He's been really smart for a rookie if you ask me, Pettine trusts him to put people where they need to be, communicate the call and more often than not he's been meeting runners in the hole rather than five yards down field. Also putting Kirksey back at Will LB has him playing faster...
Best part is that Barnes is not 5 yards away from a guy who catches the ball. If he's not right on top of him, he's 1 yard away and grabbing the receiver. He puts himself in a position to make plays.
Thankful for all the opportunities that came in such a crazy year🙏🏾 I’ll forever give my all for this game and teammates! Not how we wanted things to end but God has a plan for the future! Thankful for all the support and love through Year 1🤟🏾🖤
— Krys Barnes (@KrysBarnes) January 26, 2021
We very well could have two rising stars at ILB.
Okay, so this kid was a surprise, and a good one at that. He may not be the fastest ILB out there, but he puts himself in the right spot, diagnoses plays well, and is a sure tackler. He's smart. And he didn't blink with a huge cast on his hand even in the game in which he hurt it. The D just seems to play better when he's out there. Pleasant surprise.
I'd be comfortable with Barnes , Martin, and Kirksey as ILBers next season
I'd like someone with a little more speed next to Barnes, but that lineup isn't too terrible.
@FLPACKER posted:I'd be comfortable with Barnes , Martin, and Kirksey as ILBers next season
Barnes definitely shined this season.
Surprisingly, Kirksey really came on at the end of the year.
He was good yesterday and had his highest ever PFF game rating.
Still don't think he's worth the price, but he was much better after Barnes returned and began calling the D.
Conversely, Martin was being touted as a rising star prior to the start of the season, hurt his knee again (a recurring issue at Minnesota), and never really flashed when he returned at mid-season. He remains a blank slate to me.
Packers ILB Krys Barnes had surgery to repair his fractured thumb, which was broken in multiple places, yesterday. He’s expected to make a full recovery in a month.
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) January 26, 2021
Give Barnes a full offseason, OTA's, June Mini Camp, TC, a little pre-season, and hopefully a new DC , not to mention his thumb back and the Packers may have really found something special.
Ditto Martin who needs all the above.
I'd say JPP could use it more. Would almost have a full deck with the additional thumb.
Now that Kirksey is gone, Barnes playing time could change, depending on what happens in the draft. IMO, If Gute drafts Zaven Collins,or some other stud ILB, Barnes will be a back up player on the LB corps, once again. If Collins is drafted, it will be interesting to see how our new DC uses Collins, Martin and Barnes, in our defense. Not to mention Summers, whom I did not want to mention here, as I see Summers as a regular on the ST roster, more than as a back up ILB, ever.
I agree that Summers and Burks just don't produce on D.
@mrtundra posted:Now that Kirksey is gone, Barnes playing time could change, depending on what happens in the draft. IMO, If Gute drafts Zaven Collins,or some other stud ILB, Barnes will be a back up player on the LB corps, once again. If Collins is drafted, it will be interesting to see how our new DC uses Collins, Martin and Barnes, in our defense. Not to mention Summers, whom I did not want to mention here, as I see Summers as a regular on the ST roster, more than as a back up ILB, ever.
If they do draft a guy high like Collins, it’s very likely they’ll go out and get a vet too.
That does seem to be a pattern for Gutekunst - draft & FA for the same position.
You're right. Doesn't mean it shouldn't happen. Barnes and Martin are your only two ILB and Martin is always hurt. Barnes is an improvement at ILB but that's not saying much on this team.
Hopefully whatever they did for Jones to help him get over his injury issues they can for Martin, too.
For what it's worth, Krys came by campus again the other day from his workout base in the OC to talk to his coaches and he's already working with the new DC who is telling him he'll be calling the D again this year and they're going over scheme and concepts. He's been working out like a big dog to get ready, wanting to take it to the next level this year. Sees his opportunity.