05-27-2009, 11:39 AM
Texans DE Connor Barwin’s transition to pros similar to that faced by other young linemen
By Mike Wilkening
May 22, 2009
DE Connor Barwin can safely be called a work in progress, having played only one season at defensive end at the University of Cincinnati, but Texans assistant head coach/defensive line Bill Kollar told PFW that the transition from college to the NFL for any young defensive lineman is challenging — and that playing freely and instinctively without overthinking is one of the first hurdles to overcome. “It happens right when you are a rookie,” Kollar noted, noting that a young lineman has so much information to process, from learning a different set of defensive terminology to playing with new technique. Barwin cannot practice with the Texans until his class graduates from the University of Cincinnati on June 12-13, but Kollar likes what he previously has seen from Houston’s second-round pick, who played tight end for three seasons before switching to defense. “For what he did last year in college, he did a pretty good job rushing the passer just one year,” Kollar told PFW. “He (showed) a lot of ability that year. But it’s going to take a lot of hard work to improve his technique.”
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL...052209.htm
By Mike Wilkening
May 22, 2009
DE Connor Barwin can safely be called a work in progress, having played only one season at defensive end at the University of Cincinnati, but Texans assistant head coach/defensive line Bill Kollar told PFW that the transition from college to the NFL for any young defensive lineman is challenging — and that playing freely and instinctively without overthinking is one of the first hurdles to overcome. “It happens right when you are a rookie,” Kollar noted, noting that a young lineman has so much information to process, from learning a different set of defensive terminology to playing with new technique. Barwin cannot practice with the Texans until his class graduates from the University of Cincinnati on June 12-13, but Kollar likes what he previously has seen from Houston’s second-round pick, who played tight end for three seasons before switching to defense. “For what he did last year in college, he did a pretty good job rushing the passer just one year,” Kollar told PFW. “He (showed) a lot of ability that year. But it’s going to take a lot of hard work to improve his technique.”
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL...052209.htm