Kiper talks down Anthony Barr

[RS12]

Anthony Barr | Linebacker
Team: UCLA Bruins
Age / DOB: (22) / 3/18/1992
Ht / Wt: 6'4' / 235

LATEST NEWS
RECENT NEWS
ESPN's Mel Kiper said UCLA edge player Anthony Barr "was not what you thought he was" when watching game film.
Kiper begrudgingly conceded that colleague Todd McShay pegged this a few months ago. "The bottom line is he has to get better," Kiper said. "He's got to get more instinctive, learn more about being a defensive football player; looks a little lost out there at times, doesn't play with a defensive mentality, plays like more of an offensive player, which he once was." Kiper now agrees with McShay that Barr shouldn't go before the late first-round as a developmental player in need of coaching. Apr 8 - 9:15 PM
Source: ESPN's First Draft Podcast

 

[Idgit]

Sounds like Kiper misunderstands what the word "instinctive" means.

 

[xwalker]

Anthony Barr | Linebacker
Team: UCLA Bruins
Age / DOB: (22) / 3/18/1992
Ht / Wt: 6'4' / 235

LATEST NEWS
RECENT NEWS
ESPN's Mel Kiper said UCLA edge player Anthony Barr "was not what you thought he was" when watching game film.
Kiper begrudgingly conceded that colleague Todd McShay pegged this a few months ago. "The bottom line is he has to get better," Kiper said. "He's got to get more instinctive, learn more about being a defensive football player; looks a little lost out there at times, doesn't play with a defensive mentality, plays like more of an offensive player, which he once was." Kiper now agrees with McShay that Barr shouldn't go before the late first-round as a developmental player in need of coaching. Apr 8 - 9:15 PM
Source: ESPN's First Draft Podcast

It would be easier mentally for him to play WDE in Marinelli's scheme than the 3-4 olb position he played in college.

 

[mickswag]

This is pretty interesting to hear. I know he recently mentioned that he wasn't as high on him anymore on his Draft Podcast. He was initially really high on him and had tons of praise for him. McShay kept telling him he was going to come down on him after watching more of his tape. Guess that's what happened.

 

[Nirvana]

So basically a 3-4 team might not put that 1st round/Top 15 grade on him because he lacks the instincts you want to see at OLB, which would include dropping into coverage. But with a 4-3 team looking for a WDE I don't think this should hurt his grade all that much. It for the most part only comes down to ability to rush the passer and stop the run (less so than pass rushing skill) for a 4-3 team. Barr might be a great pick for us in the 1st round, and it may be realistic he falls to us.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Keep talking him down Mel...all the way down to pick #16.

 

[mickswag]

So basically a 3-4 team might not put that 1st round/Top 15 grade on him because he lacks the instincts you want to see at OLB, which would include dropping into coverage. But with a 4-3 team looking for a WDE I don't think this should hurt his grade all that much. It for the most part only comes down to ability to rush the passer and stop the run (less so than pass rushing skill) for a 4-3 team. Barr might be a great pick for us in the 1st round, and it may be realistic he falls to us.

Agreed. I would be really happy if he's there for us at 16 and we take him.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

He's an athletic specimen that just doesn't know what he's doing. All he has is a speed rush. Once a blocker engages him, it's over. He has no push rush moves and doesn't play like he likes contact. After watching hours of film on him, I'm scared to death we make him our pick.

 

[Muhast]

I don't know how you can need to work on being more instinctive,play less like an offensive player, and not be lost on the field, but still outproduce the guy everyone pegs as the best DE in the draft.

 

[reddyuta]

I would be scared to draft Barr at 16,you cannot draft a guy who can easily bust especially for a team like Dallas.

 

[NeonDeion21]

It would be easier mentally for him to play WDE in Marinelli's scheme than the 3-4 olb position he played in college.

I know you have mentioned Ware as a comparison for him. I'm starting to like that more and more. I still see a young Aldon Smith though.

 

[MonsterD]

All these DEs are questionable, but Barr has a lot of things that are open ended. I would much rather take Ford at 16 than Barr.

 

[Nirvana]

I looked over some film on him, beared down on the one game he played against an NFL caliber OT (Bitonio, Nevada) and I came away completely unimpressed! He got nothing on the stat sheet from this game, as far as sacks and hurries go. Bitonio owned him. (We need to draft that guy he did the same thing to Demarcus Lawrence.) I also saw tight ends blocking him easily in this and other games.

