INDIANAPOLIS _ As expected, the Bengals began Thursday night’s pre-season finale against the Colts with virtually none of their starters. Only center Russell Bodine on offense and linebacker A.J. on defense got the nod.
Hawk has played minimally this preseason because they’ve gone against primarily nickel packages, but on the game’s first series he showed why they think he’ll help against the run. On fourth-and-one he beat a block by the fullback to turn the play into the arms of rookie linebacker P.J. Dawson to force a punt.
Then Hawk did it again on third-and-one on the third series when he flipped running back Vick Ballard head over heels as the line supplied good penetration.