"Eagles Have A Very Talented Player In Connor Barwin"

[IDEXAN]

For years the Eagles have had major problems trying to contain opposing tight ends. I think they’ll be able to rid themselves of that problem going forward because of the size and coverage ability of newly acquired veteran outside linebacker Connor Barwin. Barwin has all the ingredients needed to defend a tight end. He’s got great size at 6’4″ 264 pounds with surprising catchup speed and the ability to change of direction very quickly.
The former Houston Texan also has the long arms which are needed to get a good jam on the tight end. I think this is one of the most important keys to limiting the effectiveness of the tight end. You’ve got to make it difficult for them to get off the line and into their routes. He’s shown me that he can hold up the tight ends with his jam.
http://gcobb.com/2013/07/26/eagles-have-a-very-talented-player-in-connor-barwin/

 

[IDEXAN]

After last nights game vs Carolina when Connor got 3.5 sacks, Barwin is now tied for second in league sack rankings with a total of 10.5.

 

[Double Barrel]

The Eagles are doing some great things with castoffs from other teams.

I did not think Mark Sanchez had it in him anymore.

As for Barwin, I guess Wade's system did not utilize him properly. We sure could use him on our d-line right now.

 

[Playoffs]

As for Barwin, I guess Wade's system did not utilize him properly. We sure could use him on our d-line right now.

He'd sure be a good fit for us now, imo. Congrats to him and the Eagles for getting the most out of him.

 

[IDEXAN]

The Eagles are doing some great things with castoffs from other teams.

I did not think Mark Sanchez had it in him anymore.

As for Barwin, I guess Wade's system did not utilize him properly. We sure could use him on our d-line right now.

Really ! We've got 2 pass-rushers (Mercilus & Clowney), but neither knows anything about covering the TE while Reed does but can't effectively rush from the edge, while Connor can do it all including very effectivley setting the edge on rush defense. But as I recall, the Texans were really kinda apathetic about giving Connor a solid offer.

 

[santo]

Really ! We've got 2 pass-rushers (Mercilus & Clowney), but neither knows anything about covering the TE while Reed does but can't effectively rush from the edge, while Connor can do it all including very effectivley setting the edge on rush defense. But as I recall, the Texans were really kinda apathetic about giving Connor a solid offer.

I'm starting to see this as a pattern. I wonder if he would have stayed here for a little less.

I wonder how different the Texans would have looked with Sanchez and Barwin at the beginning of the season.

 

[infantrycak]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

 

[Hervoyel]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

Yeah, as I recall I didn't vote in that one. I think it was because my preferred choice "Pay him even more than that because he's going to be tied for the league lead in sacks in Philadelphia by 2014" wasn't included.

Yeah, that's it.

 

[IDEXAN]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

I won't go so far as to say that Barwins contract year was abysmal, but it was weak, with only 3 or 4 sacks as I recall (coming off of a double-digit total from the previous year) and he was a guy trading on his pass-rushing skills more than anything in free agency. And the Eagles didn't give Barwin a strong deal as it was very much incentive-based with minimal guaranteed money. It was kinda in line with what many of us suggested as I recall ?

 

[Playoffs]

Bill Davis has done a good job turning a pretty pedestrian 2013 Barwin into a productive 2014 one.

 

[infantrycak]

Barwin's contract had $8 mil guaranteed. Not sure what you are calling incentive based. The money is in base salaries.

 

[Showtime100]

His last year here sucked huge. I hate that we make a def/off scheme and hope the players adapt instead of looking at personnel THEN developing a style that's right for them.

 

[HOU-TEX]

I never cared when Barwin left. D-Ryans, on the other hand, irked me a bit. He was getting much better towards the end of the 2011 season.

It normally doesn't bother me when players come and go, but that one did a little for some reason.

 

[Vance87]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

We thought we were golden with Watt, Mercilus, and Reed. Could you blame us?

