Griffin, Nelson or Merriweather?

[midwestpatsfan]

If you think the Patriots may go safety with 24 or 28, who do you like best?

For me, the order would be
1. Nelson- Can play either FS or SS. Hits like a truck, has decent speed, can come up and help in run support. Has good hands and seems to make plays at a high level of competition.

2. Merriweather- I think he posseses many of the same qualities as Nelson but has had some issues off the field that makes me put him at number 2 instead of 1.

3. Griffin- Has really good size and decent speed but do not think he has the versitility as the other two. I have seen him avoid contact from time to time and don't see him as an in the box type of safety. Coverage is his best skill.

 

[ayjackson]

Nelson for me - without the benefit of interviews.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Depends if Meriweather is allowed to bring his gun on the field...

 

[patchick]

IMO, Landry and Nelson are a cut above the others. Meriweather scares me, and I don't think Griffin is quite worth the 1st. The 2nd-tier group at S is impressively crowded. Gattis, Weddle, Piscitelli, Wendling, Johnson...there are a lot of solid Pats-style safeties this year. Somebody should be a bargain.

 

[SamBamsFan]

IMO, Landry and Nelson are a cut above the others. Meriweather scares me, and I don't think Griffin is quite worth the 1st. The 2nd-tier group at S is impressively crowded. Gattis, Weddle, Piscitelli, Wendling, Johnson...there are a lot of solid Pats-style safeties this year. Somebody should be a bargain.

I totally agree w/ Patchick on this. Meriweather is off my radar. To borrow dryheats method from another spread I see it like this:
Landry
-gap
Nelson
-gap
Griffin
-gap
Then, in no particular order, Weddle, Gattis, Wendling, Johnson & Rouse

 

[cstjohn17]

IMO, Landry and Nelson are a cut above the others. Meriweather scares me, and I don't think Griffin is quite worth the 1st. The 2nd-tier group at S is impressively crowded. Gattis, Weddle, Piscitelli, Wendling, Johnson...there are a lot of solid Pats-style safeties this year. Somebody should be a bargain.

Well put, Griffin is the type of player that creates the "rub"... maybe not good enough for #28 and will be gone at #60... I must have 100 players that fit this profile.

The second tier becomes about value, is 60 too high for Gattis or Sabby? will they be there at 92? at this point most of them become inter-changable with similar strengths and warts.

 

[BelichickFan]

Nelson but I don't think he'll be there. He's also . . . small. Like Merriweather. Griffin isn't much bigger. I just worry about Safeties who are small as it's a physical position - right, Eugene Wilson ?

Griffin is a kick ass special teams player, though, which is obviously attractive to Belichick.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Landry is a beast. I think he secured his spot from 8-12. Nelson will go around 15. I think it boils down to taking a cb at 24 or best lb if one slips. But I don't see Griffin going at 24, maybe 28. Meriweather is going in the 2nd round if anything.

Dameon Hughes left the first round and will go to the low 2nd/3rd. Marcus Mcauughly might be intriguing at 28.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Landry is a beast. I think he secured his spot from 8-12. Nelson will go around 15. I think it boils down to taking a cb at 24 or best lb if one slips. But I don't see Griffin going at 24, maybe 28. Meriweather is going in the 2nd round if anything.

Dameon Hughes left the first round and will go to the low 2nd/3rd. Marcus Mcauughly might be intriguing at 28.

McCauley you might be able to get in the 3rd round. He has top 15/ top 20 athletesism, but after a strong Junior year, he got crushed this year. In the Senior Bowl he looked like he had lost all confidence. I could see him being converted to safety somewhere down the line.

 

[carolinatony]

I would pass on Meriweather. He has too much of the "U" attitude and everything that goes with it.

 

[Seneschal2]

If you think the Patriots may go safety with 24 or 28, who do you like best?

For me, the order would be
1. Nelson- Can play either FS or SS. Hits like a truck, has decent speed, can come up and help in run support. Has good hands and seems to make plays at a high level of competition.

I have to disagree. He's better than your description. :singing:

2. Merriweather- I think he posseses many of the same qualities as Nelson but has had some issues off the field that makes me put him at number 2 instead of 1.

