Ed Thompson on B**w*n

[mayoclinic]

This from Ed Thompson at Scout.com:

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL Draft - 7 Points: Don't overlook OSU's Laurinaitis

Point #3: Connor Barwin is this year's most versatile draft prospect ... period. According to Thompson: "Sure, players like Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and Penn State's Derrick Williams are tremendous talents who can catch the football, run with it and be breakaway threats as return specialists. But what's made Cincinnati's Barwin so special in this year's draft class is that he's a defensive end who can put quarterbacks into a panic, a linebacker with the range and quickness to attack the line of scrimmage or cover a receiver, a tight end who can catch and block effectively and a special teams star who covers well, blocks kicks and is a capable long-snapper. Connor Barwin is like having three or four players for the price of one. As teams have watched him put his athleticism on display, they've realized what he could do for their team. Barwin posted 11 sacks and had three blocked kicks during his senior year. During the 6-foot-4, 256-pound player's official visit with the Patriots, he had an opportunity to meet with coach Bill Belichick. "He told me stay versatile, do as much as I can do, because with the Patriots I won't know how they're going to use me until I get there, and even then, it could switch halfway through the season," Barwin said. New England's belief that he could play on either side of the football was reflected by the fact that he met with three offensive coaches and the defensive coordinator during his visit. Barwin had official team visits with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs and the Rams. He also worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, the Dolphins, Patriots and Broncos."

That's the first quotes I've heard from Belichick regarding Barwin. Souns like they would use him on ST and TE to start out while working him in at OLB by the midpoint of the season. Interesting stuff.

 

[BradyManny]

Good stuff. Nice to hear some positive stuff on Barwin from the media for a change.

I really think the whole "Barwin is so inexperienced" stuff is kind of laughable. Does it really make that much a difference how many seasons a guy played at college DE when we're talking about transitioning to OLB in the Pats 3-4. That's like asking how many years of basic arithmetic a student has and wondering if they can make a jump to quantam physics. It's going to be a huge transition either way. If you look at physical and mental traits, Barwin has as good a shot as any of the DE->OLB converts of making the jump.

And in the meanwhile, his versatility is a huge plus, one which no other DE->OLB conversion can offer.

Of course, I know I'm preaching to the choir here...

 

[stinkypete]

How much of the hype surrounding Barwin was a product of Vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel?

Now that his stock has fallen back to earth, Barwin's real value is starting to show again. He probably ranks in the 40's as a prospect. His upside is as high as anyone's in this class. His floor is backup TE/ST ace/situational player. I think Belichick has taken bigger risks in round 2 then Barwin, but I wouldn't take him before #48.

 

[maverick4]

how much of the hype surrounding barwin was a product of vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of barwin as the next vrabel?

Now that his stock has fallen back to earth, barwin's real value is starting to show again. He probably ranks in the 40's as a prospect. His upside is as high as anyone's in this class. His floor is backup te/st ace/situational player. I think belichick has taken bigger risks in round 2 then barwin, but i wouldn't take him before #48.

+1 ................

 

[VJCPatriot]

Barwin offers the versatility that BB covets in his players. I think BB pulls the trigger on Barwin early, either pick #23 or #34. It would be safer to use the 1st round pick because of Miami lurking at #25, but who knows, he might get to #34.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

How much of the hype surrounding Barwin was a product of Vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel?

On this board, not very much. There were already well over 100 threads mentioning Barwin even before any of that happened.

 

[mayoclinic]

On this board, not very much. There were already well over 100 threads mentioning Barwin even before any of that happened.

As a board, we were already very into Barwin way before he blew up the combine. I was actually hoping that his combine numbers would be more pedestrian so that he would continue to fly under the radar and last to #47.

I'm leaning towards Barwin at #34 right now, with a trade up in the 1st to get someone who falls like Malcolm Jenkins, BJ Raji, or Andre Smith (all of whom could go top 10 or could possibly fall to the 15-18 range). Go for one really exceptional talent in the 1st round, and then gamble in the 2nd on some high ceiling players like Barwin, Jarron Gilbert, Sean Smith, Louis Delmas, etc.

 

[JoeShmoe]

Go for one really exceptional talent in the 1st round, and then gamble in the 2nd on some high ceiling players like Barwin, Jarron Gilbert, Sean Smith, Louis Delmas, etc.

Great strategy .. hope thats what we do

 

[tanked_as_usual]

How much of the hype surrounding Barwin was a product of Vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel?

Now that his stock has fallen back to earth, Barwin's real value is starting to show again. He probably ranks in the 40's as a prospect. His upside is as high as anyone's in this class. His floor is backup TE/ST ace/situational player. I think Belichick has taken bigger risks in round 2 then Barwin, but I wouldn't take him before #48.

none......we've been talking about barwin since last november

so what makes maybin or brown or matthews or any DE/OLB prospect any better of a prospect than barwin? still waiting to hear on that one because nobody has ever responded to that question since I posted it over a month ago....so out with it, which prospect is better and why?

its funny......between the pats need, barwins versatility, and how he fits the way the pats do things....is it too obvious for those who don't think as much of him? is that why you guys don't like him?

 

[mgteich]

I think that you have it right. There are two versatile players who have value between 45 and 65: Barwin and Pat White.

I think it is interesting to point out that Barwin is interesting because he is a TE.

How much of the hype surrounding Barwin was a product of Vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel?

Now that his stock has fallen back to earth, Barwin's real value is starting to show again. He probably ranks in the 40's as a prospect. His upside is as high as anyone's in this class. His floor is backup TE/ST ace/situational player. I think Belichick has taken bigger risks in round 2 then Barwin, but I wouldn't take him before #48.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think that you have it right. There are two versatile players who have value between 45 and 65: Barwin and Pat White.

