Asante4prez

What does everyone see Merriweather's role being this season?

I wasn't a big fan of the pick at first but, he did have a respectable career at UM (despite the FIU brawl). Behlichick seems to like to play young secondary right away but maybe that is due mostly to the annual injuries that hit our DB's and safeties each year. Hobbs has turned into quite an athletic cb and with some more time, I think Gay could be decent as well. I see the Pats moving Eugene to Safety, but eventually, if he shows talent, moving Merriweather to that spot...

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LloydBraun

Albert Breer mentioned on WEEI yesterday that Merriweather can play some corner, and that he is very good there.

The versatility of this D must have BB drooling.

danny88

He has a lot more talent then respectable. Aside from the overhyped FIU thing the kid would have went a lot sooner in the first round.

PatsWickedPissah

Word up is that he's a good kicker too.

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Mack Herron

He will have a hard time jumping in to this secondary. Harrison and Wilson are the safeties, Hobbs and either Gay/Scott start on the outside. I think BB will look for various ways to get Merriweather's athleticism on the field, and that best case is he could start the season as the slot corner. Once he gains experience in pro coverage, he would be a candidate for CB if they are not satisfied with personnel there. He has versatitlity to play CB as well as FS.

BelichickFan

I'd say : a big one somewhere. Every #1 pick has had a big role (not necessarily starting) since Belichick got here - other than Watson who looked like he had a big role before getting hurt Week 1.

Whether it's as a CB with Samuel holding out, Safety in place of Wilson or a slot CB in the many nickel situations we'll face, or some combination thereof, he'll be on the field a lot.

One spot he should help a lot is the slot role against the Anthony Gonzalez' of the world (and we now have Adalius Thomas who can cover Dallas Clark, thank God).

Oswlek

I'm pretty sure the plan is to convert him to a TE.

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stinkypete

Ideally, Marriweather is our #5 defensive back. He should play the nickel, and be the primary backup at corner plus both safety positions.

Should Samuel hold out, I think Scott will start for the first month or two, with Meriweather working into more reps as the season progresses.

dhamz

After he missed minicamp with it, hopefully his role won't be nursing his hamstring all season Chad Jackson style.

patchick

Meriweather certainly has strong coverage skills, but there's a reason he entered the draft as a S rather than a CB. That's where you put a DB with outstanding football skills, instincts and intelligence, but nothing special in the way of measurables. (For perspective, even undrafted Randall Gay tested significantly faster, quicker and hoppier.)

Meriweather's speed is called "game speed," otherwise known as "he reads and reacts well and puts himself in the right position to be around the play so you don't notice his athletic limitations." Which is generally a compliment, but you have to put him in the right situation to succeed. I think Meriweather has LOTS of promise as a safety but I wouldn't be thrilled to seem him at CB in a base defense.