Brandon's tackle on 3rd and 15

[ALP]

OK, so i like meriweather a lot...and i think hell become a very good safety

hes improving nicely, but i would like it if his hits became more jarring

saying that, i was wondering what u base his inability to stop the TE on on weathers part...

is it he is soft hitter (as compared to his position) or his inexperience?

i think BM should have hit keller up high, but that is a low % play, and not a very good tackle in the open field, so usually, going for the waist is the smart thing, so that the TE doesnt break the tackle, but in that case, since the 1st down marker was that close, he should have hit high, and hope keller fell back

 

[Mack Herron]

He only weighs 200 pounds. Not gonna push too many tight ends backwards. It's physics man. He needed to hit him a couple of yards earlier.

 

[Patslifer]

OK, so i like meriweather a lot...and i think hell become a very good safety

hes improving nicely, but i would like it if his hits became more jarring

saying that, i was wondering what u base his inability to stop the TE on on weathers part...

is it he is soft hitter (as compared to his position) or his inexperience?

i think BM should have hit keller up high, but that is a low % play, and not a very good tackle in the open field, so usually, going for the waist is the smart thing, so that the TE doesnt break the tackle, but in that case, since the 1st down marker was that close, he should have hit high, and hope keller fell back

A 200 pound man is not going to overpower a 240 lb man when they meet square. Keller is not only big, he is powerful and athletic. Hitting Keller high would have been about the worst thing Meri could do. Even hitting Keller in the waist was not going to slow him much when he was running full speed. it's not like Meri was dragged 4 yards after the hit, he hit him and Keller went down about a yard after the impact, the problem was the blown coverage by one of the lb's, and Meri giving to large of a cushion. Also, there was no pressure on the qb, and farve had a clean throw.

 

[Rocky]

The play was a huge play, but the problem was not Meriweather. The problem was letting the TE run free for 14 yards and getting no pressure on Favre. Meriweather made the tackle, but you can't expect him to hold back a TE from not falling forward when he already had a head of steam. Just back coverage. I'm not sure who to blame. Maybe the defensive call.

 

[Remix 6]

soft hitter? he's laid people out..even Keller on 1 play he knocked him off his feet.

its hard to hit drill someone hard when your not running full speed and give up 50 pounds

 

[pats60]

Only Watson goes down on first hit

 

[slash83]

Only Watson goes down on first hit

or fumbles...

 

[Schmo]

Does anyone know how much Rodney weighed coming into the NFL? I know he weighs 220 now. Possible Meriweather will fill out a little bit?

 

[stinkypete]

Meriweather hits just fine. For a 200 lb-er, he's a beast. The problem right now is that he's taking bad angles to the ball. Most of Meriweather's hits seem to come from the side rather than head on. When you have to jump a yard to the left or a yard to the right, you are going to miss some tackles. Meriweather needs to learn to put himself in better position and to take better angles on the ball.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I'm not sure who to blame. Maybe the defensive call.

BB said someone blew their assignment and missed their zone leaving a zone wide open for Keller to run to. He didnt say who the player was.

 

[crowell33]

I love Meriweather. He flips his hips well in coverage, mirrors receivers, has good change of direction and even has improved his ball skills dramatically. He's like having a third cornerback out there, but I don't think he'll ever become an average hitter for a safety.

 

[slash83]

I love Meriweather. He flips his hips well in coverage, mirrors receivers, has good change of direction and even has improved his ball skills dramatically. He's like having a third cornerback out there, but I don't think he'll ever become an average hitter for a safety.

The Meriweather ive watched on tv lays people out.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

The Meriweather ive watched on tv lays people out.

I agree, I think the consensus around the league is thats he's a big hitter.

 

[maverick4]

BB said someone blew their assignment and missed their zone leaving a zone wide open for Keller to run to. He didnt say who the player was.

Vrabel just let Keller run right by him, looking for the sack.

 

[nepatz11]

THe problem with that play was that Merriweather wanted his hit to be more jarring too. He lead shoulder first and tried to wallop Keller instead of form tackling, slowing his progress, pushing him back and waiting for his teammates to help gang tackle. Merriweather is becoming a fine coverage safety and he had been playing at a pro bowl level but he had an awful game on Thursday and he should have stopped Keller is he had tackled the right way.

 

[Patslifer]

Does anyone know how much Rodney weighed coming into the NFL? I know he weighs 220 now. Possible Meriweather will fill out a little bit?

Lots of people weigh 220 lbs, but not many can lay the lumber. Hitting hard has more to do with explosion and technique, than sheer size. Of course size plays a roll, but explosion is the deal breaker. Meri needs to work on his strength, and he will get better.

HEAVY Squats+cleans+jerks+deadlifts and the kettleball = heavy hits. It takes time.

 

[fumbrunner]

There musthave been a miscommunication on d on this play. Vrabel rushed and Mayo dropped back and to the right. The combination of the two caused a huge gap for Keller to run into. I'm not sure if Merriweather was supposed to step up into that gap, but it looks like a collective fail by the players playing D on that side of the formation, moreso than a poor hit by Merriweather.

YouTube - New York Jets vs. New England Patriots Highlights

 

[Schmo]

Lots of people weigh 220 lbs, but not many can lay the lumber. Hitting hard has more to do with explosion and technique, than sheer size. Of course size plays a roll, but explosion is the deal breaker. Meri needs to work on his strength, and he will get better.

HEAVY Squats+cleans+jerks+deadlifts and the kettleball = heavy hits. It takes time.

These things don't increase size?... I wasn't saying 20lbs of fat will help someone hit better.

He will keep progressing with his technique, but like many people have said about, oh, say Crable as one example, a little extra meat would benefit him (especially if he is going to stay at SS).

As for my original question about Harrison, I seem to remember him being quite a bit skinnier when he came into the league. Not saying Meriweather is going to become the same type of player that Rodney became, but I was just wondering what Rodney's physical changes were like over the course of his career.

 

[PatsfanGlo]

Merriweather has progressed nicely IMO. Considering his side, he is no way SS but coverage safety. I was very pleased to see that I see him around the ball more this year but he isn't equipped to lay serious blow to TEs. While watching Jets game, I found myself constantly wishing it was Rodney tackling Keller, not Merriweather because believe me, Rodney would have put that guy on IR with that many pass up the middle. Only thing I was glad was that Merriweather at least was first guy who tried to tackle him(even if unsucessful).

 

[ALP]

exactly, meri is an FS, more int he mold of an ed reed then a rodney...

and his strenghts come in speed and playmaking, not jarring hits...

we need an SS that can cover te's and can hit like rodney.....a sean taylor type of player