Vikings Will Need More From Anthony Barr
K. Joudry
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A couple weeks ago, Anthony Barr got in on his first game action for our Vikings in over year.
All things considered, Barr didn’t play too bad. Sure, there were moments when he looked a step slow, but can we really expect much more? His rehab has been long and arduous. I know the Lions aren’t a great team, but their RBs and TEs are legit. Barr had a tough matchup and held his own. That’s a win.
Anthony Barr described what it felt like to get back out there for the Vikings: “I felt a little slow at times. But I think that’s normal […] As I continue to get more reps out there, that’ll come back and it’ll slow down a little bit. But I felt good.” He further indicated that he expects to get better: “So it was good to get back out there and run around a little bit, and I’ll continue to get better as the time goes on.”
It was great seeing him back on the field. That being said, Barr is making far too much money to simply be a feel-good story. The comeback is great, but we need him to be a true difference-maker, someone who opposing OCs continually need to scheme around.
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We’ve long known that Barr is a uniquely-gifted athlete. Many of us bemoan the pick now (he was chosen a few spots ahead of Aaron Donald, a player who will go down as one of the best players in NFL history), but there’s a reason why Barr was chosen so highly. The 6’5, 255 LB ran a 4.66 40-yard dash. That’s a remarkable feat. His length, speed, and power give him the capacity to be a true terror on the defensive side of the ball. Partner those physical attributes with good leadership skills and high-level intelligence and it’s easy to see why Zimmer has always defended his veteran LB.
As we enter a tough four-game stretch without Patrick Peterson, the Vikings need Anthony Barr to be elite. It’s unlikely any one corner can be a true one-for-one replacement for Peterson. The defense therefore needs several players to step up. Having Michael Pierce back from injury will be massive, and Cameron Dantlzer (who has been subject to no shortage of trade speculation) will need to be rock solid. From there, the hope is that Danielle can further elevate.
Of course, seeing Barr take his game to the next level would be incredible. During the offseason, I speculated that we’d see a really productive season from him. After all, he is playing on a prove-it deal, and he’s entering free agency with perhaps his final opportunity to get a substantial contract. At full health and with plenty of reason to be motivated, Barr ought to be one of our foremost players.