Really like this interview. Shows a great deal of intelligence and realism. While a great many players talk better than reality, Burnett is all about the reality of the challenges of coming together as a defense and learning where each player is and how they react during pressure situations. He doesn't mess around but takes this job seriously. You just can't help but respect a player like this. I like this player a great deal from what I've seen of him at SD and think he'll be a very good acquisition. http://thefinsiders.com/blog/2011/kevin-burnett-1-on-1-8911
And the Dallas to Miami pipeline continues through SD. High character guy who fits the physical dimensions. More of a coverage guy but a playmaker all the same. Like the signing and like the way he plays the game
Liked how he wasn't a cheerleader and mentioned you have to see in a game , no re do , no coaching up , react , flow , communicate. He could have easily slid into the cliche answers , but he was very matter of fact , very business like. Seems very focused and with his athleticism , the dline should provide him with the opportunities to keep making big impact plays . Dansby and Burnett will be free to make game changing plays imo.
That really is a great point about the quality of the D-line. This is arguably (assuming everyone - most especially Soliai - stays healthy) the best potential D-line since the early 80's. And, if they do their job Burnett could be even better than he was at SD. If he is just as good as he was there we have an upgrade.
thought the same thing when I saw it..I liked that he wasn't gonna crown the defense when asked the question as to how good they can be...Stats show that crowder made this defense better, but Iam very interested to see what a different skillset can do there..3 down linebacker, player that can cover and snuff the flat, player that can change direction in the blood zone, a player that can hit with some impact while still being a fine tackler.
He's great on Twitter too, @KevinBurnett47. Already interacting with fans and seems really excited to be here.
This may sound dumb, but I'm glad Burnett's first move after the interview was to go onto twitter and offer to follow everyone who followed him, he "gets" how to build support. As for his game, I liked him last yr, and was surprised he went to SD on a 1 yr, show me deal. I have to wonder if we kept Crowder last season because the Tuna wanted an ILB ala Gary Reasons/Pepper Johnson who was a pure run stuffer as this move to me is really the first "big" FA signing that is all on Jeff Ireland.
I'm glad you noticed that as well Frayser, in the "modern" NFL players, especially starters, who interact with the fans build fan enthusiasm and support for the team especially if they are interesting personalities, this is one area where Cloak and Dagger/Parcells stuff does not pay off any longer.
He was in SD for 2 seasons. Do you remember who put the hit on Penny in 2009 that dislocated his shoulder and put him out for the year? It was #99 Burnett. [video=youtube;LzaFnK9HMrQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzaFnK9HMrQ[/video]
I like what he has to offer. I want to see how that translates onto the field during the regular season. Very good interview though.
Good interview, he seems like a very grounded person. I know he was only on the field for 2 series last night, but I don't remember seeing him do anything.
I think that was a good DL but it was not a "hold up the whole season" DL - They became soft late in the year several years. It just could not hold up. This is a much deeper unit and has the potential to be stronger. Of course it's a comparison of a 3-4 versus a 4-3. So it's difficult to really compare a DL in that respect as you have OLB's that are often working as DE's - a 3-4 sometimes becomes, ostensibly, a 5-2. But, I definitely think an argument could be made that this DL could 'potentially' be the best DL since the early 80's.