How Ready is Meriweather as a Starter?

[mgteich]

Personally, I think that Meriweather has a fine future with the team.

However, I don't think that the future is now. As of now, I would rather Andrews start or Mitchell. I certainly would prefer Gay starting to any of the three, if Wilson is not available.

It has been said that if Meriweather weren't a first rounder, he might have been cut. I think that this is harsh criticism for a rookie who was tried out at two positions. However, if he were a player in the fourth (and last) year of his contract, I think that I would indeed keep Andrews or Richardson instead of him, and probably James as well.

 

[BelichickFan]

It has been said that if Meriweather weren't a first rounder, he might have been cut.

So if one person says something then "it has been said" ? Even if there's no reason to take that seriously ? Is that the standard we're going by now ? I guess by that standard we should have fired Belichick 4 years ago because the players hated him.

:bricks:

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Not very.

How ready was Geno in 2003? Without Rodney playing next to him and the Ty brothers in front of him, would he have been ready? The better model is Hobbs and Gay, look to midseason.

 

[hobbsownscoles]

Personally, I think that Meriweather has a fine future with the team.

However, I don't think that the future is now. As of now, I would rather Andrews start or Mitchell. I certainly would prefer Gay starting to any of the three, if Wilson is not available.

It has been said that if Meriweather weren't a first rounder, he might have been cut. I think that this is harsh criticism for a rookie who was tried out at two positions. However, if he were a player in the fourth (and last) year of his contract, I think that I would indeed keep Andrews or Richardson instead of him, and probably James as well.

No offense but that is a dumbass assesment

 

[WhiZa]

Kind of tough to compare someone after 4 years to someone who only played in 1 preseason. But your right, he just been OK so far, but because of his potential they will give him a year or two and after that he may end up like Mills or blossom into a Samuel (on the football field).

 

[letekro]

According to Fred Smerlas, not very ready. Let's discuss!

 

[patsgo]

According to Fred Smerlas, not very ready. Let's discuss!

fred smerlas played nose tackle , that said big deal, what else has he done to become a expert on defensive backs, other that mumble his words and talk like someone with not much education

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

For my benefit, would you please be more specific about who exactly said that Meriweather would have been cut?

Meriweather has A LOT to live up to as a first round pick, it is not good enough to just be serviceable as a safety, you have got to be damn good to be a first round safety.

So far, he has not impressed me as a first round pick. But I reserve the right to let him play out the season before I make up my mind.

When I think of first round picks, I think of Wilfork, Warren, Seymour. Guys that are freaks.

Hopefully, Meriweather will make an impact this year. That is what a first round pick does.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, if someone says something, then indeed "it has been said". That does not mean that the opinion need be taken seriously. It your own choice how to evaluate a player, and whether to give an credence whatsoever to the opinions of others.

Personally, I think he is doing fine for a rookie tring to learn a very difficult defense.

So if one person says something then "it has been said" ? Even if there's no reason to take that seriously ? Is that the standard we're going by now ? I guess by that standard we should have fired Belichick 4 years ago because the players hated him.

:bricks:

 

[BelichickFan]

Yes, if someone says something, then indeed "it has been said".

Well it's unfortunate if that's the standard you're going to use to present a generic statement on someone. Using that we could cut the entire roster including Brady.

 

[mgteich]

OK, so Fred Smerlas was an NFL NT who has known many on the team for many years, and is close to the coach. Your credentials for believing that your analysis is better than his is exactly what?

fred smerlas played nose tackle , that said big deal, what else has he done to become a expert on defensive backs, other that mumble his words and talk like someone with not much education

 

[hobbsownscoles]

For my benefit, would you please be more specific about who exactly said that Meriweather would have been cut?

Meriweather has A LOT to live up to as a first round pick, it is not good enough to just be serviceable as a safety, you have got to be damn good to be a first round safety.

So far, he has not impressed me as a first round pick. But I reserve the right to let him play out the season before I make up my mind.

When I think of first round picks, I think of Wilfork, Warren, Seymour. Guys that are freaks.

Hopefully, Meriweather will make an impact this year. That is what a first round pick does.

