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Should Barr have been moved ala Doleman?

purplefaithful
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I know different era's...But I cant help but wonder what a full time switch to DE might have done for him (and for us)

This in spite of the riches we had a DE back when EG was a pro-bowl player.

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

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#1 · Feb 3, 2:59 PM
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DE
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I can't see Barr wearing 275lbs.

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#2 · Feb 3, 4:51 PM
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to Atlanta...?  ;) 

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#3 · Feb 4, 11:14 AM
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I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.

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#4 · Feb 4, 11:42 AM
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@"JimmyinSD" said: I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.
I would disagree with that.  Not that he is a traditional DE, but the student of his trade.  Started at LB as a rookie, captain of the D, seems to be a pretty heady player.  Maybe you mean physically, and that could be argued, especially at DE.  But as to a student of the game, I think he is.
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#5 · Feb 4, 12:00 PM
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@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said: I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.
I would disagree with that.  Not that he is a traditional DE, but the student of his trade.  Started at LB as a rookie, captain of the D, seems to be a pretty heady player.  Maybe you mean physically, and that could be argued, especially at DE.  But as to a student of the game, I think he is.
i meant of it in terms of getting better at things he is weak at... like getting off blocks.  he either comes free or is blocked,  we rarely have seen Barr use hand work to defeat a blocker and make a play.
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#6 · Feb 4, 12:14 PM
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He would be best as a 3-4 OLB. Could we have altered our defense to accommodate that, run some of those looks or some form of hybrid? Maybe, but I don't think Zimmer adjusts his system to the strengths of players - he tries to make players fit his system.
Some other team will move him to a different position next fall.

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#7 · Feb 4, 12:30 PM
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@"JimmyinSD" said:
@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said: I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.
I would disagree with that.  Not that he is a traditional DE, but the student of his trade.  Started at LB as a rookie, captain of the D, seems to be a pretty heady player.  Maybe you mean physically, and that could be argued, especially at DE.  But as to a student of the game, I think he is.
i meant of it in terms of getting better at things he is weak at... like getting off blocks.  he either comes free or is blocked,  we rarely have seen Barr use hand work to defeat a blocker and make a play.
actually they worked him on that this summer.  And he did defeat a block with good handwork in his multiple sack game.
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#8 · Feb 4, 2:37 PM
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@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said:
@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said: I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.
I would disagree with that.  Not that he is a traditional DE, but the student of his trade.  Started at LB as a rookie, captain of the D, seems to be a pretty heady player.  Maybe you mean physically, and that could be argued, especially at DE.  But as to a student of the game, I think he is.
i meant of it in terms of getting better at things he is weak at... like getting off blocks.  he either comes free or is blocked,  we rarely have seen Barr use hand work to defeat a blocker and make a play.
actually they worked him on that this summer.  And he did defeat a block with good handwork in his multiple sack game.



I know that was a point of empasis,  but why did it take until he was in his last year to fix something I have said since year 2 was a problem for him?  you always hear about players getting in touch with position specialists on their own... why didnt Barr fix that short coming?   I just dont think he is really motivated to be a premier player,  i think he likes the money,  but isnt driven like some guys are to make themselves better.   just my opinion from the outside looking it,  but I think he is a bit of a coaster and as he ages and his physical skills dimish his drop off will be very apparent.

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#9 · Feb 4, 2:54 PM
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@"JimmyinSD" said:
@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said:
@"greediron" said:
@"JimmyinSD" said: I dont think he is  a hand in the dirt kind of guy,  and he hasnt really show an ability to get off blocks,  he is big and fast,  but he doesnt seem to really be a student of his trade.
I would disagree with that.  Not that he is a traditional DE, but the student of his trade.  Started at LB as a rookie, captain of the D, seems to be a pretty heady player.  Maybe you mean physically, and that could be argued, especially at DE.  But as to a student of the game, I think he is.
i meant of it in terms of getting better at things he is weak at... like getting off blocks.  he either comes free or is blocked,  we rarely have seen Barr use hand work to defeat a blocker and make a play.
actually they worked him on that this summer.  And he did defeat a block with good handwork in his multiple sack game.



I know that was a point of empasis,  but why did it take until he was in his last year to fix something I have said since year 2 was a problem for him?  you always hear about players getting in touch with position specialists on their own... why didnt Barr fix that short coming?   I just dont think he is really motivated to be a premier player,  i think he likes the money,  but isnt driven like some guys are to make themselves better.   just my opinion from the outside looking it,  but I think he is a bit of a coaster and as he ages and his physical skills dimish his drop off will be very apparent.


Won't disagree with much of that.  At least there is that appearance.  But I will add, he seems like a very unselfish player as well.  Like BRob often did, he often takes on the blocker to free someone else.  I remember quite a few sacks where Barr was picked up by the back while Harry or someone else ran free.  And he hasn't been used nearly as much as a blitzer until this year.  His second year, the Double A Gap was thriving and well.  But often he was backing out in coverage while someone else ran past the lineman who was looking at Barr.  Then the double A diminished and other wrinkles took its place.  This year Mac was the dynamo blitzer from the slot.

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#10 · Feb 4, 3:37 PM
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