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On the third day in the draft, right after drafting Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions general manager Brad Holmes pulled an unexpected move. He traded up to select the highly athletic Purdue linebacker Derrick Barnes. It was a different change of pace than what Lions fans had grown accustomed to during the Patricia/Quinn regime, where they opted for 1980’s thumper-style linebackers.
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Unfortunately for the previous regime, the NFL has adapted to a faster-paced game, and those types of backers look to have to feet stuck in cement against bigger and faster players. It caught up to them and the Lions put out one of the worst defenses in history last year because they were outgunned in every facet of the word.
With Barnes, it was a sigh of relief because, at that point, you could tell the Holmes/Campbell regime values athleticism to the highest degree when it comes to their linebacker. Along with the previous linebackers leftover from last year, many of them have dropped significant weight to find a way to stick with the squad.
When Jahlani Tavai entered camp, many were impressed with how slim he looked, leaning towards most, thinking that he might be able to move quickly without that extra weight. The coaching staff is trying to make it simpler for the player to opt for a more reactive style defense than an over-analytic style.
So far through the first two preseason games, it has become apparent Tavai is not suited for this defense and still is stuck in his ways. You cannot say all parties involved did not try to make it work, but it is clear Tavai is more of a liability than an asset.
Tavai is now on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot, leaving on the inside track for Barnes to make meaningful contributions but potentially becoming one of the Lions’ defense cornerstones.
Barnes did not get off on the right foot in dealing with injury through the first part of training camp, leaving the possibility that he could look in with lost reps on the outside, especially with his rookie status. However, the coaching staff has been taking extra precautions with player injuries so far through camp. The staff opted for a more gentle approach and eased Barnes back into training camp with Barnes looking to have a significant part.
Most thought he would fall behind, and it would take longer for him to catch up to grasp the defensive scheme. So far, that has been the case for Barnes has taken this role by the horns.
He has easily been one of the best Lions defenders through preseason so far. It isn’t really close by any stretch of the imagination, especially in the linebacking corps. Barnes only did play eight snaps against the Bills, but he made those snaps count, tallying two tackles and quarterback pressure. In the Steelers matchup, the coaching staff gave him a significant play boost with a healthy 25 snaps in the second half.
The starting linebackers, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Tavai, against the Steelers were abysmal, and it was obvious right from the start with the severe coverage issues and the lack of hustle between them. The tight ends had their day with them, and it seemed they could not find a way to get off the field in the first half
There was nowhere to go, but thankfully Barnes was rearing to get on the field up for the Lions linebackers, and he made his presence known. With his strong tackling and coverage skills, he ensured no one got behind him and made the plays upfront. He recorded six tackles, one sack, and two passes defended through his limited play, which is quite impressive.
En Preseason,jugando contra quienes no harán roster,me gusta ver movimientos de los Rookies y pensar que puede haber Lb en Detroit…Vendo ilusión en Allen Park.
Derrick Barnes(registros Vs.Steelers):
#1:Run fit
#2:Blitz
#3:Cobertura placaje tras catch
#4:Cobertura pass break up pic.twitter.com/11KdxMzRhG— Jorge (@JEduFernandez) August 22, 2021
Fellow rookie and defense mate, Levi Onwuzurike, recognizes the potential greatness in front of him.
Yes, @derrickbarnes21 is, in fact, that dude. pic.twitter.com/fouoQduCml
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 23, 2021
Surely the coaching staff would like to develop the rookie further and not rush him on the field on Sundays, but it is hard to contain the excitement Barnes brings with his hard hits and superior athleticism. With how murky the inside linebacker depth is behind Jamie Collins Sr. and Alex Anzalone, Barnes is head and shoulders above the rest and shows he belong on the field.
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