Former TE, PF Barwin might work at DE for Bills

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, April 08, 2009  |  Comments( 121 )

Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills undoubtedly need reinforcing at both defensive and tight end, respectively. Adding a player who switched from one to the other wouldn’t quite fill both voids, but Connor Barwin could nonetheless help at one of the team’s vulnerable spots. He’s still learning how to pass rush, but he’s already gotten good at it in about a year.

It may take the former Cincinnati Bearcat some time to refine his sacking technique, as he only played his first game on defense last August. Switched after spending his career as a tight end, the novelty of playing on the defensive line didn’t inhibit him, evidenced by a 2008 season that included 53 tackles, 15.5 of which went for a loss. Additionally, his 11 sacks must have come about from more than beginner’s luck.

Barwin also flaunted his physical versatility by spending two seasons as a power forward walk-on for his university’s renowned basketball team. He’s a good enough athlete that he can hold his own at any game where he’s chasing a ball; in that light, it’s unsurprising that he’d fit in either of two contrasting defenses.

At 6-foot-4 and 256 pounds, he matches the dimensional profile for a 3-4 defense’s pass-rushing linebacker; that said, his corporeal proportions also make him a potentially nice fit for a Tampa 2 holdout. The Bills look to be sticking with at least some principles of the small, scurrying type of defense, which means he’s a potential fit. After all, Barwin has demonstrated that he’s fast enough to run pass routes as recently as 2007.

There aren’t many footballers who can claim over a collegiate career to have both defensed eight passes in a season and made five receptions in a single game. But such quirks aren’t the best argument in Barwin’s favor. Instead, he’s appealing thanks to attitude; any player who changes positions has already demonstrated that he nobly places his team first.

It’s particularly true for someone who jumps from one side of the ball to another. Unlike in basketball, the switch is a little tricky and rarely occurs within a single game. Of course, in this case the transition has worked in the player’s favor. Barwin’s going to make a huge score by giving up scoring.

If it’s with the Bills, he’d be ideal as someone who could be spun into the rotation. While Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney and Aaron Schobel could together use help, they’re still each variously useful. A draftee at their position would be able to contribute without also having to start. It’s an appealing environment for an early pick whose skills are understandably still catching up to his athleticism.

He’d feasibly aid the Bills beginning this year. That’s unless they lost their minds and decided to have Barwin revert to tight end; then, give him until maybe 2010 to make an impact. Based on Barwin’s demonstrated selflessness, it’s not like he’d moan if they improbably flipped him back to offense.
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