The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

I say we take him at nine play LB and DE and is as fast as he come plus he a MD product i really dont want a WR i feel like there all a dime a dozen


for more on Merriman http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft ... er?id=9068

hes the real deal hollyfeild

From the announcement at the top of this very page:

NFL Draft / College football - if it has ANYTHING to do with the nfl draft... put it here. let's take this one further and add that a lot of you just want to talk about a player so you use 'should the Redskins get him' as a reason to put it in Hog Wash. Well you know what... someone seems to think the Redskins should get just about everyone, so let's keep any speculatory threads in the Draft forum. The same goes for the:
Around the league forum - everyone wants to start threads on every available free agent and that's great... but let's put them in Around the League unless there's some REPORTED news of the Redskins actually being interested in the player... then it's welcome in the Hog Wash forum.

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11582

So... moving to the Draft forum.

Too early...Merriman at #9??????

What crak is the bignig smokin'?

I could see Merriman going in the late 1st round/early 2nd round. He falls into a different catagory in the NFL...he is a perfect 3-4 linebacker and not many teams are using the 3-4 although it is gaining popularity.

Sadly, I see Merriman going to the Cowboys since they are rebuilding their entire defense (which should make Redskin fans realize how fast you can go from 1st in defense to rebuilding mode).

I do not think Merriman will be successful in a traditional 4-3 defense...if so, he would be used at a situational rusher until his technique and size gets better.

I hear he's up to 270..so he's already good size for a 4-3 DE... Plus, he's really fast. He's only a JR too, he'll get bigger. If he truly is 270 now, he could be 280 in 2 years of NFL lifting. I agree, #9 is too high, but if we traded down to 15 or 17 and we got him there, I wouldn't be mad.

i couldnt have said it better fredp...i agree

If Merriman is there at #9 we should get him. He had a great combine and a lot of talk has him going in the top 10 picks since he is now over 270lbs and has a frame for 10-15 more pounds. I think the Vikings will take him at #7.

I read somewhere that Merriman works out in the offseason with Lavar and has good ties to the MD area

I'll pass at #9 - far too early for this guy. He's a first rounder though - but taking him at #9 overall doesn't make sense to me. He's a bit of an unknown, a young guy. Yep, he had a good combine and he's got plenty of talent. But hype matters in the draft rankings - as much as it shouldn't. Merriman hasn't rec'd his share of the hype - and the result will be a lower selection. Dude can play ball - no question.

I heard that Merriman and LaVar are good buddies. It would be a nice reunion.

Merriman plyed high school basketball with LaVar's brother. He got to know him, and LaVar took him under his wing. He's schooling him on the game (on and off the field) as well as s sort of big brother figure.

I think Merriman would be a nice addition. I've seen him play and he hits like a ton of bricks, he's a great pass rusher. He is 6'4" and 270 lbs and very fast. I would not be upset if we took him at #9.

This is what Scouts, Inc. has to say about Merriman.

Strengths: Possesses good lower body strength for size, plays with a mean streak and should be able to hold ground at the point of attack when lined up at linebacker. Shows great range, takes adequate pursuit angles and makes plays in pursuit. Is active, fights to get off blocks and has the athletic ability to make plays in space. Plays with a great motor and always seems to be around the ball at the end of the play. Breaks down, wraps up upon contact and is a reliable open field tackler. Explodes into hits and is capable of forcing the occasional fumble. Possesses an excellent first step, does an adequate job of anticipating the snap and flashes the ability to shoot the inside gap when rushing the passer from the defensive end position. Generally takes the shortest path to the quarterback and shows excellent closing speed. Has good leaping ability and is capable of tipping some passes at the line of scrimmage. While has been nicked up at times didn't miss any time at the collegiate level and is a tough player who will play with pain. Played defensive end as well as linebacker at the college level, is big enough to line up at end as a situational pass rusher and has good versatility.

Weaknesses: Is an upfield player who primarily rushed the passer while at Maryland and while has some experience dropping into coverage is still raw in that area. Takes some false steps, is overaggressive at times and is vulnerable to play action. Doesn't always use hands well, relies on quickness to slip blocks in the open field and has some problems making the play once an offensive lineman locks on. Lacks ideal size for an every-down defensive end, will need time to develop cover skills if moves to linebacker and probably won't make an immediate contribution on defense.

