Bears confident Hardin will make smooth transition
Bears confident Hardin will make smooth transition
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 5/12/2012 4:52 PM
Converting Brandon Hardin from a college cornerback into an NFL safety won’t be easy. But Bears coach Lovie Smith is confident that the third-round pick from Oregon State will excel at his new position.
“It’s always tough when you make any transition,” Smith said Saturday at the team’s rookie minicamp. “But you just look at some of the skills he has: great size for a safety, he’s a physical player.
“That’s what we’re looking for there. It’s a lot harder playing corner than it is safety, so we feel pretty good about him being able to make that transition.”
The chiseled 6-3, 217-pounder is certainly built more like a safety than a cornerback, and he’s looked comfortable at his new position in the first two practices at rookie minicamp.
“It’s going great,” Hardin said. “I’ve definitely been learning a lot. Since I am playing a new position, there’s a lot to learn, a lot of coaching and I think it’s going well so far.
“Mentally it’s a little difficult. I have all the physical aspects to be a good safety. Now it’s just learning a new position, taking in the coaching, learning the different schemes and coverages.”
Hardin played cornerback at Kamehameha High School in Hawaii and later at Oregon State, where he registered 105 tackles, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in three seasons. He started all 12 games at right cornerback in 2010 before missing the entire 2011 campaign with a broken shoulder.
The only time Hardin played safety prior to joining the Bears was in the East-West Shrine Game this past January.
“The mental aspect of it, there’s going to be a learning curve there,” Hardin told reporters after Saturday's two-hour non-contact practice. “But I have to learn as fast as I can if I do want to play.”
“I think just coming into this league is an adjustment,” said defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. “Now you move him a little bit here, position to position, of course there is an adjustment. But he is a big athlete; he’s got good speed, nice range and good ball skills. Now it’s just getting the work, knowing what to do and letting the skill come alive.”
Bears 2011 third-round draft pick Chris Conte made a similar conversion, though his move from cornerback to safety came prior to his final season at California.
Operating a defense that’s fueled by takeaways, Smith has spoken to Hardin about the importance of getting more interceptions than the one he mustered in 38 career games at Oregon State.
“That’s why it was good to see him get one [Friday] in practice,” Smith said. “He’s a quick learner and we’re pretty encouraged.”
Hardin’s biggest impact as a rookie could come on special teams, given his size, speed, athleticism and mentality.
“He really loves special teams,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “He was a gunner on their punt team, the first guy down the field on kickoff, the first guy down on punt.
"He made a lot of tackles. He jumped out at you on special teams, so we’re not going to have to do a lot as far as changing his mindset to play special teams. He’s already there.
"We’re really happy to have him. He has great speed, good size and a great attitude.”
Hardin has skills to be successful safety
