Keep or Cut: DT Nick Hayden
by Jaxon on Jan 26, 2010 10:59 PM EST
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PrintWelcome to the next installment of Keep or Cut. In an attempt to remain objective I'm going to use the Homer vs. Haters format to make the case for both sides. Big Nick just finished his second season with the Panthers after being drafted in the 6th round (#181) of the '08 draft. Hayden got off to a slow start as a rookie, playing in only two games at the end of season and logging 3 tackles. This past season Hayden saw a significant increase in appearances, getting time in 10 games and 17 combined tackles. Hayden also recorded is first sack in the week 13 Bucs game. Hayden's best day as a pro was easily the Patriots game, when Hayden recorded 8 combined tackles. The former Badger still loves to play in the cold weather!
more after the jump...
Homers says:
Hayden is still young and could develop into an effective pass rusher, he at least has enough promise to bring him back to camp and compete. Hayden is a lunch pail kind of guy who falls in the ‘high motor category', just as former Panthers DT Jordan Carstens once did. Plus he will be one of the cheaper options the Panthers could have to fill one of those back-up DT spots. Hayden is very coachable and is willing to sell out on every given play, something that can lift the play of the whole defensive line.
Hater says:
The Panthers will be deep at DT this year and Hayden seems to have little upside left. Though he does play with vigor he is limited athletically and still lacks the technique to keep from getting pushed around in the running game. It's only a matter time before Hayden loses the numbers game, why not cut him loose now and let him start fresh somewhere where he has a real chance to make the roster? The tribal tattoos on his biceps are cool but it's still time to cut bait with Nick Hayden.
So what say ye Panther fans? Should we keep Nick or cut him?
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I say keep him
Hayden is a work in progress and should be treated as such.
If we cut him we’ll just have to sign or draft a player of equal skill. So, I think keep the devil you know for cheap.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
Hmmm...even if we keep 5 DT's (not a sure thing)
Who of these is out the door? Kemo, Lewis, Irvin, Tyler, or Leonard
Tough call…
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Forgot the Salary numbers again
Hayden’s cap hit in 2009: $316k per USAtoday
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I’m saying bye to Kemo…
I love the guy, but sometimes you have to cut ties with a vet to move forward and Kemo is 31 now.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
by James Dator on Jan 26, 2010 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
Have you watched Hayden play
Im sorry tha guy has a good motor and appears to do what is asked of him but he gets blown off the ball way too much
by pantherfanatic on Jan 27, 2010 4:26 AM EST up reply actions
Wow!
That is definitely a tough one. While all indicators (for me) say CUT, the price tag is too pretty to actually pull the cord.
I’d shop all of our DT’s around and give up whoever receives the best offer.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
BTW
I’d like to see Hayden step up ’cause the tatts does look pretty awesome when he makes a play.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
I say we atleast give him a chance to compete
the best way for our team (and players) is competition. Kemo, Irvin, Thomas (maybe), lexis, Leonard, Tyler, and Hayden. as much i hate to let one go the odds are 1 or 2 will get cut or traded but the players we keep will be better for it.
"still lacks the technique to keep from getting pushed around in the running game"
That’s why I voted to cut. I see no penetration from him. To me, his tackles are all recorded after the gain’s been made. He tries, but he’s outweighed and easily manhandled at the point of attack. He’s the reason our run defense suffered so badly in the early games last year, after Kemo was out, but before we took on other guys to fill the gap.
I don't think this defense is a good fit for him
It’d be interesting to see what we could get for him from a 3-4 team, he might be a fit a t5 technique.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 27, 2010 1:27 AM EST up reply actions
I would say it had less to do with his ability...
And more to do with the fact that he was forced to play out of position.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
by MichaelProcton on Jan 27, 2010 3:35 AM EST up reply actions
The under tackle...
Rather than the nose he was forced to play at in replacing Kemoeatu.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
by MichaelProcton on Jan 27, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
nothing...I was being tongue in cheek on that comment
but I do think they are kinda cool,,,though I don’t have tats myself
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Tribal tats are doo doo…
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S. Thompson
by mad_dog_maddux on Jan 27, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
This is an easy call.
Given he will take no more than an ERFA tender at the minimum (about $400K) with no guaranteed money, there’s absolutely on reason not to bring him back to camp. Maybe he continues improving on his size and technique, but if not, then we can cut him loose with no loss outside of his TC per diem.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
I've got to agree
Although I don’t think he’ll make the roster if everyone comes off the IR healthy, there’s no guarantee that they will. It would be dumb to cut him now.
Every time I happen to see him at the end of a play
he is getting ridden ten yards away from the ballcarrier
Stick to the football talk!
Tribal Tats were so 1991…And they were not even cool then!
What? Not cool?
I was thinking of getting one…and a Members Only jacket!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
A Panthers colored one... right?
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
by James Dator on Jan 27, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
LOL!
Funny how popular those things were….
by The Duke Dude on Jan 27, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Yes thats it! Mine was black...had it up until 1995!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Keep through training camp
I don’t think these a question that you keep him through training camp. With such a small salary, you have to. I know there not a cap this year, but still. Let him compete.
His salary doesn't even exist through training camp.
ERFA tenders are 100% non-guaranteed.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
by MichaelProcton on Jan 27, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Adios Hayden
A waste of a draft pick and he is not even as good as Carstens sorry. I don’t care what stats you can throw at me etc…. Carstens had way better techinque and at-least could stop a run in some sort of effective manner.
We can draft or pickup someone just as good as Hayden such as Gabe Watson or a Jimmy Kennedy both of whom are going to be free agents and neither are going to cost a bunch of cash.
I voted cut him, see ya Nick.
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jan 27, 2010 5:23 PM EST reply actions
As veterans...
Both Watson and Kennedy would cost significantly more than Hayden.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
by MichaelProcton on Jan 27, 2010 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
yeah
I’d bring him to camp, but with all the bodies we’ll have at DT, he would have to blow me, and the offensive line, away to get a roster spot.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 29, 2010 6:45 AM EST up reply actions
Hayden
I think every one of you need to remember Nick did what Meeks asked of him and went down to 290 lbs. from 320 lbs. The goal was for Nick was to NOT play nose tackle. He was thrown into nose tackle at 290 lbs when Kemo got hurt. At 290, I don’t care what player you are, and you get doubled teamed every time by big OT’s, it just won’t work. I wish we could of seen Hayden play the position Meeks had in mind for him. He’s fast, strong and has a passion for the game. I would like to see him let go so some other team can value his abilities. I believe he is a diamond in the rough!
by northlakecountry on Feb 6, 2010 10:39 AM EST reply actions
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