He’s not getting the sacks, but New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t want star defensive tackle Christian Barmore to feel “frustrated.” Not when Barmore is still putting a ton of heat on the pass-pocket and forcing offenses to eat negative yards in different ways.
Barmore did those things for fun during Week 4’s 42-13 win over the Carolina Panthers. His performance earned praise from Vrabel, who told reporters postgame, how “Barmore is disrupting the quarterback, and he’s getting holding calls. I don’t want him to be frustrated [with no sacks], but I see those things,” per Brian Hines of SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit.
Hines cited Next Gen Stats crediting Barmore with “five pressures on 20 pass rushes (25% pressure rate) against Carolina, his highest pressure rate since Week 3, 2023.”
It was less a breakout performance and more a return to form for arguably the most physically dominant and dynamic member of New England’s defensive front. Barmore needs a bounce-back campaign after health issues cost him ample playing time last season.
The second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft also needs to raise his game because he’s now surrounded by superior talent along the interior.
Christian Barmore’s Getting Back to His Best
He isn’t reaching the heights of his banner 2023 season, when Barmore powered his way to 8.5 sacks, but the 26-year-old is steadily getting back to his best. The revival owes a lot to Barmore’s awesome play strength and talent for wrecking blocking schemes in multiple ways.
A great example occurred against the Panthers, when big No. 90 harassed Carolina quarterback Bryce Young on a two-pay sequence when “the game flipped in the Patriots favor,” according to Patriots.com Staff Writer Evan Lazar.
He highlighted first how the “Pats drop eight, play tricky cover-three. Sit route in mesh was opening up over the ball, but Young feels Barmore’s bull rush and leaves the pocket.” Then on the next play, “Barmore swipes the RG’s punch, clean win for a QB hit (Tonga batted pass).”
Two different pass-rush wins didn’t just precede the momentum-shifting punt return for a touchdown by Marcus Jones. They also showed the range in Barmore’s pressure plan.
He’s able to win with brute force or smart hands technique, making Barmore a versatile interior disruptor who helps the Patriots play coverage and rush four. That’s the defensive adjustment Vrabel wanted to see this season, and Barmore isn’t the only one powering the change.
New-Look Patriots Defense Working
Barmore is playing like somebody with a point to prove after overcoming blood clots, but he’s also part of a new-look D-line working out like the Patriots hoped. They spent big money on adding players like edge-rusher Harold Landry III and Super Bowl winner Milton Williams, and the new faces are making a difference.
Landry and Williams have already made game-sealing plays, so it’s time for Barmore and other incumbents to match their production. Vrabel sounds like he knows the splash plays will happen for Barmore, but he might not be so sure about Keion White.
The latter gave the Pats cause for concern this offseason, but the versatile defensive end retains the backing of one key coach. Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith still believes White’s “going to be something special … it’s starting to slow down for him. I’m glad he’s back, because he’s going to be a big part of what we do. I see Keion as a starter, even though he’s not starting out there with KC [K’Lavon Chaisson] or Harold [Landry],” per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
If Smith can get White rolling on the edge, while Barmore and Williams boss blockers inside, the Patriots will have something special up front.