The game that ended Anthony Barr’s career with the Vikings

As speculation continues on Anthony Barr’s future with the Minnesota Vikings, both his performance and the team’s performance in 2018 offers a negative light on Barr being re-signed to a new contract.

I think that the ultimate executive decision to sign or not sign Anthony Barr to a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings is primarily Mike Zimmer’s to make. For several reasons, I don’t think he will do so.

Zimmer was the one to make Barr a team captain for the first time in his career in 2018. Every Viking fan who painstakingly watched this team this season saw a defense that paled in comparison to its 2017 model.

Why? They added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, a prize of free agency, they drafted a standout rookie corner and playmaker in Mike Hughes, and the defense seemed quite healthy across the ranks.

They also secured linebacker Eric Kendricks to a long-term deal while neglecting the same for his colleague, Anthony Barr.

Was this an experiment in the true value of Barr as Vikings linebacker, leader, and defensive team captain?

I think so. I also think that Barr clearly failed the test.

From 2017 to 2018, the Vikings’ fell from the number one overall ranking to four.  This was no disaster (unless you watched the Rams’ game) until the running defense came under scrutiny. Here the Vikings’ absolutely crashed, allowing a mere 83.6 yards a game in 2017, then giving up a pedestrian 113.4 this season–a jump of nearly 30 yards a game!

Most fans that know football–and defensive football–realize that linebackers are the key to having a successful run defense. They must read the offensive flow, react, shed their blocks, and consistently make plays for their team against a running offense.

Beared Down

Minnesota Vikings’ linebackers did not compete in this fashion in 2018. To illustrate this vividly, take a long look at Week 17, when the Vikings faced a must-win against the Chicago Bears at home to make the playoffs.

Chicago running back Jordan Howard, whose season rushing average was a league basement 3.7 yards a carry, ran for two touchdowns in the first half and ended the game with 109 yards on 21 carries, a solid 5.2-yard average.

The Bears offense ran for 169 yards in total against Minnesota as both Barr and Eric Wilson (in for an injured Kendricks) struggled to get off blocks and contain the simplistic and plodding Chicago offense.

The Vikings were embarrassed before their home crowd, 24-10 by the new NFC North champions.

As Anthony Barr, a one-time team captain, no doubt seeks a contract that rivals the likes of outstanding linebackers in Carolina (Luke Kuechly) and Seattle (Bobby Wagner), but he’s absolutely nuts to believe he deserves one.

Rated 71.4 by Pro Football Focus, a score that puts Barr as simply “above average”, Barr is far from the All-Pro status–and ability–of both Kuechly and Wagner. He is also far from the leader that Mike Zimmer hoped he would be.

Many analysts will break down Barr’s play and ability in relation to a system defense, where he fits in a 4-3, a 3-4, etc. This is not irrelevant, but honestly, does Barr really fit in anywhere and command 12-15 million dollars a year?

He doesn’t cover very well, gets swept up in blocking schemes, and does little dirty work in the trenches. Yes, he makes a play sometimes, but not often enough to justify his agent’s current propositions.

The bottom line is this: Anthony Barr does not–and has not–made his defensive unit better. As a team captain, and not just an athlete, he has been found lacking.

Some new team may pay Barr what he wants, but he has not earned that kind of cash and security with the Minnesota Vikings.