Merriweather is Back

[riggofan]

So no Ryan Clark? Or still TBD?

Retweeted by Chris Russell
Dianna Marie Russini ‏@NBCdianna 5m

Brandon Meriweather has agreed to return to The Redskins for 1 year deal worth 1 million per source #NFLFreeAgency #redskins

[Deadskins]

Ryan Clark is still in negotiations with the team.

[emoses14]

Glad to see merriweather back and hopefully playing in the right position, strong safety.

[Irn-Bru]

Good signing. He's basically as good as any of the other options out there, with the exception of Ryan Clark. I had a lot of concerns about his health going into last year but anyone we sign at this point is going to be a roll of the dice. I like our odds with the known commodity — so long as he doesn't aim at people's heads this year.

[chiefhog44]

The middle of our defense is absolutely awful. We actually got worse if that's possible. Riley - Sharpton and Merryweather - ?. In fact the entire back end is bad. We have added Terry Porter to the back of defense so far. A defense that was in the bottom half of last year. I'm all for being patient because maybe we sign an unknown safety and he becomes something or draft the next hall of fame line backer, but this is pathetic. Don't look now, but Reed Doughty is coming back...

[The Hogster]

A better pass rush makes a better secondary. Merriweather wasn't the problem last year. Our corner & Free Safety play was horrendous. And, we got virtually no pressure on the QB. The addition of Hatcher rushing from the interior should open things up for the edge rushers. Less time/more pressure, equals hurried throws which usually result in more incompletions, shorter opponent drives, and more turnovers.


We still need a free safety, but to say we got worse is plain ridiculous. Fletcher is not the Fletcher of old. Can't say we got worse at MLB yet. Amerson/Hall is an upgrade over Wilson Hall. I'll withould overall judgment until we see what we have at FS. FA isn't over, and the Draft hasn't come yet.

[Deadskins]

The middle of our defense is absolutely awful. We actually got worse if that's possible. Riley - Sharpton and Merryweather - ?. In fact the entire back end is bad. We have added Terry Porter to the back of defense so far. A defense that was in the bottom half of last year. I'm all for being patient because maybe we sign an unknown safety and he becomes something or draft the next hall of fame line backer, but this is pathetic. Don't look now, but Reed Doughty is coming back...

Where does all this Riley hate come from? He led the team in tackles last season.

[emoses14]

Byproduct of a 3-13 team, where people put the actual and perceived blame and the feelings that it was more the defense's fault. That's a guess. With such a systemic breakdown all over the team I'm not sure how folks are able to pinpoint the problem on Riley.

[fredp45]

I agree Hogster...

If you have no pressure from your front 7, the best 4 DBs in the league won't look good. When the Giants had Lawrence Taylor, their back 4 was horrible. It didn't matter, the front 7 was all over the qb and the ball had to get thrown so quickly that the defense dominated.

While I loved Fletcher, I think he tailed off the past year or two. Sharpton, if healthy will be better than Fletch is now. Riley is Riley. If we sign Clark, our defense will be improved.

The price for safeties was out of control this year and that's a product of a couple things, the most important is, there are very few quality safeties in the draft. It's a loaded draft overall, but not deep in safety talent. Honestly, I wasn't that excited about the 4-5 guys who got big money this year in FA anyway.

I know, I'm a dreamer but I'm still holding out for Tanard. It is so ridiculous that a guy is denied reinstatment for recreational drugs, probably drugs legal in some states. If he was taking steriods, I'd understand completely.

If Tanard does come back he will be healthy, and hopefully in shape.

[SCSkinsFan]

R. Clark is still in play to return. I could live with Clark and Merriweather as our starting safeties until we are able to develop younger talent like P. Thomas or someone else.

[chiefhog44]

Nobody said Riley was a problem. No hate there either. I know cause I wrote it, so lets not put words in my mouth. I actually like Riley, but to say Sharpton in better than Fletcher is absolutely the most idiotic thing I have ever read. His play may have tailed off as of late (from a hall of famer), but his knowledge far made up for it and to say some backup in Texas is better, we'll see. If anything it's a wash. Riley is Riley and Merryweather is Merryweather who by the way has only played 13 1/2 games in two seasons for us). And the free safety is well, left to a 35 year old Clark (who just dissed the franchise again the other day for not signing him), a guy we drafted in the 4th round who is recovering from a Lisfranc injury or a draftee. Sorry but having a guy who got 11 sacks in a 4-3 last year who is 32 years old will not help a sagging middle. Outside maybe, but not through the middle where we're gonna get gashed by TE's. So if you think the middle of the defense is better than last year, sure, whatever. Agree to disagree.

