"Not" for Paranoid Patriot - don't look inside

[Box_O_Rocks]

7 Points

Point No. 4: You should be impressed by the feat that Connor Barwin accomplished during his rookie season.

The Houston Texans defensive end posted 4.5 sacks last year while playing primarily on passing downs, posting the highest sacks total among all rookie defensive linemen from last year's draft class. But what makes that accomplishment even more special is that the seven rookie defensive linemen who were selected before Barwin collectively logged 4.5 sacks. And the draft's top two defensive end picks — Kansas City's Tyson Jackson and Buffalo's Aaron Maybin — didn't have a single sack between the two of them.

In one of my columns last April, I called out Barwin as the most versatile prospect of the 2009 NFL Draft class. His athleticism allowed him to gain serious consideration from NFL clubs at three positions — defensive end, linebacker, and tight end. He had also excelled on special teams at the University of Cincinnati and was respected for his work ethic in the weight room. While I saw him as being worthy of a late first-round pick, Barwin didn't come off the board until the 14th pick of the second round, number 46 overall, by the Houston Texans.

What a bargain.

I called him this week to ask why he thought he was able to get off to such a fast start during his first year in the league.

"I think it had a lot to do with me getting comfortable as the season went on. There were some big learning curves that took place early in the season about how to play the position in the NFL," he said. "The more comfortable you get, the more confident you get, and the easier it is to play."

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, and New England's Tom Brady all took notice of the 6-foot-4, 256-pound pass rusher last year as he brought pressure off the edge of the Texans' defensive line.

"I didn't sack him, but I knocked down Brady, and we had a nice little jawing match afterwards," Barwin said with a laugh. "And it was really cool to sack Peyton Manning, but I think the one against Carson Palmer was the most exciting one for me. Being back in Cincinnati with about 75 family and friends at the stadium watching the game, and with that one being my first NFL sack, that was really special."

After the Texans wrapped-up their season, Barwin enjoyed roughly a month of down time before getting right back into his training regimen. He's already focusing on one of his personal goals for his second NFL season.

"Hopefully I can build on my success from the second half of the season, compete for a starting job and be a three-down lineman instead of just playing in passing situations," he said.

[Michigan Dave]

[RoadGrader]

GREAT!!! now you've gone and done it

now Paranoid Patriot will get all exciter-ed and moon eyed and start thinkin unpure thoughts

he'll prolly lose the will to continue his vow of a Sexless Planet

hopefully this graphic will help him gain control of his rudder

.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Originally Posted by RoadGrader

GREAT!!! now you've gone and done it

now Paranoid Patriot will get all exciter-ed and moon eyed and start thinkin unpure thoughts

he'll prolly lose the will to continue his vow of a Sexless Planet

hopefully this graphic will help him gain control of his rudder

.

He spends too much time gripping his rudder as it is.

[ParanoidPatriot]

That was a very impressive article about a DE. What about the OLB that some people thought he was? And what about this guy?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9290


Was that guy wearing knee pads and have chap stick for that article?

[Claremonster]

If we can lure Paranoid into a shed, and lock him in, we could haz teh sexplanet.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Originally Posted by Claremonster

If we can lure Paranoid into a shed, and lock him in, we could haz teh sexplanet.

If you'll note his post, Rev. Paranoid has gone rogue evangelist and is ready to bring teh vision of teh locked shed and teh sacrament of teh peanut butter balls to sexing Planeteers in all walks of life.

[PatsFanLisa]

Connor Barwin is dead to me.

[ParanoidPatriot]

Originally Posted by PatsFanLisa

Connor Barwin is dead to me.

Good for you PFL. The first but hardest step is letting go. Some people never are able to do that.