Barwin Named Defensive Player Of the Month

Connor Barwin was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.

Barwin racked up 6.5 sacks last month, including 3.5 against the Panthers on November 10. He also had three passes defensed and a forced fumble in that stretch. The five-year vet is second in the NFL with 12.5 sacks, which is a career high.

He is actually rushing the passer slightly less on average than last season (24 times per game compared to 27 per game in 2013), per Pro Football Focus, but is having a much bigger year statistically.

The biggest difference?

“I think the second year in the system, along with the second year rushing next to guys that now he’s familiar with.  He’s running stunts in games,” said Billy Davis of Barwin, who had five sacks last year. “We do a lot of that.  Really they got a feel for each other now.  They know who they’re rushing with, what the guy’s strengths and weaknesses, what they do well.  The timing of the games makes a difference, so I think Connor has just got a second year in the system and second year with his teammates.”

The Eagles have 42 sacks on the season compared to 37 in all of 2013.

Barwin is the first Eagle to win defensive player of the month since Brian Dawkins in December of 2009.