Thread: There's A Lot To Learn From Hardin's Mistake...............

A lot to learn from Hardin's mistake

Bad tackling form, like the injured Bear's, can lead to cervical trauma, concussions and opponent's touchdowns

Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen is tackled by Brandon Hardin during the second half at Soldier Field. Hardin was injured on the play. The Bears won 33-31. (Dennis Wierzbicki/US Presswire Photo / August 26, 2012)

Dan Pompei On the NFL 6:12 p.m. CDT, August 26, 2012


Every youth football coach in America should show his team the video from a play in the Bears-Redskins exhibition game.

It happened at 14:37 of the third quarter.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a short pass over the middle to tight end Logan Paulsen. He catches the ball and turns upfield.

Brandon Hardin, from a two-deep safety look, is set up for a kill shot. He closes on the 261-pound Paulsen after 19 yards, breaks down, ducks his head and rams Paulsen in the hip with his helmet.

And just like that, Hardin's season is over.

It was the kind of tackle attempt that can lead to cervical trauma, concussions and opponent's touchdowns. He risked hurting himself, the player he was trying to tackle and his own team.

The neck injury Hardin suffered was serious enough that doctors immobilized him and carted him off the field. They kept him overnight in a hospital and put him in a neck brace.

And this weekend he was told he wouldn't play again this year.

The Bears put their third-round pick on injured reserve Sunday.

I'm not judging Hardin's intent or implying he is a headhunter. I think Hardin probably is a good kid who has not figured out how to tackle. (Ding, ding ding, we have a winner folks)

Maybe it's from time off — he missed the 2011 season with a broken shoulder. Maybe it's because he is playing a new position. Maybe it's because he got into bad habits.

But he tackled with his head down in the previous exhibition game, too, and he has taken some approaches like that in practices while pulling up.

It did not escape the notice of his coaches. Veteran defensive teammates even warned Hardin about his style. (I rest my case. Some of these kids come in with no clue what they're up against in the NFL style of play)

It doesn't really matter now.

But it will matter if he gets back on the football field.

In the world he wants to live in, you have to see what you hit and lead with your shoulder. Take it from me, or take it from Roger Goodell.

In addition to being dangerous, Hardin's hit was illegal. He could have been fined for it. (How's that for a bitch. You break your friggin' neck and they can fine YOU for doing it, LOL)

Beyond all that, it was unsound, even if you take the potential for injury out of the equation.

Football players routinely bounce off such tackle attempts, or avoid the contact entirely. It can be easy for a skilled ball carrier to get away from a defender who doesn't have his eyes on him.

Hardin might have been able to get away with dipping his head more as a cornerback at Oregon than he could as a free safety with the Bears.

Being in space makes proper tackling form more important. At his new position, the angles have changed. So has the cushion between him and the ball carrier. And so has the speed of the game.

Any good mom will tell you football always is going to be a dangerous sport, but any good coach will speak this truth: Players can make it a lot safer by using proper form when tackling.

If Hardin overcomes his spinal injury and plays football again, he will be overcoming the odds. He will have had a two-year layoff from the game.

He had such a bright future. (There's a very bad 3 letter word in this sentence)

He is 6-3, 220, which makes him stand out even in the NFL forest. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the combine, had a vertical jump of 35 1/2 inches and bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times. He's athletic enough that he usually played man-to-man in college.

So much potential, so much promise.

All risked with a dip of the head.

I wish Harden a speedy recovery.

And I also wish something good comes from what he did.

This is what you call a teaching moment.

dpompei@tribune.com