Cowboys Sign Greg Hardy to Boost Pass Rush
In an effort to improve a weak pass rush, the Dallas Cowboys have won the bidding war for former Carolina Panthers star defensive end, Greg Hardy. Hardy had spent his entire five-year career with the Carolina Panthers, but was let go after being suspended 15 games due to an off field domestic abuse scandal. The two sides agreed to a one-year deal, worth over $11 million.
One of the top pass rushers in the game, the 26-year old Hardy was quickly made a hot commodity despite still potentially facing league suspension for the 2015 NFL season. Dallas took a calculated risk to improve it’s lethargic pass rush, one that ranked 28th in the league a year ago and desperately starved for impact talent at defensive end. The team downgraded on the end of it’s defensive line immensely last offseason after cutting star pass rush DeMarcus Ware, while 2014 second round pick DeMarcus Lawrence got hurt early in the year and failed to record a sack in seven appearances.
Dallas reportedly still has high hopes for Lawrence when healthy, and figures to start Lawrence and Hardy together in it’s base 3-4. Hardy has the makings of an immediate impact player, as he racked up an impressive 24 sacks during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Had he not be suspended for most of 2014, it’s anyone’s guess where his immense ceiling would have taken him.
Hardy offers the size, power and athleticism to be a total game-changer and what many experts are calling the “closer” the Cowboys lack. Dallas did more than anyone expected with the talent they had on defense in 2014, and even did a solid job at generating pressure on the opposing quarterback. They struggled to finish the deal and actually register sacks, however, and the signing of the talented Hardy should help rectify that. Hardy’s presence doesn’t just lock up one side of the line, either, as him merely being on the field ideally opens things up for Lawrence and also assists the ‘Boy’s secondary.
With linebacker Sean Lee back and healthy again, the Cowboys already had high hopes of being much improved on defense in 2015. With the flashy signing of Hardy, they could be even better and have a realistic shot at building on their solid 12-4 season of a year ago.
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