• March 19, 2024

A Better Connor Barwin In 2015?

ConnorBarwin1Connor Barwin had a tremendous 2014 season, notching a career best 14.5 sacks and his first Pro Bowl invitation. It was clear that the Eagles coaching staff wanted to expand his role from the conservative approach the year before.

Even with the praise that Barwin has received, he would be the first to say there is improvement to be made. He is a “reflection” of what Chip Kelly wants from his football team. His approach to the game both on and off the field is one of a true professional, working on the little things to take his game to the next level. I personally admire a player who is quick to deflect attention that comes his way, shifting the focus to the impact his teammates.

The front seven for the Philadelphia Eagles was terrific last season but the secondary was awful. If the cornerbacks and safeties had done a better job at “pressing” their man and forcing the opposing quarterback to hold onto the football for even a half a second longer, Barwin may have added another three to five sacks to his season total.

An intriguing statistic I saw when looking at his game by game log, Barwin only registered sack totals in half of the games. Sacks are a significant statistic but not one that tells the whole story of how a player impacts the game. Barwin consistently applied pressure on the quarterback which resulted in several sacks his teammates collected and rarely did you see him out of position or his head turned around on a play.

What should people expect from Barwin in year three?

I’m going to predict double digits in the sack department and another Pro Bowl invite, two interceptions and a defensive score.

Barwin is going to do everything in his power to build off of last season and help lead an Eagles defense into one that opposing offenses “respect.”

Jeff Kolsky

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paulman
paulman
May 28, 2015 6:41 am

Don’t let GMCliff read this….
Connor Barwin has become the Face and Leader of this Eagles Defense just as I stated he would 2 years ago… Another Cincinnati Bearcat …

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 7:51 am
Reply to  paulman

Bull shit Paul….Our best Defensive Player was Fletcher Cox, and our best Linebacker when he was healthy was Myckal Kendricks.

Don’t be misguided by the aberration of sacks, Barwin barely showed up in Big Games.

He won’t have the same season that he had last year – it was an absolute aberration – teams are hip to how the Eagles used him, and it showed toward the end of the season when they played Playoff contending teams, and you barely heard his name….You base his abilities on his sack production, I base it upon his consistency, and when I watch games, he is opportunistic, but nothing close to dominant enough for some of you to continue to kiss his ass.

You guys like Paul have a hard on for him, I say our OLB Line backing Core is the worse in the League teaming him up with Brandon Graham – who some of you are still in denial about – with NO depth behind them…..see where Cliff said Bud Dupree – and watch his season, compared to Brandon Grahams barring injury…..I told you so..

When his (Barwins) coach turns into a pumpkin this year, don’t think I’m not going to tell you I told you so – Realistically, He is an average at best Linebacker in this league.

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 10:40 am
Reply to  gmcliff

Except he hasnt and he was an ALL Pro…and you look stupid for going out on a limb as usual.

The best coverage LB on the team and lead the team in sacks…..yeah what an average LB.

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 10:41 am
Reply to  gmcliff

And when you watch games do you see how much better a player he is then the nonsense you spout that makes you look like a pompous moron? Guess not…..

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 10:59 am
Reply to  IzzellJenkins

That’s just it. I don’t see it……He disappears in big games…even Jeff stated that, “An intriguing statistic I saw when looking at his game by game log, Barwin only registered sack totals in half of the games”

But most of you will take that and run with it as you have….The sack totals make it hard to believe he is average, but he is…I continue to warn, and point to the year Jason Babin had 18 sacks – and made the Pro Bowl…

. How was his following season??…Do you know why, because he was an average player at best….see Connor Barwin 2015….

He better have, an equally productive season, or better because that would be proving I was correct in my statements about him – and make you look like the over zealous suckers you all are who continue to be foolish enough to think he’s better than he really is……..

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 11:08 am
Reply to  gmcliff

Except the little thing that he hasnt…and he has outplayed all your criticisms…ultimatley having an ALL PRO YEAR…not a PRO BOWL year where hes the 5th alternate ALL PRO YEAR. HUGE DIFFERENCE.

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 11:20 am
Reply to  IzzellJenkins

irrelevant, that a statistical bone…….he’s till an average player….

