Connor Barwin

[JackBauer]

I find it extremely ironic that if Rob Ninkovich had the same production this past season as Connor Barwin he would have been vilified. Yet so many people here take it for granted that Barwin would be an improvement as an edge rusher. Just another example of where perception is greater than reality

I wouldn't want Barwin to replace Ninkovich. But I am intrigued at the possibility of buying low, not to mention the explicit acknowledgment he'd be willing to take a below market contract to come play for a contender. I don't know enough about him, really, to divine whether his regression is an aberration or not. But if he can provide coverage ability + occasional pass rush, that's two pluses where we're the weakest.

Any Barwin expert know whether he could play inside next to Mayo in the nickel?

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I think a bigger question is would Barwin represent a significant upgrade over Nink? Nink is in the final year of his current contract and is due a 3.0 million cap hit, with a 2.4 million savings if cut.

Why on earth would they cut Ninkovich? who cares if they save cap money, Ninkovich is a solid OLB for us, we would just get worse if we cut him.

 

[DW Toys]

(A) Barwin fills an important need that has been missing for years: TD-catching LB.
(B) Sign Connor Barwin, draft Connor Vernon, and let the confusion begin!
(C) Did I mention Barwin can also play TE?

I have a questions for all of the "Barwinians" out there. Nice player but....Don't we kind of have a cheaper version of him that we can resign in Trevor Scott? For his short playing time, he was disruptive and had three sacks. He was progressing. Barwin had.....three sacks. I would not be disappointed if we can get him but what does that do to Ninc? Do we still have a solid back up to sign either way like Trevor Scott? (P.S. Trevor Scott was a TE at the University of Buffalo).

Looking at Barwin's stats he does a decent job in passes defended and his sub 4.5 speed is a plus, plus, plus but what does this cat want for dollars?

I like the physical freak thing that Michael Johnson would have brought. Playing him across from Chandler Jones would have been outstanding. I was adamant about the Pats drafting that kid (binkerino). It's funny how BB picks up a negative issue when TB had many blocked passes (and no Jack I do not have that number) this year and last which hurt the Team on certain plays and he goes out to replicate that in our "D".

You have two kids in the Draft that would do that I have mentioned. They are not first rounders either. How about Margus Hunt and Devin Taylor? But I think BB is looking DT/DE combo at perhaps Bennett or Desmond Bryant or Jason Jones....Why? No interior pass rush last year. Chip and double our outside rush and that was that. O.K. I think our outside rush was decent. It was the inside push the pocket that was poor. Maybe Sammy Lee Hill is a value. Chris Canty might be a cheaper alternative (excuse me.... "value")to those above at big bucks, and yet he does that fairly well.

I'd rather spend the money on an inside three down pocket pusher to go with Wilfork, resign Scott who appeared to be coming on at the end of 2012. Hope that one or two of the Canucks work out and get either Hunt or Taylor.

PLUS-You also have Justin Francis who was getting better every week. This is also a big year for Baquette. BB kept him for a reason. He basically red shirted in 2012. These are both young outside guys too.

Yep Johnson would have worked well. I do like Barwin but at what expense?

But with all the outside guys we have , I say it is an interior pocket pusher he jumps at. I could be very wrong but it seems we have some arrows in our quiver on the outside.
DW Toys

 

[BrickPat]

I have a questions for all of the "Barwinians" out there. Nice player but....Don't we kind of have a cheaper version of him that we can resign in Trevor Scott? For his short playing time, he was disruptive and had three sacks. He was progressing. Barwin had.....three sacks. I would not be disappointed if we can get him but what does that do to Ninc? Do we still have a solid back up to sign either way like Trevor Scott? (P.S. Trevor Scott was a TE at the University of Buffalo).

Looking at Barwin's stats he does a decent job in passes defended and his sub 4.5 speed is a plus, plus, plus but what does this cat want for dollars?

I like the physical freak thing that Michael Johnson would have brought. Playing him across from Chandler Jones would have been outstanding. I was adamant about the Pats drafting that kid (binkerino). It's funny how BB picks up a negative issue when TB had many blocked passes (and no Jack I do not have that number) this year and last which hurt the Team on certain plays and he goes out to replicate that in our "D".

