If you could redo last years 1st pick, would you still take Meriweather?

[VJCPatriot]

Frankly, Weddle, a second round pick (#37 overall) outpeformed Meriweather. I will say that the Pats defense is a hard thing to break into, especially as a mere rookie. I'd say, we need to give this some time before a proper evaluation can be made.

 

[cstjohn17]

i wiill also go on record and say that meriweather doesnt drop any ints next yr.....and in fact gets 2 tds too

He has the worst hands ever. I bet Vince Wilfork has better hands... I don't recommend it but if you are silly enough to watch the last Giants drive in the Superbowl focus on Merriweather. There were lots of other missed plays but he had his chances as well:
1) makes a nice play on the ball and then jumps up and, and... lets the ball go right through his hands... the ball was a total floater
2) 2nd last play, maybe 3rd last... it was a 3rd and 11 and he loses Smith in the flat and allow him to pick up 12 yards and the first down. Brutal play, at a minimum he has to stay with him, tackle him in bounds short of the 1st down

Merriweather was the 4th Safety taken in round 1, think about that. I doubt it if there ever has been 4 safeties taken in round 1. From what I have seen from Merriweather a player with similar impact could have been taken in rounds 2-4. Hopefully he hits the weights and playbook hard and steps up his game, he hardly looked like a 1st round talent.

 

[sebman2112]

He has the worst hands ever. I bet Vince Wilfork has better hands... I don't recommend it but if you are silly enough to watch the last Giants drive in the Superbowl focus on Merriweather. There were lots of other missed plays but he had his chances as well:
1) makes a nice play on the ball and then jumps up and, and... lets the ball go right through his hands... the ball was a total floater
2) 2nd last play, maybe 3rd last... it was a 3rd and 11 and he loses Smith in the flat and allow him to pick up 12 yards and the first down. Brutal play, at a minimum he has to stay with him, tackle him in bounds short of the 1st down

Merriweather was the 4th Safety taken in round 1, think about that. I doubt it if there ever has been 4 safeties taken in round 1. From what I have seen from Merriweather a player with similar impact could have been taken in rounds 2-4. Hopefully he hits the weights and playbook hard and steps up his game, he hardly looked like a 1st round talent.

He doesn't have "the worst hands ever". While his hands could use some work, you're going overboard. I watched him make some picks in college, and keep in mind that Asante Samuel had the same problem until he started holding onto all those dropped INT's. It would have been nice if Meriweather could have held on to those 3-4 possible INT's, but it was at least a good sign to see him in position to make a play on the ball.

I know what play you're talking about in the SB. He jumped up and reached out to try and catch the ball as it was coming in over his shoulder, but it was seemingly just out of his reach or he slightly misjudged it. Ellis Hobbs and a Giants WR came diving in as the ball was just going past Brandon's fingers, and took his legs out.

I have to go back and watch that catch by Smith. I know Meriweather pushed him out, but I'm not sure that he was actually "covering" him. It looked like he was downfield, and came in to make the tackle when smith got open in the vacated zone. Seemed like it was a designed clear out by the Giants, if I remember correctly. I think either Asante or Meriweather (maybe both) got cought up in some trash when they tried to come back? I know they were both in the same area. I can't remember for sure though.

I do remember Asante had the game sealing INT literally bounce right off his fingers. Man, do I have to go back and watch that final drive again? :bricks:

Sometimes I think fans forget it can take some time to adjust after making the jump to the NFL, and I'll never understand why some people get so down on players during their rookie seasons. It just doesn't make sense to me, and never has.

 

[tombonneau]

I would have traded the rest of the team's picks (since none made the team) to move up and take Nelson or the Texas safety (Griffin or Griffith, can't recall). Both looked to be doing quite well toward the end of the year and certainly made more of a Year 1 impact than Merriweather (who I like a lot).

 

[drew4008]

Anybody but that punk Meriweather. The only thing I ever saw him do this past season was hit guys late or run his mouth. Terrible pick...

 

[Watson's IQ]

Anybody but that punk Meriweather. The only thing I ever saw him do this past season was hit guys late or run his mouth. Terrible pick...

This is asinine. The guy was a part time player his rookie year, as the vast majority of rookies we bring in are. That's one of the benefits of having such a strong team, you don't need to rush rookies into full-time duty.

Given the state of the safety position right now (and the defensive backfield in general), I'm certainly glad that we picked Meriweather. I'm going to wait and see how he performs over a full season of regular duty before I pass judgment. Anyone who wants to do otherwise is just being reactionary.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I would have traded the rest of the team's picks (since none made the team) to move up and take Nelson or the Texas safety (Griffin or Griffith, can't recall). Both looked to be doing quite well toward the end of the year and certainly made more of a Year 1 impact than Merriweather (who I like a lot).

Nelson was an impact player his rookie year. I remember saying I liked him, but people kept putting him down for his wonderlic score. Looked like I was right. I don't think we had the ammo to move up for a Nelson though, so it's probably a moot point.

 

[sebman2112]

Nelson was an impact player his rookie year. I remember saying I liked him, but people kept putting him down for his wonderlic score. Looked like I was right. I don't think we had the ammo to move up for a Nelson though, so it's probably a moot point.

Nelson isn't intelligent at all, and has a hard time understanding complex defenses. The Jags defense isn't what I'd consider complex, and they've got a thing for Florida players anyways.

Also, Meriweather's a better tackler, and better against the run.

