The thing I like most about Barr as a SLB is that on base downs he can also match up with the TE. Take the Saints for example - they love to exploit Graham in matchups forcing a team to either go Nickel to cover behind him or sacrifice coverage to stop the run. With Barr and how fast he is, we can stay in base D and cover the run if Graham has his hand in the dirt OR if Graham is flexed out wide, Barr can still cover and it not be a mismatch. The kid can fly off the edge and contribute in coverage. Sure any stiff can play SLB in this defense, but Barr is no stiff and allows for so much more flexibility in the defense as well.
I seriously, seriously doubt Barr can hang with Graham more than 10 yards down the field. We've got two 210 lb safeties that can't hang with him. Is Barr such an exceptional athlete he can cover better than Barron and Goldson while carrying an extra 40-50 lbs? Not likely. I'm not against using the #7 pick on a player similar to Barr, but if you do, it needs to be because he's a dynamite pass rusher (not just a blitzer).
Well, we both aren't pro scouts obviously so who knows for sure. I do know that Barr runs a 4.47 40 which is just as fast as Goldson or Barron, and has the frame to not get boxed out by Graham. I also know that in UCLA's defense he was frequently matched up with slot WRs and held his own well when dropping into coverage. I don't think its a question of whether he can cover better by the way - just someone else to add options. Typically SLBs leave the field because they can't cover. Someone like Barr can both rush the passer and drop back into coverage and be a PLAYMAKERBut like I said, it's my own opinion - think what you will. I just hope we add the most talented player available with the #7 pick and to me, the way the board is shaping up, that player will be Barr or Sammy Watkins. I'd be cool with either.EDIT: Just looked it up. Barr's 40 time is about a tenth of a second FASTER than both Mark Barron's (4.56) and Dashon Goldson's (4.60). I know 40 time isn't everything, but it does obviously tell a lot. He is faster with that additional weight, and best of all, allows us to keep the safeties in coverage instead of having to worry about Graham. And with his pass rush abilities, he doesn't NEED to leave the field in nickel on passing downs as he can slide to a rush DE (a much more talented version of what Quincy Black was supposed to be)
I'd rather have the correct personnel on the field so that we don't have to match up a LB on slot WR
As far as FA DE's go, I would like either Allen or Brian Orakpo. I think Peppers might be at the end of his career and not worth the dollars that you would have to pay him and Hardy is almost certainly going to stay with Carolina (hopefully with a cap crippling deal). I'm pretty sure we could get one or both of the two.Then I'd draft a WR to play the slot at #7 if I couldn't trade down 5-8 spots and pick up extra picks. This team has a lot of holes, but we need another stud WR more than anything assuming we get a DE or two in FA. I'm really liking Sammy Watkins as our 1st pick to give us Jackson, Williams, Watkins and Wright as offensive weapons. The defense is pretty close to being good - especially with a good DC and HC, but the offense needs some help.JMO.
I honestly don't think Allen or Peppers will command big contracts. Look at last offseason's aging pass rushers;Freeney 2 yr/ 8.75 milAbraham 2 yr/4.6 milUmenyiora 2 yr/8.5 milWith the salary cap staying pretty close to the same, I wouldn't expect contracts to increase drastically. I think Allen would command around 5 mil/yr, and Peppers would be 3.5-4 mil/yr.
The thing I like most about Barr as a SLB is that on base downs he can also match up with the TE. Take the Saints for example - they love to exploit Graham in matchups forcing a team to either go Nickel to cover behind him or sacrifice coverage to stop the run. With Barr and how fast he is, we can stay in base D and cover the run if Graham has his hand in the dirt OR if Graham is flexed out wide, Barr can still cover and it not be a mismatch. The kid can fly off the edge and contribute in coverage. Sure any stiff can play SLB in this defense, but Barr is no stiff and allows for so much more flexibility in the defense as well.
I seriously, seriously doubt Barr can hang with Graham more than 10 yards down the field. We've got two 210 lb safeties that can't hang with him. Is Barr such an exceptional athlete he can cover better than Barron and Goldson while carrying an extra 40-50 lbs? Not likely. I'm not against using the #7 pick on a player similar to Barr, but if you do, it needs to be because he's a dynamite pass rusher (not just a blitzer).
Well, we both aren't pro scouts obviously so who knows for sure. I do know that Barr runs a 4.47 40 which is just as fast as Goldson or Barron, and has the frame to not get boxed out by Graham. I also know that in UCLA's defense he was frequently matched up with slot WRs and held his own well when dropping into coverage. I don't think its a question of whether he can cover better by the way - just someone else to add options. Typically SLBs leave the field because they can't cover. Someone like Barr can both rush the passer and drop back into coverage and be a PLAYMAKERBut like I said, it's my own opinion - think what you will. I just hope we add the most talented player available with the #7 pick and to me, the way the board is shaping up, that player will be Barr or Sammy Watkins. I'd be cool with either.EDIT: Just looked it up. Barr's 40 time is about a tenth of a second FASTER than both Mark Barron's (4.56) and Dashon Goldson's (4.60). I know 40 time isn't everything, but it does obviously tell a lot. He is faster with that additional weight, and best of all, allows us to keep the safeties in coverage instead of having to worry about Graham. And with his pass rush abilities, he doesn't NEED to leave the field in nickel on passing downs as he can slide to a rush DE (a much more talented version of what Quincy Black was supposed to be)
1. We don't know what Barr's 40 time is. He hasn't been to the Combine yet. Unofficial campus times are notoriously unreliable. 2. Regardless of what his 40 time is, are there any 250 lb players currently in the NFL who can cover Graham down the field? The only player I remember getting any publicity for playing well against Graham this year was Aqib Talib, and he's definitely not 250 lbs. The prototypical player to cover a good receiving tight end would seem to be a big, physical corner, not a linebacker.