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 11:22 am
Reply to  gmcliff

and again pray he has an equally productive season or better….which he won’t

That coach will turn into a pumpkin this year – He’s average

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 12:06 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

All are welcomed to exaggerate his season all they want – just know it’s also an exaggeration of his true abilities as well.

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 12:36 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

Yet you sitting in corner 3 years in a row with a Barwin voodoo doll hoping for the demise of player to solidify an insane talking point when proven wrong makes TOTAL SENSE. lmao

Get over it you were wrong. If your waiting for 3 years to look right…YOU WERE WRONG.

Its ok it happens.

paulman
paulman
May 28, 2015 1:02 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

Cliff & I have had this same disagreement for 3 Years since Barwin’s Arrival..
Cliff was Upset that I called the Eagles Signing him that Off-Season in Free-Agency and has dissed him ever since…
It comes with the Territory with Cliff.. If it’s not his “Pick or Guy”, then He won’t like them no matter how well a Player performs.. He does this all the time…

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
May 28, 2015 11:49 am

I actually think that he has the opportunity to be better this year not only because of the secondary but hopefully a healthy pair of ILBs. He had Kendricks playing next to dreck for half the season last year. If Alonso is healthy beside Kendricks, the defense won’t have to cheat as much to cover that deficiency in the middle.

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 12:34 pm
Reply to  bugsyhawk

True Bugs. I also think on passing downs you will see alot of Kiko Alonso on the outside allowing Barwin to pass rush more.

Fletcher Coxs improved play allowed for Barwin to make big plays similar to how he was used in Houston.

paulman
paulman
May 28, 2015 1:17 pm
Reply to  IzzellJenkins

I believe I mentioned a 100 times that Barwin was asked to play more in Pass-Coverage in 2012 for the Texans due to LB Pat Cushings Season-Ending Injury which put the Texans a little thin at LB which is why he had a drop off in Sacks for he wasn’t asked to Rush the Passer as often….Somehow GMCliff still doesn’t understand this … but to each his Own…
I stated that Barwin would be a Team Leader and a Fan Favorite which he has become … See sometimes I am correct about Players and who is a Good Fit and who is not …

Back to the Present
I see Kiko Alonso being moved all over the place and will be the primary Pass-Cover LB over Ryans,Kendricks & Barwin .. so Barwin and Graham become the primary Pass-Rushers along with Kendricks who will blitz up the middle… Ryans will be odd-man out on Passing Downs, I also See Kiko replacing Brandon Graham as a Pass-Rusher from time to time for Graham will be good for 50 Snaps a game and not 65-75 Plays a game as he adjusts to a full time starter for the first time in his Career …
I see the 5 LB’s for 4 Positions with Barwin getting the most Snaps along with Kendricks and Alonso followed by Graham & Ryans

IzzellJenkins
IzzellJenkins
May 28, 2015 2:19 pm
Reply to  paulman

Paulman we have already talked about Kikos ability to move to OLB if he can put on some pounds since he is similar to Clay Matthews build early in his career.

Kiko is an interesting piece with his versatility.

bugsyhawk
bugsyhawk
May 28, 2015 1:22 pm

Sounds about right Paul. Lot of versatility if Kiko is healthy with him and Kendricks.

vinnietheevictor
vinnietheevictor
May 28, 2015 1:29 pm

The “pads his stats against bad teams” call that I hear in here over and over is bogus.

Everyone pads their stats against bad teams. Everyone produces against shitty teams. Its the way of things.

Did you know that 10 of JJ Watt’s 20 sacks last year came in 4 games against Jacksonville and Tennesee? Throw in 4 more against the horrible Indy oline and that leaves only 6 sacks over the other 10 games.

That JJ Watt guy disappears in big games. In 2013 Watt only had a sack in half his games!

Watt clearly sucks!

Com’on GMCliff…..

Connor Barwin is a fine player for the Eagles. Should be happy to have him.

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 4:49 pm

I disagree…up until last year he didn’t do anything of any significance…..No one was singing his praises before last year, except the ones that just love to exaggerate his ability……no matter how small, or insignificant.

