Transcript of Connor Barwin Interview on Sirius NFL Radio

[painekiller]

I stole this from TT.com, it was posted by Texsker

Transcript of Interview with Connor Barwin on Movin’ the Chains on Sirius NFL Radio with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan

Connor Barwin was just interviewed by Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan on Movin' the Chains on Sirius NFL Radio. I tried to transcribe as much of the interview as I could, live on the fly. I omitted a few details that were more or less repeats of quotes or other things that have been written about Barwin over the past week.

I have to say that this kid is one of the most intelligent and mature guys I’ve ever heard interviewed coming out of college—very, very impressive. This kid really has a good head on his shoulders, and you can tell that he's a consummate professional.

Tim and Pat always talk about the fact that there are two types of players in the NFL—those who live the game, and those who "live the life." Barwin is definitely one of those guys who will live the game. I have a feeling that Cushing is as well.


MTC: Congratulations on being drafted. Has it sunk in now, almost a week after the Draft?

CB: Thank you. It’s starting to sink in. I don’t think it will completely sink in until I move to Houston and start participating in mini-camps and OTAs.

MTC: Can you tell us a little bit about what role they expect you to play or where they plan to train you first?

CB: Well, what they told me initially—I was down there on Sunday and Monday—they told me that I’ll be a pass rush specialist my rookie year, other than playing on almost all special teams, but they don’t see me playing any TE. There’s been talk about LB, but in my first year, they just want me to be in on obvious passing downs—2nd and long, 3rd and long, and so forth.

MTC: Connor, you’ll get a lot of 1-on-1 looks because of Mario—teams will slide the protection his way, which will leave you 1-on-1 with an OT or RB.

CB: Yeah, it’s great knowing that I’m going to play with guys like that, because I’ll be in a lot of 1-on-1 situations.

MTC: How often in college did you rush inside on some type of twist or stunt with the tackle?

CB: Not too often. It was about 80/20 or 90/10 on rushing from the outside. They tried to keep me on the edge because I was most effective from the outside. There were some times when I’d rush into the B gap on a stunt behind the DT, but not too often.

MTC: I’m expecting a lot of slide protections, with a center turn toward Mario.

CB: Yeah, that will give me a lot of 1-on-1 match-ups. This is a great opportunity. The more I think about it, the more excited I get.

MTC: Did you do much zone dogging at Cincinnati? You have great movement skills. I could see you doing a hook drop, and that type of stuff.

CB: I’m a guy who coach Kubiak said you can get creative with on defense. I believe we’ll do some of that next year.

MTC: Did they say anything about any goal-line tight end stuff? Any offense in the red zone?

CB: Only the TE coach talked to me about that. Everyone else told me to focus in on the pass rush. That’s what they want me to do. They said to just focus on being the best pass rusher I can be.

MTC: Have you done much snatch blitzing? We used to call it a ‘peel’. If the back ran a swing route, you’d take him.

CB: The only time we had that in our system at Cincinnati was at practice, but we had that in our blitzes where I had the RB, and if he released for a swing pass, I’d run with it. I’ve seen it a lot in practice, but never did it in a game.

MTC: Now that we’ve talked about two different dimensions in which you could be used, I’d like to mention a third, which is using you as a ‘spinner’. With a guy like you, we’d stack the nose on 3rd down and let you rush from a standing position as a spinner. Have you ever done any of that?

CB: Yeah, it was called our ‘3-4 tight package’ where I’d start down, pop up and freelance all over the field, working with the nose guard. I’d give him the call, and he’d go one way and I’d go another.

MTC: Love the versatility. 11 sacks last year, you started as a TE, were all conference. We talked with you last time about your mom and dad. How were they during the whole draft process?

CB: My dad is psyched. Now he has four kids out of college and four kids with jobs, so he’s psyched. He’s excited about Houston. My mom was a little nervous about Houston at first because it’s so far away, but Mr. McNair flew my entire family down to Houston, and after being treated so nice, they’re both excited about it.

MTC: Did you see Reliant? Wow! Great facility.

CB: Yeah, it’s a great stadium. A little bit bigger than our stadium at Cincinnati!

MTC: What is your dad’s line of work?

CB: He’s a city manager of a town just outside of Chicago.

