Anthony Barr Making Strong Case For Defensive Rookie Of The Year

I’ll admit, I was one of those fans that was scratching my head when the Vikings selected Anthony Barr with the #9 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.  I saw Barr as a player with freakish athleticism who would need a lot of time to adjust to playing the linebacker position at the NFL.  It turns out I was VERY wrong about how long it would take Barr to acclimate to the NFL.

Anthony Barr became the only rookie on the Vikings team to be a day one starter.  He impressed many folks during preseason with his speed and agility.  He made some plays when rushing the quarterback and was even a capable linebacker when dropping back into pass coverage.

The young linebacker got even better when the NFL’s regular season began.  Here are Barr’s stats through the first half  of the NFL season:

Oct 26, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) celebrates as he runs into the end zone after a 27-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to win the game as the Vikings beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-13 in overtime at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

8 games played

54 combined tackles

43 solo tackles

11 assisted tackles

3 sacks

3 passes defended

1 forced fumble

3 fumble recoveries

1 fumble recovery TD

At this point of Anthony Barr’s rookie campaign, it’s not out of the question to mention him in the conversation for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.  While there are other rookie defenders like Oakland’s Khalil Mack and Oakland’s Kyle Fuller, Barr’s three takeaways and one defensive touchdown could help separate him from the competition.

However, there is a lot of season left to go.  There’s a good chance that another player could step and deserve the award more than Anthony Barr.  Even if Barr doesn’t bring home the award this year, his immediate impact on the Minnesota Vikings team is award enough for the young linebacker’s fans around the NFL.

What do you think?  Should Anthony Barr be in the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year?  Do you think that based on his efforts the first half of the season that he would deserve the award?  Discuss it in the comments below.