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

I never cared when Barwin left. D-Ryans, on the other hand, irked me a bit. He was getting much better towards the end of the 2011 season.

It normally doesn't bother me when players come and go, but that one did a little for some reason.

I didn't know what to make out of our OLB's under Wade other than he short time he had Mario.


None of them did much for me. I thought both Reed and Barwin were better suited for over the TE and I didn't feel comfortable with Merciless as the premiere edge rusher on the team.

If this team didn't have JJ Watt we all know the team would be much worse off....

But dang...that defensive front might be the worst in football...

 

[gtexan02]

Barwin had one great year here that was a statistical anomaly, as I recall most of his sacks came from being unblocked. He was used poorly in our scheme

 

[Double Barrel]

I never cared when Barwin left. D-Ryans, on the other hand, irked me a bit. He was getting much better towards the end of the 2011 season.

It normally doesn't bother me when players come and go, but that one did a little for some reason.

I was going to say the same thing (great minds!).

I was indifferent about Barwin, but we knew what we had with DeMeco Ryans. And he's fulfilled all of our expectations and more in Philly.

I know you can't keep them all, but DeMeco was one of those players that I always thought you keep and figure out a way to make it happen.

 

[thunderkyss]

If we had Connor on our team & the Eagles had gotten Reed instead, Reed would have had 3.5 sacks last night. Connor Barwin is not a corner stone, or even a building block. He's good to have around while you're waiting for your young guys to develop.

He's got all the talent, he's very athletic, but he's got poor instincts & he's soft.

 

[beerlover]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

vindication, but I'm happy for him never the less.

 

[silvrhand]

If we had Connor on our team & the Eagles had gotten Reed instead, Reed would have had 3.5 sacks last night. Connor Barwin is not a corner stone, or even a building block. He's good to have around while you're waiting for your young guys to develop.

He's got all the talent, he's very athletic, but he's got poor instincts & he's soft.

He's got other interests outside of work that I always felt like he was spending more time on than being a great football player.

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

If we had Connor on our team & the Eagles had gotten Reed instead, Reed would have had 3.5 sacks last night. Connor Barwin is not a corner stone, or even a building block. He's good to have around while you're waiting for your young guys to develop.

He's got all the talent, he's very athletic, but he's got poor instincts & he's soft.

I agree with this.

Barwin had a similar game here against Jacksonville.

He's an ok player to have around, but I don't think he's a guy that you lose sleep over because he's not on your team anymore.

 

[infantrycak]

He's got other interests outside of work that I always felt like he was spending more time on than being a great football player.

What?

Are people so one dimensional now that having any other interest is a distraction? Not you necessarily, but generally. Too many folks criticizing players for their off days being on air instead of on the couch.

 

[gtexan02]

What?

Are people so one dimensional now that having any other interest is a distraction? Not you necessarily, but generally. Too many folks criticizing players for their off days being on air instead of on the couch.

Yeah, I've never understood this mentality either. Part of the reason guys like Peyton are able to maintain such a strong competitive desire for all these years is because he does so much in his spare time. You can't focus on one single thing for 10+ years and not get burnt out.

 

[disaacks3]

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

At the time he was cut, he was fairly useless here. He had a whopping 5 sacks last year.

He came back in 2012 bulked up which negated his best ability (speed) from the edge. Nobody to blame for that but himself. If he'd played like he did in 2011, does anyone really think we wouldn't have re-signed him?

 

[infantrycak]

At the time he was cut, he was fairly useless here. He had a whopping 5 sacks last year.

He came back in 2012 bulked up which negated his best ability (speed) from the edge. Nobody to blame for that but himself. If he'd played like he did in 2011, does anyone really think we wouldn't have re-signed him?

I'm not criticizing the move. I'm critiquing the 20/20 hindsight. We "fans" didn't want him at the price paid. Pretty silly to criticize the Texans now.