Just make it easier on yourself, eliminate him from the Pats board completely -- I have. :bricks:

 

[everlong]

Landry is Sean Taylor with better coverage skills and a good attitude.

Nelson has Ed Reed potential as his upside. His down side is Mike Doss.

I think Griffin has less upside than Nelson but is less likely to be a bust as well and Merriweather has talent but I cannot see BB taking him in the first two rounds with the character questions.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

McCauley you might be able to get in the 3rd round. He has top 15/ top 20 athletesism, but after a strong Junior year, he got crushed this year. In the Senior Bowl he looked like he had lost all confidence. I could see him being converted to safety somewhere down the line.

McCauley is at least a 2nd rounder with his 40 time.

 

[SamBamsFan]

McCauley is at least a 2nd rounder with his 40 time.

I doubt it. $5 to Miguels charity says it ain't so.

 

[shirtsleeve]

Not on your life! He's mean and nasty, but cares a lot! He's a Rodney at FS in the making! Just needs to funnel that anger into at least 100k in fines every year!

 

[dryheat44]

Dameon Hughes left the first round and will go to the low 2nd/3rd. Marcus Mcauughly might be intriguing at 28.

And at that point, Hughes becomes a very attractive pick.

 

[patchick]

I haven't seen this discussed, but Meriweather's combine performance was LOUSY! For a guy who's supposed to be a spectacular enough athlete to make you overlook his character concerns...yikes. Here are his numbers, with some of my favorite less-heralded safety prospects for comparison. (A number in parentheses means the player didn't break the top 10.)


...............Meriweather..Gattis..Wendling..Piscitelli
4O.............4.47.........>4.46...4.48......4.47
Shuttle........4.33.........4.27....4.16......3.90
Cone...........7.06.........6.72....6.96......6.84
Vertical.......(<36)........(<35)...38.5......(<36)
Broad.Jump.....(<10-0)......10-1....10-9......10-2
Bench..........11...........22......22........19.


Can we officially drop the whole idea of Brandon Meriweather at this point? Those are abysmal numbers for a DB...heck, Adam Carriker smoked him in the shuttle and cone!

 

[BelichickFan]

You're right about Merrieweather.

For reference, also, Griffin had a 4.1 Shuttle and 6.6 Cone.

 

[cstjohn17]

Nice work, I thought everything was ok to average until I saw the bench press. 11? Placekickers do more than 11, very low number for a Safety.

He is off my board now.

I haven't seen this discussed, but Meriweather's combine performance was LOUSY! For a guy who's supposed to be a spectacular enough athlete to make you overlook his character concerns...yikes. Here are his numbers, with some of my favorite less-heralded safety prospects for comparison. (A number in parentheses means the player didn't break the top 10.)


...............Meriweather..Gattis..Wendling..Piscitelli
4O.............4.47.........>4.46...4.48......4.47
Shuttle........4.33.........4.27....4.16......3.90
Cone...........7.06.........6.72....6.96......6.84
Vertical.......(<36)........(<35)...38.5......(<36)
Broad.Jump.....(<10-0)......10-1....10-9......10-2
Bench..........11...........22......22........19.


Can we officially drop the whole idea of Brandon Meriweather at this point? Those are abysmal numbers for a DB...heck, Adam Carriker smoked him in the shuttle and cone!

 

[Seneschal2]

I haven't seen this discussed, but Meriweather's combine performance was LOUSY! For a guy who's supposed to be a spectacular enough athlete to make you overlook his character concerns...yikes.

See, that's the problem. Why would we even want to overlook his character? Pats first round picks are unlikely to have any character concerns (no matter how slight). If we want to take a chance on someone, reserve day two for those risky prospects.

For me at least, I prefer to remain true to the well-documented definition of a BB-type player -- especially in round one. And considering the quality depth at the Safety position in this draft, let's not act so desparate in wanting someone who's made news at the Senior Bowl, when other prospects have consistently impressed since high school while having zero character concerns throughout.

Can we officially drop the whole idea of Brandon Meriweather at this point?

Who?