Meriweather v. O'Neal

[37Harrison]

After 12 weeks have passed this season and the way our defense has looked lately, I decided to see how good 'ol Asante was doing in Philly and what if any improvement he would be over O'Neal.

I expected to see some significant differences but there was only one. Now I know I am comparing stats only and Asante would probably be an upgrade over O'Neal in our defense but this is how things have played out so...

Samuel has played and started in all 11 games. O'Neal has played in all 11 but started 9.

Samuel has 27 tackles total, 24 solo. O'Neal has 25 tackles total, 24 solo.

Samuel has 3 interceptions for 14 yards, O'Neal has 3 interceptions for 49 yards.

Here is the big difference... Samuel has 22 passes defensed, O'Neal has 8.

Maybe this is where Asante is missed most? Maybe some of these 3rd and longs aren't completed, rather batted away? Everything else is comparable taking into consideration that both guys are in a new defense this year. I do know that the Philly D gets more pressure on the QB and I'm sure that plays into it as well but other than that...

I have been mildly impressed with the play of the secondary. Who would've thought in the beginning of this year Meriweather would have more INT's (4) than Asante (3)? I don't think the main weakness of our D is the secondary rather the front 7. Without pressure guys will get open in the secondary and the QB's are able to just play pitch and catch with his WR's, and TE's without the threat of being smacked into the ground.

 

[cblesz]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

I have been mildly impressed with the play of the secondary. Who would've thought in the beginning of this year Meriweather would have more INT's (4) than Asante (3)? I don't think the main weakness of our D is the secondary rather the front 7. Without pressure guys will get open in the secondary and the QB's are able to just play pitch and catch with his WR's, and TE's without the threat of being smacked into the ground.

Really? You have been mildly impressed? Yikes. In my opinion, the secondary has stunk up the joint.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Really? You have been mildly impressed? Yikes. In my opinion, the secondary has stunk up the joint.

Every secondary in the NFL will stink up the joint when the pass rush fails consistently.

 

[maverick4]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

The problem is we can't play bump and run, corners are too small.
Bumping receivers helps our pash rush and screws up the QB's timing leading to more int's.

 

[CheerforTom]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Every secondary in the NFL will stink up the joint when the pass rush fails consistently.

Come on. The pass rush can't be expected to put huge pressure on the quarterback EVERY PLAY. You have to draw the line somewhere. The secondary was atrocious yesterday without the front seven bailing them out like in the second half of the Jets game.

 

[CheerforTom]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

The problem is we can't play bump and run, corners are too small.
Bumping receivers helps our pash rush and screws up the QB's timing leading to more int's.

Agreed 100%

Instead you see our guys giving massive cushions because they get bullied off the ball if they play press coverage

 

[emoney_33]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Agreed 100%

Instead you see our guys giving massive cushions because they get bullied off the ball if they play press coverage

Or because the pass rush is so inconsistent that the risk of a huge play is not worth the benefit of playing tight coverage.

Or the zone the CB is covering requires him to line up further off the line.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Come on. The pass rush can't be expected to put huge pressure on the quarterback EVERY PLAY. You have to draw the line somewhere. The secondary was atrocious yesterday without the front seven bailing them out like in the second half of the Jets game.

Ok fine, well we also have a lot of youth/inexperience/injuries in our defensive backfield and defense in general (LBs misplay their zones - part of pass defense).

 

[scout]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Merriweather is turning into a nice first round selection. He's a hard hitter who is getting is getting good at picks. Haven't seen any Merriweather is a bust threads lately. Not sold on O'Neal, would like to go early in the next draft for a corner. Samuel's was not worth the $$$.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Merriweather is turning into a nice first round selection. He's a hard hitter who is getting is getting good at picks. Haven't seen any Merriweather is a bust threads lately. Not sold on O'Neal, would like to go early in the next draft for a corner. Samuel's was not worth the $$$.

Wheatley looked to be improving nicely up until he got injured. Hopefully he'll stand out next year.

 

[scout]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Wheatley looked to be improving nicely up until he got injured. Hopefully he'll stand out next year.

