Meriweather: A Little Noticed Play

[italia44]

I thought Brandon had a terrific game today.......always in the right position....he's become the leader of the secondary.He made a play in the first half that stuck with me all day.

Little notice was taken of this,but on Turners short run for Atlanta's only TD,there are 2 blockers opening the hole...............both went low.Out of nowhere,Meriweather submarines both OL, going full tilt.
He wasn't trying to make the tackle as the RB hadn't picked the hole,yet,but fearlessly gave himself up and they almost stopped the runner.

Watch the replay.He reminded me of Troy Polumalu(sic)........very,very instinctive and impressive.

 

[mayoclinic]

I thought Brandon had a terrific game today.......always in the right position....he's become the leader of the secondary.He made a play in the first half that stuck with me all day.

Little notice was taken of this,but on Turners short run for Atlanta's only TD,there are 2 blockers opening the hole...............both went low.Out of nowhere,Meriweather submarines both OL, going full tilt.
He wasn't trying to make the tackle as the RB hadn't picked the hole,yet,but fearlessly gave himself up and they almost stopped the runner.

Watch the replay.He reminded me of Troy Polumalu(sic)........very,very instinctive and impressive.

I've recently called Meriweather the leader of the secondary and a possible pro bowl caliber safety, and been mocked for it. Nice to hear I'm not alone in that delusion. Troy Polamalu is one of my favorite non-Pats players, so I love hearing his name mentioned in any comparison.

 

[letekro]

Saw it. Down by the goalline right? The secondary overall was awesome today.

 

[italia44]

Saw it. Down by the goalline right? The secondary overall was awesome today.

yea,this 3 safety alignment shows a lot of promise.Not much YAC,today............good tackling.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I've recently called Meriweather the leader of the secondary and a possible pro bowl caliber safety, and been mocked for it. Nice to hear I'm not alone in that delusion. Troy Polamalu is one of my favorite non-Pats players, so I love hearing his name mentioned in any comparison.

i agree he is a great S and if it was not for Troy Polamalu and ed reed playing in the AFC he would have been a all pro last year

 

[Lockdown06]

Saw the play and thought the same thing - this guy is making the leap this year. Through 3 games i think he already has 18 tackles - not bad for a safety.

The other thing I've noticed, although this could simply be due to scheme and not meriweather, but teams do not seem to be throwing deep near him - the only time i've seen him anywhere near a long gain was the jets game where he missed a tackle on the cotchery play - other than that teams seem to be avoiding # 31 as much as possible

 

[blackglass3]

I've recently called Meriweather the leader of the secondary and a possible pro bowl caliber safety, and been mocked for it. Nice to hear I'm not alone in that delusion. Troy Polamalu is one of my favorite non-Pats players, so I love hearing his name mentioned in any comparison.

Shhhhhh...he's a busted pick because the Patriots can't draft. He can't tackle, cover, or hit hard. You're slurping down Kool Aid.

/end Chicken Little rant

 

[Kontradiction]

I think it's pretty OBVIOUS that he's the leader of the secondary now. If anyone can't see that, they might want to go get their eyes checked because I do believe that they are legally blind. The kid isn't afraid to hit. Hell, he's the Hit Stick. I can't wait until Chung matures and we see those two in the same defensive backfield. Sanders is doing just fine now though...

 

[italia44]

Saw the play and thought the same thing - this guy is making the leap this year. Through 3 games i think he already has 18 tackles - not bad for a safety.

The other thing I've noticed, although this could simply be due to scheme and not meriweather, but teams do not seem to be throwing deep near him - the only time i've seen him anywhere near a long gain was the jets game where he missed a tackle on the cotchery play - other than that teams seem to be avoiding # 31 as much as possible

just to be fair.............I've looked at that Cotchery play a few times.........Wilhite,instead of tackling,gives Cotchery a girly,hip-check(this is the reason,I think he was inactive today).Meriweather seemed to be surprised at Wilhite's poor effort and was late,diving for the receiver.I really believe he hesitated and that's why I don't blame him.

 

[CheerforTom]

Not only is he an obvious leader of the secondary, but the guy really knows how to work the crowd. This might sound stupid, but when they'd play loud music while the Falcons were in the huddle Meriweather would dance and wave his arms, it was REALLY getting people fired up. I feel like he singlehandedly made the place twice as loud as it would have been. He's really starting to get that swagger that a great safety has.

I was proud to buy and wear his jersey today.

 

[mayoclinic]

Shhhhhh...he's a busted pick because the Patriots can't draft. He can't tackle, cover, or hit hard. You're slurping down Kool Aid.

/end Chicken Little rant

Sorry, I forgot. My bad. You forgot to add, he's the most overrated player on the Pats, and the worst safety to come out of the U this decade.

