T.J. Barnes Scouting Report: NFL Outlook for Georgia Tech DT

It's obvious what makes T.J. Barnes an intriguing prospect in the 2013 NFL draft. He is 6'6", 369 pounds. That type of size isn't found just anywhere. That's the type of size that can make an NFL career.

As numerous large men can attest, though, size isn't everything. Is it enough for Barnes? Or is the Georgia Tech product bringing something else to the table?

Strengths

Barnes' biggest strength is, without question, his size. The sheer amount of man can at times make Barnes nearly impossible to move. However, Barnes' size suggests a slow, sluggish athlete.

Though there are certainly quicker defensive tackles, Barnes can still move. He is surprisingly light-footed with decent burst and quickness. Barnes is not athletically limited by his size, and he continually impresses with his ability to move.

Weaknesses

Despite being one of the biggest players to ever enter the draft, Barnes isn't all that strong or powerful. He is overpowered far too often by much smaller offensive linemen, and Barnes himself rarely uses his size to make his way into the backfield.

Though he is athletic for his size, Barnes still isn't overly explosive or quick, and he doesn't consistently make plays. Barnes' tendency to play high and lack of hand usage are also concerning. Barnes doesn't show much tenacity in his play and, on the whole, plays too soft.

Tools

This is what Barnes has going for him. At 6'6", 369 pounds, he is truly massive. Barnes doesn't have the sloppy body one might expect, though, as he's actually built quite solidly. With nearly 35" arms, Barnes has plenty of length, as well.

Athletically, he's solid, as his 5.3 40-yard-dash time suggests. Barnes isn't nearly as strong as expected, though, and he did just 25 bench reps at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Intangible/Character

Barnes' weight is an ever-present concern. At the start of the 2012 season, he weighed just 345 pounds. By the end of the year, his weight had fluctuated up to 378 pounds. He was back down to 369 by the NFL Scouting Combine. Besides his weight, Barnes has never been in trouble off the field.

System

Barnes played nose tackle in Georgia Tech's 3-4 defense. He was often asked to occupy two blockers and take up both interior gaps. Barnes generally wasn't meant to penetrate the backfield or rush the passer.

Pass Rush

Barnes struggles to rush the passer. At times Barnes will show an impressive first step, but it isn't consistent enough to be a truly valuable asset. Barnes' pass-rush moves are virtually nonexistent, and he doesn't even have a bull rush move.

That would be expected from someone so large. Because he plays high, Barnes struggles to gain leverage and push linemen into the backfield.

Barnes' quickness will occasionally show up, but he doesn't complement it with a swim move or another move that would harness it. He relies purely on his physical ability, which isn't nearly dominant enough to consistently provide a legitimate pass rush. 

Barnes doesn't always fully utilize his physical ability, either. Too often, he hesitates to explode towards the line of scrimmage. That hesitation can be costly.

Against the Run

This is where Barnes should excel—he's 369 pounds. Yet, for some reason, Barnes actually struggles against the run. At times, Barnes will use his natural athleticism to shoot a gap and disrupt a play in the backfield, but he is generally pretty weak here. Barnes' soft play, lack of strength and high stance all allow offensive linemen to drive him backwards.

Barnes does do well in flowing with the run play, and his motor is helpful on outside run plays. There are also times when an offensive linemen simply won't be able to move the enormous nose tackle.

Instead of simply holding his ground and taking up blockers, Barnes will sometimes try to shoot gaps, abandoning his position. This can result in big plays for the offense, as Barnes over-pursues. He also struggles to shred blocks, and even when in position he will often miss on making a play.

Tackling

Barnes' lack of upper-body strength does him no favors here. He too often tries to arm tackle, and he isn't strong enough to take down a running back with just his arms. On the whole, though, Barnes is usually big enough to simply smother an offensive player—be it a running back or a quarterback.

Use of Hands

This is a huge hole in Barnes' game. He struggles with his hand placement, often positioning his hands on the outside of the offensive lineman's jersey. His hands aren't particularly active either, and he will often simply let them sit. Surprisingly, Barnes doesn't pack that strong of a punch either, and he rarely knocks a lineman off balance.

Scheme Versatility/Future Role

Barnes' struggles in holding ground against the run make his best fit at defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense. However, he may be better off trying to switch to the offensive side of the ball.

Such a transition isn't unheard of—the Seahawks moved seventh-round pick J.R. Sweezy to guard last year. Barnes' light feet, size and overall athleticism would be better suited at guard, where his soft play and lack of technique would be less concerning and could be fixed.

Barnes is a great talent, but he needs a fresh slate.

Team Fits/Round Picks

Houston (7.27)

Denver (7.29)

Atlanta (7.30)

Baltimore (7.32)