Overview: Merriman appeared in 14 games, starting one of them, in 2002. He appeared in 13 games, starting five of them, in 2003, and he became a fulltime starter for the first time in his collegiate career in 2004. Following a breakout 2004 season with 85 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, Merriman decided to forgo his senior season to enter the 2005 draft. Considering his lack of a defined position and that he didn't redshirt while at Maryland, Merriman probably would have benefited from playing one more year of college football. He isn't fundamentally sound at this point, and he will most likely make his biggest contributions on special teams during his rookie season. However, Merriman clearly has the talent to eventually make an impact as a fulltime starter at the next level. He shows great range when defending the run, he is an explosive pass rusher and he plays with good intensity. Merriman would be an excellent fit at outside linebacker for a team that primarily runs 3-4 fronts. He's a bit of a risk-reward prospect in that he still has a lot of developing to do, but Merriman has the physical tools and upside of a mid-to-late first-round draft pick.

I heard he had a very good proday. 40-4.6 Vertical 41.5 and almost bench 400 lbs.

I think this guy in a rotation with Courtney Brown, Renaldo Wynn, and Phillip Daniels would generate a hell of a pass rush a long with Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salevea in the middle.

Earlier in this thread...I said #9 was too high for Merriman. I've changed my mind...am I allowed to do that? He would be a very good addition to our defense.

I've seen him play in person a number of times, he has a serious motor that never stops. I think he could do what Suggs did for the Ravens a few years ago...right away he'd be a force. If he truly is 270 now he'll be bigger and stronger later...remember, he's only 21.

He has that defensive attitude, the edge that will make he a really good player. Not sure if there's any other defensive player on the board that brings the speed, size and attitude that he brings...

I'd even consider him if we get Courtney Brown.

So you guys don't think CB or a weapon for Ramsey is more important? Why is that?

My take -- a guy who can pressure the QB turns an average CB into a good CB. I remember the Giants years ago, with LT..their CBs were average or marginal at best. If we blocked LT (not real often but we did on occassion) Monk and Clark could burn those guys. Their front 7 was so tough, their back 4 was very average.

Maybe we get that CB Dyson, if he's cheap, or draft one in the 3rd round...but we need more pressure on the QB with our front 4.

A weapon for Ramsey would be very nice for sure...but who? Heath Miller? I could live with him too. I'm not totally convinced Mike Wms is the real deal -- I'm a bit nervous picking a WR early in the 1st.

Hog Heaven wrote:So you guys don't think CB or a weapon for Ramsey is more important? Why is that?

the two most important positions on the field are qb and de. which is why they are the two highest paid positions as well.

if your qb can manage the game well, and not turn the ball over, and your d can rush the passer and hurry the opposing qb without a blitz, you'll win a lot of games. look no further than what carolina did two years ago. i'll bet you couldn't even name both guys who started the season at corner for them. but i'll bet you know who julius peppers is.

i been wanting this team to get a good pass rusher for quite some time.(the last one we drafted of note was marco coleman)
i'd like to see sean taylor and rolle back together, but i would be just as pleased with a good de.

From the New York Post:

Maryland DE/LB Shawne Merriman - A great offseason has him almost definitely jumping into the Top 10. He's extremely versatile and a relentless, aggressive pass rusher who could land in Washington at No. 9.

Link here: http://www.nypost.com/sports/43284.htm

OK, this is pure speculation on their part. I've been calling for CB to be the pick at #9 up to now, but you have to wonder about the benefits of picking a natural pass rusher who can be inserted into the defensice rotation as and when Greg wants to. This defense seems like an ideal one to bring through a prospect that needs some polishing, but who can contribute to the pass rush straight away. We don't need an every down DE (and Merriman certainly isn't one at this point).

Like fredp45 says, good pass rush makes cornerbacks better. I've just tried to remember the names of the starting cornerbacks for the Bears and tha Giants in the 1980's, and I'll be darned if I can. I remember the names of their respective front 7's though.

Everyone seems to be saying that we don't need an every down DE, but a good pass rusher on obvious passing downs. Didn't we find a guy like that last year in Chris Clemons? If we were to pick a DE at #9, we need a guy that can stop the run and produce pressure every play so that GW isn't forced to blitz as heavily. When he didn't blitz last year the quarterback had TONS of time to throw the ball. Shawn Springs tied for the team lead in sacks last year with Cornelius Griffin at 6.

David Pollack

I like pollack, but wouldn't take him too early in the draft. He's a bit short for a very good pass rushing DE. They are normally taller, with long arms...

He is a good football player, and that's important too. He doesn't take plays off, that's for sure.

I hate to say it, but I don't think there is much help at DE to be found this year. We should draft where we have holes AND there is a stud player, like WR, TE, or CB... maybe we can find a DE for pass rushing downs in the later rounds. Also, don't forget Arrington is back. He's good for a sack or two

I got one thing to say...merriman has a 39 vertical...runs a 4.6,4.7, weighs 270+, and is multi talented( DE and Linebacker), sounds like a top 10 pick to me and most mocks have him going aroudn 13th, we can take this guy at 9 and id be happy

BurgundyandGoldfaith wrote:David Pollack

If we trade down!