 

[patsox23]

if it was not for Troy Polamalu and ed reed playing in the AFC he would have been a all pro last year

People, people, come on. I like Meriweather a lot - I was going to say, "as much as anyone," but clearly that's not true - but to say he "should've been all pro," if not for Polamalu and Reed? Get a grip. He had a decent season last year, definitely improved, became a bit of a leader, and had two big plays at the end of the year. Bob Sanders says hi. So does Kerry Rhodes. And probably some others.

Meriweather's doing a really good job, he's improving at a steady rate. Don't go all "jet fan" on us now. That makes us all look silly.

 

[ALP]

i would like to see some evidence of this where long balls dont go his way...

only b/c at some point today i started thinking that our secondary as good as its been playing, still doesnt have an interception....

however, i have seen meriweather play that troy polomalu role real well....and i thought he was a FS

 

[JackBauer]

People, people, come on. I like Meriweather a lot - I was going to say, "as much as anyone," but clearly that's not true - but to say he "should've been all pro," if not for Polamalu and Reed? Get a grip. He had a decent season last year, definitely improved, became a bit of a leader, and had two big plays at the end of the year. Bob Sanders says hi. So does Kerry Rhodes. And probably some others.

Meriweather's doing a really good job, he's improving at a steady rate. Don't go all "jet fan" on us now. That makes us all look silly.

Bob Sanders played six games last season

That said, Polamalu and Reed are the only safeties in the AFC I'd take over Meriweather.

 

[italia44]

People, people, come on. I like Meriweather a lot - I was going to say, "as much as anyone," but clearly that's not true - but to say he "should've been all pro," if not for Polamalu and Reed? Get a grip. He had a decent season last year, definitely improved, became a bit of a leader, and had two big plays at the end of the year. Bob Sanders says hi. So does Kerry Rhodes. And probably some others.

Meriweather's doing a really good job, he's improving at a steady rate. Don't go all "jet fan" on us now. That makes us all look silly.

not people..............one person......he exaggerated and is wrong...........get over it and try to stay on topic.

 

[mayoclinic]

People, people, come on. I like Meriweather a lot - I was going to say, "as much as anyone," but clearly that's not true - but to say he "should've been all pro," if not for Polamalu and Reed? Get a grip. He had a decent season last year, definitely improved, became a bit of a leader, and had two big plays at the end of the year. Bob Sanders says hi. So does Kerry Rhodes. And probably some others.

Meriweather's doing a really good job, he's improving at a steady rate. Don't go all "jet fan" on us now. That makes us all look silly.

I've tried to pick my words carefully. I've said that I see Meriweather as the leader of the secondary and possibly a pro bowl caliber safety. I think that's reasonable.

Was Meriweather a pro bowl caliber afety last year? No way. But he made tremendous strides, and looks to be improving this year.

Will he ever be as good as Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed? Probably not, but for me those are the 2 best safeties since Ronnie Lott. Bob Sanders is fabulous at times but is too frequently injured and isn't great against the pass.

I agree that Meriweather can probably be about as good as anyone other than Polamalu and Reed. I tend to set the bar at Michael Griffin, who was taken 5 picks before Meriweather in 2007 and who a pro bowler alternate last year in place of Ed Reed.

Ty Warren's never been voted to a pro bowl, but he's been a pro bowl caliber 3-4 DE for us for several years now. Meriweather may not make many pro bowls behind Reed and Polamalu. But I think he's capable of playing at a consistent pro bowl level, sooner rather than later.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I love the kid.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The Pats game plan yesterday was simple, cover Tony Gonzalez and do not let him catch anything (he had 1 catch). I watched both of the Falcons previous games and he made every third down and big catch. Meriweather was obviously part of the "blanket" coverage scheme that they used on Gonzalez. Ryan was forced to look away from Gonzalez because he always had at least two guys on him. So the reason that you did not see much of Meriweather was because he did his job, prefectly.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Great topic. Merri and some yet to be noticed others are slowly giving this year's D its persona. Bodden continues to be a hit stick. And the game experience for Guyton will provide benefit as the season continues.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

I thought Brandon had a terrific game today.......always in the right position....he's become the leader of the secondary.He made a play in the first half that stuck with me all day.

Little notice was taken of this,but on Turners short run for Atlanta's only TD,there are 2 blockers opening the hole...............both went low.Out of nowhere,Meriweather submarines both OL, going full tilt.
He wasn't trying to make the tackle as the RB hadn't picked the hole,yet,but fearlessly gave himself up and they almost stopped the runner.

Watch the replay.He reminded me of Troy Polumalu(sic)........very,very instinctive and impressive.

I loved Merriweather on that play, too. If Guyton and Alexander hadn't gotten trapped inside, they would have had Turner for a loss. Looked like a bad play by Guyton letting the guard get outside leverage on him.