I retract my statement about the entire back end. I will admit the corner situation is a bit better, but not where I would like to be ultimately. Need to develop. I do like Porter and Amerson is good.

[langleyparkjoe]

I like it.
Hope he stays healthy and he's a beast.

[PAPDOG67]

I would not get too excited if we signed Clark. He is one violent sneeze away from his career being over. He has more concussions than Merril Hodge did. Hopefully he changed his tackling technique in the off-season.

[riggofan]

Nobody said Riley was a problem. No hate there either. I know cause I wrote it, so lets not put words in my mouth. I actually like Riley, but to say Sharpton in better than Fletcher is absolutely the most idiotic thing I have ever read. His play may have tailed off as of late (from a hall of famer), but his knowledge far made up for it and to say some backup in Texas is better, we'll see. If anything it's a wash. Riley is Riley and Merryweather is Merryweather who by the way has only played 13 1/2 games in two seasons for us). And the free safety is well, left to a 35 year old Clark (who just dissed the franchise again the other day for not signing him), a guy we drafted in the 4th round who is recovering from a Lisfranc injury or a draftee. Sorry but having a guy who got 11 sacks in a 4-3 last year who is 32 years old will not help a sagging middle. Outside maybe, but not through the middle where we're gonna get gashed by TE's. So if you think the middle of the defense is better than last year, sure, whatever. Agree to disagree.

Fair points though I kind of disagree about Sharpton/Fletcher. As much as I liked London Fletcher, I'm sure you agree he didn't have a very good year last year. Sharpton only started 8 games filling in for Cushing last year and made 56 tackles. Fletcher started every game and made 63 tackles. I'm not saying he will be the HoF caliber player Fletcher was, but replacing the 38 year old linebacker with the 26 year old should be better than just a wash IMHO.

[riggofan]

R. Clark is still in play to return. I could live with Clark and Merriweather as our starting safeties until we are able to develop younger talent like P. Thomas or someone else.

This. Seems like a reasonable stop gap.

[Irn-Bru]

Byproduct of a 3-13 team, where people put the actual and perceived blame and the feelings that it was more the defense's fault. That's a guess. With such a systemic breakdown all over the team I'm not sure how folks are able to pinpoint the problem on Riley.

Yeah, our defense wasn't as bad as people thought last year. The problem was that we got off to a historically bad start, from which we recovered to mediocrity. Not saying we were good, but "absolutely awful" and the like doesn't really cover it.

I actually thought Riley was better than Fletcher last year, in terms of on-field play. Fletcher of course brought other qualities to the table and thus still leaves a big hole to fill. But in his final year he wasn't a top-15 LB, so in terms of on-field play it won't be too hard to find a replacement sometime in the next couple of years.

[SkinsJock]

I agree FFA - finding someone to play better than Fletcher did last season is not going to be hard ...
finding a player with Fletcher's leadership skills and his instincts for what the opposing team was doing will not be easy to do

[emoses14]

Byproduct of a 3-13 team, where people put the actual and perceived blame and the feelings that it was more the defense's fault. That's a guess. With such a systemic breakdown all over the team I'm not sure how folks are able to pinpoint the problem on Riley.

Yeah, our defense wasn't as bad as people thought last year. The problem was that we got off to a historically bad start, from which we recovered to mediocrity. Not saying we were good, but "absolutely awful" and the like doesn't really cover it.

I actually thought Riley was better than Fletcher last year, in terms of on-field play. Fletcher of course brought other qualities to the table and thus still leaves a big hole to fill. But in his final year he wasn't a top-15 LB, so in terms of on-field play it won't be too hard to find a replacement sometime in the next couple of years.

I definitely agree with you on Riley. I've mentioned before, but I think his play has improved every year. His resigning (after Orakpo's tagging-that-hopefully-turns-into-a-long-term-deal-before-July-15) has been my favorite free agency move. Replacing 2 middle linebackers is not a wise move when you're trying to make strides on defense. ESPECIALLY, since Haslett is considering turning orakpo and kerrigan loose, more than before.
Last year I was far more worried about Fletcher's ability to "get it done" than Riley's. Riley, Amerson, Griffin, Rambo's development (in that order) are what I am most looking forward to next year and the following year. I really think each of them is going to, by year's end (and moreso into the following year for Rambo), be showing night and day type improvement. I would add P. Thomas, but hard to gauge development of a guy who didn't play last year.

[riggofan]

I would add P. Thomas, but hard to gauge development of a guy who didn't play last year.

Nah you're 100% right about that one. I'm eager to see him back on the field, hopefully for off season workouts. And improvement/development for him will just be showing that he's recovered from surgery and ready to compete. That would be huge.

