28 replies to this topic

[MClem06]

I just watched an old school video of Merriman when he was terrorizing QB's in San Diego and he was playing OLB on every one of the plays getting to the QB.   Why do we have him at DE when he's obviously a situational pass Rusher at OLB?   Why do Wanny and Chan feel he is a DE? Isn't it crazy to think that part of his problem of getting back to his old form is due to us making him put a hand to the ground on every play he's in?  

This past game i had the opporunity to rewatch all 7 snaps he was in and on the first snap he took in particular he had come off the ball so fast and got a hurry on the QB that the tackle gaurding him looked stupid.  On the other seven plays he had trouble winning the hand battles with the tackle and I'm no DC but it makes sense to me that his role in SD was to get around the tackle not hand battle with him.   I would love to see him switch him to a 3rd down LB not an every down DE.   I think we'd get much more out of him this way.

[Phlegm Alley]

Didn't SD play a 3-4 when he was there?

[cmjoyce113]

Merriman is a 4-3 DE and a 3-4 OLB. He's a much better fit in the 3-4, but hopefully can provide something to our awful defense.

[NoSaint]

He's never played 43 olb, so I'm not sure how it became his natural position.

[BuffaloFan68]

Wanny is so clueless there is no reasoning with the decisions that we makes. The Bills D will continue to suck at epic levels until Dave is fired.

[timba]

MClem06, on 25 October 2012 - 08:22 AM, said:

I just watched an old school video of Merriman when he was terrorizing QB's in San Diego and he was playing OLB on every one of the plays getting to the QB.   Why do we have him at DE when he's obviously a situational pass Rusher at OLB?   Why do Wanny and Chan feel he is a DE? Isn't it crazy to think that part of his problem of getting back to his old form is due to us making him put a hand to the ground on every play he's in?  

This past game i had the opporunity to rewatch all 7 snaps he was in and on the first snap he took in particular he had come off the ball so fast and got a hurry on the QB that the tackle gaurding him looked stupid.  On the other seven plays he had trouble winning the hand battles with the tackle and I'm no DC but it makes sense to me that his role in SD was to get around the tackle not hand battle with him.   I would love to see him switch him to a 3rd down LB not an every down DE.   I think we'd get much more out of him this way.

The responsibilities of a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 OLB are not the same. A 3-4 OLB most closely translates to a 4-3 DE. This is exactly what happened with Mario on the Texans. He was a 4-3 DE up until last year when Wade Philips implemented a 3-4 D, which he played as an OLB.

[mjt328]

His natural position is as an edge rusher.

In the 3-4 (what San Diego used to run), that would be OLB.
In the 4-3 (what we run), that would be DE.

There are certainly differences in the two schemes and not everyone is equipped to switch from one to the other.  3-4 OLBs usually rush from a standing position.  4-3 DEs usually rush with a hand on the ground.

If Merriman was to play OLB in the 4-3, he would be doing less rushing the passer (actually none in Wannstedt's system) and doing more run support and pass coverage.  That would definitely be a bad idea.

[7boogiewoogie]

It's more of a stretch to move to DE in a 4-3 than it is moving an OLB who traditionally played in a 3-4 defense to OLB on a 4-3 (most NFL defensive players are schooled in hybrid defenses so switching from 4-3 to 3-4 and vice versa is not asking the impossible).  I say at least try it because our linebacking core is the drizzlin' shits.  I've seen more tackling ability playing backyard football.  However I wouldn't mind seeing Merriman given more opportunities rotating with Kelsay at DE because I saw a lot of push when he was in there albeit in a limited capacity.  I think he just needs more of an opportunity post surgery and if someone wants to argue that the Bills cut him for a reason, are you going to tell me that this club has been a good judge of talent?  Also I would ABSOLUTELY bench Mario (even tho that would never happen with this organization because there is no accountability)  and replace him with Kyle Moore on the other side. We'll see how this whole surgery deal plays out tho.

[kickedface]

he would line up on the line often standing, much like clay matthews does in GB. he was and is primarily a pass rusher. using him at a lb would be pointless as he would just be pass rushing. kirk morrison however should be playing lb. merriman just needs to make a couple of plays

[BrooklynBills]

He is an edge rusher and size-wise he is the same size to many DEs around the league.  He played the Leo position/DE in college which is a combination standup DE.  This is the same position that Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin are making famous in Seattle.  It isn't clear how they are intending to use him, but he was standing up some in the game on Sunday.

[JaxBills]

Against the Titans, he played a lot standing, but still was the fourth rusher.

[Captain Hindsight]

mjt328, on 25 October 2012 - 08:38 AM, said:

His natural position is as an edge rusher.

In the 3-4 (what San Diego used to run), that would be OLB.
In the 4-3 (what we run), that would be DE.

There are certainly differences in the two schemes and not everyone is equipped to switch from one to the other.  3-4 OLBs usually rush from a standing position.  4-3 DEs usually rush with a hand on the ground.

If Merriman was to play OLB in the 4-3, he would be doing less rushing the passer (actually none in Wannstedt's system) and doing more run support and pass coverage.  That would definitely be a bad idea.

This^

[Mr. WEO]

MClem06, on 25 October 2012 - 08:22 AM, said:

I just watched an old school video of Merriman when he was terrorizing QB's in San Diego

Unfortunately, his "natural position" back then was at the business end of a syringe filled with anabolic steroids.  Alas, his roid rage is gone and he's left like many of them--injury prone and washed up too early.  a shame.

[Rubes]

It's déjà vu all over again...

[Just in Atlanta]

He's a situational quarterback killer. Don't understand why it matters if he plays on the line or five yards behind it, because he's not a coverage guy.

[jboyst62]

didn't we have a lot of this kind of talk the last year?  We cut the guy. Sign him. Now it starts all over.

However. Why not use him in a 4-2 roll making him a monster or dobwhat the Jets can't so with Maybin

[Best Player Available]

jboyst62, on 25 October 2012 - 10:50 AM, said:

didn't we have a lot of this kind of talk the last year?  We cut the guy. Sign him. Now it starts all over.

However. Why not use him in a 4-2 roll making him a monster or dobwhat the Jets can't so with Maybin

So in the end the question is: Make him a dobwhat or a monster?

[Zulu Cthulhu]

Derp...haven't we covered the answer in depth several times regarding Merriman and others?

It's why every year around draft time you hear about all those "hybrid" OLB/DEs. Come on man.

[Rubes]

Best Player Available, on 25 October 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

So in the end the question is: Make him a dobwhat or a monster?

Awesome

[jboyst62]

Best Player Available, on 25 October 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

So in the end the question is: Make him a dobwhat or a monster?

If I was coaching and I evaluated my players overall. I would find no reason to keep my best players on the field. If that is Merriman on ST or even TE. I would find a way to use what I have.

In my opinion, based on what I know. He is a better OLB 3-4 then a DE 4-3 at this point.  I would be very tempted to run a 3-3 or 4-4 with Merriman on certain situations. I can break those down if anyone wants.