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Can Hardy play the DT?


Chesapeake Fan

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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