Cleveland Browns film review: Derek Barnett
By Joel W. Cade
If the Cleveland Browns take a quarterback first overall, Derek Barnett would make a great pick at number 12. Here is why.
The Cleveland Browns are in a unique position when it comes to drafting defensive line help. By holding the first overall pick, they have every high-end defensive lineman available to them.
Right now, the consensus best player in the draft is Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett. However, that may change after the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis. If a quarterback establishes himself as the top quarterback on the board, the Browns will find themselves in position to take the best quarterback available.
Should the Browns find themselves drafting a quarterback first overall, where does it leave them with the No. 12 pick in regards to a 4-3 defensive end and pass rusher?
In this edition of the college scouting film room, we look at the play of University of Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. What if anything, makes him stand out as a 4-3 defensive end?
Scheme: It is important to note that it looks like Tennessee is playing double-gap responsibility with their defensive linemen. This means that defenders must engage the offensive linemen, read the lineman’s intention, then react. This style requires defensive linemen to be more disciplined and assignment-conscious. It also requires learning specific techniques to be successful. Playing in this style of defense will prepare players to play at the professional level.
Strengths: After watching games against Alabama in 2015 and 2016, the thing that jumps off the page is that he plays both defensive end positions at an extremely high level. That is not an easy thing to do. Generally speaking, the left end (run stopper) requires a different skill set than right end (pass rusher). Derek Barnett plays both extremely well. In both games, Alabama worked their game plan away from Derek Barnett.
He plays extremely technically sound. He plays double gap technique from the end position. He can hold the edge while at the same time closing the guard-tackle gap. His technique is flawless when taking on pulling linemen.
On one play, he employed a “wrong-arm” technique, beautifully making the play in the backfield. He will stay square to the line of scrimmage on plays away. He holds the line of scrimmage against bigger offensive tackles at the point of attack.
As a pass rusher, he uses his hands extremely well. He is probably the best hand fighter in the draft. He can keep offensive linemen off his body which allows him to beat blocks. He effectively bull-rushes tackles using leverage to his advantage.
Weaknesses: Barnett lacks explosiveness off the ball. Unlike Myles Garrett, Barnett will not defeat a defender off the ball. He lacks the initial quickness, or what scouts like to call “twitch,” in his first few steps. He relies on timing the snap count to get a jump on offensive linemen.
Related: Film Review: Myles Garrett versus Alabama
His game is a technically sound game and he relies on strength to win at the point of attack. He does not show a great deal of burst and quickness around the edge. His pass-rush style is technically sound but predictable lacking a strong inside pass-rush move. He could develop that at the NFL level.
Conclusion: Derek Barnett is the most pro-ready 4-3 defensive end in the draft. He plays both the pass and run with NFL quality technique. His athleticism is a question. It will be interesting to see if his lack of explosiveness is due to his scheme requiring reads at the snap or if he really lacks explosiveness off the ball.
The fact that several offensive linemen were false starting during pass-rush scenarios indicates Barnett has quickness off the ball. When he knows he is rushing or has a single gap assignment, he shows a higher level of explosiveness.
His SPARQ score coming out of the Combine will be interesting to see. Right now it is Myles Garrett’s athleticism (measured by SPARQ) that separates him from everyone else.
My hunch is Barnett’s Football SPARQ ranking will be like that of Myles Garrett. Combine a high football SPARQ score with his high motor and pro-ready technique and Derek Barnett could be the best defensive end prospect in the draft.
Next: Roster purge continues with Hawkins
If the Browns were to take a quarterback first overall, there still may be a pro-ready defensive end waiting for them at pick No. 12.