The New York Giants didn’t go to the top of the market to fill out their defensive line rotation. Their moves suggest that they aren’t depending on defensive tackles to be disruptors themselves. The good news there is that if they aren’t hunting rare athletic traits, the Giants don’t need to spend premium resources. That opens the door for them to get the play they’re looking for from players who don’t have sought-after traits.
Enter Wisconsin defensive tackle Ben Barten. Barten has started every game for the Badgers over the last two seasons, but hasn’t been particularly productive. He has just 46 total tackles over that span, with 2.5 for a loss and one sack (both of which came last year). He does, however, know how to knock the ball down with eight passes defensed the last three years.
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Barten is a big-bodied defensive tackle who was listed by Wisconsin at 330 pounds and showed up to his Pro Day at 316 pounds. He was listed at 323 by ESPN, and that’s likely about what his actual playing weight is and should be.
Barten has the physical and athletic profile of a nose tackle, with solid height and weight for the position, though his arms are undeniably short at 31⅝ inches — which also shows up on tape. He is slow over any kind of distance, and his 5.41-second 40-yard dash is definitely reflected when he has to try and chase down ball carriers in the backfield. However, Barten has “big man ups” with a 32½ inch vertical, which is about 3 inches higher than the average for all defensive tackles (and therefore also includes athletic 3-techniques or 5-techniques). That lower-body explosiveness also shows up on tape, as Barten has a pretty explosive first step for a big nose tackle.
He also brings plenty of upper-body strength, boasting 33 reps on the bench press at Wisconsin’s pro day. He has active hands on tape, trying to control blockers as well as torque and shed them to make plays against
Barten typically played the nose tackle for the Badgers, usually lining up as a 1-technique in either the left or right A-gap. He has enough burst to penetrate his gap when attacking into the backfield, though he lacks the follow-up speed to gain ground with his 2nd or 3rd steps. Instead, Barten better served the defense by taking on guard-center double teams and occupying blockers for his teammates.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, Barten doesn’t offer much pass rush on his own. Wisconsin typically took him off the field on obvious passing downs, preferring to use more athletic players to create 5-man pressure looks and execute stunts to confuse protections.
Barten will need to work on playing with consistent leverage if he wants a chance to carve out a spot in the Giants’ defensive tackle rotation. He has a solid anchor and plenty of strength to stymie double-teams, or even push the pocket, however his height and short arms tend to lead to him lunging into blockers and playing with high pads. Even individual blockers can move him off the ball when his pads rise.
(Barten is the Wisconsin nose tackle wearing number 68, without sleeves or elbow sleeves.)
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He does show some impressive competitive toughness and hustle in pursuit. As mentioned above, Barten won’t be running many people down from behind, but that doesn’t stop him from trying. He’s willing to chase ball carriers across the field and through the echo of the whistle. Coaches will love the hustle, and he has a chance to make some noise if he applies the same mentality to workouts and practices this summer.
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