Meriweather and the Return of the Swagger

[QB12]

I've made my strong feelings in defense of Meriweather known in the 'fine' thread, but to build on what Vince Wilfork said, that the team 'woke up' after the hit . . . I remember the days in 2005 (after Rodney went down in Pittsburgh) when Asante complained publicly that 'no one fears going across the middle' anymore.

Meriweather's hit has brought back the swagger that was missing under the Dean Pees/Darius Butler/James Sanders days. Does anyone really want to go back to those 'soft as Charmin' days?

We're undefeated since Arrington replaced Butler at CB. He plays much tougher than the 'soft' but very talented Darius Butler.

Let this thing play out. What do you think the Chargers WR meeting room is thinking when Norv Turner installs slants and in-cuts into this week's game?

 

[The Dynasty]

You can still be physical and have opposing WRs/TEs be afraid to go over the middle without delivering dirty hits like Meriweather did. He clearly led with his face mask. All of Harrisons hits, although some were late, he never really led with his head. I still thing Meriweather is a thug, and needs an attitude change. Rookies and first year players are playing more than he is, he cant really back up his swagger ways. I like our secondary being more physical, but I dont like hits that lead with the helmet, those can definitely be prevented

 

[SVN]

You can still be physical and have opposing WRs/TEs be afraid to go over the middle without delivering dirty hits like Meriweather did. He clearly led with his face mask. All of Harrisons hits, although some were late, he never really led with his head. I still thing Meriweather is a thug, and needs an attitude change. Rookies and first year players are playing more than he is, he cant really back up his swagger ways. I like our secondary being more physical, but I dont like hits that lead with the helmet, those can definitely be prevented

chung's hit on mason case in point...also maybe the hits take away the real problem from being discussed..good tackling..

 

[The Dynasty]

chung's hit on mason case in point...also maybe the hits take away the real problem from being discussed..good tackling..

Exactly the kind of hit that I like and want. Perfectly legal, and gets the message across

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Let's see...the head coach, someone who knows a bit about football disagrees with the tactics, benching Merry right after the hit. Only returned to the game because the backups got injured. Then Tedy Bruschi also has a different opinion, along with Rodney Harrison. I'm goin with those guys. Not because my **** is wicked small, but because they're thinking beings.

 

[tajapandu]

Exactly the kind of hit that I like and want. Perfectly legal, and gets the message across

Meriweather's hit on Boldin on the sideline was a great legal hit. Sure, they need to clean some things up but at least we're laying the wood again.

 

[Calciumee]

chung's hit on mason case in point...also maybe the hits take away the real problem from being discussed..good tackling..

That was a beast of a hit!

 

[Dutchmaster617]

I never want to see Sanders roaming around getting trucked.

 

[Haley]

Let's see...the head coach, someone who knows a bit about football disagrees with the tactics, benching Merry right after the hit. Only returned to the game because the backups got injured.

As Meriweather was pleading his case to BB on the sidelines you could clearly see BB say "Oh, come on!" along with an eyeroll.

The hit was outside of the rules. Times change, sports evolve, rules alter. You can pine for the good 'ol days all you want but it isn't the way the wind is blowing.

 

[TB=TD]

Get your Swag on get ya get ya swag on:rocker:

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

As Meriweather was pleading his case to BB on the sidelines you could clearly see BB say "Oh, come on!" along with an eyeroll.
The hit was outside of the rules. Times change, sports evolve, rules alter. You can pine for the good 'ol days all you want but it isn't the way the wind is blowing.

Yeah, great TV shot.

I don't like some of the rule changes such as the Polian rule which has nothing to do with safety but everything to do with opening up the game for high scoring pass oriented offenses, but rules appropriately focused on playe safety make sense. I don't want to see a Wes Welker paralyzed by some no-name thug trying to make a big hit and big media name for contract purposes.

 

[apple strudel]

Light 'em up, and do it legally. (We're talking about football and not medical marijuana, right?)

 

[blackglass3]

You can still be physical and have opposing WRs/TEs be afraid to go over the middle without delivering dirty hits like Meriweather did. He clearly led with his face mask. All of Harrisons hits, although some were late, he never really led with his head. I still thing Meriweather is a thug, and needs an attitude change. Rookies and first year players are playing more than he is, he cant really back up his swagger ways. I like our secondary being more physical, but I dont like hits that lead with the helmet, those can definitely be prevented

Um, no. I believe he is 4th on the team of defensive snaps played, behind Wilfork, Mayo, and Chung.

And he can back up his swagger just fine. See the Dolphins game, the Heap endzone hit, the hit on Ocho Cinco, the sideline hit on Boldin or Mason, ect ect.

This is what we drafted, guys. He was called "The Hit Stick" for a reason. He just needs to be consistent now. If he has a big game Sunday in SD, that will be 3 games in a row he's been great in, which will be the first time he's ever really put it all together. Maybe Belichick's benching at the beginning of the year woke him up. But he's played great football the last 2 games.

 

[blackglass3]

Light 'em up, and do it legally. (We're talking about football and not medical marijuana, right?)

Come November in Cali, we might be talking about both.

(I am just making a comment and don't want it to be viewed as political in any way)

 

[Mack Herron]

The hit reminded me immediately of Brian Cox hit against the Colts, which I'm sure some of you remember. Like it or not, intimidation is effective. Not that I am endorsing illegal hits.

 

[Haley]

I don't like some of the rule changes such as the Polian rule which has nothing to do with safety but everything to do with opening up the game for high scoring pass oriented offenses, but rules appropriately focused on playe safety make sense. I don't want to see a Wes Welker paralyzed by some no-name thug trying to make a big hit and big media name for contract purposes.

Yeah, agreed, but I don't get a lot of phone calls from the NFL execs asking for my input. Maybe they lost my number...

 

[Bella*chick]

I also seem to remember BB making his feelings known on the whole notion of "swagger" in a passage in Patriot Reign. And they weren't positive. "Swagger" is a concept I bet Rex Ryan values pretty highly though.

 

[WelshPat]

Meriweather with DAT SWAG

on DAT BENCH

 

[Defsoul]

If he could only break up a pass from time to time. I only see Meriweather come in late, launching into the receiver.

 

[apple strudel]

I also seem to remember BB making his feelings known on the whole notion of "swagger" in a passage in Patriot Reign. And they weren't positive. "Swagger" is a concept I bet Rex Ryan values pretty highly though.

Replace the word swagger with physical toughness and you'll have BBs love, blessing and respect, and probably be more in line with what the OP meant. The Pats never really had swagger in that sense under BB anyway, so it couldn't return. Just a poor word choice for the OP, probably because talking heads say it so much without actually thinking about it.