You have two kids in the Draft that would do that I have mentioned. They are not first rounders either. How about Margus Hunt and Devin Taylor? But I think BB is looking DT/DE combo at perhaps Bennett or Desmond Bryant or Jason Jones....Why? No interior pass rush last year. Chip and double our outside rush and that was that. O.K. I think our outside rush was decent. It was the inside push the pocket that was poor. Maybe Sammy Lee Hill is a value. Chris Canty might be a cheaper alternative (excuse me.... "value")to those above at big bucks, and yet he does that fairly well.

I'd rather spend the money on an inside three down pocket pusher to go with Wilfork, resign Scott who appeared to be coming on at the end of 2012. Hope that one or two of the Canucks work out and get either Hunt or Taylor.

PLUS-You also have Justin Francis who was getting better every week. This is also a big year for Baquette. BB kept him for a reason. He basically red shirted in 2012. These are both young outside guys too.

Yep Johnson would have worked well. I do like Barwin but at what expense?

But with all the outside guys we have , I say it is an interior pocket pusher he jumps at. I could be very wrong but it seems we have some arrows in our quiver on the outside.
DW Toys

Nothing like an cold internet shower to deflate the Barwin pup tents.

 

[stevedogc]

Why on earth would they cut Ninkovich? who cares if they save cap money, Ninkovich is a solid OLB for us, we would just get worse if we cut him.

Nink is not a OLB. He played there during the season when we lost Spikes and Hightower for a few games and he did not look nearly as good as he does when he is played the end. I like Nink and think he makes plays, my only thought is if we can get a younger, faster player who may be able to play both end and OLB with more consistancy, is it worth it?

 

[BradyManny]

As others have said - he's redundant to Ninko and a better fit were we in a 34.

Having said that, if he comes at an affordable price, another versatile body that can rush the passer is not something to pass up lightly. It's just a question of whether his value to us would align with the price he can get on the FA market.

 

[Marqui]

As others have said - he's redundant to Ninko

Not really because he has a lot more upside than Ninkovich.

 

[Brady6]

with the current scheme, I'll take paul kruger.......

barwin would have been handy if the pats were in a 3-4

I disagree we play a 3-4 over/under and 4-3 odd as our base defense. Barwin fits as the LOLB in the 3-4 over and as the LDE in the 4-3 odd perfectly just like Nink.. Whether or not he'd be an upgrade is the question..

You do realize that Kruger is a part time player and only would be in sub packages so our base defense doesn't matter at all to him?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I have a questions for all of the "Barwinians" out there. Nice player but....Don't we kind of have a cheaper version of him that we can resign in Trevor Scott? For his short playing time, he was disruptive and had three sacks. He was progressing. Barwin had.....three sacks. I would not be disappointed if we can get him but what does that do to Ninc? Do we still have a solid back up to sign either way like Trevor Scott? (P.S. Trevor Scott was a TE at the University of Buffalo).

Looking at Barwin's stats he does a decent job in passes defended and his sub 4.5 speed is a plus, plus, plus but what does this cat want for dollars?

I like the physical freak thing that Michael Johnson would have brought. Playing him across from Chandler Jones would have been outstanding. I was adamant about the Pats drafting that kid (binkerino). It's funny how BB picks up a negative issue when TB had many blocked passes (and no Jack I do not have that number) this year and last which hurt the Team on certain plays and he goes out to replicate that in our "D".

You have two kids in the Draft that would do that I have mentioned. They are not first rounders either. How about Margus Hunt and Devin Taylor? But I think BB is looking DT/DE combo at perhaps Bennett or Desmond Bryant or Jason Jones....Why? No interior pass rush last year. Chip and double our outside rush and that was that. O.K. I think our outside rush was decent. It was the inside push the pocket that was poor. Maybe Sammy Lee Hill is a value. Chris Canty might be a cheaper alternative (excuse me.... "value")to those above at big bucks, and yet he does that fairly well.

I'd rather spend the money on an inside three down pocket pusher to go with Wilfork, resign Scott who appeared to be coming on at the end of 2012. Hope that one or two of the Canucks work out and get either Hunt or Taylor.

PLUS-You also have Justin Francis who was getting better every week. This is also a big year for Baquette. BB kept him for a reason. He basically red shirted in 2012. These are both young outside guys too.

Yep Johnson would have worked well. I do like Barwin but at what expense?