[The Hogster]

People have to look at the alternatives. Jarius Byrd got $50M. We have too many needs to have spent that kind of money on one. Mitchell chose the Steelers over the Skins. Nothing you can do there. People forget the term "FREE" in free agent. They sure as heck aren't Free, but they are FREE to turn us down and go somewhere else if they want.

Based on the market, Ryan Clark makes the most sense. We need a short term fix that can be an upgrade over what we currently have and possibly mentor the youth at the position (see Phillip Thomas & Bacarri Rambo).

It's not like we can sign Earl Thomas for $1M a year. So we have to deal with the reality of the situation. Ryan Clark is more than adequate. If he isn't signed. Well maybe they are looking to the draft.

[langleyparkjoe]

In other news... "While bending over the table to sign his new contract, Brandon Merriweather dislocates shoulder, breaks pinky, and gives himself a minor concussion. Still though, he was able to scribble his signature somewhere in between his accident."

-JoeNews.com-

[skinsfan#33]

People have to look at the alternatives. Jarius Byrd got $50M. We have too many needs to have spent that kind of money on one. Mitchell chose the Steelers over the Skins. Nothing you can do there. People forget the term "FREE" in free agent. They sure as heck aren't Free, but they are FREE to turn us down and go somewhere else if they want.

Based on the market, Ryan Clark makes the most sense. We need a short term fix that can be an upgrade over what we currently have and possibly mentor the youth at the position (see Phillip Thomas & Bacarri Rambo).

It's not like we can sign Earl Thomas for $1M a year. So we have to deal with the reality of the situation. Ryan Clark is more than adequate. If he isn't signed. Well maybe they are looking to the draft.

I like all of your points. To add to them, I think Ryan Clark adds a lot of that leadership that we will be missing from Fletcher. The more and more I think about Clark coming back the more sense it makes.

Now they should take the first FS in the draft that is rated on their board as being worthy of a pick in that round. Personally I'm hoping that Calvin Pryor is available when they are on the clock in the second or maybe Terrence Brooks in the third. I know it is too much to ask for that Clinton-Dix slips to us in the second.

[riggofan]

I like all of your points. To add to them, I think Ryan Clark adds a lot of that leadership that we will be missing from Fletcher. The more and more I think about Clark coming back the more sense it makes.

Now they should take the first FS in the draft that is rated on their board as being worthy of a pick in that round. Personally I'm hoping that Calvin Pryor is available when they are on the clock in the second or maybe Terrence Brooks in the third. I know it is too much to ask for that Clinton-Dix slips to us in the second.

Good points about Clark. I wasn't that excited about him, but I think he makes some sense in the short term.

Jimmie Ward, SS from Northern Illinois seems to be a popular option for the Skins in a lot of mock drafts right now. Its supposedly not a deep draft at safety, so you're probably right about Clinton-Dix and maybe even Pryor not being there in the 2d.

[skinsfan#33]

I like all of your points. To add to them, I think Ryan Clark adds a lot of that leadership that we will be missing from Fletcher. The more and more I think about Clark coming back the more sense it makes.

Now they should take the first FS in the draft that is rated on their board as being worthy of a pick in that round. Personally I'm hoping that Calvin Pryor is available when they are on the clock in the second or maybe Terrence Brooks in the third. I know it is too much to ask for that Clinton-Dix slips to us in the second.

Good points about Clark. I wasn't that excited about him, but I think he makes some sense in the short term.

Jimmie Ward, SS from Northern Illinois seems to be a popular option for the Skins in a lot of mock drafts right now. Its supposedly not a deep draft at safety, so you're probably right about Clinton-Dix and maybe even Pryor not being there in the 2d.

I'm not against taking a SS, but we have more pressing needs. We have guys that can play at SS, but we have no one that could start on any other team at FS or be a back up at FS for most teams.

Some might say the same thing about RT, OG, ILB (the spot next to Riley) or at SS. I would disagree with all of them, but they are still areas of needs improvement, not areas of need due to the fact that we have NO NFL CALIBER FS on or roster.

Adding Clark would now put FS to the top of that first group. Needs improvement, not needs a capable starter.

[SkinsJock]

adding Clark would be a plus but to intimate that we don't have a bunch of real issues to address is not correct at all

these guys will win more than 3 games this season easily - that's only part of the battle here

to have a consistently competitive product on the field will take time - these guys are acting with patience and not trying to just add anyone they can, like we used to

there is a plan to make this franchise better but we need a lot of new young players - in our secondary, on the O line and on the front 7 defensively

AND

adding those players is only the first step - then we need to give them time to develop and get used to playing together as a team

P A T I E N C E - it's part of being a Redskins fan