Where is the good film on this guy against a respectable OT?

 

[RS12]

I looked over some film on him, beared down on the one game he played against an NFL caliber OT (Bitonio, Nevada) and I came away completely unimpressed! He got nothing on the stat sheet from this game. Bitonio owned him. (We need to draft that guy he did the same thing to Demarcus Lawrence.) I also saw tight ends blocking him easily in this and other games.

Where is the good film on this guy against a respectable OT?

Saw a mock recently that had Bitonio to the Cowboys in 2nd FWIW, but I agree, lets take a long look at the guy who stone walled these two.

 

[Floatyworm]

Keep talking him down Mel...all the way down to pick #16.

Scary thought is......he does fall.....Jerry passes....Sheriff Floyd 2.0

I throw the remote through the TV

 

[marchetta]

It would be easier mentally for him to play WDE in Marinelli's scheme than the 3-4 olb position he played in college.

Yep. Less responsibilities. He'd have one mission, go hit the qb. Nothing instinctual required. He'd start off a situational pass rusher, and then learn the nuances as he got more experienced. You can't teach speed/quickness. The rest he can learn.

 

[Zordon]

Is he soft?

 

[morasp]

Mock draft 5.0: Four QBs in first round

By Daniel Jeremiah |

NFL Media analyst

Published: April 9, 2014 at 11:54 a.m.


Pick No.
16

Anthony Barr
OLB
UCLA
The Cowboys are desperate for edge rushers and Barr would be an excellent value at this spot.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-drafts/daniel-jeremiah/200850

 

[Woods]

Here are some highlights of an analysis by Ourlads. Barr was ranked as the top OLB in this year's Draft class. I highlighted some interesting bits. IMO, you draft Barr to rush the QB, not to play in coverage - at least early on in his career. I think as a WDE he could rotate early on and that's where Marinelli would play him.

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Two-year starter. Moved to linebacker in the spring of 2012 after playing running back and Pistol fullback for two years. Projects as a 3-4 right outside pass rushing linebacker. Can beat an offensive tackle with his athletic ability. Sets the edge in the running game. Plays with knee bend and leverage. Gets under a tackle’s pads and can run him back to the quarterback. Has the speed to run down screen passes from behind. Plays square, locks out, and skates down the line of scrimmage. Explosive and sudden quickness off the ball on a speed rush. Tough to block on twist stunts. Can bend the corner. Equally as quick in a three or two point stance. Has a burst to the quarterback after he gets off the block. Quick change of direction in space. A four down linebacker who is effective dropping into coverage or breaking up on checkdowns. Has the strength to close and stack the off tackle seams. A natural that is still learning the position. His 2012 stats: 84 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss. Ourlads' Scouting Services

Fourth year senior that has an interesting story. Barr was a RB/FB for the first two years of his career. He wasn’t used a lot and the coaching staff wanted to get his athleticism on the field, moving him to LB prior to the 2012 season. He flourished right away and has put himself in to round 1 discussion, possibly even top 10 overall. Barr has elite closing ability. He can explode downhill with the best of them with powerful strides and agile hips. He has excellent reaction skills with the necessary suddenness to his game. Barr needs work as a pass defender, however. I think he will need to play the rush linebacker position but I don’t think it will hurt his grade. He is only in year two at this position. His upside could be in the elite area. Barr has the tools and the skills to be a demon behind the line of scrimmage. In a weak edge rushing class, he could be a top 10 pick. Dave Syvertsen, Ourlads' Draft Analyst

 

[tm1119]

I looked over some film on him, beared down on the one game he played against an NFL caliber OT (Bitonio, Nevada) and I came away completely unimpressed! He got nothing on the stat sheet from this game, as far as sacks and hurries go. Bitonio owned him. (We need to draft that guy he did the same thing to Demarcus Lawrence.) I also saw tight ends blocking him easily in this and other games.

Where is the good film on this guy against a respectable OT?

Yes. I've been pushing Bitonio for a while now. He was underrated but now I've seen him mocked as high as the Seahawks in the 1st. He could start at guard day 1 and move to RT once Free is gone if we get him in the 2nd.

As far as Barr.....he's hard to judge for me. There are times where he looks dominant, but then there are other times he looks like an undersized guy who can't get to the qb. He shows some pass rush moves, but he's definitely going to have to develop a much better arsenal at the next level. As someone else said, if the OT is able to get a clean piece of him hes usually out of the play.