Could FS Conte an SS Hardin form a formidable tandem?

[neo]

I know, I know, Hardin hasn't played a down yet, and we still have Major Wright. First lets start with Conte. He was drafted at 6-3 197 lbs, but looked like he could put on about 5-10 lbs to his frame. He alos came on pretty strong before he was hurt. He has good coverage ability and also is a willing/sure tackler. Now he culd have a physical speciman in Hardin who actually played CB as well. Hardin coming in at 6-3 217 lbs with exceptional speed and is a physical tackler, which a great trait for a SS. These two together could be a very good tandem with both of them playing CB in college, but physical enough to play the safety positions. I think these two will be a very pleasant surprise in our defense this year. I l like M. Wright, but he seemed to out matched in coverage, even though he was a good tackler. If anything Hardin will bring the best out of him, but I think Hardin will be a team favorite with his style of play and he takes the SS position by week 2 if not in preseason. What are your thoughts?
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[RidiculousJames]

I'd be surprised if he took it by week 2 but I do think he will push Major Wright and would not be totally shocked if Hardin was starting by the end of the season. I like Major too but he needs to up his game, I don't think his injury issues have helped him and I'm hoping he comes good if he gets a full year plus pre-season under his belt. We would be lucky to have both safeties go 16 games (and potentially play-offs) uninjured so good to know we have two solid back-ups in Steltz and Hardin.
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[VeniceBearsFan]

conte has super-star potential IMO. He has great speed and appears to have pretty good ball skills (some people call it right place right time, I say good instincts). I don't know what teh story with hardin is. Let's see how he performs when the pads are on in camp/preseason before we give up on major wright.

also steltz is there and he has proved to be a great all around football player so we should be fine at safety going into next year
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[IronMike84]

Craig Steltz will probably see the field before Hardin if Wright gets banged up again, but they might rotate him in to get a look at him in a real game situation regardless.

Like I've said, given his size and being a converted corner, I think Hardin's job is going to be covering tight ends. You don't get burned that badly by Jermichael Finley and then draft a guy like Hardin by coincidence.

[MonserinNC]

[AZBearsFan]

I think the fact that we have drafted 3rd round safeties each of the 2 drafts since Wright was brought in shows that the team isn't sold on him as a starter. I think Hardin will get a shot to supplant Wright if Wright continues to leave the door open to that. If Wright shows to be the guy we thought he could be 2 years ago then he will probably continue to be the guy. If not then he probably won't be the guy. Much like several other positions since Emery has taken over, this one will come down to who rises to the top in a competition. Outside of Cutler, Forte, Marshall, Peppers, Urlacher, Briggs and Tillman, and to a lesser extent Garza and Melton, the rest of our positions seemingly are pretty unsettled. Thats more than half of our starting lineup. For a team with SB aspirations that is a lot of uncertainty. Should make for a really interesting training camp and preseason.
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[VeniceBearsFan]

[SLCbear]

yes, they can become a very formidable tandem !!! I hope Hardin passes him in camp and is starting week 1

[madmike44]

It's interesting how the coaching staff is so cautious with the safety position. They are worried about Major Wright, who has missed games in his first 2 years. They have drafted a safety in every draft since Lovie has been coach. And they still haven't found an adequate guy in all those years.

On paper they have guys that look like they can play the position. But that doesn't mean squat. They have to prove they can play on the field. And since they keep drafting a safety every year since Lovie has been coach, if anything that says that they really don't know how to draft safeties. So why would these be any different.

The interesting part I mentioned earlier is how they put such a premium on safeties, and are so worried about Wright missing games in his career. So much that they drafted ANOTHER one this year, in the 3rd round no less (same round as Wright. Same round as Conte)

Yet they are comfortable going to war with a rookie tackle who has played exactly 1.25 games, and another tackle/guard who has played one full year out of four. And another tackle who was a 7th round pick and has shown to this point, that he needs to improve drastically in his third year to even be considered average.

Things that make you go hmmmmm......

[GOGRIESE]

[madmike44]

[ChicagoAl]

[IronMike84]

[GOGRIESE]

[ChicagoAl]