This year, the Dallas Cowboys have been known for having the best defense in the NFL. Thanks to the help of a Linebacker named Micah Parsons, the Cowboys are on the path to finishing the year with the #1 or #2 defense.
While many fans and news pages always talk about Parsons and how good he is, one player doesn't get the same recognition as one would think. That player is Outside Linebacker Anthony Barr. Anthony has a long career in the NFL and has come a long way throughout it.
Barr has spent eight years with the Minnesota Vikings and one year with the Cowboys. He has a total of 497 tackles in his career. He has also made 18.5 sacks too. Barr has 5 interceptions and even forced a safety In 2019. He is a very good player indeed when you look at his stats.
Why Parsons is for sure the leading man on the defense and has proved that he is a front-runner for “Defensive Player of the Year”, It feels that Anthony sometimes gets shoved to the side a lot. Barr is a great player; if he were on another team, he would get much more credit and fame.
Barr has been a great addition to the Cowboys since he joined and has played well at the outside linebacker position. However, since Barr joined the Cowboys his fame has been limited because of Parsons's skill. Barr has been somewhat living in the linebacker shadows since his arrival, both as a player and during plays.
During game time, Barr can be seen playing zone on plays while Parsons can be seen running in for a sack or to tackle the running back. Many people don't see Barr on these plays, even though without him there Parsons wouldn't be given the time it takes to get the sacks he has.
This can basically be chalked up to “every player matters” which they do, but Barr is someone who has an important role here.
Barr is a very good linebacker and I think a lot of coaches and people who understand football can see that. Although he isn't sharing high stats and records on the Cowboy team this year, he has given the team as a whole security to passing and rushing plays. He plays more of a prevent defense and is there to only make sure nothing gets past him.
Anthony is almost like the last line of defense for the Cowboys, and when you have all-stars like Parsons and Armstrong, you aren't going to have as much action while sitting in the zone coverage.
Barr is very important to the team and this team wouldn't be the same without him. The Dallas Cowboys for sure wouldn't have as much success as they have been having if it wasn't for Anthony's great skills at his position. Another reason the defense is solid this season.