I think it is interesting to point out that Barwin is interesting because he is a TE.

What about James Casey from Rice?

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that he won't be drafted by pick 65, but you may very well be correct. Of course, Casey being available might cause Belichick to wait for his flexible TE until 47 or even 58.

Just BTW, now that most of the hoopla is over, I do now have Barwin on my board as a 2nd round TE. I'm just not sure of the need. I think I'd rather keep Thomas, but Barwin and Casey do upgrade the value of the 3rd TE position.

What about James Casey from Rice?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I suspect that he won't be drafted by pick 65, but you may very well be correct. Of course, Casey being available might cause Belichick to wait for his flexible TE until 47 or even 58.

Just BTW, now that most of the hoopla is over, I do now have Barwin on my board as a 2nd round TE. I'm just not sure of the need. I think I'd rather keep Thomas, but Barwin and Casey do upgrade the value of the 3rd TE position.

What deos that mean "upgrade the value of the 3rd TE position"? Thomas is now our 3rd TE and he is a much letter blocker than Casey and he has better hands than Casey. I'm just asking, where' the value?

 

[mgteich]

I'm not a proponent of drafting a TE, but Thomas has shown us very little. If he really has good hands and is a fine blocker, then Baker would not have been signed and Thomas would likely have been extended.

Also, I believe Casey is projected as a better STer, although I am certainly open for correction.

For the receod, I would not draft a TE at all. If I were convinced that a TE was a great need, then I would draft Barwin as a TE, and still draft linebacker help.

What deos that mean "upgrade the value of the 3rd TE position"? Thomas is now our 3rd TE and he is a much letter blocker than Casey and he has better hands than Casey. I'm just asking, where' the value?

 

[DaBruinz]

This from Ed Thompson at Scout.com:

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL Draft - 7 Points: Don't overlook OSU's Laurinaitis

Point #3: Connor Barwin is this year's most versatile draft prospect ... period. According to Thompson: "Sure, players like Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and Penn State's Derrick Williams are tremendous talents who can catch the football, run with it and be breakaway threats as return specialists. But what's made Cincinnati's Barwin so special in this year's draft class is that he's a defensive end who can put quarterbacks into a panic, a linebacker with the range and quickness to attack the line of scrimmage or cover a receiver, a tight end who can catch and block effectively and a special teams star who covers well, blocks kicks and is a capable long-snapper. Connor Barwin is like having three or four players for the price of one. As teams have watched him put his athleticism on display, they've realized what he could do for their team. Barwin posted 11 sacks and had three blocked kicks during his senior year. During the 6-foot-4, 256-pound player's official visit with the Patriots, he had an opportunity to meet with coach Bill Belichick. "He told me stay versatile, do as much as I can do, because with the Patriots I won't know how they're going to use me until I get there, and even then, it could switch halfway through the season," Barwin said. New England's belief that he could play on either side of the football was reflected by the fact that he met with three offensive coaches and the defensive coordinator during his visit. Barwin had official team visits with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs and the Rams. He also worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, the Dolphins, Patriots and Broncos."

That's the first quotes I've heard from Belichick regarding Barwin. Souns like they would use him on ST and TE to start out while working him in at OLB by the midpoint of the season. Interesting stuff.

I can't imagine where I've heard the part in red before.....

Oh.. That's right. I said it just after the combine... Pretty amazing.. .

 

[DaBruinz]

How much of the hype surrounding Barwin was a product of Vrabel's release, coupled with the media's immediate coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel?

Now that his stock has fallen back to earth, Barwin's real value is starting to show again. He probably ranks in the 40's as a prospect. His upside is as high as anyone's in this class. His floor is backup TE/ST ace/situational player. I think Belichick has taken bigger risks in round 2 then Barwin, but I wouldn't take him before #48.

People on this board were talking about Barwin as the next Vrabel before the season ended. So, for many it wasn't a product of Vrabel's release or the media's coronation of Barwin as the next Vrabel. People on this board were on that bandwagon before all that happened.

If the Pats grab Barwin, great. If not, I am confident he'll go on to have a fine career.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL Draft - 7 Points: Don't overlook OSU's Laurinaitis

During the 6-foot-4, 256-pound player's official visit with the Patriots, he had an opportunity to meet with coach Bill Belichick. "He told me stay versatile, do as much as I can do, because with the Patriots I won't know how they're going to use me until I get there, and even then, it could switch halfway through the season," Barwin said. New England's belief that he could play on either side of the football was reflected by the fact that he met with three offensive coaches and the defensive coordinator during his visit. [/I]

BB's words are interesting indeed and the fact they worked him out on both sides of the ball says to me that there's definitely interest I'm encouraged. Good advice from BB too; the more skills CB has the better chance he has. xfingers crossedx Not that the world will end if it doesn't work out and all these guys sound perfect, but CB really sounds like eventually he could really be a major contributer.

Does he play NT? Just in case?

 

[mayoclinic]

I can't imagine where I've heard the part in red before.....

Oh.. That's right. I said it just after the combine... Pretty amazing.. .

It's only what we expect from you - anticipating BB by about 6 weeks.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

BB's words are interesting indeed and the fact they worked him out on both sides of the ball says to me that there's definitely interest I'm encouraged. Good advice from BB too; the more skills CB has the better chance he has. xfingers crossedx Not that the world will end if it doesn't work out and all these guys sound perfect, but CB really sounds like eventually he could really be a major contributer.

Does he play NT? Just in case?

Well, Barwin = Vrabel, and they lined Vrabel up at NT on occasion. . . .

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Well, Barwin = Vrabel, and they lined Vrabel up at NT on occasion. . . .

There we go But can he punt........