In Hardy, Staley facing big talent, personality
If you add up their measurements, 49ers left tackle Joe Staley and Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy combine for 12 feet, 9 inches and 605 pounds.
And they have personalities to match their size.
Staley has hosted “The Joe Show” on 49ers.com, an off-the-cuff program during which hard-hitting topics such as end-zone dances and senior-prom memories are discussed. The theme song, in part: “Hey, hey, it’s the Joe Show, Joe Show … Gonna’ ask some stupid questions to some teammates.”
For his part, Hardy refers to himself as “The Kraken,” a mythical sea monster, and recently offered a memorable response when asked how he had a dominant four-sack performance against Atlanta.
“Man, I dominated breakfast when I woke up, so I don’t know what
you’re talking about,” Hardy said. “I dominate everything I do.”
As it turns out, Staley and Hardy, second-team All-Pros who will face each other in a divisional-playoff game in Carolina on Sunday, are no joke.
Staley will arrive on the heels of a third straight Pro Bowl season in which he allowed four sacks, according to Pro Football Focus, including two in the final 11 games. Hardy ranked third in the NFL and matched a franchise record with 15 sacks.
In their first meeting, Carolina’s 10-9 win Nov. 10, Staley fared well. He didn’t allow a sack or quarterback hit in 57 snaps. Hardy (five QB hurries) had his most success against other linemen.
Still, the Panthers collected six sacks — the most allowed by the 49ers in 2013 — and left an impression on 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Carolina, which boasts the NFL’s secondranked defense, led the NFL and tied a franchise record with 60 sacks.
“As I stand here today,” Harbaugh said, “I really believe that they are the most talented front seven that we have played.”
A big reason is Hardy, a sixth-round pick from Ole Miss in 2010 who has 26 sacks the past two seasons. Hardy, 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, was twice named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week this season, and also turned heads for his uniqueness off the field.
During NBC’s player introductions for a Sunday night game in December, Hardy, sporting dark sunglasses, uttered the words “Kraken, Hogwarts” instead of “Greg Hardy, Ole Miss.”
When it was later suggested the Kraken and Hogwarts — the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter novels — were an odd combination, Hardy had a ready response.
“I can do whatever I want. I’m the Kraken,” he said. “If you feel you can ask the Kraken personally where he goes to school, and prove me wrong, then I feel like I’ll change it.”
Hardy went on to explain that he went to Ole Miss, but the Kraken attended Hogwarts.
Whatever the case, Hardy’s nickname has clearly caught on: Carolina head coach Ron Rivera recently referred to Hardy as Kraken during a news conference. In a conference call with the Bay Area media Wednesday, Rivera said he’s learned to identify when his defensive end is in alter-ego mode.
“It’s his mood,” Rivera said. “You try to get his mood to see where he is and you try to see if you’re talking to Greg or you’re talking to the Kraken.”
Given Hardy’s off-thefield goofiness, some might wonder where, exactly, his head is. Rivera made it clear Hardy is focused on football.
“When he’s on the practice field, I think he practices as hard as anybody on our roster,” Rivera said. “So he takes things very, very seriously. He is a little bit of a free spirit. I love his approach to things. He’s all-in with a lot of things that he does and he’s just a big personality.”
Said All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly: “Greg’s one of a kind, that’s for sure, but he comes and he works hard.”
Staley also seems to appreciate Hardy’s personality, saying of their November meeting, “he’s a little wild, which is fun.” When later told that Hardy recently dominated his breakfast, Staley smiled, suggesting Carolina’s free spirit might have a kindred spirit.
“He must have had a heck of breakfast,” Staley said. “He’s just a quotable guy.”