No one needs a voodoo doll for an average player. I’m secure in my opinion of Connor Barwin, and offer no apologies, or retractions.

we’ll agree to disagree.

paulman
paulman
May 28, 2015 5:06 pm
Reply to  gmcliff

11.5 Sacks for the Texans in 2011 which is solid production for any OLB in a 3-4
Only 3 Sacks in 2012 since the Texans lost LB Pat Cushing for the Seasons and had Barwin drop back in Pass-Coverage where he had 5 Pass Deflections and 7 Blocked Passes which again is pretty solid production..
All Barwin does is get better and better each Season and at 6-4 262lbs and 28 Years of age and relatively healthy, he’s coming into his Prime right now ..
He’s one of the few Eagle players on Defense that you don’t have to worry about consistency and productions … (Cox,Barwin, M Jenkins and Ryans, when Healthy)

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 8:36 pm
Reply to  paulman

I admitted he was opportunistic.

11.5 sacks for the Texans, when Offenses gave more attention to Mario Williams the better player……3 sacks when he was no longer able to benefit from zero attention the following year- don’t give me that loss of Brian Cushing crap – The Texans didn’t use that as an excuse and cut his ass….aberration over

2014 similar high sack totals, because he doesn’t scare anybody on Offense in this league – but they do have to account for him – He’s an opportunist – 2015 – a similar low to the following year of the previous aberration…..figurative coach turns into a pumpkin again, and Paulman makes every excuse in the book to continue to kiss his average ass…

Exaggerate if you must – I see an average player….

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 4:52 pm

Vinnie, that’s all that he is……fine.- nothing special – just fine

pheags88
pheags88
May 28, 2015 9:05 pm

Barwin is a very good player and has played like a beast on many different occassions. If you think Barwin is just an average player in the league your are clueless…just focusing on the guys sack number (which by the way were one of the best in the entire league last year) just goes to show some people don’t know a damn thing about football. How about the pressure he causes or his coverage ability or him tipping passes at the LOS which count just as much or even more than a sack. Btw since he has been an Eagle he has had some of the worst secondary play in NFL history behind him…imagine his stats if he actually had shut down corners or safeties back there. Some OLBs have that luxury where the QB will hold onto the ball longer than usual…Barwin or there in our defensive front didn’t have that with the trash at secondary

Doesn’t show up in big games? when Eagles went to the playoffs the other year Barwin made the play of the season in knocking down the pass from the LOS against Dallas with everything on the line in the biggest moment of the season (think it was 4th or 3rd down or something and the guys Orton was throwing to was wide open we would have lost but Barwin made the big play in the big moment)..same stupidity on here I see

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 28, 2015 9:27 pm
Reply to  pheags88

I respect your opinion Pheags, but your argument is weak for me. When you watch the games you don’t even see Barwin in coverage – but that is what many say although they have never seen him play much coverage…

Sack totals ??? AGAIN…see Jason Babin 18 sacks – means nothing…

Yes doesn’t show up in Big Games…..In that game you’re referencing, what else di he do all game other than the batted pass????…..Nothing – you barely heard his name – just like most games against playoff caliber teams. I just watched the home game against Dallas – same thing as usual.

…….Not impressed

DCar
DCar
May 29, 2015 12:09 am
Reply to  gmcliff

gmcliff, you cool with me bruh, but you have to get off this Barwin hate. Dude has been our best all around, consistent, defensive player we have, since his arrival. Kendricks is NOT better than him, healthy or, not. Kendricks is too small, & can not cover. He is a prototypical WILL in a 4-3. Why do you think he failed at SAM before we changed to the 3-4. BTW, the only similarities in Barwin & Babin, is their skin color, & last initial. Different positions, different skill sets. Babin was a one trick pony. He rushed the passer. Sucked against the run, & did little else. Barwin is good in coverage, sacks the QB when called to do so, is big, can get off blocks, & is good against the run. Come on bruh, you are a smart dude, but when you are wrong, you are wrong.

gmcliff
gmcliff
May 29, 2015 9:13 am
Reply to  DCar

Hahaha!! No DCar, you’re my homie as well brother, but I stand pat on my stance on Connor Barwin.

It’s not hate at all. I don’t see anything special about his play to brag about.