Barnes visiting the Vikings...
Count the Minnesota Vikings among many teams intrigued by Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes, the fastest man in the 2022 NFL draft.Per Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the speedy defensive back is slated to visit with several teams, including the Vikings.
There are probably still people choking on his smoke after he lit up the rest of the competition at the NFL Combine with a 4.23 40 time—the fastest time ever posted by a defensive back.
Despite him being projected as a later-round pick, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a successful visit coupled with his historic 40 time doesn’t shake things up for him to potentially get selected a bit earlier.
Speed kills on the football field, and multiple teams, including the Vikings, are obviously intrigued with the potential damage he could do.
Granted, there are legitimate coverage concerns for him in the backfield. He has shown the tendency to lean too heavily on his God-given abilities, which can lead to him losing coverage sometimes.
Sure, he’s great at playing catch-up, but at the next level, when the coverage needs to be secure with quarterbacks placing passes in tight windows, things could get a little rocky.
Barnes is more intriguing as a possible gadget player and special teamer right out of the gates. He played both cornerback and receiver in high school. His speed could make him a versatile playmaker with the ball in his hands
https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/05/fastest-player-2022-nfl-draft-visiting-vikings/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Kalon Barnes just made Combine history. 🙌
— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2022
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/m54wl4qNXT
Baylor WR Tyquon Thornton ran in the 4.2s also. Is that a football or a sprint crew?
troy williamson was wicked fast as well... how did that turn out? Lots of fast guys in the game, not a lot of them are good enough at football to really be considered a pro.
@"purplefaithful" said: Yabbut DB's just need to knock the ball away! You know the old definition of a CB—a WR who can’t catch.
@"Caactorvike" said:@"purplefaithful" said: Yabbut DB's just need to knock the ball away! You know the old definition of a CB—a WR who can’t catch.Troy Williamson could have been an all time great cornerback
@"purplefaithful" said: Yabbut DB's just need to knock the ball away!Williamson was a legend at knocking the ball away.
@"JimmyinSD" said: troy williamson was wicked fast as well... how did that turn out? Lots of fast guys in the game, not a lot of them are good enough at football to really be considered a pro.THANK YOU !
Watch tape - Combine numbers dont mean $ - - t
How many times in a football game do you run straight for 40 yards.
@"Vanguard83" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: troy williamson was wicked fast as well... how did that turn out? Lots of fast guys in the game, not a lot of them are good enough at football to really be considered a pro. THANK YOU !Watch tape - Combine numbers dont mean $ - - t
How many times in a football game do you run straight for 40 yards.
And the pads affect some guys different than others, give me full pads for the drills and put more emphasis on the short area speed drills, those mean a lot more to the real game then straight line speed.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"Vanguard83" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: troy williamson was wicked fast as well... how did that turn out? Lots of fast guys in the game, not a lot of them are good enough at football to really be considered a pro. THANK YOU !Watch tape - Combine numbers dont mean $ - - t
How many times in a football game do you run straight for 40 yards.
And the pads affect some guys different than others, give me full pads for the drills and put more emphasis on the short area speed drills, those mean a lot more to the real game then straight line speed.
AGAIN right on the money.There are so many technical skills that DONT show when you are in shorts...
Youve gotta strap it up.
Ill speak strictly O line as an example. are hands inside? thumbs up? leveraging pads? can they change their opponents spine angle? keeping pads parallel? how does he re-fit?
How do they engage with a rip? can they make the right line calls? ID the MDM, recognize stunts / twists, pull and hit? chip and get to the second level? how are their “high hat” “low hat” skills? is their set-up tipping run, pass, or pull?On and On....
but yeah - running in a straight line is important.
@"Vanguard83" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"Vanguard83" said:@"JimmyinSD" said: troy williamson was wicked fast as well... how did that turn out? Lots of fast guys in the game, not a lot of them are good enough at football to really be considered a pro. THANK YOU !Watch tape - Combine numbers dont mean $ - - t
How many times in a football game do you run straight for 40 yards.
And the pads affect some guys different than others, give me full pads for the drills and put more emphasis on the short area speed drills, those mean a lot more to the real game then straight line speed.
AGAIN right on the money.There are so many technical skills that DONT show when you are in shorts...
Youve gotta strap it up.
Ill speak strictly O line as an example. are hands inside? thumbs up? leveraging pads? can they change their opponents spine angle? keeping pads parallel? how does he re-fit?
How do they engage with a rip? can they make the right line calls? ID the MDM, recognize stunts / twists, pull and hit? chip and get to the second level? how are their “high hat” “low hat” skills? is their set-up tipping run, pass, or pull?On and On....
but yeah - running in a straight line is important.
I think it was leber saying yesterday that pro days are more informative than the combine, maybe 8n so.e cases i would agree, but I have to think a pro day would be designed to showcase the given athletes strengths and try and hide their weaknesses since the agents and colleges design/run those shows.I have to think the bust rate would be lower if the players were put through drills designed by modern scouts and coaches in full pads.
Not surprisingly, the fans of the team that drafted Troy Williamson in the top 10 are not impressed by mere speed. We are agreed on that. But these Baylor guys may be worth a shot in the 6th and 7th rounds. Is Barnes' problem one of technique? Something that can be taught or corrected? Or does he have other issues that give him a pretty low ceiling? Doesn't hurt to bring him in for a meeting.
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