UPDATE: Tracy Porter drafted 40th overall by Saints, James Hardy slides to 41st to Bills
NFL draft prospect and former IU standout James Hardy poses a dilemma for many NFL teams, because he has the physical tools and upside to be a star, but also has some deficiencies that may prevent him from reaching that level. Future success for wide receivers is notoriously hard to gauge, and NFL teams are well aware of the potential risks and benefits of taking one high in the draft.
Hardy's enormous upside makes him a very alluring prospect
Hardy, who is projected as a mid-first round to early second-round pick, has an even more distinct allure thanks to his above-average height. Will Hardy live up to the hype or are teams falling prey to what one Philadelphia Eagles blogger calls
“The James Hardy Infatuation”?
Here’s a breakdown of the positives and negatives of the Hoosier phenom.
Positive: Height
Records of Hardy’s size vary widely, some listing him at 6’5” and others listing him as 6’7”, clearly a considerable difference. The NFL combine site, probably one of the more credible sources, lists him at 6’6”. His height gives him a huge advantage over NFL cornerbacks and should make him a touchdown machine in the red zone. It puts him on par with some of the tallest receivers in the NFL, both good and not so good. The group includes the Giants’ Plaxico Burress (6’5”), the Patriots’ Randy Moss (6’4”), and the Jaguars’ Matt Jones (6’6”). While Burress and Moss are both in the midst of stellar careers, Jones has failed to live up to the hype so far.
Negative: Physicality
This is the main distinguishing aspect that people point to when debunking Hardy-Burress comparisons. Hardy may have the height to compare with a player like Burress, but he lacks the physicality. He will need to pack on some weight and increase his upper body strength to compete against some of the more physical cornerbacks in the league. Hardy was a former basketball player, which is great because he knows how to jump for balls and how to get into position against defenders, but he also lacks the body of a football player. If he doesn’t get stronger, he will get dominated on the line of scrimmage.
Positive: Hands
Hardy has good hands, and knows how to use them. He “[plucks] the ball out of the air with his long fingers properly extended,” according to his NFL combine scouting report. While his current route-running may leave something to desire, that can be improved with hard work. Good hands are the type of skill that need to be somewhat natural, and Hardy has shown that he has them.
Negative: Speed
The one drawback for taller receivers is that they normally aren’t very fast. While diminutive receivers like the Panthers’ Steve Smith or Cal receiver Desean Jackson possess breakaway speed, taller receivers usually lack the explosiveness of their counterparts. It’s no secret that Hardy isn’t a very fast receiver, and that he doesn’t have top-flight speed and acceleration. This could be his biggest downfall in his quest to become a number one receiver.
Positive: College pedigree
At IU, Hardy was nothing less than dominant as the Hoosiers’ star receiver. He had 36 career touchdown receptions, which set a record at IU and was the third-highest total in the history of the Big Ten. In his junior year he caught 79 passes for 1,125 yards, leading the team and breaking more school records. One of his premier performances came in 2007 against Penn State’s Justin King, another first-day NFL prospect. Hardy abused King for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Teams hope that he can emulate this dominance in the NFL.
Negative: Character issues?
This is Hardy’s biggest issue going into the draft. In 2006 he was arrested for domestic battery in an incident with his girlfriend and his child. He wasn't convicted but did undergo a diversion program. He was also suspended by the late Terry Hoeppner for two games in 2006. These may or may not be indicators for future behavior, but with the new conduct policy NFL teams are not taking many chances. Hardy will have to avoid any trouble if he wants to succeed in the pros.
ESPN.com analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper predict Hardy going to Tampa Bay and Dallas, respectively. Will he become a star in the NFL or will he fail to live up to expectations? Only time will tell, but we can only hope that he excels.
More IUplanet coverage of Hardy:
http://iuplanet.com/forum/iuplanet-h...html#post34666
http://iuplanet.com/forum/iuplanet-h...-showings.html
Discuss Hardy's future in the forums.
Related links:
FanHouse Mock Draft: Dallas Cowboys Select James Hardy No. 28 - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog
The James Hardy Infatuation - NJ.com: Eagle Scout
NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - James Hardy
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