MTC: Tell mom no state income tax in Texas!

CB: Yeah, we know—another small benefit. It will save me some money.

MTC: Take us through the itinerary. Houston doesn’t have a mini-camp this weekend, but I believe you have a mini-camp next week. How are you getting ready for it?

CB: Well, unfortunately I won’t be there because Cincinnati is on the quarter system. Houston starts OTAs on May 17, but I won’t be able to participate, because I don’t graduate until June 12, so I’ll report for the mini-camp from June 15-18.

MTC: So many in your position right now start thinking about gaining weight for the next level. Did you wake up the day after the Draft and think that you have to get bigger to play in the NFL? I hope not, but some guys do think that way.

CB: Some guys put on a lot of weight and it backfires on them. I’m convinced that you play at the weight you’re best at. The Texans want me to play at my premium weight, which is around 255-260, so I’m going to train the same way I have before, with the goal of getting faster, and if I gain weight, that’s fine.

MTC: Did you get a chance to meet Cushing yet?

CB: I got a chance to meet him Sunday and Monday. Our families had dinner together. I’m excited about him being there—he’s one hell of a football player. He can make me better and I can make him better. That’s what it’s all about.

MTC: You saw 86 players drafted from the Senior Bowl—11 in the first round. For all the guys who may be advising their clients not to play in the Senior Bowl, how much did it help you out when you reflect on it now?

CB: I think every situation is different. In my situation, it played a big part, because I was something of a sleeper—a first year wonder—so the whole thing was proving to people that it wasn’t just going to be a one-year deal. The Senior Bowl gave me a great opportunity to prove to scouts and GMs, as well as with the Combine, that I could play. You want to play against the best, and if you can show that you can, that’s what really impresses scouts.

[painekiller]

A couple of items I want to point out.

Conner will miss OTAs due to the quarter system and league rules about gradation dates.

He is getting excited about being the DE only, he originally seemed disappointed about not being a OLB, but the team wants to bring him along slowly, see what kind of mismatches they can create. Seems to be a smart way to handle the young man.

[HPF Bob]

Since we're a 4-3, there's no reason to make him a LB except maybe in goal line packages. It sounds like he didn't have a lot of pass coverage duties in college so it is smart not to use him there until he has shown he's mastered his primary position. All the LB talk was if he had gone to a 3-4 like we were under Capers. Then, he would have been Jason Babin 2.0.

If they want him to have an impact this year, they need to coach him up on his one job and leave the cutesy wrinkles to years 2-3 when he has the primary duties down pat.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Since we're a 4-3, there's no reason to make him a LB except maybe in goal line packages. It sounds like he didn't have a lot of pass coverage duties in college so it is smart not to use him there until he has shown he's mastered his primary position. All the LB talk was if he had gone to a 3-4 like we were under Capers. Then, he would have been Jason Babin 2.0.

If they want him to have an impact this year, they need to coach him up on his one job and leave the cutesy wrinkles to years 2-3 when he has the primary duties down pat.

I guess you missed some of the talk here in Houston. According to the buzz Conner was not happy he had been drafted by a 4-3 team, he was projected to be with New England or Pittsburgh or one pf the clones, and he had gotten excited about the idea of playing in space.

Instead he is being brought in as a back up DE. At least on paper one can make that argument. Most of us on this site know he is the designated pass rusher opposite Mario on passing downs.

I think Conner is starting to get that concept also.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by painekiller

He is getting excited about being the DE only, he originally seemed disappointed about not being a OLB, but the team wants to bring him along slowly, see what kind of mismatches they can create. Seems to be a smart way to handle the young man.

Right. I dunno but maybe they learned a lesson during Marios rookie year when they had him playing all over the place instead of concentrating on just one position in his first year ?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Right. I dunno but maybe they learned a lesson during Marios rookie year when they had him playing all over the place instead of concentrating on just one position in his first year ?

Or maybe when we drafted Mario, we where devoid of talent and where forced to play Mario. Now for the 1st time in team history we have enough talent that a draft pick is not being forced to start.

[NBT]

Nice piece PK. I was a little dissappointed when they took Barwin but now I think we just might have a diamond in the rough, who can be counted on in a number of different situations.

[idymoe]

Thanks for taking the time to do that PK. Much appreciated.