Has Anthony Barr already reached his ceiling with the Vikings?
By Dean Jones
Barr’s production with the Vikings
Anthony Barr boasts a formidable skill set that is not always matched by his overall production. He came to the Vikings as a hybrid outside linebacker who could also play some stand-up defensive end if required. Barr was a pass-rushing specialist who devastated opposing quarterbacks at the college level.
Things have been far tougher for Barr from a sack perspective during his time in the NFL. He has recorded just 15 sacks in six seasons and he has yet to top the four he accumulated in his rookie year.
Considering the amount of firepower on the Minnesota defensive front during his time with the franchise, this is very peculiar. Barr notched just 1.5 sacks in 2019 despite seeing 929 snaps on the field with the defense.
His tackling was an area of real strength during the season. Barr was a commanding figure against the run and racked 79 total tackles in 2019, a career-high.
Barr also showed good progress on passing downs and he displayed an improved discipline covering slot receivers, tight ends, or running backs when required. This is another element of his game that sometimes gets overlooked and is a real asset in critical situations.
Much was expected of Barr when he arrived in Minnesota and although he has played well, his impact could have been far greater and it might leave the team with a difficult decision if this trend continues.