 

[Double Barrel]

I'm not criticizing the move. I'm critiquing the 20/20 hindsight. We "fans" didn't want him at the price paid. Pretty silly to criticize the Texans now.

yep. Even funnier is folks saying that we should have signed Buttfumble.

 

[Runner]

I was going to say the same thing (great minds!).

I was indifferent about Barwin, but we knew what we had with DeMeco Ryans. And he's fulfilled all of our expectations and more in Philly.

I know you can't keep them all, but DeMeco was one of those players that I always thought you keep and figure out a way to make it happen.

DeMeco was a huge hit when they cut him. Not just on the field, but he was truly a team leader. I knew losing DeMeco and Winston would hurt at the time. In hindsight they weren't the only ones.

Let's not forget most folks around wanted Barwin gone or kept only on a cheap deal.

Oh luck, a poll turns useful. 92 responses, 3 thought he was worth paying what the Eagles gave him - Link

The most popular response, 33 of 92, was half as much.

IIRC most fans were for the majority, if not all, of the cuts/trades in that purge because in their opinion the Texans were in salary cap hell and needed to save money so they could offer Brown a max contract when the time came. Also, the fan base was deep into "the next man up" and "the backups are better than the starters" blather at the time.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I'm not criticizing the move. I'm critiquing the 20/20 hindsight. We "fans" didn't want him at the price paid. Pretty silly to criticize the Texans now.

Hey. We're just fans. We're not paid to know better.

Luckily, I didn't vote in that poll so I can pretty much say whatever I want. I didn't expect him to play as well as he's played with the Eagles, however.

Like others, I was much sadder to see Demeco go. We could have used him the past few years.

 

[infantrycak]

Hey. We're just fans. We're not paid to know better.

Luckily, I didn't vote in that poll so I can pretty much say whatever I want. I didn't expect him to play as well as he's played with the Eagles, however.

Like others, I was much sadder to see Demeco go. We could have used him the past few years.

True.

I thought the Demeco move was a mistake, although as I recall that was about a 40% opinion. Barwin I was meh on. Just doesn't register then or now on criticizing though.

 

[gtexan02]

At the time he was cut, he was fairly useless here. He had a whopping 5 sacks last year.

He came back in 2012 bulked up which negated his best ability (speed) from the edge. Nobody to blame for that but himself. If he'd played like he did in 2011, does anyone really think we wouldn't have re-signed him?

To be fair, he didn't have that good of a year in 2011, except statistically. Analysis done on him showed he had almost all of his sacks unblocked and would likely regress toward the mean the following year, as he did.

I still think it's all about scheme

 

[bah007]

I don't remember too many people being upset about letting Barwin walk. The problem with this franchise isn't that guys leave to get paid, that happens to every team. It's that our drafts are so bad that we can never patch all the holes that are left behind.

Ryans doesn't fit this example. He wasn't cut and he didn't leave in free agency. We traded him for a 4th round pick and to move up 12 spots in the 3rd round. That's actually not a bad deal for us, considering where Ryans was at the time. And as I recall, most fans were generally happy with that trade. We were sad to see Ryans go but we were running a 43 at the time and Cushing was looking great at MLB. Ryans was expendable and we got something for him while we still could.

What did we do with the picks? We drafted Brooks and Jones and the Eagles drafted Foles with the one we gave them.

 

[corytx8]

I don't remember too many people being upset about letting Barwin walk. The problem with this franchise isn't that guys leave to get paid, that happens to every team. It's that our drafts are so bad that we can never patch all the holes that are left behind.



Ryans doesn't fit this example. He wasn't cut and he didn't leave in free agency. We traded him for a 4th round pick and to move up 12 spots in the 3rd round. That's actually not a bad deal for us, considering where Ryans was at the time. And as I recall, most fans were generally happy with that trade. We were sad to see Ryans go but we were running a 43 at the time and Cushing was looking great at MLB. Ryans was expendable and we got something for him while we still could.



