Why Christian Barmore is the Patriots defensive X factor vs Browns
The New England Patriots play the Cleveland Browns away next Sunday in a critically important game. The team can even its record at 3-3 or regress to 2-4 and seriously undermine their prospects going forward. Like every game it seems, this one is a must-win.
So who on defense is going to be the X-factor, the key player on defense? It may not be the obvious choice, potential All-Pro, Matt Judon, but another player who may just be the critical one if the Pats are to come away from Cleveland, which also sits at two and three on the season with a win.
Now Judon is essential in every game, make no mistake about that. And no one on the other side seems to be able to contribute very much to help the cause. But, in the middle of the defense, there is a player who is a game-changer. That is … if he’s used correctly.
Let’s take a look at why Christian Barmore, the second-year defensive tackle can be the X-factor in this game to increase the New England Patriots chances of winning dramatically.
Why New England Patriots interior defensive lineman Christian Barmore is the X factor
Look, to have full disclosure, this space is a big fan of Mr. Christian Barmore. Make no mistake about that. Both early and often, the young man has been a favorite here. And why not? He’s a sensation. But there’s a problem. And it will be addressed here.
Barmore is clearly more effective on the nose. Davon Gadchaux just doesn’t accomplish what the second-year pro from Alabama can. Now, that’s not to say that Barmore’s not very effective in a gap. He is. But there’s a qualitative difference.
On the nose, Barmore is the prototypical bull-rusher. He can sometimes be contained by a double team, but that’s often even that’s not enough. Three offensive players are really necessary to even possibly neutralize this great young defensive tackle.
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That ability makes lots of good things happen for the Patriots’ defense. First, collapsing the pocket makes the quarterback improvise. This week against Cleveland, it won’t be Josh Rosen who was summarily released and Deshaun Watson won’t play until November. It will likely be former New England Patriots, Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett is not totally stationary but he’s no Kyler Murray either. Even with overwhelming blockers lined up against him, Barmore will still not just push but collapse the pocket and make Brissett or anyone else improvise. When that happens, plays get broken and bad things can happen to an offense in a hurry.
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In addition, Cleveland’s biggest threat, running back Nick Chubb though he’s a master at finding running lanes will also be impacted by Barmore’s bull-rushing offensive guards and centers in a de facto run blitz. With lanes closed-up, Chubbs’s job gets a lot more difficult.
And the third aspect that Barmore’s presence creates when he does what he does best is to open up space for his teammates like Matt “The Sack Man” Judon, and company to make big plays.
That’s why the man in the middle, hopefully right in the middle on the nose, Christian Barmore is the key to the defense and the X factor against Cleveland Sunday.