Third-year Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Sam Barrington knocks the stuffings out of ball carriers every chance he gets. That’s a good thing because that’s the perfect job description for a 3-4 inside linebacker. I love watching him finish off tackles on film because in an era where it seems the game isn’t nearly as physical as it used to be, Barrington is a true throwback type player.
Sam Barrington is the hidden gem in the middle of the Packers’ defense
Seven starts was more than enough to convince the Packers that Sam Barrington, their third-year inside linebacker, can be the defensive leader they’ve been searching for.
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It makes Barrington stand out on film. You just aren’t going to see very many guys he goes to tackle continue to get yards after he makes contact. To say he gets to the ball carrier with bad intentions simply does not do him justice. He embraces and revels in the physicality of the position when you see him lower the boom on somebody.
Watching how he gets to the ball carrier is also a treat because for a guy who comes downhill to hammer people on a regular basis, he also happens to be pretty quick with his lateral movements. You see offensive linemen get up to the second level to try to block him. These would-be blockers look like they’re in good position and poof he still finds a way to side-step them with ease.
Barrington’s physicality is his top attribute. His agility is a close second. You just don’t see him stay blocked all that often, so he’s usually in a position to make a play if the ball comes anywhere near him. That may sound simple, but unless the defensive line is great at keeping offensive linemen off of them, the one thing most 3-4 inside linebackers struggle with is getting stuck on blocks.
The real question for me was why it took Barrington so long to get a shot at starting last season. When he was in there, he was a major upgrade. I don’t think it could have been for not knowing the defense because when he was in there he looked very comfortable calling the defense and moving guys around before the play. I don’t have the Packers’ playbook so there’s no way of knowing how well or not Barrington graded out last season when it came to his alignments and assignments. Whatever he did do, right or wrong, he did with commitment and conviction. Sometimes that will overcome a mental error.
This dude appears to be the total package. Barring injury I would expect him to start a lot more than the seven regular season games he started last year. His production should shoot right on up.
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