National Football League

Notebook: Barr drawing high praise from coaches

Published Oct. 10, 2014 5:15 p.m. ET

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- As soon as Anthony Barr's name was called out during the NFL Draft and the UCLA linebacker was headed to the Minnesota Vikings, draft analysts immediately began to wonder about the fit.

Barr was known as a 3-4 linebacker, best in using his elite speed to pass rush from the edge. Minnesota and coach Mike Zimmer employ a 4-3 defense and Barr's responsibilities would be varied in the Vikings' system.

Zimmer knew just what he wanted. Few are questioning Barr's fit now and the rookie is drawing high praise from coaches just five games into his NFL career.

"I think he'll continue to progress more and more the more comfortable he feels in the system and we'll continue to find more things for him to do," Zimmer said this week. "I think that as some point in time I expect him to be one of the better, better linebackers in this league. I don't know when that will be, but I expect it to be sometime."

Barr is second on the team with 29 tackles this season and tied for the team lead with two sacks. He's added two tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a pass deflection. Through five games, he's been as adept at dropping back in coverage as he has rushing the quarterback.

"He's progressing, I think, as we expected him to," Zimmer said. "He's doing well. He's a good kid. He's still learning so much about the position he's playing right now. I like him because he's not only a good athlete, he's physical and fast, powerful, but he's very conscientious and wants to be very good at his job. "

Barr, 22, was the fourth defensive player selected in this year's draft and the second linebacker taken when Minnesota nabbed him with the No. 9 overall pick. The athleticism stood out to everyone.

At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Barr ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine. But Barr's time on defense in college was spent mostly as a pass-rusher as an outside linebacker where he was able to use his speed to get around linemen.

Zimmer immediately started to ask more from Barr. Barr's been used as a defensive end with his hand in the ground, something he rarely did at UCLA, and he's covered backs and tight ends, as well.

Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards has spent 17 years in the NFL and has been a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator since 1998. Edwards agreed with Zimmer's belief Barr could become one of the league's best linebackers.

"He has as much potential to do that, especially coming out here with the production that he's had as a rookie," Edwards said. "He's ahead of the curve. And with his professionalism, to be able to have that at such a young age, pay attention to details, being able to do it on the practice field, do it in the game."

Edwards later added: "He's as good of a rookie as I've had in the past at the linebacker position."

Perhaps the most surprising aspect has been Barr's instincts, despite having switched to defense in his final two years at UCLA.

"Now all of the sudden he comes to the NFL, it's his third year of playing linebacker, I'm really impressed with the production and the things that he's able to accomplish at the position," Edwards said. "He gets the most out of his ability every day. That's what we try to get everybody to do.

"He comes out and pays attention to the detail. He can pick up things that we are trying to get accomplished. He's a good match in coverage. He's a good pass rusher . . . To wear as many hats as he does as a rookie, from that aspect of it, yeah, I'm pretty impressed with him."

Smith likely in, Greenway's status up in the air: Safety Harrison Smith (ankle) was limited in Friday's practice for the second straight day and is listed as questionable for Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions.

"It's getting better every day," Smith said. "Today was the best I felt. I was kind of fatigued from yesterday when I was going because it was kind of my first time out there, but today I felt like I could do more. So same thing, now I don't have to practice, but I think it'll just get better tomorrow and get better by Sunday."

Linebacker Chad Greenway returned to the practice for the first time since he last played on Sept. 21 against the New Orleans Saints. Greenway has missed two straight games with broken ribs and a broken hand.

"We will see how it goes, how he is tomorrow," Zimmer said.

Greenway is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. Zimmer said the team will probably make a decision on Greenway on Saturday.

"It probably wouldn't be a full-time role," Zimmer said if Greenway was able to play. "It would probably be a situation thing."

Asked if he's optimistic about playing, Greenway replied, "I'm always optimistic."

Greenway had worked with a medicine ball during conditioning drills Thursday.

"The pain is in the breathing, the lungs," Greenway said of the workout. "Just that I hadn't done anything or pushed myself for a couple weeks. It's been feeling really good and better and better and better every day. I feel good."

Tight end Kyle Rudolph is out for Sunday's game as he continues to recover from double sports hernia surgery.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (ankle), wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (hip), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (elbow), running backs Matt Asiata (groin) and Jerick McKinnon (ankle), and linebacker Michael Mauti (foot) are listed as probably after practicing in full Friday.

Detroit listed tight end Joseph Fauria (ankle) and linebacker Travis Lewis (quadriceps) as out for Sunday.

Lions receiver Calvin Johnson (ankle) is doubtful. Running back Reggie Bush (ankle) is questionable. Johnson and Bush aren't expected to play after not practicing all week.

Exum fined: Vikings rookie safety Antone Exum was fined $22,050 for an illegal blindside block in last week's game against the Green Bay Packers.

Exum was called for the penalty while coming downfield to block for punt returner Marcus Sherels in the second quarter of the game. Exum lowered his shoulder and hit Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush in the head/shoulder area.

Follow Brian Hall on Twitter

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