Can Hardy play the DT?

[Chesapeake Fan]

Just wondering aloud! He is 6'4'' and close to 300 pounds. We can play the 3 technique and between Ron Edwards and a rotation of Applewhite, Keiser, and rookie Alexander.

Currently, we have McClain is 6'2'' and 290 pounds and Nesbit at 6'0'' and 295 pounds. Now that Nesbit will be gone for 4 games, we might be looking for answers.

We can rotate McClain and Hardy and their effort could be relentless.

RDE > Applewhite, Keiser

UT> Hardy, McClain

NT> Edwards, Fua, Kearse

LDE> Johnson, Alexander

Again, wondering aloud!

[DaCityKats]

i think we will see him there in passing situations or nickel and dime packages full time tho, i dont know.

[rico6]

He has before. So why not.

[panthers55]

He could end up sliding inside on pass rushing downs but I doubt we move him inside all the time. While we have other guys who can play the 3 technique but we don't have proven guys other than Johnson who can play the 5 technique like he can. Alexander and Applewhite are not proven commodities.

I suspect that Hardy will also be in there along with Johnson and Edwards when we go to a 3-4 look. or even play 3 linemen with our nickel or dime packages.

[Frizzy350]

Hardy is gonna move around alot. Slowly we will begin shifting to a more hybridized defense rather than a standard 4-3. Hardy at this weight is a viable option as a 4-3 end or DT and an end in a 3-4 set.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Blanket statement but the common theme I'd he defense is speed. I think you can move a physical 295 guy inside and he can disrupt the play. I think we have a lot of talent so if we are healthy Mcdermont should be able to be almost as creative as Chud.

Ok maybe that's a stretch but you get what I'm sayin

[JawnyBlaze]

Yea, he's done it before but there's no way I'd want Applewhite or Keiser in at DE on a regular occasion. If Alexander shows early he can be a solid contributor I could see Hardy getting some regular play at UT, but with our current lineup (and assuming Alexander takes some time to adjust to the NFL) I wouldn't expect Hardy at DT more than he was last year.

[Donald LaFell]

There's a package for everything. Rarely does anybody that plays DE not line up inside.

[panthers34]

yeah on 3rd down or when we need a sack..johnson and alexander are also pretty big

[cultclassiccat]

Yes. Hes one of, if not the strongest on the team. Why not?

[KendrickPanther]

I think the whole point of putting on all that weight was to be a beast vs the run on first and second down. Everyone loves to talk about our bad pass defense but it was setup by poor run defense. Do you really want undrafted tweeners starting on the edge? The Panthers believe in Terrel McClain so I do too.

[Swaggasaurus]

He is not a real option at UT at this time. Hardy got handled in the run game last year regularly by offensive tackles. He may play there on obvious passing downs, but from what I have seen on field he would have a hard time not getting driven back by the better guards of the league. Now apparently the guy has bulked up about 20 pounds, however that means squat to me at this point unit I see him not get dominated in the run game.

[Swaggasaurus]

I think the whole point of putting on all that weight was to be a beast vs the run on first and second down. Everyone loves to talk about our bad pass defense but it was setup by poor run defense. Do you really want undrafted tweeners starting on the edge? The Panthers believe in Terrel McClain so I do too.

Do they now? Did I miss the memo from the team announcing McClain as the guy starting at that spot? Obviously they believe he has some value, but teams do not cut an early third round pick after year one. I have not heard Rivera blowing smoke up McClain's ass or anyone from the team declaring that he had distinguished himself from the other guys at DT.

[KendrickPanther]

Sure they do. I'm not going to link every article and every youtube clip from the past 8 months but it's pretty much a known thing they were disappointed in Fua and hopeful for McClain.