Barr needs to be removed from nickle packages ASAP

@"SFVikeFan" said: He gave up 3 TD's last night.  I think one was a blown coverage by Mac Alexander, who IMO also needs to be yanked away from nickle packages.  Where the hell is George Iloka?  He's 6'4", I would throw him in as a hybrid LB in passing downs if we're going to match LB's on WR's and RB's in man coverage.  They put Kearse in there sometimes, I don't understand why not Iloka as well?  

He plays like a 250 pound rookie Trae Waynes. For all the crap I gave him early about being willing to engage in contact, he's been throwing his head and weight into opponents more and more - developing into a stout tackler at the line of scrimmage. 

I mean, with those skills alone, maybe Waynes could actually play LB better... 
:# (obviously not; that's just a joke.)

2 of the TDs I recall we're on completely different coverages. He couldn't contain Gurley one on one out of the backfield - and he didn't put Kupp on his ass inside of 5 yards on that cross and go - his zone was smoked as soon as the WR got behind him. It wasn't that Barr couldn't run with a WR that bothered me, it was more that Barr's effort was so poor on that one that Goff knew he was getting a free release off of it. It was clear as soon a Kupp rounded Barr untouched that that ball needed to be aired out. Barr didn't even challenge the timing of it. We might as well had a stationary  tackle-practice dummy out there on that one.

He just isn't doing what he's asked to do consistently enough. He has a ton of responsibilities and he can be great or non-existant at all of them. It's frustrating.

Why is Barr getting the majority of blame when Zimmer needs to answer for being out coached and out schemed again by McVay isolating Barr on a WR. That should never happen and it did on two TD's. The first TD, Mac was on Kupp and released him after he ran his crossing route and Barr picked him up and got burned. Not sure if that was a blown coverage or a designed scheme by Zimmer as far as who is to blame on that.

@"TBro" said: Why is Barr getting the majority of blame when Zimmer needs to answer for being out coached and out schemed again by McVay isolating Barr on a WR. That should never happen and it did on two TD's. The first TD, Mac was on Kupp and released him after he ran his crossing route and Barr picked him up and got burned. Not sure if that was a blown coverage or a designed scheme by Zimmer as far as who is to blame on that.

@"TBro" said: Why is Barr getting the majority of blame when Zimmer needs to answer for being out coached and out schemed again by McVay isolating Barr on a WR. That should never happen and it did on two TD's. 

Zimmer was "McVay'd" big time...

@"medaille" said:

@"TBro" said: Why is Barr getting the majority of blame when Zimmer needs to answer for being out coached and out schemed again by McVay isolating Barr on a WR. That should never happen and it did on two TD's. The first TD, Mac was on Kupp and released him after he ran his crossing route and Barr picked him up and got burned. Not sure if that was a blown coverage or a designed scheme by Zimmer as far as who is to blame on that.

Because his lack of effort oozes through the TV.  You just see him jogging around out there trying to avoid all contact that could injure him and hamper his next contract.  Zimmer maybe doesn't have an immediate answer, but he certainly gives a shit.

Zimmer's D relies heavily on players executing their job, even if it's "boring" to them.  Barr seems to only give effort if he can pad his stats.  He will aggressively attack for a sack but defend a pass?  BORING.  Be in position to take on blockers so someone else can tackle?  Maybe... if I have to, I guess...     Mac Alex shouldn't be a starter or first option in any packages.  So there's two out of 11 that have potential to cause failure to a defense.  Add in losing one of your two disrupting DEs, and you have a weak spot in your D at every level. 

Zim's D has always been about being in the proper position and executing your role on the D.  It's not designed around a few players... all eleven need to be on the same page and follow thru by actually doing their job.  He has possibly lost his locker room?  It's almost like the players are no longer buying into the system... IDK but there is something going on and it's not good.  Hopefully it gets worked out and quickly.  

Agreed that Zimmer is using Barr inexplicably. But Barr also seems like he wants to be a UFA and trying to ensure the Vikings won’t franchise tag him. Mission accomplished on that count!!

Occasionally an offense will successfully scheme a bad match up, it's on the player to execute/adjust when that happens.  When Barr end up on Kupp he need to do something in the first 5 yards to knock the timing/rythm of the route, if that fails you need to take the 5 yard penalty instead of the TD.

Maybe there are adjustments Zimm can make in calls but the whole design of an offense is to create mismatches so it will happen.

You know what I don't understand, this offseason Zim had Barr lining up at DE in nickle packages.  So we lose Everson Griffen, we sign George Iloka.  Just doing the math, why the hell are we not putting Barr at LDE/RDE with Hunter, and sliding Iloka down to LB?  If our Front 4 is down a guy and they're not getting pressure, we have a LB who is a complete liability in pass coverage but he has size and speed to rush the passer, and we have a huge SS that's 6'4 220 and good in coverage .... why are we not moving the pieces around?

Barr and Kendricks were both good to great in coverage last year. But ever since Kamara somehow caught that perfect pass against Kendricks it's like they've both fallen off a cliff coverage-wise.

No pass rush. LBs getting killed in coverage. Sounds like a Frazier Defense.

And for the record Mac flat out blew his assignment with Cupp. Lost him in the scrum at the Line and by the time Barr realized he was going to have to pick up Mac's guy it was already too late. That's on Mac, not Mike or Anthony.

But yeah, his overall play has dipped considerably. Almost like he's thinking he did all the yeoman plays that don't get much pub, including from many if you that don't get how crucial having TWO LBs that can cover is to a Zimmer Defense, and didn't get a new deal so screw it.

But Kendricks hasn't looked much better. He's a liability against the run and his coverage skills seem to have eroded this season for some reason.

Kendricks may be slipping in coverage, but he's still miles ahead of Barr.  He knocks away a sure TD vs the pack that would have made that game a loss too.  And on Thursday during the lambs first drive he covered a play that made Goff throw it away.  Later in that drive a very similar play (Goff slightly roll out throw short right to someone in the flat) gained 10 yards because Barr was late detecting the play and covering the guy in the flat.  Kendricks was there, Barr was not.  I cannot remember Barr being in position and making a play while defending a pass this year... I would like to think that he has been but I cannot remember it, while I can recall two plays where Kendricks was there and made the play. 

But yeah, nobody getting to the QB on a regular basis is killing our secondary and LBs.