Warren wasnt above serviceable until his 3rd year

 

[patsgo]

OK, so Fred Smerlas was an NFL NT who has known many on the team for many years, and is close to the coach. Your credentials for believing that your analysis is better than his is exactly what?

he s close to the coach? does bb talk to him about personel? how many plaers does he know now? ya hes real close to the patriots he had 50 season tickets taken away, i guess being close your style helped him there right?maybe we should call tim goad and get his opinion? all i know is looked real good in college and has looked real good in the pre season. if you and smerlas cant see that i suggest a pair of glasses

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Merriweather is ready. In the LIMITED time he got at safety I thought he was real good. People seem to forget that BB put him at corner...ala Eugene Wilson. The kid is gonna be real good and he's had no issues that all people seem to want to bring up about his character. How someone can say he should be cut based on 4 games and PUBLIC practices is beyond me, particularly when the player was playing out of position.

I feel comfortable with him as a starter. I know he'll make mistakes but he has instincts, a nose for the ball. He sticks people and knows where the play is flowing and he is a solid tackler. Clearly football is important to him.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

When I think of first round picks, I think of Wilfork, Warren, Seymour. Guys that are freaks.

Don't mean to nitpick, but Warren wasn't that impressive during the first 3/4 of his rookie season and especially during preseason when the Pats tried him at NT prior to acquiring Big Ted. We also had the luxury of bringing Warren along at a measured pace during his rookie season because we had a solid LE/LT Bobby Hamilton. Said this, Warren proved his worth as the 13th player drafted to me in his showing during the SB. He was pretty average as a DLman prior to that, but what a game to break out in.

Further, Wilfork I wanted the Pats to draft in the same draft as Warren, but Vince announced his decision to stay one more year at Miami. When he somehow fell to us in the next draft, I was psyched. Still, though his play as a rookie was very solid, he still had Traylor splitting snaps at the nose with him, and Vince played the nose a bit differently than he currently does as the anchor much like Big Ted.

So, with the exception of Seymour, both of these excellent first rounders needed a bit of seasoning and it's the same with Meriweather. You can see the kid has loads of talent and he's going to help us win games with big plays and big hits for a few years to come, but at this point, he needs to be groomed a bit.

Hopefully, Meriweather will make an impact this year. That is what a first round pick does.

I agree and even at this point, I would not have had a problem with tossing Meriweather in there as a starter. But there's a big difference with Meriweather starting next to Rodney versus Sanders. The situation being what it is now, I'm really hoping Wilson is healthy and starts at FS and if not, I'd be much more at ease with a saftey tandem of Gay and Sanders.

 

[363839]

We will soon see how ready BM is because he is going to see a lot of
playing time with Rodney out.
There will probably be some "moments" but I got a
feeling we're not gonna be disappointed.

 

[patsgo]

merriweather played safety in college and has been playing corner most of the preseason, plus learning a new system, anybodt who talks bad about his performance is just not being objective, a guy like smerlas knows nothing,and anybody who listens to him knows nothing either,

 

[scout]

Unless I missed some posts (could have), I hadn't seen any complaints concerning Meriweather until the Smerlas post. His play on the field was hard to judge as he didn't play too much safety. I did see him put a few licks on people. I've never seen a number one for the Patriots so much under the microscope.

 

[mgteich]

With Harrison out, I would expect to see a lot of his backup Sanders. On the other hand, if Wilson is out, I would expect to see more of Meriweather. H is hopefully our future at free safety.

BTW, it is no knock on him if he is not ready to be a major contributor from Day One. Seymour was OK in the beginning of his rookie year. Wilfork was sharing time, and took a year to develop. Warren took two seasons. That's pretty good company. And yes, Samuel, Gay and Wilson are the counterexamples.

We will soon see how ready BM is because he is going to see a lot of
playing time with Rodney out.
There will probably be some "moments" but I got a
feeling we're not gonna be disappointed.

 

[letekro]

he s close to the coach? does bb talk to him about personel? how many plaers does he know now? ya hes real close to the patriots he had 50 season tickets taken away, i guess being close your style helped him there right?maybe we should call tim goad and get his opinion? all i know is looked real good in college and has looked real good in the pre season. if you and smerlas cant see that i suggest a pair of glasses

<Nodding head in full agreement>