Cornerback Mike Hawkins filled the role of ballhawking cornerback during Thursday's practice and forced the turnovers his coaches have been seeking.
"That's emphasized every day. They want turnovers, turnovers, turnovers," Hawkins said. "A turnover will change the game."
In outside coverage against wide receiver Chad Lucas, Hawkins jumped the route and intercepted the Aaron Rodgers pass.
"If I see a quarterback make that movement with their body than I'm going to take it," he said. " I'm going to get it full speed."
The rookie cornerback has shown a skill for beating the wide receiver to his spot during camp. He, however, has let a few would-be-interceptions drop through his hands.
"That's just being too anxious," he said.
Hawkins' anxiousness is understandable as the rookie has taken a circuitous route to the NFL. He attended Oklahoma for one year in 2002 before assuming a variety of odd jobs. He then spent the next two years with the Arena League's Dallas Desperados.
Despite having never started a game for the Desperados, Hawkins has shined throughout training camp. His uneven Arena League career can be attributed to playing opposite men in their late twenties while still a teenager.
"I was 19 when I signed with the Arena," he said. "Some of the guys I started behind were already in the NFL. It's kind of hard to come in at 19 and take their jobs."
Currently the No. 3 cornerback with Joey Thomas (hip, calf) injured, Hawkins came very close to becoming the starting cornerback versus the Buffalo Bills this weekend.
During the special teams portion of practice, cornerback Ahmad Carroll, who has consistently run with the first team during camp, crumpled to the turf after getting kicked.
Carroll injured his ankle but later returned to practice. The coaching staff feared the worst.
"My heart just about dropped into my shoes," Bates said.
Now Bates can exhale and focus on coaching his precocious rookie.
from a packers.com report
"That's emphasized every day. They want turnovers, turnovers, turnovers," Hawkins said. "A turnover will change the game."
In outside coverage against wide receiver Chad Lucas, Hawkins jumped the route and intercepted the Aaron Rodgers pass.
"If I see a quarterback make that movement with their body than I'm going to take it," he said. " I'm going to get it full speed."
The rookie cornerback has shown a skill for beating the wide receiver to his spot during camp. He, however, has let a few would-be-interceptions drop through his hands.
"That's just being too anxious," he said.
Hawkins' anxiousness is understandable as the rookie has taken a circuitous route to the NFL. He attended Oklahoma for one year in 2002 before assuming a variety of odd jobs. He then spent the next two years with the Arena League's Dallas Desperados.
Despite having never started a game for the Desperados, Hawkins has shined throughout training camp. His uneven Arena League career can be attributed to playing opposite men in their late twenties while still a teenager.
"I was 19 when I signed with the Arena," he said. "Some of the guys I started behind were already in the NFL. It's kind of hard to come in at 19 and take their jobs."
Currently the No. 3 cornerback with Joey Thomas (hip, calf) injured, Hawkins came very close to becoming the starting cornerback versus the Buffalo Bills this weekend.
During the special teams portion of practice, cornerback Ahmad Carroll, who has consistently run with the first team during camp, crumpled to the turf after getting kicked.
Carroll injured his ankle but later returned to practice. The coaching staff feared the worst.
"My heart just about dropped into my shoes," Bates said.
Now Bates can exhale and focus on coaching his precocious rookie.
from a packers.com report