Life without Hardy may not be so bad?

[jptaylor84]

I read this article and thought id share it on here, Who knows what will happen whether we keep Hardy or not but watching both Addison and Alexander they didn't just come in to fill a hole they actually contributed, and alot more than people give them credit for too. Hardy will be a huge miss id be an idiot to say he wouldn't, but with CJ on the other side and two DTs with a years experience behind them maybe all won't be so bad, the numbers put up by both guys aren't bad at all considering how many snaps they were actually on the field, I mean people have said there not every down guys like Hardy but unless there given more snaps how do we know? add to that Horton as a third guy in the rotation who know.

It certainly may stop us from going out and paying for a FA replacement this year or waste a draft pick this year, which will allow other needs to be fixed.

I didn't see much of them at college and only seen them in a few snaps like most fans have, but the coaches seem to think highly of them both. Opinions?

http://sbn.to/1jSzAfn

[FattyFatFat]

Would be tough to replace hardy's versatility and disruption. You could see he became a real leader this year. Having said that, I think Addison and Alexander can tow the line, and ultimately we just can't hamstring ourselves with a max contract. Defense will take a step back if we lose kraken.

[panthers55]

One of the things Hardy did was bulk  up and gain a lot of muscle in order to hold the edge while keeping his speed.  If Addison, Horton or Alexander work very hard to do the same they might see the same kind of improvement Hardy did. Otherwise it is going to be a huge drop off. I also worry that with all of our division rivals needing edge rushers, it would suck if they picked Hardy up so we can face him twice a year.  It is one thing to lose him but quite another to be facing him when he knows our playbook and is a beast to contend with as  well.  Signing him eliminates those issues and if we have 28 million to work with, it would crazy not to sign him given his cap for 2014 could be as small as 6 or 7 million. By the time the big money hits we will have cleared the Hurney contracts out and gotten rid of a ton of dead cap money.  We should be able to sign Cam as well given his cap hit could be no more than the 7 million he will  already count in 2014 as well.

 

If we let Hardy go I hope at least Gettleman tries to tag and trade him so we can pick where he goes. 

[gmonjimbo]

The two teams the Panthers are trying to beat are the Seahawks and the 49ers. We saw against these teams that when are pass rush is stymied, it is open season because we have marginal talent in the secondary. I am for getting compensation for Hardy and finding above average DBs in FA/draft. We need balance on defense.

[teeray]

I think many of us are trying to down play how good Hardy was last season to soften the blow in our minds when/if he walks.

[EightyNine]

The two teams the Panthers are trying to beat are the Seahawks and the 49ers. We saw against these teams that when are pass rush is stymied, it is open season because we have marginal talent in the secondary. I am for getting compensation for Hardy and finding above average DBs in FA/draft. We need balance on defense.

 

 

This is a vaild point.. I agree that we need to figure out how to beat those two teams.. but in the playoff game, the defense wasn't the problem.  We had two good opportunities for TDs in the first half and didn't score.  And then got shut out in the 2nd half of the game.  The defense was good enough last year, so we all need to hope that we can maintain that level without Hardy.

[gmonjimbo]

I think many of us are trying to down play how good Hardy was last season to soften the blow in our minds when/if he walks.

He is good. Very underrated run defender. However this team has serious flaws via OL, WR, and DB position. If we want to beat SEA and SF they need to improve those areaa. Hardy is not Luke or Cam, who are once in a generation type talent. I rather have a 2nd round pick from a bottom feeder team than to resign. Hardy.

[top dawg]

All I know is that I have liked what I've seen from Addison, Alexander and Horton in limited snaps. There is no chopped liver here. Take it however you like.

[Proudiddy]

I'm not going to downplay his impact.  I jsut saw an article the other day talking about what a huge asset he is to whoever will have him next season because of his size/speed/athleticism against the read option. 

 

He pretty much controlled games against mobile QBs last season because of his ability to hold the edge and chase plays down from the weak side.  Not many DEs can do what he does.  See how differently Kaep's running stats look in the games we played him last season if Hardy isn't on that edge.

[EightyNine]

All I know is that I have liked what I've seen from Addison, Alexander and Horton in limited snaps. There is no chopped liver here. Take it however you like.

 

I agree with you.. but being an every down DE and being a situational pass rusher are two completely different things.. We just dont know how consistent they will be.

[top dawg]

I agree with you.. but being an every down DE and being a situational pass rusher are two completely different things.. We just dont know how consistent they will be.

 

My thing is that we have three chances. One out of the three has to be that guy.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Hardy at a reasonable price, but the NFL free agency doesn't exactly breed reasonableness when it comes to persons deemed as young difference makers.  You'll always have some GM/Owner who loses their mind, so it is what it is. That being said, I am totally---I mean totally---against sacrificing the integrity of the team for one player, as I don't believe that is the blueprint for sustained excellence.

[top dawg]

I understand Hardy's argument, but I just wouldn't be willing to acquiesce to his reasoning which basically says, "You have to pay me like you're paying C.J."  In some ways I think that the C.J. argument is a smokescreen, clouding the way for him to take the road to the highest bidder, which is what he ultimately appears to desire.  Johnson's contract was signed under the old guard, and Hardy knows that. He doesn't have to take that into account, but he does have to recognize it. There is a new sheriff in town who has to get the contracts right-side up as opposed to upside down so that the team can continually compete for championships. If Hardy (or any player) doesn't want to be part of that vision by perhaps taking somewhat less than the market will bare, but still living comfortably, rich and/or wealthy mind you, then it's time to shake hands and part the ways.

[magnus]

For what's left to work, there'd have to be a lot of growth out of at least one reserve.  Addison did a solid job in the Pats game against Cannon (it helps to not get leg whipped, because Cannon isn't that good) but no one really did much with CJ gone, including Hardy. 

 

It's realistic to consider that Hardy could go, and that the team would still have bigger needs.  Relying somewhat on the depth there is realistic.  But it'd still need a 3rd to 5th round situational guy to help out.

[rayzor]

I think many of us are trying to down play how good Hardy was last season to soften the blow in our minds when/if he walks.

i think there is some of that, but i think.  lot is also honestly looking at what we would be like if we lost him and realizing that the defense is good enough that it can withstand a loss like that and still be dominant and not take serious steps backward.

 

 

we still have cj and star and kk as well as those LBs behind the DL who will make it easy for his replacement to do his job. we have a great GM who knows a thing or two about building great DLs and a HC and DC who are great at scheming defense.

 

it will hurt a little, but it won't cripple us. we're a whole lot better with him, but still a great D if we were without him.