Last offseason, after Carson Wentz was drafted, he was asked who he patterned his game after. He responded, in some detail, that he tried to emulate Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and Aaron Rodgers. That's a decent foursome, I suppose.
Newly drafted defensive end Derek Barnett has already been compared to players like the Ravens' Terrell Suggs and the Eagles' Brandon Graham for varying reasons. And then, of course, Barnett is best known for breaking Reggie White's sack record at Tennessee, so he and the Minister of Defense have been linked together.
On Friday, in his initial interview with Philadelphia media, Barnett was asked who he patterns his game after.
"Recently I like watching (Seahawks DE) Michael Bennett play. I like his demeanor. He uses his hands very well. When I was younger, Michael Strahan, one of the best to do it."
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It is interesting that Barnett mentioned Bennett's hands. Hand-fighting is an often overlooked trait in pass rushers, but it is something Barnett is known for. In Barnett's scouting report on NFL.com, it is the first thing listed among his strengths:
Championship hand fighter on college level. Hands are strong, fast, efficient and lethal. Punch-and-discard winner. As rusher, swats are well-timed discarding tackle's punch attempt.
While Barnett may not be an extraordinarily explosive player athletically, he is an outstanding technician who wins against opposing offensive linemen in less obvious ways.
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