Anthony Barr to Steelers?

I would take Van Noy in the 2nd, he's a play maker.

 

Barr was a standout RB in HS, got a scholarship to UCLA as a RB where he also played WR and some TE for his 1st two yrs there. His Junior year he switched to defense for the 1st time. He's only been a LB for 2 yrs.

He absolutely has the physical skills to drop in coverage as the mike in a tampa-2. In fact I'd say Barr is a football player and has the physical skills to do a lot of things on the field.

His biggest problem is the mental game. Can he recognize the play, anticipate and react correctly and find the ball or carrier/target. Luke K. of the Panthers is a beast and his physical skillset is less than barr's but what makes him all-pro is his mental capabilities.

Barr at 15 will be a tough call. He has more upside than anyone in this draft. If his mental game ever matches his physical ( yes he's a bit weak but that won't last long once in the NFL ) he'll be worth that pick all day long, but if it doesn't, well, who knows.

Side note, His dad and a couple Uncles played in the NFL and winning the IMPACT award speaks highly of him.

Cajun-

 

I'm not sure why you say that. What makes his upside so high?

 

I think his upside is so high because he just started playing defense 2 seasons ago and he's already projected to be a top 10 pick.

 

Here are my notes on Barr. I watched the Stanford game and Nebraska game (both are on youtube).

"Extremely impressive athlete that lacks true position (maybe a bit like Ogletree last year). Great in space and very fluid. Good motor. Will need some weight room and functional strength to hold edge better. Not really an elite pass rusher but is too good an athlete/football player to ever take off the field. Best fit is probably in a 4-3 front of at ILB in a 3-4 front (MACK). Is versatility a good or bad thing? Mid 1[SUP]st[/SUP] round."

I wrote all that BEFORE the combine. The combine (his poor KEI and impressive movement drills) just reinforced my original evaluation.

I just don't think at all Barr can play an edge defender. He is too weak at holding the edge. He has to stand up away from the line of scrimmage. ILB or 4-3 OLB, depends on the team that drafts him. He's a hell of an athlete and will get stronger over time to maybe be a better edge defender. I just think that type of athlete in the middle of a Tampa-2 could develop into something special.

 

Interesting take on Barr as an ILB but I personally feel he's going to have a big enough learning curve as an OLB so putting him inside might be too much. IMHO Barr is a pass rush DE or a 34 OLB. I think coverage will be his weakness for a few years so he will have to get on the field via pass rush skills. He is a little weak at the point of attack and that's probably his biggest red flag. If he can getting stronger and more physical he could be the next Demarcus Ware. If not he will be Alonzo Jackson.

As for drafting him #15 I would be fine if that's the way the board fell. You can never have enough pass rushers so if Barr is the BPA on your board you stick with your board. JJ is not proven and between Worilds half year of good play, injury history, and no long term contract I can make an arguement for Barr. I feel this offseason the Steelers are signing players to be able to keep with their board and not reach on position. Moore and DHB give depth and speed at WR. Cam Thomas helps depth and position versatility for DL. McCain gives depth and speed at CB. Moats is position versatile and gives depth at LB. Mitchell gives speed and youth at FS with Thomas waiting in the wings at SS. Blount gives depth and power at RB. Not like we can't go any of these positions but now we don't have to.

 

Couldn't it also be that him only playing it for 2 years helped hide his flaws and he is overranked? Couldn't he just have had fast growth and has peaked?

 

Not interested in Barr at #15 visions of another Bruce Davis.

 

Your right: WEAKNESSES: Still developing as a run defender. Will be tested in coverage if working as a stand-up linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Raw as a two-year player on the defensive side of the ball in coverage, and will need to pick up NFL schemes quickly to be more than a situational pass rusher as a rookie.

 

Barr is an awesome athlete. He is a solid football player with a great pedigree.

He has only played OLB for two years so his success as a NCAA DIV 1 defender , #4 overall in tackles for loss at 20 and # 6 in sacks with 10 in 2013 speaks of a super athletic player. He lacks technique, and once taught technique he'll be a pure beast.

Elvis & Del, go back and re-watch his tape. He struggles with not shedding OL because he has no hand skill, rip or swim move, spin moves or violent hand chops to keep the OL off him. Once he learns these watch out. He struggles in coverage because he's so focused on rushing ( with no technique ) that he's slow to recognize play. His mental part of the game will come with coaching and film study.


He has what cannot be taught, physicality and the weak point of that, strength, he'll gain quickly in the Pro weight room.


Cajun-

 

Which says we don't want to throw a 15 pick away on a linebacker who needs two years of coaching before he can start, we seem to have had that problem in the past, we need to draft a 1st round player who can contribute now instead of two years from now....

 

I think any team that drafts Barr to play OLB in a 3-4 will regret the selection. That's just my take on the issue. I do not think he gets sacks at the next level and will really struggle against the run game.

He not really on my radar for the Steelers even though I have him in my top-10 non-quarterback prospects.

 

The only comparable traits that Barr and Davis have in common is that they wore the same school's jersey in college and played OLB. The two could not be any more different in terms of ability and athleticism. I do not think that is a fair comparison at all. I kinda agree with Del that he really isn't on our radar though. I'd be shocked if he was available to us at 15 anyways. If he does end up being available, maybe someone will want to trade up w/ us to get him? who knows...