It's not like I hate him but: 1. Can he cover? No 2. Can he stuff the run? He's OK with it 3. Can he rush the passer? Hardly He can take a hike.
Whoah. Back up there chief. First of all, you should learn to use the spell check feature. Secondly, Barton couldn't cover a gorilla going out for a pass. Period. He flat out sucked in coverage. He was OK against the run. Nothing spectacular, but adequate. He served his purpose for the most part. But he didn't go above and beyond, by any stretch of the imagination. We brought in Bart Scott as an upgrade over Barton. The Jets thought they could do better at LB and no self-respecting 31 year old NFL player is going to take a substantial pay cut just to play second fiddle to Scott and Harris. He's going to want starter money, right, wrong, or indifferent, which is why there is simply no longer any room for him on this team. The Jets are going in one direction, and Barton is going in another. I'm with most of the others that would love to see him stick around as a depth guy if he is willing to agree to a reasonable contract. But I just don't see that happening.
Well to be fair, gorillas are surprisingly athletic animals. Seriously though, he isn't nearly as bad in coverage as you're making him out to be. He isn't great, but he's definitely serviceable. Go back and watch him in some games and you'll see he makes quite a few plays in coverage. He looks a lot worse because he ends up tackling Barrett's or Elam's or Smith's man after like 15 yards, when that wasn't his assignment to begin with.
Really, to sum up this thread in a nutshell, I think the general conscientious is this: Eric Barton would be great player to keep around for LB depth, if the price is right. Fair enough, gentlemen?
i think this thread has gone off track, there was a misunderstanding of what you originally meant. lets kill this argument.
LOL... yeah. I guess I sometimes see what I consider to be over the top derogatory comments about players, and I wonder... how would that player feel if he read this post? We all tend to say things on the net with some exageration to make a point, but that doesn't make it OK, ya know? I've done it myself, so I'm not playing holier than thou. Imagine if a player of the Jets, especially a marginal player had a kid of his own reading some of the things we post here. If I were a player with kids, I'd use that parental control thing so much the computer would be worthless. Barton gave us what he had to give. I think he played as hard and as best he could. I agree, he would be good depth, but just doesn't have the talent to be a starting LB on a contending team. Peace.
The reason Barton went from 73 tackles last year to 119 tackles this year is because he was used more in coverage this year due to Vilma being gone and his man was always open. 20-40 of those tackles were against the man he was supposed to be covering. But I still hope they keep hiim, even if only as a backup. Jack of all trades, master of none is a good thing to have in a back up.
To rich, this is from a guy who idolizes Harris who also cannot cover and has less intensity. I think calling someone a "dick" and assuming he wants starters money is ignorant. T-Bird is right, why the litter the pages with junk.
Harris was by FAR our best and most consistent linebacker prior to signing Scott. Pace played well early on but sputtered down the stretch.
There's a difference between being suited for ILB in Mangini and Sutton's scheme and being fully capable of playing ILB in Rex Ryan's scheme. If Rex doesn't think he needs him - even for depth - then I trust his judgment.
From what I watched it was well known Harris couldn't cover, he was consistent in stopping the run, whenever he was forced into coverage it was a guarenteed completion, at least with Barton it was 50-50. Harris at this point is a one trick pony, a thumper, we need some athleticism beside him or its gonna be same old. Barton should be a number 5 LB next year and play inside and a bit of out, I don't think he is going to command starter money. I don't mind Harris, but he gets alot more respect than he deserves, the guy just is not super athletic, plain and simple.
I think Harris' coverage skills will improve each year. That's not to say he'll get any faster per se, but as he learns to better diagnose plays, his thinking and processing will come quicker, which should, in turn, make him better in coverage. Having said that, he's not the guy I want dropping into coverage or manning the RB/TE, but he should be able to contribute when necessary.
Yeh, hopefully he does, I don't want him to be a liability, but definately we need a more athletic partner for him, and I hope that is Scott
Yeah definitely. Scott should have more of the coverage duties, but I think Harris' natural progression, along with Ryan's and Scott's tutelage, will probably improve his coverage ability. Still his lack of speed will always hold him back, but he'll be all right.
Bartons a solid backer. Just not a superstar. I'd love to still have him for depth but it'd have to be for cheap.
All I'd add to this thread is...This better be Bryan Thomas' last yr unless he agrees to a backup roll and money. Barton>B.Thomas
Thomas is another one who had better get his shit together. His complete lack of productivity as of late has more than worn out his welcome.
