Barrow setback

He had knee problems late 2002, but didn't miss a game because of his knee last year. Moot point... he signed with Philly.

I sure hope we don't pick up Hugh Douglas. His knee is done. That's why he ws cut.

Losing Barrow is NOT a good thing. He is a capable linebacker - when healthy and someone who can patrol the middle of the defense for RBs who might get through a less than stalwart DL.

I thought this was tendonitis; now they are talking about cartilege problems. I'm not happy at all about this!

This what happens when we inherit the rejects of the New York Midgets. I mean Giants. We inherited a no good Armstead and he did was a bust. Now we have Barrow who was was washed up last year along with the entire Giant defensive line except Strahan.

Sunra, I argued against you about this point in another thread, the noticed you said the same thing here. What makes you thing Armstead was a bust? Armstead was arguably the mvp of our defense last year and a leader on the field and in the locker room. He did lead the team in sacks. Tell me, what about Armstead makes you think he was a bust last year. And dont say anything about washington or anyone we have now. It doesnt matter that hes gone, im only commenting on the fact that you considered him a bust?

I agree SKINSnCANES, Armstead was a solid player for us. Certainly not what I would call a bust. Not even close.

I'm sorry... but there is a reason Antonio Pierce and Khary Campbell haven't earned starting jobs in the NFL in their careers. They are decent enough backups... but no Barrow (and no Mitchell for that matter) opens one more hole in our defense which is suspect enough with our weak D-Line.

EVERY great defense in the history of the NFL had a strong D-Tackle(s) and a strong middle linebacker... Singletary and Ray Lewis pop to mind off the bat....

You can have a secondary that is only slightly above average if you are pressuring the QB and stuffing the run to force the team into long passing situations... that's what worries me about this unit, just like the ones we've had for years now... the Rams REALLY exploited our weakness (T. Holt - 143 yds in one half!!) last game and I am afraid unless we find SOMEONE on the D-Line and Middle Linebacker to step up big time... we might have to get used to what we saw...

Personally, and I know I don't know as much as our coaching staff of course, but I'd take Mitchell over Pierce any day... he was a good run-reader and stuffer. We have enough speed with LeVar and Washington, we needed K-Mitch's experience and run stopping abilities... although I hope I have to eat my words ;)

This what happens when we inherit the rejects of the New York Midgets. I mean Giants. We inherited a no good Armstead and he did was a bust. Now we have Barrow who was was washed up last year along with the entire Giant defensive line except Strahan.

in what type of bizarro world does 150 tackles(114 solo), 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 4 pass deflections behind a pretty paper thin defensive line make Barrow washed up?
If that's washed up then I'm beggin for our entire lb group play that badly.

Armstead was a SOLDIER for us. lead in tackles if im not mistaken. not to mention in the locker room.

and Barrow..damn. i knew something was up. tried to tell you guys. this was a bad day for us. first we lose the best chance to shore up our iffy (no pun intended) pass rush with Douglas, and now we lose our best chance at run stopping since we're gonna be blitzing Washington and Arrington every down to compensate.

Wasn't T Holt being single covered sometimes by 3rd string cornerbacks? In an offense that wasn't holding any punches out? Of course he got yards going 1v1 with Walt Harris. We didn't jam them at the line, and we would had people all over T. Holt in a real game.

The reason Pierce and Campbell haven't earned a starting spot is the right person hasn't gotten hurt to allow them to step up and play. Barrow is a decent player, but won't be around long, we need to find a replacement for him.

Of course, Armstead was not a bust - pretty far out assessment.

The word on Mitchell's release was that Williams insists on speed in his LB's. That is certainly Mitchell's weak point, so he would not work out in his defensive schemes. But, I agree that being thin at MLB is a major concern.

Has anyone stopped to consider that this whole Barrow thing is a Gibb's "we aint saying nothing" thing here? Do you think Gibbs is playing this injury like a fiddle? I personally don't have a clue what to think, but they better find somebody better than Pierce to play the middle if we have any chance of stopping the run!!!