Thread: Rookie Brandon Hardin quickly picking up new position

I have high hopes for him also. Seems like a real serious type of guy too , genuinely hell bent on being special. I think there's gonna be no stopping him once he gets acclimated .

I know he'll be on ST but if they can acclimate him quickly he can specialize in covering some of the big athletic TE's. I think you'll see w/Hardin vs that of Conte that a full camp will make a big difference rookie wise.

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

Surprised none of you guys have posted this up. This guy is going to be fun to watch when he gets out there. The guy is just so intriguing and he's also quite handsome. I mean just sayin. Not that I find guys attractive or anything.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/14245113-606/rookie-brandon-hardin-quickly-picking-up-new-position.html


BY SEAN JENSEN
sjensen@suntimes.com
Last Modified: Aug 5, 2012 02:41AM


BOURBONNAIS — The Bears invested their third-round pick in Brandon Hardin, a defensive back who missed the entire 2011 season with a broken shoulder.

But through the first week of training camp, Hardin has looked like he belongs, making his share of plays, including an interception.

And that’s at a new position.

A cornerback at Oregon State, Hardin will play safety for the Bears, which is why patience is important.
“He’s making a transition. But athletically, he’s got everything you want,” Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said. “He’s learning as we go, and he’s a smart guy, so he’s able to pick it up.”

Hardin is big (6-3, 217 pounds), but he also has excellent speed, which will be an asset on special teams.
Unlike some regular starters in college, Hardin was key on special teams at Oregon State.

With Major Wright and Chris Conte penciled in as starters, Hardin is embracing the special-teams route.

“Realistically, I’m hoping I can contribute to the Bears,” he said. “Right now, I’m four phases on special teams. I take pride in that.”

As a junior — the last season he played at Oregon State — Hardin tied for the team lead with 12 special-teams tackles.
He led the team with 11 special-teams tackles as a sophomore.

One thing that’s not a concern, though, is his health.

“Physically, no issues. Everyone always asks about the shoulder,” he said. “But fortunately, it happened so early in the season that I’m coming up on a year to date.

“I’m fine. The shoulder is fine. I’m just out there playing and not even thinking about it.”

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Copyright © 2012 — Sun-Times Media, LLC

I was just about to but you beat me to it. Ya' get extra points for that you know, LOL. Sorry but real life has been cutting into my Bears watching lately. I can't keep up.

I think Hardin was a great pick as I did with Conte last year. Both of these guys were highly rated guys in Safety classes without a lot of quality and depth and maybe that and the fact that they were CB's in college turned some teams off on them. They weren't reaches in the 3rd but they were guys who were gonna need some coaching up for the position and it seems like most teams want "plug in and play" guys when they draft Safeties. Look at the Bears history with them.

These two have what we've lacked back there for years. Size and speed. Most everyone one of the guys we drafted or signed as UDFA were just about like Major Wright. About 5'11" - 6' and listed at around 205-210lbs but probably playing 10lbs lighter. Guys built almost strictly for playing in the box.

At 6'2" and 205lbs or so Conte isn't huge but he's a big hitter just like Gary Fencik who was just a little smaller than Conte. Then you look at Hardin and he's a big guy for a Safety. If you put another 15-20lbs on him you'd have a very fast LB. He's not gonna get blown off the field by bigger faster TE's.

It's all there and just like Jensen's article says all they have to do is put the pieces together. This is the best we've looked at Safety in a long time. We've got four potential starters back there.

Hardin will see some playing time this year as a starter. This past decade alone has proven that....

4 if by injury

3 if by horrible play persistence

Either way, it will happen

I hope Wright gets it. I really don't wanna see another S drafted again and back on the merry-go-round.