Forgot about him, I really liked him. Then again, aren't you leary of a guy who's broken both his wrists?

 

[CheerforTom]

Re: Meriweather v O'Neal

Wheatley looked to be improving nicely up until he got injured. Hopefully he'll stand out next year.

Definitely agree

Or because the pass rush is so inconsistent that the risk of a huge play is not worth the benefit of playing tight coverage.

Or the zone the CB is covering requires him to line up further off the line.

Put it this way: if the coaches are deliberately planning these things, they need to seriously rethink their strategy. A huge play? The Dolphins marched down the field yesterday at will. Drives took 2 minutes to get a touchdown. I saw an awful lot of huge plays AS A RESULT of the huge cushions.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Meriweather has been great on coverage this season. He's having his best year as a Patriot. Wheatley was having his best game as a pro until he hurt his wrist. I hope it's not career threatening, as he's had wrist problems in college.

Jury is out on Willhite. Following Meriweather's young career, has taught me patience.

 

[ALP]

meri may be the next ed reed out of miami....

but well wait on that...

on corners, we have a prob...these guys play way too off, and give up the deep ball way too much...

our pass defense sucks, and we do need more pressure

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

meri may be the next ed reed out of miami....

but well wait on that...

on corners, we have a prob...these guys play way too off, and give up the deep ball way too much...

our pass defense sucks, and we do need more pressure

IMO, the staff is maximizing coverage and playing off WRs to prevent the big play. Hobbs and O'Neal are awful and the staff knows this. I call it the "Duane Starks Syndrome".

 

[Deus Irae]

The Patriots area of weakness against the pass is not the outside, it's the interior of the field. Guyton and Mayo are both rookies, and they get beaten as rookies do. Meriweather and Sanders are learning to play together without Harrison. This has been highlighted with Thomas on the shelf, since the team doesn't have his versatility to help out the rookies.

Do people not see the completions to tight ends, and other players, right in the middle of the field?

 

[ALP]

The Patriots area of weakness against the pass is not the outside, it's the interior of the field. Guyton and Mayo are both rookies, and they get beaten as rookies do. Meriweather and Sanders are learning to play together without Harrison. This has been highlighted with Thomas on the shelf, since the team doesn't have his versatility to help out the rookies.

Do people not see the completions to tight ends, and other players, right in the middle of the field?

we do, but we also see the deep balls to the outside or to wr's with 5 yd cushins

 

[woolster22]

we do, but we also see the deep balls to the outside or to wr's with 5 yd cushins

I remember one play in particular last night where Deltha gave the wr in question a 5 yd cushion all the way down the field on a deep sideline comeback...how is this good technique? I could understand a cushion, but 5 ALL the way up the field on top of the 10+ presnap? How does he/coaches(?) suppose he is going to defend anything playing that way?

Do agree Merriweather seems to be coming along well this year, lets hope that continues...

 

[Deus Irae]

we do, but we also see the deep balls to the outside or to wr's with 5 yd cushins

1.) The "5 yd cushion" has been a staple of this team since Belichick got here. It's won 3 Super Bowls and gotten the team to 5 AFCCGs.

2.) The deep balls to the outside argument is, at least partly, a product of the problems in the middle. How often does Hobbs, for example, get help on those deep balls? Compare what you see there with what you see on other teams. When opponents go long to the outside against the Patriots, it's as if New England doesn't have safeties.

Meriweather is 24 years old and has 6 starts in his NFL career. Mayo is 22 years old and has 11 starts in the NFL. Guyton is 23 years old and has never started a game. That trio, along with the grizzled 25 year old veteran Sanders, is what is patrolling the middle of the defense on passing downs. It's going to take all season for them to figure out what they are doing and to begin to mesh. Hell, it's going to take them longer than that. The question is going to be whether or not they can at least develop enough to hold up their end.


When people start realizing this, and accepting the natural consequences, blood pressure test results will be lower and there will be less panic among the fanbase.

 

[BRiZ]

Meriweather will be the leader of this defense soon and for the future. He is the next Ronnie Lott.