Draft order

yeah, can always use help rushing the passer but it's not in the top couple things I'd worry about.

 

You taking wagers on this?

 

The same stats you use to think "we're decent at DE" also indicate that "we're decent at DT." Standing pat at DE assumes that Hardy will not only be a consistent force, but worth whatever contract he'll receive after next season. Personally I still favor adding a new starter at RDE, then Hardy can not only sub at both spots but also slide inside to DT for pass rushing situations.

 

our DEs aren't often hurt, over 30, or save Johnson, being paid that much. There's 64 years and around $8 million in DT that probably won't be here next year. Meanwhile, Greg Hardy will be a starter and he is a starter. He's not a substitute.

Team can always use depth, but then, they have a good 3rd, and DT doesn't have that, either.

 

He's been good for the last eight games, but that's all. Maybe he'll stay at this level and maybe he won't. Regardless, I don't think the Panthers will be able to pay him to stick around after next season, especially with what Cam is going to be making.

No, they really don't.

 

That's fine, not the first time we've disagreed about Hardy, and if this year can't convince you he's a starter I'm really not even worried about what might. The inside argument reminds me a good deal of people that want to move Smith to the slot.

Alexander is a good third. And it'd be great to worry about 2014, but have to get through 2013 first.

 

If Hardy can continue to play at this level then yes, he is obviously a legitimate starter. I'm skeptical about assuming that an eight game run is for real after a longer stretch preceding it not indicating this level of performance. But as noted, if he is for real then he's going to get big bucks after 2013 and this team can't afford it. Regarding the rest, Hardy doesn't rush around the edge. He uses his strength and hands to manipulate blockers, which is exactly what a pass rush DT needs.

No, he really isn't. Alexander has shown absolutely nothing.

 

Alexander has 2.5 sacks and has put together some decent pressure recently. Hardy was a legit starter a year ago, and is now more than that. It's nice to have backups, and in an ideal world, yes you'd have three starting DEs and Hardy would play more inside.

I know you're saying he's not a speed rusher, but that obviously isn't the same as "he doesn't rush around the edge". Strength and hands are a critical part of most DEs' game, and not being Dumervil doesn't mean that Hardy requires replacement.

I think you are, of course, also underselling Hardy's athleticism.

The better way to solve various problems at once is to find an actual inside rusher who starts at DT. Given that it's a bigger need (and one that requires a starter).

On the other hand, this is still bizarre as to why my earlier suggestion about being fulltime one-gap 3-4 wasn't desireable. Johnson and Hardy are good 5 tech players. It leaves two ILB on the field. It gets that smallish outside rusher on board.

 

He really hasn't. I'm not suggesting that he be cut, but he's definitely well below average for a 3rd DE.

Last year you said "Hardy was a failure against the run," and it's only over the last eight games that he's been getting sacks with any consistency. Again, maybe he'll keep that up, but I wouldn't want to bet a big contract on it.

We agree that Hardy is much better against the pass than the run, and it's plausible that his skill set would work just as well rushing the passer from DT as DE.

That is not my intent at all. Hardy has incredible athleticism, but I continue to be uncomfortable with the notion of him being a long-term starter. If the team wasn't capped out then handing him a big contract might be a more manageable risk, but in the current situation giving him a lot of money means that other positions won't get addressed. If he's consistently an 8+ sack, 60+ hurry guy then he'll be worth the contract he's going to get, but that's not a bet I want to make.

It is much, much easier to find a pass rushing DE than DT, and since Hardy would appear to be capable of either, it makes sense to move him inside for pass rushing situations.

What's bizarre is that the last two years when anyone else brought up a full-time 3-4, you insisted that it would be a terrible idea since "most everyone we have is a waste in a 3-4." You repeatedly stated that Hardy is the only defender on the roster who might be better suited to a 3-4, and yet now you're advocating the complete opposite of what you said for two years without substantial changes in the roster makeup. It seems like you're just trying to rationalize a way to keep both Beason & Kuechly inside.