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Connor Barwin: 'I Feel More Explosive' In This System

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's no secret Chip Kelly likes to go fast.

Last season under Kelly, the Eagles finished with the second most plays ran from scrimmage at just about 69 per game. The year prior, the Eagles averaged over 70 player per game, tops in the NFL. Needless to say, it took a toll on the defense.

Although it's only early June, veteran pass rusher Connor Barwin admitted he feels a bit better in Doug Pederson's slower system than in Kelly's.

"Honestly, whatever system I'm in, I'm a guy that's gonna buy in and I believe in the system we're in when we're doing it," Barwin told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Wednesday. "And we had a lot of success at times in that, but I will say that this year -- just in the offseason, the way we're practicing -- I feel like every rep means a little bit more because you're not getting as much. And I feel more explosive, I feel like I'm getting more out of them, and I feel faster than I have in the past."

Listen: Connor Barwin on the 94WIP Morning Show

 

Defensively, the Eagles are switching from a 3-4 system under Billy Davis to a 4-3 led by their new defensive coordinator, the animated Jim Schwartz.

"The defense, obviously, is a little bit different for me," Barwin said. "The media, you guys kinda sometimes make it a bigger deal than it is -- moving from a 3-4 to a 4-3. So there's been that position change for me. The way we run our meetings and our practice and the daily schedule is a little bit different than Chip's. But all in all, honestly, it's not that much different.

"This defense fits any defensive lineman's game better, especially if you're somebody who likes to rush the passer. For me, and I've said this in interviews before, in a 3-4 you drop in coverage a little bit more on first and second downs. In this defense I don't. And for me that means I'm doing less of what I don't like to do, which is drop in coverage, and doing more of what I do like to do, which is rushing the passer."

Barwin joined the 94WIP Morning Show fresh off of his third annual benefit concert. Barwin's Make The World Better (mtwb) foundation raised over $200,000 last week for another major park renovation project in Philadelphia, this one at Waterloo Playground. Over the past three years, Barwin and his foundation have raised $685,000 for park renovations in Philly through the annual benefit concert.

 

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