I don't see where Barnett will not be good in a defense that is more aggressive and relies on speed and deception when those are his strong points.

The splits between LB's and angles therefore may very well allow him to use his speed in ways past defenses have not allowed him to.

I also think he will be very good in coverage so for every block he can't get off I see him doing better than most ILB's on the wide receivers.

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Warhawk - Agreed.

One thing my wife and I noticed in '03 (Nick's rookie year) is how fast he plays. On a D relying on speed, he'd excel.

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He's not an outside backer and that's was my point. This system is going to be a bit of a hybrid I assume this season due to the lack of personnel to run it, but when it works, it works because of the outside pass rushers in the 3-4. They need guys on the outside that can rush the passer and Barnett can't do it.

I guess I should rephrase my comparison and say he's a poor mans Jerod Mayo. Mayo was arguably the 3rd best 3-4 inside backer in football last year behind Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis. Mayo is the real deal and I don't mean to imply Barnett will have that type of a season, but if you're comparing players, then Barnett is a far easier comparison to a Jerod Mayo than a LaMarr Woodley or James Harrison.

Harrison is probably a SAM in the 4-3 and Woodley likely a DE. Barnett can't do that, but like Mayo he can convert to a MIKE or a WILL and that is his best position, but the fact is he's playing the 3-4. He's not the greatest fit and I suspect he'll over pursue a bit and end up running into a guard, but I think he's going to be on the inside anyways because that's the only spot for him.

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Porky... that is all that I am trying to say, Barnett really doesn't have a natural home in a 3-4... nothing more or less..

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