But with all the outside guys we have , I say it is an interior pocket pusher he jumps at. I could be very wrong but it seems we have some arrows in our quiver on the outside.
DW Toys

Solid post. Agree 100%. Along with the Grade A, 3 down DT, another edge rusher and 2-3 cover DBs and a SS with ball skills is needed. Don't need ProBowlers- just solid playmakers.

 

[IllegalContact]

I disagree we play a 3-4 over/under and 4-3 odd as our base defense. Barwin fits as the LOLB in the 3-4 over and as the LDE in the 4-3 odd perfectly just like Nink.. Whether or not he'd be an upgrade is the question..

You do realize that Kruger is a part time player and only would be in sub packages so our base defense doesn't matter at all to him?

he can start.....vrabel wasn't a starter when the pats got him, so I'm not sure of your point....even though he didn't start all the time, kruger was just as productive as barwin

kruger is bigger and can cover just as well

 

[BradyManny]

Not really because he has a lot more upside than Ninkovich.

That's possible. And I've looked to Ninko as an area of possible upgrade in the past, but at this point, it's hard to deny: Ninko makes an awful lot of plays and can provide above average play at 43DE and 34OLB. He's no slouch. If we're looking for places to get better, his spot is not that high on the list, to me.

Now, Bill Belichick apparently coveted Michael Johnson, so maybe he knows something I don't. All I know is, if I'm the Patriots, I'm worried about where my interior rush is coming from before my edge rush.

 

[zipster9]

That's possible. And I've looked to Ninko as an area of possible upgrade in the past, but at this point, it's hard to deny: Ninko makes an awful lot of plays and can provide above average play at 43DE and 34OLB. He's no slouch. If we're looking for places to get better, his spot is not that high on the list, to me.

Now, Bill Belichick apparently coveted Michael Johnson, so maybe he knows something I don't. All I know is, if I'm the Patriots, I'm worried about where my interior rush is coming from before my edge rush.

I like Barwin, but he will cost $$. How about a 1yr with JohnAbraham?

 

[Froob]

Nink is not a OLB. He played there during the season when we lost Spikes and Hightower for a few games and he did not look nearly as good as he does when he is played the end. I like Nink and think he makes plays, my only thought is if we can get a younger, faster player who may be able to play both end and OLB with more consistancy, is it worth it?

No ****** way do you cut Ninko. I mean are pats even going to need that extra money? And add in injuries. Ninko at 2.3 is a steal.

 

[VJCPatriot]

IF Barwin would take Ninkovich type base money with performance incentives I think he would be a good addition to the club. Certainly I'd have higher hopes for him than Cunningham as far as becoming a legitimate rusher opposite Chandler Jones or even as a 3rd down specialist. Versatility to play TE is also always a plus with BB.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

IF Barwin would take Ninkovich type base money with performance incentives I think he would be a good addition to the club. Certainly I'd have higher hopes for him than Cunningham as far as becoming a legitimate rusher opposite Chandler Jones or even as a 3rd down specialist. Versatility to play TE is also always a plus with BB.

No offense, but Nink signed a 2 year, $4 million dollar contract in 20111. bar win is going to get way north of that whole contract in signing bonus alone.
No one is going to come to the patriots for a deal far less than they can make elsewhere.

 

[Brady6]

he can start.....vrabel wasn't a starter when the pats got him, so I'm not sure of your point....even though he didn't start all the time, kruger was just as productive as barwin

kruger is bigger and can cover just as well

You realize the Ravens started a rookie over Kruger in the base correct?

 

[Joey007]

I like Barwin, but he will cost $$. How about a 1yr with JohnAbraham?

I'd like that. Very similar to getting Freeney only Abraham's had higher recent production. Like Freeney, Belichick's seen Abraham alot back when he was a Jet, so he knows what there is to know about him.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Kind of late to the game here but barwin also came out and said he believes the Colts would be interested in him as well.

 

[Fencer]

Jones, Barwin and Ninkovich playing strictly inside,

typo alert

 

[Fencer]

Maybe he isn't. I'm just saying I get annoyed with people constantly wanting us to not shell out any money for higher-quality FA's.

The numbers don't add up for doing so. Counting our own FAs, and also Lloyd (who is economically like a FA because of the option payment), we need 2 CBs, 3 WRs, maybe an OT, in most people's opinion a rusher, and in many people's opinion a safety as well. If those guys even average $4 million, a figure a couple of them will surely go well over, the numbers have trouble working out.