Barron Makes Impact on Defense

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Barron Makes Impact on Defense

Posted 2 hours ago

Myles Simmons Rams Insider

After receiving some playing time on special teams last week, safety Mark Barron played his first defensive snaps as a member of the Rams on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Head coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said during the practice week that Barron would likely be worked into some packages against Arizona, and that was clearly the case in the desert. Fisher said after the game that Barron played a little more than anticipated, in part due to Lamarcus Joyner leaving the game with an injury. But Barron had a clear impact when he was on the field — whether in coverage or rushing the passer.

“He did — the sacks, the pressure, the contact,” Fisher said on Monday. “The first completion in the zone coverage was a huge hit.”

“I knew I’d be playing some, I wasn’t sure how much,” Barron said after the game. “I was only in on the same packages, but I got a little bit more than I thought I would.”

According to the press box statistics, Barron finished the day with five tackles — two for loss — a sack, and two quarterback hits.

“I’m a football player,” Barron said. “You put me out there, I’m going to go out there and play ball. I’ve just got to get more acclimated to the system, and hope the games will keep progressing.”

Williams praised the safety last week for putting in “coaching hours” in order to be prepared to get out on the field as soon as possible. Barron said that he is getting hold of the language the Rams use, and is feeling more comfortable on the field.

“I’m going to do as much as I can to get everything I need down because I want to be able to help this team,” Barron said. “If I’ve got to put in extra time, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Fisher noted on Monday how the 6-foot-2, 213 pound safety has an imposing stature on the field. The head coach pointed out a specific play on Sunday that illustrates how Barron uses his size to his advantage.

“There was a screen pass, and the guard was out in space, and he took the guard on,” Fisher said. “Most DBs would be tumbling or go low. He took the guard on high bounced off and got an assist. He’s a physical player.”

As Barron spends more time with the Rams — he was only traded to the organization two weeks ago today — Fisher said the amount of defensive packages he’s involved in will increase. And with the amount of work Barron has put in to go along with his performance, that spells good news for the St. Louis defense.