Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia Eagles‘ lack of a pass rush has been painfully apparent early in the season. One man who has not been a part of that is the Eagles’ new addition at outside linebacker, Connor Barwin.
Barwin has been effective in all aspects of the game, whether it is setting the edge in the run game, dropping back in coverage, or rushing the passer. He has been credited with three sacks on the young season, and has also had a bunch of pressures, making life on the quarterback uncomfortable.
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While a few other pass rushers like Brandon Graham and Trent Cole have disappointed for the Eagles, Barwin has simply gotten the job done. He, Vinny Curry, Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton have been the major bright spots among the front seven in generating pressure and stopping the run.
Barwin is turning out to be an excellent signing for general manager Howie Roseman and company. While Barwin is having a nice season, as well as some of the other names I mentioned, he needs help. Cole needs to get out of his slump; he has been in a rut for about a season and a half now, generating only three sacks in that time span. It is simply time for Cole to snap out of it, as he is a man that the Eagles count on for double digit sack numbers every season.
Graham also needs to get his game in order. He showed great signs of becoming a budding young pass rusher near the need of last season, but those signs haven’t shown in the young season. Graham needs to take advantage of his snaps and get to the passer more often. Otherwise, with his liabilities in coverage, he is useless on the football field.
Barwin has been a bright spot among the linebackers, and he now needs his friends to come through. If the Eagles want to make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four years, the pass rush simply must be more effective.
