Tag: AJ Barner

First half highlights and analysis: Seahawks trail Jets 21-16

First half highlights and analysis: Seahawks trail Jets 21-16

The Seattle Seahawks have literally never played in a normal game, and this adage continues into Week 13 against the New York Jets. It has been a bizarre, sloppy, and explosive affair between these two teams. What started to look like another defensive battle quickly devolved.

New York found the end zone first, but Leonard Williams blocked the PAT. Little would we know, it was only the start of horrendous special teams play.

On the ensuing kick off, Seattle’s return man Dee Williams fumbled the ball. Williams has been a liability in the return game all season long, and it reared its ugly head once more, as his muffed return was recovered by New York at Seattle’s 27-yard line. The Jets quickly found the end zone for the second time today four plays later to extend their lead to 14-0 thanks to a successful two-point conversion.

The Seahawks were finally able to answer, as they engineered a 10-play, 83 yard touchdown drive. Seattle was backed up further than they should, as Laviska Shenault fumbled the kick off, but was able to recover it. Geno Smith found rookie AJ Barner for the touchdown.

Well, Seattle’s momentum was quickly robbed as Jets running back Kene Nwangwu returned the ball 99-yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7. Unfortunately, the special teams disasterclass would continue…. as after the touchdown, Laviska Shenault fumbled again. Only this time, New York would recover at Seattle’s 38-yard line.

Just to quickly recap, here is what the Seahawks special teams situation has been in the first half alone.

However, I wonder if the Jets social media admin might regret tweeting out “Football is fun!” because six plays later, quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ pass was picked off by defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who promptly returned the ball 91-yards.

The Seahawks’ special teams woes continued, as the PAT attempt was blocked, keeping the score 21-13. However, Jason Myers did have redemption as he nailed a 54-yard field goal to cut the lead to 21-16, which is where it lasted into halftime. Myers’ field goal was his seventh from 50+ yards in a single season, breaking his own Seahawks franchise record he set last year.

New York will get the ball to start the second half. Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for more live updates, analysis and highlights!

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Watch: Seahawks rookie AJ Barner picks between NBA all-time greats

We’re convinced that nobody who picks LeBron in these scenarios actually got to see Jordan play in his prime.

The NBA Finals are in full swing, with the Boston Celtics taking a 2-0 lead over Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks last night. Naturally, a lot of NFL players are closely following the Finals and are fans of the game themselves. We can apparently count Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner among them. After OTAs practice last week Barner was asked to pick between a series of all-time greats from the NBA.

Barner inexplicably picked Allen Iverson over both Magic Johnson and Kevin Garnett and gave a very unfortunate wrong answer at the end, but otherwise he got most of them right. Observe.

We’re convinced that nobody who picks LeBron in these scenarios actually got to see Jordan play in his prime. James’ longevity is undeniably impressive and he’s a strong No. 2 all time, but Michael simply accomplished a whole lot more in fewer years while competing in a far more physical and slower-paced era.

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Seahawks TE AJ Barner sets a high bar for himself going into the NFL

Seahawks TE AJ Barner sets a high bar for himself going into NFL

Without a doubt my personal greatest frustration with the Seattle Seahawks offense for several years now has been how they utilized their tight ends… or, rather, how they didn’t. Despite a talented trio in Noah Fant, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seemed unwilling or unable to find a way to get them involved in a meaningful way.

Now, Parkinson and Dissly are gone, but Fant remains, and he is now paired with rookie AJ Barner from Michigan. Initially, Barner was pegged as a blocking tight end. It may not be flashy, but it is substantive.

However, the Seahawks may have uncovered a diamond in the rough. There are those who feel as if his receiving skills have untapped potential, seeing as though he played in the run-heavy Wolverines offense. It appears Barner himself might agree with these opinions, as he recently revealed what he told offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after he was picked, per the team website.

“You guys just got a steal. I waited a long time, but I’m ready to go. I’m going to do everything I can to bring this team a championship. I want to be one of the best tight ends in the league, and I’m not going to settle until I do that.”

