a guy that you’re always thinking, how can we get him involved in those things? A big part of what we do is try to take what we think guys can do and feature some of the things they do.”
Hawk even got his first full sack of the season against the Rams. He previously had a shared sack with cornerback Jarrett Bush in the opener against New Orleans.
For their efforts, Bishop and Hawk got the defensive game balls.
Some of the credit should go to the defensive line for absorbing blockers and freeing up the linebackers to make plays.
“It starts up front, with our guys up front,” Capers said. “Those big guys have a lot to do with our run defense. (Sunday), you saw those two inside linebackers were about as productive as you’re going to see.”
