Greg Hardy

[Hoenheim]

Its sort of hard to evaluate our DT's now since they are rookies, but I still think our line would be much better if we had a very good perpetrator in the middle, it would allow our DE's to be even better.

If we still have Ron Edwards next year (who is pretty much a stop gap DT at his age), i wonder who the second starting DT will be?? Free agent or Mclain or Fua?

Also, is Fua supposed to a run stopper? I've heard that a few times here, but what does that really mean? that he can't penetrate and get to the QB ever? If so he sounds like a damn liability.

Here's to our DT's hopefully being much improved by the last game of the season.

[jtnc]

He's OK, dunno if he's the permanent solution to RE but we'll see, been fighting injuries this year.

[Fiz]

Just a reminder to those that don't follow the NFL draft outside of the handful of prospects NC produces every year, Hardy was a consensus late first/early 2nd round pick if he'd come out in 2009. He decided to go back to for his senior year to increase his draft stock. His advisers had told him that another big year would make him a mid first for sure.

Then he broke a bone in his foot and was limited for the entire year. Houston Nutt got pissed, thought he was just faking it, and bad mouthed him to every NFL scout that asked. That's why he dropped to where he did.

He was a steal.

[predryder226]

I think I remember something about Hardy kind of being a headcase. He might be bipolar, overthinking things putting too much pressure on himself etc.

How would you know that from watching games possible some practices?

[Razzy]

It almost makes up for Everette Brown...

[Chaos]

I like the guy's motor. I'm glad we were able to grab him so late.

[ed bell]

It's amazing he was available at that point...6th round, right?

[panthers55]

He has done decently. I actually expected him to do more in this defense. I was high on him last year and expected him to have a breakout year this season. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Then again I expected this defense to be much better than it has been. I had big expectations for the defense and have been disappointed across the board with the exception of Johnson. Then again I said that Johnson would likely get 15-16 sacks in this system.

[ed bell]

It almost makes up for Everette Brown...

Actually, considering what he has shown, he makes me forget about Everette Brown.

[JawnyBlaze]

It almost makes up for Everette Brown...

I'd say it does. We spent 2nd and 6th round picks on Hardy and Brown. Does it matter which was which? We got good enough value out of the combined picks (even if you look at it as we spent a 1st and 6th round picks on Hardy, Brown, and Goodson) in my opinion.

[ed bell]

He has done decently. I actually expected him to do more in this defense. Then again I expected this defense to be much better than it has been. I had big expectations for the defense and have been disappointed across the board with the exception of Johnson. Then again I said that Johnson would likely get 15-16 sacks in this system.

Johnson is a keeper and we are lucky he was locked down. That's going to help Hardy for sure.

I'm disappointed in the overall Defense too, but considering what we were expecting to have on the field for week one I can't claim to be shocked by the struggles so far. Ron Edwards was supposed to anchor the DT with McClain and Fua, and Beason/Davis/Anderson would provide a Pro-Bowl LB staff....That was blown to hell before the first game ended. We haven't recovered and are plugging people in hoping that it stops the bleeding. Strangest thing is that the secondary has played well, much better than the average opinion going into week 1. It's too bad we couldn't squeeze two wins out of the first half of the season....4-4 and improving would be amazing going into the bye....as it stands now we'll have to catch Steve Smith's "incendiary" mojo to make a run.

[Marguide]

He has done decently. I actually expected him to do more in this defense. I was high on him last year and expected him to have a breakout year this season. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Then again I expected this defense to be much better than it has been. I had big expectations for the defense and have been disappointed across the board with the exception of Johnson. Then again I said that Johnson would likely get 15-16 sacks in this system.

Plug in a DT that can penetrate the LOS and maybe Hardy gets that breakout season you envisioned.

[DaCityKats]

I like what he brings to the team.I remember he had a 5 sack game at ole miss and was a sure top 15 pick.was even on a si cover.