[donkey687]

When we had 4 potential starting defensive 5th year seniors retire from football (Buncom, Jackson, Barton and Edwards) and not return this season, it certainly dealt a blow to our returning starter calculation and preseason prognostications, but the replacements for those 4 could all be better. Those guys were pretty banged up or tired of playing football so bring on the younger and potentially more talented replacements. None of those 4 would have been considered above average Pac12 starters and the guys that we have replacing all could be down the road.

Excellent point. I predict our safety tandem will be better this year - probably not even close given Buncom's struggles. Big improvement from Jackson to this year's starter. Barton may have been a better player than his replacement this year during the early part of the year - Barton was solid - but by later in the year, our top three MLBs should all have surpassed him - at least in terms of big plays.

I would've considered Barton a slightly-above-average Pac12 starter, but agreed known quantity. Solid against the run, pretty fast, high motor, liability in coverage. And pretty small for an ILB (225ish) - was easily swallowed up by blocks if a guard got to the second level, and a non-factor when blitzing if a guard got to him. Reminded me a lot of Ben Burr-Kirven...except UW's monster DL actually commanded double-teams and kept BBK clean.

Will there be growing pains for our presumed top 3 ILBs? For sure. But they are bigger (Robinson the lightest at 236, both RS frosh 240+) and - from what we've heard and seen at camp - VERY athletic. Excited to see how they develop through the season, and I think the future is bright at the position, especially if Robinson comes back for his 5th year.

Yes, an argument could be made for Barton being an above average starter. It is probably pretty close. There were 14 linebackers who were named All Pac 12 or honorable mention as Linebackers. Okereke was one of them. Barton was not.  Barton had a lot of tackles (92, second most on the team), but not as many as some of our past tackling machines like Blake Martinez had in a season at the same position (141 tackles).

[donkey687]

When we had 4 potential starting defensive 5th year seniors retire from football (Buncom, Jackson, Barton and Edwards) and not return this season, it certainly dealt a blow to our returning starter calculation and preseason prognostications, but the replacements for those 4 could all be better. Those guys were pretty banged up or tired of playing football so bring on the younger and potentially more talented replacements. None of those 4 would have been considered above average Pac12 starters and the guys that we have replacing all could be down the road.

Excellent point. I predict our safety tandem will be better this year - probably not even close given Buncom's struggles. Big improvement from Jackson to this year's starter. Barton may have been a better player than his replacement this year during the early part of the year - Barton was solid - but by later in the year, our top three MLBs should all have surpassed him - at least in terms of big plays.

I would've considered Barton a slightly-above-average Pac12 starter, but agreed known quantity. Solid against the run, pretty fast, high motor, liability in coverage. And pretty small for an ILB (225ish) - was easily swallowed up by blocks if a guard got to the second level, and a non-factor when blitzing if a guard got to him. Reminded me a lot of Ben Burr-Kirven...except UW's monster DL actually commanded double-teams and kept BBK clean.

Will there be growing pains for our presumed top 3 ILBs? For sure. But they are bigger (Robinson the lightest at 236, both RS frosh 240+) and - from what we've heard and seen at camp - VERY athletic. Excited to see how they develop through the season, and I think the future is bright at the position, especially if Robinson comes back for his 5th year.

Yes, an argument could be made for Barton being an above average starter. It is probably pretty close. There were 14 linebackers who were named All Pac 12 or honorable mention as Linebackers. Okereke was one of them. Barton was not.  Barton had a lot of tackles (92, second most on the team), but not as many as some of our past tackling machines like Blake Martinez had in a season at the same position (141 tackles).