Brandon Meriweather should be starting

[JDSal45]

He and Ellis Hobbs have been the best defensive backs, by far, on the Pats defense this year. James Sanders, after a solid year last year, hasn't done much so far this year. Meriweather, playing mostly in nickle and dime situations, has made several plays and good pass breakups. He has been solid in tackling with maybe one or two youth mistakes. He leads the team in interceptions. He has clearly been steadily improving since midseason last year.

So why isn't he starting over James Sanders? Sanders is a solid guy and may move back into the starting job next year if Rodney moves on, but Meriweather is far more talented, fast and has more ability to turn into a playmaker.

I, for one, hopes Meriweather becomes a full-time player starting next week and Sanders becomes the third safety.

J D Sal

 

[blackglass3]

Yes to everything you said.

But, while he's not officially "starting", he is always in the game. Him and Sanders are playing the traditional safety roles, while Rodney is doing more of a SS/LB hybrid thing these days.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Yes, I'm with you guys. Sanders has been fairly invisible for a looooong time. Meriweather has been coming on - slowly, too slowly for me. In certain situations I wish BB would let some young guys go run around without f'ing with their minds so much. Meriweather and Maroney come to mind the most. BB has a proven system that is hard to argue with, but don't you feel like once in a while the team would benefit by just letting a particular guy play? He's going screw up plenty but on the other hand it won't take 3 years to find himself again either. Hobbs went the play now route and turned out OK; and I think we could have been seeing more of Meriweather's natural attacking mentality before now.

 

[pats1]

He pretty much is starting. Rodney has been doing a lot more closer to the line and in the slot. Sanders and Meriweather are usually deep.

 

[wdkantro2]

He pretty much is starting. Rodney has been doing a lot more closer to the line and in the slot. Sanders and Meriweather are usually deep.

Correct. I always check to see if Meriweather is on the field and I am 99% sure he was on the field for the first defensive play of the game.

 

[DarrylS]

See more and more of him, his ballhawking is becoming more and more evident.. would like to see a lot less of Deltha O'Neal chasing WR's though.

 

[Sivy]

Isnt he hurt?

 

[billdog3484]

Sanders doesn't come off as a very good player. I'd understand if he were quiet, then made a big play or two each game, but he never makes a big play. However, I thought that Merriweather played almost the whole game this week, and Sanders was out of the game. Maybe I was wrong

 

[JDSal45]

Correct. I always check to see if Meriweather is on the field and I am 99% sure he was on the field for the first defensive play of the game.

Meriweather did start last game as the Pats started in a nickle defense. But he only played in 34 of 59 plays. The game before it was 41 of 50. So, yeah, he is playing alot.

J D Sal

 

[Seymour93]

Isnt he hurt?

I think he just got the wind knocked out of him against the Chargers. He was back in the game later on.

 

[Krugman]

No way,if they do that they will be burned by several long completions in a game......oh yeah,maybe he could be a starter....

 

[Kontradiction]

I think he just got the wind knocked out of him against the Chargers. He was back in the game later on.

Even though he got hurt, I loved that play. It's been a while since I've seen one of our DBs go THAT all out for a ball before. Meriweather is going to be something special on this team.

 

[JSn]

Even though he got hurt, I loved that play. It's been a while since I've seen one of our DBs go THAT all out for a ball before. Meriweather is going to be something special on this team.

Why are we not sticking with the 3-4 and moving Meriweather up to #2? He's made more plays than our other two safeties this year (though the odd bone-headed play too).

I agree, we should be starting him. I think we'll see the speed package again this week and Vrabes playing O-Line, hehe.

 

[N0vice33]

Meriweather is the greatest saftey to play the game.

 

[woolster22]

doesn't surprise me one bit he is leading the team in picks. He took a 100 passes a day this off season as a result of having that sb pass fall through his hands. Haven't seen him drop one yet, and he did come down with one that he probably should not have. I never really thought all that much about sanders, but maybe thats why i watch games on tv instead of from the sidelines. Hobbs is probablythe best corner on the team right now, not that its saying much. Sorta like saying your the smartest person in the special olympics...

Still, the finger pointing goes to the d-line/linebackers for not getting a in Rivers face, then it goes to hobbs oneal and co for forgetting that nobody should EVER get behind you. Then again, what did we expect, oneal was let go by the Cincy Bungals, not exactly a good d there. Maybe its contagious?

 

[amhunt2]

He and Ellis Hobbs have been the best defensive backs, by far, on the Pats defense this year. James Sanders, after a solid year last year, hasn't done much so far this year. Meriweather, playing mostly in nickle and dime situations, has made several plays and good pass breakups. He has been solid in tackling with maybe one or two youth mistakes. He leads the team in interceptions. He has clearly been steadily improving since midseason last year.

So why isn't he starting over James Sanders? Sanders is a solid guy and may move back into the starting job next year if Rodney moves on, but Meriweather is far more talented, fast and has more ability to turn into a playmaker.

I, for one, hopes Meriweather becomes a full-time player starting next week and Sanders becomes the third safety.

J D Sal

but he still gets burned like the rest of 'em and has made two plays. down near the bottom of the team in tackles as well...but considering who is starting (duane starks on the left side...) you have a valid point

 

[Lockdown06]

but he still gets burned like the rest of 'em and has made two plays. down near the bottom of the team in tackles as well...but considering who is starting (duane starks on the left side...) you have a valid point

I realize he doesn't have that many tackles, but it's not like he's a middle linebacker or something - He shouldn't have that many tackles - we play him as the deep safety most of the time (I've seen him blitz the quarterback a couple times, but its really rare) As such, if he was racking up lots of tackles it would mean that the rest of our D couldn't stop anyone.

 

[AzPatsFan]

He and Ellis Hobbs have been the best defensive backs, by far, on the Pats defense this year. James Sanders, after a solid year last year, hasn't done much so far this year. Meriweather, playing mostly in nickle and dime situations, has made several plays and good pass breakups. He has been solid in tackling with maybe one or two youth mistakes. He leads the team in interceptions. He has clearly been steadily improving since midseason last year.

So why isn't he starting over James Sanders? Sanders is a solid guy and may move back into the starting job next year if Rodney moves on, but Meriweather is far more talented, fast and has more ability to turn into a playmaker.

I, for one, hopes Meriweather becomes a full-time player starting next week and Sanders becomes the third safety.

J D Sal

No I would move Sanders to his proper position (At SS). And then I'd start Meriwether at FS. You can change the terminology to BB speak if you wish. For SS read LS and for FS read RS.

Rodney has had his run. But the King is Dead! Long Live the (new) King!

 

[AzPatsFan]

Yes to everything you said.

But, while he's not officially "starting", he is always in the game. Him and Sanders are playing the traditional safety roles, while Rodney is doing more of a SS/LB hybrid thing these days.

Good diagnosis, that is the only way Rodney can contribute these days.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I've seen Meriweather in there quite often. So I think he's being utilized. The question is do we draft another safety next year too or focus on corner? Man, pairing Weddle with Meriweather would have been nasty.