New England Patriots: Time for the beast in Christian Barmore to erupt
New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is entering his third NFL season in 2023.
Having shown flashes of greatness in his career thus far, it’s time for the former 2021 second-round pick Barmore to have a big season.
Barmore’s potential has certainly outstripped his production thus far in his short career. Ostensibly dogged by knee problems (hopefully now corrected), he has failed to really live up to expectations thus far.
It’s high time for the former second-rounder for whom the New England Patriots traded up in the 2021 draft to secure to repay the team’s and New England Patriots Nation’s faith in him.
This space has been a big fan of the defensive tackle and it’s time for him to up his game and production to fulfill those expectations.
New England Patriots Christian Barmore has underachieved
In his two years playing for the New England Patriots, Barmore’s stats have been underwhelming. He has managed a meager 4 sacks in two years. He had 2.5 sacks in 2021, his rookie season along with 23 tackles in 10 games. In 2022 his sack total dropped to 1.5 to go along with 46 tackles in a full 17 games.
While playing in the middle is not necessarily conducive to great sack production except in certain cases (hello Aaron Donald), Barmore still needs to up his game to justify his former second-round pick status.
The New England Patriots’ interior defensive line is barely average. Along with Barmore, they field veterans Lawrence Guy Sr., Devon Godchaux, Daniel Ekuale, and some other untested players. It’s not nearly good enough.
The top talent on board is Barmore and he needs to step up to the plate in 2023 and make his presence felt in a more demonstrative manner. Read that as get more sacks.
New England Patriots: Barmore is a pocket-collapsing presence
If healthy (a major “if”), Christian Barmore is a pocket collapser par excellence. Especially when placed on the center’s nose, he’s virtually unblockable by one offensive lineman. He’s a favorite in this space but the final results have been lacking.
Collapsing the pocket is a solid attribute. Yet, Barmore needs to step up and finish by sacking the quarterback more often this season if he is to start justifying his potential.
Pressuring the quarterback when you have top-edge players like Matt Judon and Josh Uche to clean up and sack the quarterback is fine. But finishing yourself as a defensive tackle is better.
The New England Patriots drafted Deion White, a defensive-end hybrid from Georgia Tech this offseason in the second round. Since White can also be deployed inside, it will be incumbent on both to get additional sacks.
In the ever-more-competitive AFC East with scrambling quarterbacks Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and the ever-elusive new Jets player, Hall-of-Famer in waiting, Aaron Rodgers to face, finishing will be even more important in 2023.
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Deploying Barmore and White inside on passing downs may be just what the doctor ordered for the New England Patriot’s pass rush. They should give it a try and hope that Barmore as the senior player will take the next step in his development. It’s time.