The Packers really like Abdul Hodge, but with veteran Nick Barnett entrenched at middle linebacker, there’s no realistic way to get the rookie from Iowa on the field in 2006. “They gave him a quick look on the strong side, but he’s just not athletic enough to play there,” said a former scout who watched about 20 practices over the past two months. “Hodge was born to play inside. While he doesn’t run nearly as well as Barnett, he’s more instinctive and a better tackler. He’ll be the next middle linebacker in Green Bay. The only question is when.”
None of this is to suggest that Barnett isn’t a good player. In fact, he was one of the few standouts on last year’s 4-12 team. But the former Oregon State star misses far too many tackles to be considered a premier middle linebacker. “He’ll make flashy plays because of his athletic ability, but he tends to take poor angles on runs right up the gut,” said the scout. “And those are the plays a middle linebacker absolutely has to make. Also, Barnett’s sideline-to-sideline speed, which was essential when he was surrounded by slowpokes like Na’il Diggs, Hannibal Navies and Paris Lenon, isn’t quite as important now that A.J. Hawk is on the weak side. What this defense really needs is a sure tackler in the middle, and that’s Hodge’s best trait.”
So what will happen with Barnett? According to a person close to the situation, he could be signed to an extension and moved to the strong side after this season, traded prior to next April’s draft, or allowed to play out his contract and leave as a free agent following the 2007 campaign. “Of the three possibilities, I see extending and then sliding Barnett outside as the most likely scenario,” said the source. “[GM] Ted Thompson isn’t going to let a productive 25-year-old player just walk away, but he’s also not going let a player as talented as Hodge sit on the bench for too long.”