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He's already been contributing pressure and had a few passes knocked down, I don't think he's struggling as much as the stat sheet suggests
I know Connor Barwin has only been playing Defense for a year and a half now, but as a second round pic he should be contirbuting at some point in the season.
When do you think he'll be worth the 2nd round pick Rick Smith used?
In fact, I'm not too high on ANY of our d-line players right now.
Sadly, I don't think he's going to do as well as we'd expect from a 2nd rounder. Had he been a 4th rounder, I'm good with what he does out there. But he took up a 2nd round pick.
Since when is a 2nd rounder used as a situational player, limited on which down-and-distance situations exist during the game? You shouldn't, IMO. Unless he is so super-duper that he's worth the limited time.
Is he worth it? I don't think so.
In fact, I'm not too high on ANY of our d-line players right now.
Sadly, I don't think he's going to do as well as we'd expect from a 2nd rounder. Had he been a 4th rounder, I'm good with what he does out there. But he took up a 2nd round pick.
Since when is a 2nd rounder used as a situational player, limited on which down-and-distance situations exist during the game? You shouldn't, IMO. Unless he is so super-duper that he's worth the limited time.
Is he worth it? I don't think so.
In fact, I'm not too high on ANY of our d-line players right now.
Wrong perspective! You're still thinking like an expansion franchise... Pittsburgh Steelers usually don't start their first or second round picks for at least one season, often those guys don't even see the field except on special teams. New England is the same way. Here are a few examples, off the top of my head:
Troy Polamalu
B. Meriweather
L.Timmons
Woodley
L. Sweed
there's a few off the top of my head.
Drafting for immediate contribution is short-sighted. If the Texans were confident Barwin would become a great DE, then they shouldn't avoid him simply because he may take 1-2 seasons to develop into a good one.
I think Barwin's doing great! You guys are nuts. Sacks aren't the only thing one looks at.
It is for a highly drafted pass rush only specialist?
No, it is not.
The kid puts pressure on QBs. He's also got his eyes on the ball. Swatted down a couple of passes (if not more). He's off to a promising start and I'm pretty happy with it.
I think Barwin's doing great! You guys are nuts. Sacks aren't the only thing one looks at.
It is for a highly drafted pass rush only specialist?
The negativity surrounding this guy is suffocatingly stupid. Some expectations around here need some serious reeling in. I'm as optomistic as anyone (I think I put him down for 7 sacks on a poll) but if the best outcome possible isn't what happened please, don't just freak out instead. He plays more than some would think, contributes when he does and added something the team didn't have. For a 2nd round pick that's dynamite. No, it's not a nuclear bomb but we drafted that guy in the 1st!
Get real. 2nd round picks don't start on good teams. They contribute. Who is starting from this 2nd round that we could've had? Laraunitis is the only one I can think of and he was gone way before the texans pick.
Don't give up. This time next week we will be 5-3 and talking Super Bowl!You want to know the player who has the most suffocatingly stupid critics?
Jacoby Jones.
He scores TDs in special teams AND as a receiver, and there is a legion of posters on here who kill him every time he bobbles a ball.
Jacoby should get a break, when compared to his impact on our team vs. Barwin.
In Barwin, all I see is a small guy who doesn't have good enough d-linemen to help him do what he was drafted to do: Speed through gaps or around edges. If we had bruising DTs, him and Mario would be competing for most sacks every game.
Until then, the guy is not being as effective as he was drafted to be.
It was a misplaced draft pick, for what we have on the d-line. Versus the mighty 49ers, our d-line couldn't hardly push the line of scrimmage back on pass plays. That win was really a lucky win, IMO.
I won't reserve my disdain just for Barwin. The whole d-line is playing pathetic. Maybe we've shut down the run. Holding Gore down is good. But is the price that's paid is that we don't knock the QB down anymore?
(Sigh)
Just tired of trying to be positive about this d-line. I've given up.
Not counting the Niners game, we have a combination of 90 QB sacks/hurries/hits through 6 games (ave. 15) as compared with 191 in 16 games (ave. 11.93) last year.
Mario and Cody have battled injuries.
And Barwin needs time.
But, yes, I expect more from Antonio Smith (about 10-15% more in outputs.)
I have to admit it is higher than I thought. Now if Smith will kick it into higher gear.Thank you. That is a gigantic difference and folks judging the pass rush on sacks alone are being ignorant.
we will agree to disagree. He's been damn near invisible for 7 games.
I agree with you Barwin was a reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaachhhhhhhh.
I wonder if Glenn Cofee or Shaun Greene could have gotten that one yard we needed in two games. As I and SWT said on draft day we had other needs to be addressed with the second round pick. I felt RBs was one of them especially if Slaton hit the sophomore wall (and he has had issues) or got injured.
Barwin did have the one sack...I guess he is tied with Zgonina in the sack department. Was a second round pick worth one sack in 7 games? IMO ....no
I have to admit it is higher than I thought. Now if Smith will kick it into higher gear.
I agree with you Barwin was a reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaachhhhhhhh.
Affecting the passing game is what counts. Sometimes that is sacks. Mario isn't getting tons of those either, but both he and Barwin are consistently making the QB move, making him dump the ball, throw on the move, etc. That is affecting the passing game. The Texans are now middle of the league on passer rating against them. That's a big improvement.
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I do not understand why everyone is harping on the Texans pass rush. While they may not be racking up the sack stats, there is no question in my mind that they are getting consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback. How many times do you find yourself coming out of your seat saying "oooooh oh oh get 'em Mariooooo oh ahh gahhhhh" only to see the quarterback barely get the pass off or scramble out of the pocket for safety? Speaking for myself, ALL THE TIME.
The defense is much improved over last year's, and I think the sacks will soon start to come in bunches.
Also, our secondary is still average at best. They are improving but are still definately not among the best in the league. This is HUGE when it comes to the sack totals, because the opposing QB's have a lot easier time getting rid of the ball sooner if somone is open, instead of looking down 2 or 3 options and not being able to find a target.
I think we've battled three pretty good teams in Jacksonville (2nd half which is where it all started to come together), Arizona, and Cincinnati. We're mainly recovering from our horrendous NFL worst defensive start to the season. I don't know the numbers but it sure seems like the Houston Texans have probably the NFL's best defense since that 2nd half verses the Jaguars. I'm feeling pretty good about our defense right now. We're gelling pretty good.
Bring on Buffalo in the cold.
I agree, I'm just saying that a lot goes into getting a sack. It is just as much about the execution as the defense as a whole, as it is a personel effort from a player. Like you said, we are starting to gel, and I think the sack numbers will rise as we continue to do so.
Thank you. That is a gigantic difference and folks judging the pass rush on sacks alone are being ignorant.
The Bills will be our toughest test since the Jets.
I expect 1st and 2nd rounders to play immediately, and to do very well.
This pick, where it was made and upon whom it was made, was a reach IMO.
Check out the year Jairus Byrd is having from Buffalo.