I think that is kinda unfair, with Davis nobody was really high on him and he came out of nowhere as our pick. With Barr he is getting a lot of hype both during the season and after. I liked what I saw with Barr there are some things he will need to improve on but I think not being rushed in like JJ was this year and eased into playing time will be good for him. I liked the way he reads plays, he sniffs out the screen and reacts. I like the way he turns plays inside and don't let the runner get the outside. I think he showed good coverage skills and good reaction to the ball. I do agree that he needs to get stronger but I also thinks he fits in on our defense cause he got help a ton....and most weren't call. lol
What does draftniks talking up a guy have to do with anything? Nobody talked about Antonio Brown before he was drafted. Nobody talked about Tom Brady. So, if you were drafting right now, would you pass on Brown and Brady because nobody knew who they were?
Nobody talked up Mike Mitchell either. The Raidres took him in the 2nd round out of nowhere. They paid him through his rookie deal, he left, went to Carolina and turned in a good year. He is now with the Steelers. So, it took him a while to develop. Great, that is very nice for whomever inks him to the 2nd deal. Me, I really do not want to be the farm team for the NFL. Let the Raiders do that.
In the film I watched, he did turn the play inside. He kept his feet and held the point (for the most part) but it was OFTEN against TEs. Will he have power against LTs? His bench was very weak. I stated he had good instincts and that may be the biggest difference between Barr and Davis. Also said he drops in coverage well. But, not so sure he will be a great pass rusher in the NFL. In the USC game, he got his first sack with just under 6 minutes left in the game. He beat the TE around the outside and when the QB went back to throw, he knocked the ball out before it went forward for a sack/strip/fumble. The next sack, with just under 4 minutes left, he used a solid spin move to beat a LT that struggled with speed. But, where was he the 54 minutes prior? Only when everyone knew USC was passing did he get to the QB? In many instances, that same LT that struggled with speed or the TE had him blocked. They ran at him because he would loop outside and they would gash him inside. Seriously, just not seeing a guy that made play after play. He hustles. Works hard on the field, high energy, but I think he is a guy that takes some time to develop the technique needed to beat NFL LTs. In fact, Cassius Marsh would be a better choice as a pass rusher from that same UCLA team. Better developed pass rush moves. Hell, in fact, I might would rather take a flier on Marsh later than spend my first on Barr. Marsh is not some power guy either, but he has better technique.
Stanford also blocked him with a TE in many instances. Better LT prospect. He did not get a sack against Stanford. Against Oregon, he faced another OT that struggled with speed to the edge. In fact, looked like the OT had an ankle issue, saw him hopping around after several plays. First sack came on pure speed as an outside rush where he dives and swats the ball out of the hand of the QB (very similar to the USC game). It happens very early. Later, uses the same speed to get a holding call. His 2nd sack comes as the QB scrambles to his side and he tackles him a yard shy of the LOS. Still, even though he is facing an OT that struggles with his speed, when he gets too close and the LT locks up, he is a non-factor. In fact, several plays he gave up the edge. He was also moved backwards.
Maybe it is just me. Maybe I want an OLB in the first round that can find the QB AND play the run. But, I guess we drafted Jarvis Jones last year and he plays the run and cannot rush the passer well. Maybe this year we spend another first round pick on an OLB that can find the QB but may not handle the run so well. Then, next year we can draft a FS that covers but won't tackle and a SS that tackles but won't cover.
Then, we will have a team complete of front seven player that cannot stop **** and a group of secondary guys that cannot stop a pass. We would be complete.