Although Barner clearly has his sights set high, for now, he is willing to fill whatever role the Seahawks have for him. Sometimes doing whatever it takes means doing dirty work in the trenches. But perhaps that won’t be the case forever. The onus now falls on Grubb to see how creative he can get with Barner, and the rest of an offense loaded with talent at every skill position.

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AJ Barner open to whatever role the Seahawks have for him

The one offensive pick that wasn’t necessarily exclusively a lineman was Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

The Seattle Seahawks spent most of their draft bolstering the trenches on both sides of the ball. Many of their picks were offensive and defensive linemen. However, the one offensive pick that wasn’t necessarily exclusively a lineman was Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

Barner, who recently turned 22 on Friday, was selected in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. Initially, this seemed to be filling out tight end depth behind Noah Fant, specifically to help as a blocking tight end. But there are those who believe he has untapped potential as a receiving threat.

Whatever the Seahawks have in store for the former Wolverine, he is up for the task, and said as much recently to the media.

Head coach Mike Macdonald has made it perfectly clear he is looking for a certain type of player who wants to be in Seattle. He and his staff are looking for physicality. With Barner coming straight from Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines, it seems he fits the mold to a T.

Whatever the Seahawks have in store for Barner, hopefully he is utilized properly. One of my personal biggest frustrations with how Seattle’s offense has operated for a few years now is the lack of tight end usage. The Seahawks had three talented players in Fant, Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly… yet offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seemingly forgot he had them as options.

Parkinson and Dissly are no longer in the Emerald City, but Fant remains. I want to put trust in new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to figure out a way to get both Fant and Barner involved in the game.

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How A.J. Barner fits with the Seattle Seahawks

Former #Michigan tight end heads to the Northwest. #GoBlue

With the 121st pick in the NFL draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected tight end A.J. Barner.

Barner transferred to Michigan from Indiana ahead of the 2023 season and recorded 22 receptions, 249 yards and one touchdown. Obviously, the stats don’t jump off the page when looking at Barner, but his effect is felt deeper than the numbers.

He was asked to play as Michigan’s second tight end last year behind potential future first-round pick Colston Loveland, which limited his ability to affect the passing game. Still, Loveland showcased the ideal skill set for an NFL in-line tight end. He does a great job blocking, can get his hands on people in space and is a solid receiving threat.

The modern NFL has been trending toward tight ends who fit the “mismatch” label, and that isn’t Barner. Instead, Seattle is getting a traditional grinder who can work out of two-tight end sets and contribute in the run game just as much as the passing game. The Seahawks already have a likely starting TE: Noah Fant. However, he is more of a receiver than a true Y.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Barner instantly come in as the better blocker and earn some snaps with his hand in the dirt. Seattle has a great running back duo of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, so this pick could be an attempt from the Seahawks staff to establish the ability to run off-tackle with more success.

Last year, Seattle spent a fifth-round pick on Michigan center Olu Oluwatimi. Like Barner, Oluwatimi was a transfer who played with the Wolverines for just one season but is expected to start next season. It’s neat to see two former Wolverines who never played on the same team yet shared so many teammates and coaches end up on the same NFL roster.

2024 NFL draft: College highlights for new Seahawks Tyrice Knight, AJ Barner

The Seahawks have addressed their needs at linebacker and tight end.

The Seahawks have addressed their needs at linebacker and tight end almost back to back in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. At No. 118 overall, they chose linebacker Tyrice Knight out of UTEP, then three picks later they went with Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

Here are the 2023 highlights for Knight.

And the highlights for Barner.

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Seahawks pick Michigan TE AJ Barner at No. 121 overall

Moments after filling their hole at linebacker they have used another pick to address their need at tight end.

The Seahawks have checked two of our five boxes for positions to target going into Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft. Moments after filling their hole at linebacker with Tyrice Knight out of UTEP they have used another pick to address their need at tight end.

