Frank Alexander/Thomas Keiser > Greg Hardy

[DawgzLife]

I hope Alexander gets some time (reps) against 1st team players. I'm not even close to declaring him better (or worse) than Hardy, but picking him where they did looks like a really good pick!

I had him on my Panthers pre-draft wishlist (I had him in the 5th or 6th round tho, not 4th). Go Panthers! It will be nice to have more than 2 DEs & Keiser this year (& I really like Keiser & Hardy; obviously King Charles as well). We don't have the most dominate interior DL, but the outsides are getting more solid.

[CRA]

Didn't I see somewhere, where you said you couldn't evaluate the game because you were there??? Hardy had a good night overall. Yes, he had a couple penalties, but he was getting pressure playing against JL. He also played the run pretty well (the whole starting DL also) and also played a role in CJs sack.

I said I didn't watch last nights game closely.

Hardy is a pass rusher. He got pushed around all last year against the run or didn't play it well.

Can't knock Kieser claiming he can only pass rush as a reason he shouldn't see time over Hardy.

So is Hardy suddenly not just a pass rusher bc of last night? Bc like I said, I didn't watch much outside the first string offense.

[bleys]

I read that wrong... he held his own in the run game pretty well.. There was 1 play I can remember he ended up about 5 yards back, but I think he was trying to keep the running lanes towards the middle of the field and retreated a bit.... I only rewatched the 1st half though, and of that one play it wouldn't hurt to take a 2nd look...

[JawnyBlaze]

I said I didn't watch last nights game closely.

Hardy is a pass rusher. He got pushed around all last year against the run or didn't play it well.

Can't knock Kieser claiming he can only pass rush as a reason he shouldn't see time over Hardy.

So is Hardy suddenly not just a pass rusher bc of last night? Bc like I said, I didn't watch much outside the first string offense.

Hardy got pushed around last year in the run game, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen this year. He put on all that muscle, and if last night against a top 2 or 3 LT is any indication, he won't be getting pushed around that much this year. He made a number of good run stops at the line of scrimmage. There was also a time or two he forced the runner inside due to holding his ground where he was supposed to be and someone else made the stop for little or no gain. I think that was the case on the Ron Edwards stop early in the game (or maybe it was the CJ tackle where he came around and tackled the runner from behind, I can't remember).

[Frizzy350]

hardy did not do well in getting to the quarterback playing vs one of the best pass protectors in football last night, but he also didn't get pushed around. he held his lane, kept containment and consistently got some form of push. if he plays like this he'll keep a starting spot on the roster, either at end or as an under DT.

We know keiser can get to the quarterback and it's looking like alexander can too, so we'll put them in when the time calls for it. we cannot allow ourselves to play as poorly vs the run as we did last year, we need a guy who can hold his ground against the best tackles in the league - even if it means sacrificing a bit of pass rush.

[bleys]

fact is Hardy was used all around the field and saw more snaps than any other player (maybe aside from CJ).. He clearly hit a wall at some point, but I find it hard to believe people watching the early season do not look forward to seeing what Hardy can do this year...

everyone will have a better idea on who Greg Hardy this year.

[panther4life]

I'm not down and out on Hardy as a starter yet, but he does need to step his game up. Last year he did get abused at times against the run and out 903 snaps played he only got 4 sacks. For comparison Keiser got the same amount in 205 snaps.

As to last night, Jake Long is a beast but he did come out after the Dolphins TD. Lyndon Murtha(who sucks) replaced him. Hardy had 2 snaps against him before being pulled for the evening. In addition Hardy's 2 offsides penalties did not help him look any better last night.

Hardy's first snap against Murtha he pushed him back a good bit, but CJ was quicker and beat Jonathan Martin for the sack. In the next play Murtha got revenge and moved Hardy out of the way on the Lamar Miller run directed right at him, luckily a LB came in and cleaned up before Miller got too much of a gain.

On the final Dolphin Drive of the half Keiser came in and beat Murtha for a sack.