What did we do with the picks? We drafted Brooks and Jones and the Eagles drafted Foles with the one we gave them.

We played 34 for a season before Ryans was traded

 

[The Pencil Neck]

True.

I thought the Demeco move was a mistake, although as I recall that was about a 40% opinion. Barwin I was meh on. Just doesn't register then or now on criticizing though.

I was sad to see him go, I didn't think trading Demeco was a mistake. I thought his best years were behind him and I thought it was better to let him go slightly early rather than slightly too late.

Now, I think we should have held on a couple more years, at least, before moving him.

 

[santo]

Demeco was the best pick from that 2006 draft. They should have let Mario go before Demeco.

 

[False Start]

I really hated to see Connor "Kramer" Barwin leave. He did have a down season, the year he left, but I just had a feeling he would go out and kick ass once again.

 

[Double Barrel]

We played 34 for a season before Ryans was traded

yep. That was the Texans first playoff year (2011) with Wade's defense.

 

[infantrycak]

yep. That was the Texans first playoff year (2011) with Wade's defense.

Our best year of defense with the somehow "doesn't fit the system" DeMeco in the middle.

 

[Vance87]

I too was uneasy about us trading Demeco. That playoff game against the Ravens he had a mic, and he was constantly giving Cushing advice. Since him it's been Brian and [insert random guy's name here] in the middle.

 

[xtruroyaltyx]

Gma still hasn't forgiven the team for trading demeco. I think she was the most upset Texans fan I heard from in it.

 

[infantrycak]

Gma still hasn't forgiven the team for trading demeco. I think she was the most upset Texans fan I heard from in it.

I was livid but pissing into the wind ain't my thing. The company line of he didn't fit was total BS though.

 

[eriadoc]

Put me in the company of Gma. That move (Ryans) was the genesis if my intense dislike for Rick Smith as a GM. You can see the same signature in many of his other moves.

I still wear my Ryans jersey.

 

[steelbtexan]

The Eagles are doing some great things with castoffs from other teams.

I did not think Mark Sanchez had it in him anymore.

As for Barwin, I guess Wade's system did not utilize him properly. We sure could use him on our d-line right now.

Yep and I don't blame Rick Smith on this one. This was mostly on Wade.

Extending Cushing coming off injury and not re-signing Barwin looks kinda stupid now.

 

[steelbtexan]

I won't go so far as to say that Barwins contract year was abysmal, but it was weak, with only 3 or 4 sacks as I recall (coming off of a double-digit total from the previous year) and he was a guy trading on his pass-rushing skills more than anything in free agency. And the Eagles didn't give Barwin a strong deal as it was very much incentive-based with minimal guaranteed money. It was kinda in line with what many of us suggested as I recall ?

The reason he didn't have as many sacks is because many times he had responsibility of covering the TE. I think Barwin may have lead the team in QB pressures though. If Barwin had been kept, there would've been no Clowney pick. Which would have made a large contingent on this MB very happy. This is another example of the consequences of the Texans org making bad decisions in FA. (They are terrible in FA.)

I just hope that RAC can find guys on the relative cheap in FA and coach them up like the Eagles have done with Barwin.

Hopefully Smith re-signs Lewis for example.

 

[steelbtexan]

What?

Are people so one dimensional now that having any other interest is a distraction? Not you necessarily, but generally. Too many folks criticizing players for their off days being on air instead of on the couch.

Lets just say I disagree with this statement. The general adage is the more time you put in on your craft the better you will be at it. It's one of the main reasons I wanted Winston gone and was good with Barwin leaving and keeping Cushing. I wanted a change in the country club mentality that McNair/Smith/Kubiak allowed and in some cases fostered. (Looking at you HWNSNBM)

 

[steelbtexan]

I don't remember too many people being upset about letting Barwin walk. The problem with this franchise isn't that guys leave to get paid, that happens to every team. It's that our drafts are so bad that we can never patch all the holes that are left behind.

