Derek Barnett

[Rogerthat12]

If Barnett is a LDE how many RDE's are in this draft? 3? Maybe 4?

Yes, although it is a deep DE class, not many are RDE candidates in the 4-3, there are some but they are not plentiful.

 

[tm1119]

There are so many players that could come in and start Day 1 at RDE for us in this draft it's silly. At least one of Barnett, Takk, Taco, Harris, Anderson or Williams should be there at 28. And each of them would immediately improve the defense. Then there's a whole slew of LDE type players that would be worth a pick at our 2nd round spot. This draft is stacked with edge talent, and we could get our bookends for the next decade in one fell swoop.

My point was that if Barnett isn't a RDE then most of the guys in this draft class aren't either because Barnett is a better pass rusher than all but 1 or 2. It was in reference to the couple of people above calling Barnett a LDE.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Too many people want a wartless blue chip to magically be at #28. Not happening. You take the guy you think can develop with consistency and cover up his weak spots or work them out altogether. No pick will be perfect and you have to hope they find a guy that wants to work toward being the best.

Bingo.

 

[jordan4vols]

Being a vols fan I've watched every game. One thing important to note, Barnett didn't rack up an inordinate amount of sacks against non conference teams. In fact most of his sacks came against conference foes. He also was pretty consistent in that as well. Its not like he had 0 sacks against Alabama and 6 against Vanderbilt or something.

One thing that I love about Barnett is he plays the run incredibly well. If you want to watch him take over a game though, go watch TN vs FL this past year especially the second half. I hope hes around at 28 for us to draft him.

 

[TNCowboy]

We've won the lottery if we get Barnett. Some regard him as a top 5 pick. I suspect he'll go mid-first.

Can't say enough good things about him. He won't do great at the combine, because that doesn't measure what he does best. He has a good first step, but he really has a knack for finding a way to get his shoulder past the OT. You can see the clip of him above getting past Cam Robinson, who'll be a high draft pick, and he gave Brandon Schriff a tough time in a bowl game 2 years ago. Schriff held him repeatedly.

He has great hands. One thing you rarely if ever see is that once he gets his hands on someone, they don't get away. He's also smart, and a much better athlete than he gets credit for. There was one play - can't remember against who - where the UT defense was, as usual, a confused mess and Barnett immediately recognized it and jumped out to cover an uncovered WR. He also has a nasty streak that many of the top prospects don't have.

I posted this elsewhere, but go look at Barnett against the best competition. Most of his sacks came in SEC play. Myles Garrett, on the other hand, got many of his against nobody out of conference teams. Barnett had almost as many sacks this season alone in SEC play as Garrett had in his 3 years at ATM.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

We would be foolish to pass on Barnett. I still don't think he gets past the teens.

He would be the best DE we have on the team right now. Just because he's not the prototype at RDE doesn't mean he wouldn't be productive there. I'm also of the belief that this DE class is so deep that we might be able to get two solid players there - with a potential high-impact guy with our first pick. No need to trade up.

A healthy Lawrence teamed with this guy along with Tapper, Irving (situationally) and maybe even another rookie as a DE rotation should be a noticeable improvement.

If we could get Barnett on an NFL training regimen and tighten up the doughboy middle he has going for him right now, this guy would be an animal.

 

[conner01]

If Barnett is a LDE how many RDE's are in this draft? 3? Maybe 4?

Doesn't matter to me if he gets sacks from left side or right

 

[DeaconMoss]

No way we get this guy, unless via trade up. top 15 pick

 

[Manwiththeplan]

My point was that if Barnett isn't a RDE then most of the guys in this draft class aren't either because Barnett is a better pass rusher than all but 1 or 2. It was in reference to the couple of people above calling Barnett a LDE.

I agree, but the even better question is, do we have a LDE on the roster that should make us stay away from drafting a LDE?

 

[kazzd58]

let me ask y'all this what Left DE on this roster has as much production and upside at LE as Barnett? cause he would probably start eventually for us anyway if drafted to us...

Law stay hurt Crawford stay hurt too they don't know what to do with Irvin yet so as far as I'm concern Barnett gets to the QB a lot

i don't care what side he coming from LE RE dont matter, give me PLAYMAKERS on defense who can consistently get pressure and make timely plays as much as possible

when i watch the tape i see him getting to QB hitting the QB a lot and we need that type of attitude on defense line now the NFL they bout change the weed law so him and Gregory eventually on the RE mannnn.... yes Gregory i think he'll play next season

so LE or RE if he's hitting the qb a lot i want him on this team period

He broke Reggie White sack record at TN... think about that some players are just football players he one to me i hope he test terrible so he can fall

 

[xwalker]

let me ask y'all this what Left DE on this roster has as much production and upside at LE as Barnett? cause he would probably start eventually for us anyway if drafted to us...

Law stay hurt Crawford stay hurt too they don't know what to do with Irvin yet so as far as I'm concern Barnett gets to the QB a lot

i don't care what side he coming from LE RE dont matter, give me PLAYMAKERS on defense who can consistently get pressure and make timely plays as much as possible

when i watch the tape i see him getting to QB hitting the QB a lot and we need that type of attitude on defense line now the NFL they bout change the weed law so him and Gregory eventually on the RE mannnn.... yes Gregory i think he'll play next season

so LE or RE if he's hitting the qb a lot i want him on this team period

He broke Reggie White sack record at TN... think about that some players are just football players he one to me i hope he test terrible so he can fall

Can I get the English version?

 

[tm1119]

I agree, but the even better question is, do we have a LDE on the roster that should make us stay away from drafting a LDE?

I'd like to think Irving and Ty Crawford are the answer, but no, I don't think we should be content at any of the 4 d line positions. We need to add as many players capable of getting pressure on the QB as possible. We certainly aren't in a position to be picky about what position they play either.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

There are so many players that could come in and start Day 1 at RDE for us in this draft it's silly. At least one of Barnett, Takk, Taco, Harris, Anderson or Williams should be there at 28. And each of them would immediately improve the defense. Then there's a whole slew of LDE type players that would be worth a pick at our 2nd round spot. This draft is stacked with edge talent, and we could get our bookends for the next decade in one fell swoop.

Nah. We should go TE in the first and WR in the 2nd. BPA!

It would be a travesty.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Nah. We should go TE in the first and WR in the 2nd. BPA!

It would be a travesty.

Given the strength of this draft at DE and CB yes it would be a travesty, but under certain circumstances OJ Howard and a WR in the second world hardly be bad news

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Given the strength of this draft at DE and CB yes it would be a travesty, but under certain circumstances OJ Howard and a WR in the second world hardly be bad news

Is one of those "certain circumstances" we switched defenses with the Broncos?

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Is one of those "certain circumstances" we switched defenses with the Broncos?

Again, with this draft it shouldn't happen, but if OJ Howard was on the board, and all these junior DEs went back to school, I likely don't go DE.