Antwan Barnes is the AFC Defensive Player of the Week

by John Gennaro on Dec 21, 2011 10:30 AM PST in San Diego Chargers News

After a fantastic, nearly dominating, game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, Antwan Barnes has been named the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week.

Since signing with the Chargers a month into the 2010 season, Barnes has been nothing short of great at rushing opposing QBs. His combination of speed and moves help him to win matchups against nearly every offensive Tackle he faces.

Despite being nearly unstoppable, with 11 sacks this season, Barnes is still not the starter at OLB. Instead, he backs up Travis LaBoy and Shaun Phillips, seeing enough time to get four sacks on Sunday only after LaBoy left with an injury.

The fans would obviously love to see more of Antwan, because he helps the pass-rush so much when he's in there, and are hoping that this award and another start on Sunday (doesn't look like LaBoy is playing) could show the Bolts' coaches that he's worthy of being the regular starter.

vs BAL / 12.18.11	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
	Solo	Ast	Total	Sacks	Yds	Int	Yds	IntTD
Antwan Barnes	5	1	6	4	23	0	0	0

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Give some credit to the secondary and linebackers

Because I think two of those sacks were coverage sacks, where Barnes kept fighting and there wasn’t anywhere to throw the ball. Great game all around for the Bolts D.

by glamisdave on Dec 21, 2011 11:09 AM PST reply actions

In yo face Tamba Hali!

[Comment From Jesse Jesse: ]
Do you imagine a scenario where we could, say, sell Hudson to a Japanese team?

by Natrone Means Business on Dec 21, 2011 11:27 AM PST reply actions

Barnes had 2 coverage sacks

and also, LaBoy, although a worse pass rusher, is still better against the run overall.

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by Superduperboltman on Dec 21, 2011 12:14 PM PST reply actions

Runner-up

Travis LaBoy’s knee.

"The biggest thing..." - Norv Turner

by Cake or Death on Dec 21, 2011 12:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

He also had a half pick

I’m sure that counts for something.

"I promise you, we’re going to build a dictating, dominating, attacking defense. I’ve said it a million times. It’s not a slight on our offense, but we’re not going to win any world championship until we have that." - A.J. Smith

by njg425 on Dec 21, 2011 12:42 PM PST via Android app reply actions

Yeah like mentioned above those stats are a bit skewed

2 of the sacks occurred when Flacco held the ball for about 5 seconds too long. In fact, the majority of Barnes’ 11 sacks haven’t really come with Tamba Hali-like domination of the tackle, but instead came about when he just didn’t give up on the pass rush. I’m not saying this as a knock on Barnes at all, he’s definitely the second-best pass rusher on the team. But I still don’t think he’s starting material…he would be great as a situational pass rusher (which was the intent for him coming into this season), but since we don’t have a better option for a starter he should be starting.

I guess my main point, if that while he has been great this season, we still need to acquire a dominating OLB to start opposite Phillips in the offseason, and Barnes will be the guy who finally gives us the “three deep” pass rushers that we need.

by jkvandal on Dec 21, 2011 12:47 PM PST reply actions