Ryans doesn't fit this example. He wasn't cut and he didn't leave in free agency. We traded him for a 4th round pick and to move up 12 spots in the 3rd round. That's actually not a bad deal for us, considering where Ryans was at the time. And as I recall, most fans were generally happy with that trade. We were sad to see Ryans go but we were running a 43 at the time and Cushing was looking great at MLB. Ryans was expendable and we got something for him while we still could.

What did we do with the picks? We drafted Brooks and Jones and the Eagles drafted Foles with the one we gave them.

Hitting the nail on the head.

Thanks Rick Smith

 

[infantrycak]

Lets just say I disagree with this statement. The general adage is the more time you put in on your craft the better you will be at it. It's one of the main reasons I wanted Winston gone and was good with Barwin leaving and keeping Cushing. I wanted a change in the country club mentality that McNair/Smith/Kubiak allowed and in some cases fostered. (Looking at you HWNSNBM)

We aren't talking about a lack of time preparing. If someone has evidence of that like Carr then it's fair game. But the point was how they use their personal time and attacking a player for being on the radio instead of on the couch playing Madden, out hunting or whatever the other players do in their off time is silly.

 

[Double Barrel]

I was livid but pissing into the wind ain't my thing. The company line of he didn't fit was total BS though.

No doubt on the BS of company line.

Especially when you read this quote right after the trade:

“DeMeco by far and away (is) the most respected guy on the defense, our leader,” Watt said. “He’s a guy that everybody turns to, especially when things are going tough."

 

[IDEXAN]

No doubt on the BS of company line.

Especially when you read this quote right after the trade:

“DeMeco by far and away (is) the most respected guy on the defense, our leader,” Watt said. “He’s a guy that everybody turns to, especially when things are going tough."

All of that about Demeco was true, but what's also true is that Wade's defense only called for a single "full-time" inside LB and Cushing was simply the better player in that role. In other words DeMeco as a part-time player would have been overpaid.
And this brings us back to Barwin who the Eagles signed for a deal that included only about one third of the guaranteed money that Demecos contract that the Texans did with him years earlier had ?

 

[Double Barrel]

All of that about Demeco was true, but what's also true is that Wade's defense only called for a single "full-time" inside LB and Cushing was simply the better player in that role. In other words DeMeco as a part-time player would have been overpaid.
And this brings us back to Barwin who the Eagles signed for a deal that included only about one third of the guaranteed money that Demecos contract that the Texans did with him years earlier had ?

In a 3-4 defense, there is a premium for good LBs, especially considering there are four of the on the field. Wade should have been able to figure it out, and that he couldn't/wouldn't speaks volumes about him as a coach and his stubborn attitude about being inflexible with his scheme.

I know he's a folk hero in Houston, but there is a reason he is not coaching on an NFL team right now. He can blame it on agism, but Dick LeBeau is 77 right now. I like Wade, but he's not perfect, so just being objective about it. Losing Ryans was a mistake for this franchise. Thought it then and still believe it today.

 

[b0ng]

In a 3-4 defense, there is a premium for good LBs, especially considering there are four of the on the field. Wade should have been able to figure it out, and that he couldn't/wouldn't speaks volumes about him as a coach and his stubborn attitude about being inflexible with his scheme.

I know he's a folk hero in Houston, but there is a reason he is not coaching on an NFL team right now. He can blame it on agism, but Dick LeBeau is 77 right now. I like Wade, but he's not perfect, so just being objective about it. Losing Ryans was a mistake for this franchise. Thought it then and still believe it today.

Meh, there's plenty of teams in this year that would probably be shitloads better on defense with Wade as the DC (Thinking Chicago mostly), and they have a guy as the HC who is probably not getting a second HC job once he is fired. NFL teams make dumb hires for coaching staff all of the time, I don't think it's any slight against Phillips really. Dollars to donuts, he'll be coaching somewhere again, probably 2015.