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Browns New Indentity | Hardesty Turns Heads
Written by Kenny Franek    Thursday, 29 July 2010 10:22    PDF Print E-mail

According to Tony Grossi of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns’ rookie running back Montario Hardesty was “one of the stars of the team” during the offseason.  As of now he is competing for a starting job, but he will have to be very impressive to knock veteran Jerome Harrison out of the starting spot, at least to start the year, after he was one of the lone bright spots outside of offensive lineman Joe Thomas on offense last season.  

With that being said, if Hardesty can impress during training camp the Browns will likely utilize the dual-back system with Hardesty being the bruiser and the smaller Harrison moving into the third down role.  Hardesty’s biggest nemesis has been injuries, so if he can stay healthy and show he can be the durable, hit absorbing back he was last season with Tennessee he is in line to see a substantial amount of playing time right out of the gate.  

On a side note, it appears the Browns have gone another direction from the second-year Clemson product James Davis, who sustained a season ending injury early in 2009.  Hardesty and Davis are virtually identical in terms of size, but Hardesty brings more grit, physical presence, and a downhill running style that they lacked last season.  Expect Davis to make the roster, but only as a third stringer behind the soon-to-be Hardesty/Harrison combo.

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