Jordan Schultz was the first to break the news that Seattle has used the No. 121 overall pick in the draft on Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

Barner (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) spent the first three years of his college career at Indiana, where he posted 361 yards and four touchdowns in 25 games. Last season he transferred to Michigan where he put up 22 catches, 249 yards and a touchdown.

Barner had a breakout season in 2023, posting an 82.2 overall grade from PFF after mediocre grades of 53.6 and 60.9 at Indiana. In 2023 He had a respectable 69.3 grade as a receiver but really shined as a run blocker (81.4).

Barner won’t push Noah Fant for playing time, but he should compete with free agent pickup Pharaoh Brown for snaps.

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Michigan football tight end AJ Barner off the board in the 2024 NFL draft

Congrats, AJ! #GoBlue

He wasn’t in Ann Arbor for a long time, but he was there for a good time.

After being a starter and team captain at Indiana, tight end AJ Barner went for a change of scenery for his final year in college football — and it paid off handsomely.

Barner started for Michigan football, alongside Colston Loveland, and wasn’t just one of the premier blocking tight ends in the country, but also showed his prowess as a pass catcher. He made some big plays, including several huge catches and a touchdown against Michigan State, as well as a huge catch and run against Ohio State.

On Saturday, Barner was the first Wolverine off the board on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, getting selected at No. 121 overall in the fourth round by the Seattle Seahawks.

While Barner wasn’t in Ann Arbor at the same time as almost any of the Michigan contingent in Seattle, he will rejoin head coach Mike Macdonald, the former defensive coordinator who left Michigan after the 2021 season; linebackers coach Chris Partridge; and players such as Olu Oluwatimi and Mike Morris.

Barner is the eighth Wolverine off the board in the 2024 NFL draft. Michigan needs seven to tie the record for most players from one team taken in a single draft and eight to break it.

Why AJ Barner is confident Michigan football will continue tradition of excellence with new staff

When you hear former players talk about the current coaches, you know #Michigan is in good hands. #GoBlue

Like when Frodo and Samwise Gamgee returned from Mordor to The Shire, life was a bit different after going on an adventure of a lifetime. While Michigan football isn’t exactly the same as “The Lord of the Rings,” after the national championship win this past year, everything in Ann Arbor feels a bit more tepid and tempered, especially considering all of the losses.

The Wolverines have more players at the NFL scouting combine than any school in history, and the program lost not only the head coach, but also the entire defensive staff and strength and conditioning coordinator Ben Herbert. It’s going to look a lot different next year with new coaches and new players across the board.

Still, in the eyes of former Michigan tight end AJ Barner, the best course of action for new head coach Sherrone Moore is to continue to recruit the same types of players, coach the same way and keep the culture that’s been formulated in recent years as intact as possible.

“I think just keep on doing what they’re doing,” Barner said. “Keep recruiting the same kids that they’re recruiting. I mean, we don’t get 15 five-star guys, we get a select few guys that are going to come in and work extremely hard and be tough as nails and play with pride and play as a team. When your running back’s on the ground, you better run over there and pick him up. If your teammate is on the other sideline, you better go over there and escort him off the sideline. And I think they’re gonna keep that stuff going. And with coach Moore at the helm and the rest of the coaches they got, I know that they’ll keep that tradition going.”

Barner also has some insight as to what the new-look offensive line may be under elevated coach Grant Newsome.

Newsome coached Barner directly last year as the tight ends coach, but he was being groomed to eventually take over O-line duties, which he has this offseason. Barner is confident the former Michigan left tackle will thrive in that role, and he shares what makes him such a good coach at such a young age.

“Coach News, he’s awesome,” Barner said. “He’s gonna get those guys right. And he helped me tremendously. I mean, the details that he coaches with, what he teaches in the run game. He played at Michigan, he cares a whole bunch about the place. He’s gonna be a phenomenal O-line coach, I can’t wait to see, you know, with the way his career continues to trend because he’s just an awesome coach.”

Barner is awaiting his turn to showcase his skills at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, and he’ll have that opportunity in the coming days. As for current Michigan football players, they’ll begin spring ball in about three weeks.