1. His time was in front of scouts who confirmed it as well. Even if you round up to account for error, he's still at least as fast as those other two you mentioned at a larger size. Watching UCLA games this year and seeing Barr run in the open field - you can say at the very least is not slow. And its not just straight line speed as he's still got his RB feet on a 240 pound frame2. I'm not worried about prototypical - I'm worried about us getting the most talented team possible. If Sammy Watkins is off the board and we are looking at Barr or some lower prospect who might fit some on paper prototype but won't be half as talented as the kid, well you know where I'm leaning at least.
I honestly don't think Allen or Peppers will command big contracts. Look at last offseason's aging pass rushers;Freeney 2 yr/ 8.75 milAbraham 2 yr/4.6 milUmenyiora 2 yr/8.5 milWith the salary cap staying pretty close to the same, I wouldn't expect contracts to increase drastically. I think Allen would command around 5 mil/yr, and Peppers would be 3.5-4 mil/yr.
Last year was a pretty big anomaly for FA contracts in general. It will be interesting to see if this becomes the new norm
2. I'm not worried about prototypical - I'm worried about us getting the most talented team possible. If Sammy Watkins is off the board and we are looking at Barr or some lower prospect who might fit some on paper prototype but won't be half as talented as the kid, well you know where I'm leaning at least.
I just look at it that there are 32 teams in the NFL and roughly 2,000 players when you throw in practice squad. We have a really good idea about what each type of player is and isn't capable of. I'm not going to use the #7 pick for a player I think can do something no one else can do. I want to be able to look at 5-10 of the best players in the league and say this prospect looks just like those guys. If I draft Barr, it's not because I want him running the deep middle with Jimmy Graham. I want him beating an offensive tackles a$$ on 40-50% of 3rd down plays. If he can do that, I want him. Everything else is irrelevant.
Due to the perceived lack of offense under his reign, I'd say it's more likely he goes offense in Rd 1
2. I'm not worried about prototypical - I'm worried about us getting the most talented team possible. If Sammy Watkins is off the board and we are looking at Barr or some lower prospect who might fit some on paper prototype but won't be half as talented as the kid, well you know where I'm leaning at least.
I just look at it that there are 32 teams in the NFL and roughly 2,000 players when you throw in practice squad. We have a really good idea about what each type of player is and isn't capable of. I'm not going to use the #7 pick for a player I think can do something no one else can do. I want to be able to look at 5-10 of the best players in the league and say this prospect looks just like those guys. If I draft Barr, it's not because I want him running the deep middle with Jimmy Graham. I want him beating an offensive tackles a$$ on 40-50% of 3rd down plays. If he can do that, I want him. Everything else is irrelevant.
I see what you're saying but here's what I'm saying. Jimmy Graham, for example, can do things no other player in the league can do (outside of maybe Gronkowski, and he's special. Peyton Manning does things no other player in the League - or history of the sport - can do. He's also special. What I'm getting at with Barr, is he - more than anyone else at our draft position outside of maybe Sammy Watkins - might be able to do things which no one else in the league can do including run down the field with Jimmy Graham, while also being able to pass rush at his size - or as you said, beat an offensive tackle's a$$ 40-50% of 3rd down plays. When we have a top 10 pick, I want us to try to swing it out of the park for that special player who can do things no one else can. Just think Barr is our best shot for that this year. Folks who say he's not a fit, he fits fine on base defense as a 4-3. He fits fine as rush end in dime or nickel packages. Heck, the way I've seen him cover, we could even take Mason Foster out of the game in nickel situations and leave Barr in (not saying we would do that, but he's got that ability to play in coverage). its just rare to see a player with his ability in the rush and in coverage come along. I want those rare qualities on this team.
I think Barr will be there but I think the Bucs with Lovie will be able to sign either Hardy or Allen. Allen played in a similar system in Minn. If we sign someone then I think our first pick will be an offensive player...probably an OT, WR, or TE. The Bucs could also trade down. A lot depends on the QBs and if there's a run on them. I also wouldn't be shocked if the Bucs go QB. If Manziel falls to us...the Glaziers want butts back in the seats. That's why Schiano is gone. 90% of Bucs fans wanted him gone and the Glaziers knew they'd alienate their fan base by not making a move. What better way than to excite the fan base than with someone like Manziel.
Manziel would excite the fan base. I'm just skeptical about him.
I think the fan base is already excited. The more hope and excitement we have, the more it hurts when Manziel turns out to be nothing special.
I do not want Barr at all. We could get a bigger impact player at #7. Don't get me wrong he could be a great player at the next level but he won't affect the W/L column just like Barron doesn't.I want Watkins or Mack at our spot. Trading down would be my first option too.
I think the fan base is already excited. The more hope and excitement we have, the more it hurts when Manziel turns out to be nothing special.
I think he will be nothing more than a guy who can extend the play but isn't going to be able to do much vs the defenses in this league.
