Greg Hardy Needs to be the Full-Time Starter

[KillerKat]

He's at 277. Two pounds more than what Rucker was and also two more than what Charles Johnson is. Three pounds less than Brayton.

[Fiz]

277 of what?

People who don't lift come to this thread to expose yourself.

[rippadonn]

Hardy is a football player and they come in all sizes,weights, and BFI. He is the fastest lineman and doesn't seem to get dominated at the point like Brown.

Hardy has done more than Brown already and deserves to be ahead based on performance. IMO a player of his potential should be on the field. He has the size and blazing speed to be an every down end much like Julius.

Hardy has the type big play ability we are lacking on our line and he has all the tools.

[Clicheking]

Everetteeeeeee

[Clicheking]

Seriously though, the rotation is fine as is. Hardy still has some learning to do, and Brayton is playing just fine. Hardy's time will come though.

SN: I think Brown will be fine. Pessimistic or not but I never really viewed him as a full time starter just a situational player. If he can get 5-8 sacks a year during his career I'd be fine with that. Call it low expectations if u want.

[Clicheking]

Seriously though, the rotation is fine as is. Hardy still has some learning to do, and Brayton is playing just fine. Hardy's time will come though.

SN: I think Brown will be fine. Pessimistic or not but I never really viewed him as a full time starter just a situational player. If he can get 5-8 sacks a year during his career I'd be fine with that. Call it low expectations if u want.

[Baschski]

Brayton was injured about two games right? Brown took the majority of the snaps we won so my responses will be nice.

Fair enough, but there's not much chance of a rookie starting at that spot so early in his career. Yes he creates pressure but he still has a lot to learn. When people aren't injured (ie: yesterday), Brayton and Johnson start and Brown and Hardy rotate in pretty evenly on passing downs.

I like Brayton like the next man but Hardy's intagibles are well ahead of braytons as a rookie, I would honestly say is a better pash rusher. Brayton holds up well against the run so he takes the edge there but overall we need strip sacks constant pressure and Hardy actually offers more I know you might not want to hear that but he does. Now after getting enough practices down I think Hardy should be in the starting lineup with a heavy rotation. Just my opinion based on the havoc he creates whenever he is on the field, Brayton is the vet with the experience so I can uderstand your thoughts but Im sure he could rotate and have the same impact the more Hardy plays the more sacks are accumalated.

Not sure what you mean by intangibles, but Brayton is our best d-lineman against the run, is a veteran leader and draws double-teams. Hardy may be a little bit better rushing the passer, but it's too early to tell that for sure. He isn't getting doubled like Brayton and doesn't play as many snaps as him either. I like our current lineup and rotation. Brayton and Johnson are doing decently, and Hardy is getting enough snaps to have an impact and develop. By next season I think he will be ready to break out, but as Fiz said, he needs to improve against the run before he can be a full-time starter.

[Icege]

I think Hardy's playing is more of a testament to how much of a steal he was to catch in the 6th round (along with David Gettis it's looking!).

Part of me feels that Brown was drafted in hopes of replacing Peppers while at the same time getting a year playing behind him (which he did, this is only his second season). I've actually kept an eye on him, and while he does get stuffed on his spin almost every time, he is getting pressure. I haven't seen the most recent game, but I've specifically watched Brown in the last 2 and seen him making QBs uncomfortable. Not bad for a sophomore player. I do agree that he would've made a better OLB in a 3-4 scheme, but he's a DE. If he can pack on another 10lbs of muscle while maintaining his agility, speed, and improving his execution (along with the extra year of experience getting regular play), we'll have a sick rotation at DE.

[beastson]

277 of what?

People who don't lift come to this thread to expose yourself.

Fiz, Hardy would Deebo ya tail

[Zaximus]

Can't Brayton play some DT? We should use Johnson/Hardy at DE more and maybe rotate Brayton into DT sometimes. I think Brown is a waste for us right now, we should find a team that wants him to be a LB in a 3-4 and get something in return. I know Freeney is undersized, but just a freak.

[Baschski]

Stop being impatient, over-reactive pussies. Brown hasn't even played half 1 and a half seasons yet. Some players take time to develop and break out. Just like we're going to have to wait and see on Armanti for a few years, we won't know if Brown is a bust or not for another season. If you think every player that gets drafted, even in the 2nd round, is supposed to tear it up early in their career then you should probably find another sport to watch.

[mj4life]

Stop being impatient, over-reactive pussies. Brown hasn't even played half 1 and a half seasons yet. Some players take time to develop and break out. Just like we're going to have to wait and see on Armanti for a few years, we won't know if Brown is a bust or not for another season. If you think every player that gets drafted, even in the 2nd round, is supposed to tear it up early in their career then you should probably find another sport to watch.

just look at johnson, most thought he would be starting & being a factor way before now. brown needs to work on his technique & study his opponents tendencies more than anything else

[Proudiddy]

Hardy isn't big enough for running downs yet.

He needs about a year to eat/lift up.

Normally I'd agree Fiz, but Hardy seems to be one of those naturally built/strong guys. No doubt, a year in our S&C program will help any player, it may push him into a non-human classification, but from what I've seen of this year, I don't think this is a reason as to why he shouldn't be in there a majority of the downs over Brayton.

If anyone else remembers exactly what play/game it was please chime in, but probably the biggest play he's made outside of the punt block that told me he was ready was a play on an outside run. It may have been the Saints game, I can't remember, but looked like the offense was running a stretch play or something to the outside, and Hardy either completely crushed the edge blocker and made the tackle himself, or freed up the guy behind him to do it. If I'm not mistaken he was cut block on it as well... Or I may just be referring to the Legendary Stories of Gregorius B. Hardy my grandmother used to read to me as I drank a cup of hot cocoa with the different colored marshmallows.

[Zaximus]

just look at johnson, most thought he would be starting & being a factor way before now. brown needs to work on his technique & study his opponents tendencies more than anything else

Johnson didn't start because we had Peppers and other people ahead of him, not cause he was undersized, or spun in a circle the whole game. There's a difference.