BTW, don't forget we traded next years third for Alexander...This could have just been a move to increase our pass rush rotation or it could have also been a way to hedge our bets in the scenario that Hardy does not imrprove or more likely iit was a move to cover both of these bases.

[iamhubby1]

So Hardy softened him up for Keiser.

Hardy plays against the LT almost every play. Offenses tend to put their best T on that side. It is going to be difficult for even the best DEs to put up good # in that situation.

Hardy played well last night. Was he perfect? No one is. He was however effective as hellz. And I am giddy as all get out over the way Hardy played last nite. He did not fill a stat sheet, but he had a hand in a lot of plays. Good job.

That said. That was 1. Give me 2 in a row before I crown him Prince Hardy.

[panther4life]

So Hardy softened him up for Keiser.

Hardy plays against the LT almost every play. Offenses tend to put their best T on that side. It is going to be difficult for even the best DEs to put up good # in that situation.

Hardy played well last night. Was he perfect? No one is. He was however effective as hellz. And I am giddy as all get out over the way Hardy played last nite. He did not fill a stat sheet, but he had a hand in a lot of plays. Good job.

That said. That was 1. Give me 2 in a row before I crown him Prince Hardy.

He did? I wouldn't expect him to going against Jake Long anyway, but what did he do that stood out to you last night?

[ShutDwn]

Hardy is important to the defenses versatility. Some Dlineman impact the game in ways that don't get counted.

His new size could help improve blitzes

[Gabeking]

You do realize Greg Hardy had to face one of the best Tackles in the league in Jake Long right? I've seen Peppers disappear against Jake Long.

Peppers could disappear against fuggin Wayne hunter as well, he only played when he wanted too but when he did he could beat any OT he wanted to.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Good to see the majority of you got it right. The defensive line played well. Hardy did what he had to do again a top notched LT. The man came in committed to being a better player. Cause he didn't accumulate a sack doesn't mean he sucks, or is ineffective or doesn't play with the same motor as Keiser or Alexander.

This isn't Madden 2012 or 13 or whatever version is out there.

I like Keiser and think he will make the cut and Alexander better since we gave up a 3rd to get him.

Wake up... stop being so GD critical because 3 DEs got a sack the other night and Hardy didn't. Doesn't mean he sucks.

[Guest Bwood]

Good to see the majority of you got it right. The defensive line played well. Hardy did what he had to do again a top notched LT. The man came in committed to being a better player. Cause he didn't accumulate a sack doesn't mean he sucks, or is ineffective or doesn't play with the same motor as Keiser or Alexander.

This isn't Madden 2012 or 13 or whatever version is out there.

I like Keiser and think he will make the cut and Alexander better since we gave up a 3rd to get him.

Wake up... stop being so GD critical because 3 DEs got a sack the other night and Hardy didn't. Doesn't mean he sucks.

Nobody said he sucks, at least I didn't in the OP. Just that Keiser/Alexander have both showed the ability to disrupt the QB, while Hardy seems to disappear in these first two preseason games.

I'm Hardy fan and yeah it was Jake Long, but like Mr. TD said, it's time to shitt or get off the pot.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Nobody said he sucks, at least I didn't in the OP. Just that Keiser/Alexander have both showed the ability to disrupt the QB, while Hardy seems to disappear in these first two preseason games.

I'm Hardy fan and yeah it was Jake Long, but like Mr. TD said, it's time to shitt or get off the pot.

Let me see. CJ is a beast and he has one sack this preseason. Partially created by Hardy's pressure. Nothing has been said about Poo or get off the pot on CJ. But that is cause his sack column doesn't have a goose egg on it.

I have yet to hear Rivera say Hardy was about to lose his job to either Kaiser or Alexander. Yeah he has said he wants to see improvement but I believe that was for the entire DL not necessarily HARDY alone.

It took CJ what 3 or 4 years before he finally took over. IMO Hardy is as good if not better than CJ was at this point in his career.

Once again, I think most of his critics do not look at what he brings to this team.