Again, because Nelson made a bigger impact during his rookie season doesn't mean he'll be the better pro, or would have been a better fit in NE's defense. So, I don't know how it "looked" like you were right.

 

[PatsFanJess]

I like Merriweather and I think he will develop into a great player under BB and Capers as DB coach. He does need a little work on his hands, but that will come with some practice, like it did with Asante. He's a hard hitter and I'm excited to see what he blossoms into.

 

[patsox23]

I would take Beason. He's proven to be a tough, big-enough and productive player. It's still plenty early for Meriweather, though, I won't be giving up on him...yet.

 

[mcsully]

Yea, it seems a lot of Patriots fans are forgetting a number of those tackles came 10 yards plus downfield, too. I'd like to have David Harris on the Patriots roster, but not at the expense of dropping Meriweather. Also, they would need to draft a Safety in the first two rounds this year, and last year was the stronger Safety crop. Also, that Safety wouldn't have Meriweather's year of experience in the system.

Harris was always at the point of attack and a big reason their defense started to come around last year at the half way point was because of him.. He has the ability to be a special player..

 

[PonyExpress]

It's too early to pass judgment. If Merriweather doesn't win a starting job this summer, whether at FS or cb, then the picture gets murky.

 

[Seneschal2]

24New EnglandBrandon Meriweather - S25CarolinaJon Beason - OLB26DallasAnthony Spencer - DE27New OrleansRobert Meachem - WR28San FranciscoJoe Staley - OT29BaltimoreBen Grubbs - OG30San DiegoCraig Davis - WR31ChicagoGreg Olsen - TE32IndianapolisAnthony Gonzalez - WR

From the list, I liked Spencer and Staley at the time. Overall, I seriously wanted an impact DB (CB or Safety) to develop, for the anticipated departures of Samuel and Wilson.

I have no problems with the play of Meriweather, as I usually allow rookies time to develop. The hope here is, BB will hand him the keys to the FS position. Let him learn that position only, and cease with the CB experiment. The fans can then have a more truer evaluation of him -- as IMO, it's too early now to judge him fairly.

If, however, his hands don't improve as a full-time starter, or his hitting isn't as hard as expected, at season's end I may be inclined to say he's a solid starter -- just not that impact DB I hoped for. He's a wait-and-see...

 

[sebman2112]

Harris was always at the point of attack and a big reason their defense started to come around last year at the half way point was because of him.. He has the ability to be a special player..

Nobody is arguing that he doesn't.

Now, go back and watch some of the games where he racked up a bunch of tackles. For instance, that 20 solo tackle outing. A number of those tackles came down field, and not "at the point of attack". It's not actually the type of slight you might think it is though.

I really want you to fully understand what I'm getting at here, so I'll go into some of the additional observations behind my thinking:

The Jets offensive ranking:
Time of possession: 26th

The Jets defensive ranking:
Defensive time of possession: 3rd most at 31:59 minutes per game.

The point here is simple, both the jets offense and defense sucked. And, when you're defense is on the field that long, you've got additional snaps, and more snaps equals a better chance of racking up tackles, especially when some of the other defenders around you (their D-line and some of their other LB's) aren't anything special.

I am almost certain that Harris wouldn't have put up those same numbers in 2007, if the Patriots had selected him.

 

[DW Toys]

Well, 1st off, Sanders played both safety positions and how can you be disappointed in Meriweather when he had to get around both Wilson and Sanders to see playing time? The Pats defense is one of the most complex in the league. Yes, you think he should just be able to walk onto the field and start? Sounds to me like your expectations are unrealistic.

Mike Rumph sucked from day one. Meriweather was brought along slowly and didn't suck. Also, the Pats tried to use him at CB in TC and that certainly didn't help his ability to learn the safety position.

I am not going to predict that Meriweather will win the starting job opening day. He's got competition from Sanders and Harrison. Now, you are probably asky why I say both Sanders AND Harrison. Its because those three are vying for the two starting safety positions. And whether people on this board like it or notm, Sanders has Belichick's vote of confidence as being a starting calibre safety. He's said as much on several occasions. So has Rodney Harrison.

BB has sent verbal bouquets to a player upon many occasions and traded or cut the guy shortly thereafter. If he's trying to trade Sanders (one can hope can't we?) he would not go negative and I am sure a pat on the back by BB is well known in the locker room as .....yeah Bill....right. Think back to TBC.
DW Toys

 

[cstjohn17]

BB has sent verbal bouquets to a player upon many occasions and traded or cut the guy shortly thereafter. If he's trying to trade Sanders (one can hope can't we?) he would not go negative and I am sure a pat on the back by BB is well known in the locker room as .....yeah Bill....right. Think back to TBC.
DW Toys

Sanders is untradable, not in the sense that he is off limits but because he only was 1 year left on his contract and is an adequate starter. It would be real tough to get anything more than an empty water bottle at this point.

I like Sanders he has played multiple safety positions, special teams and has gotten better each year. He is steady and honestly I can't think of too many plays he blew in 2007. The Patriots need more young players like this, I would like to see him extended for cheap money to keep some continuity in 2009 as Harrison is likely to retire or be unproductive in 2009.

 

[mcsully]

Nobody is arguing that he doesn't.

Now, go back and watch some of the games where he racked up a bunch of tackles. For instance, that 20 solo tackle outing. A number of those tackles came down field, and not "at the point of attack". It's not actually the type of slight you might think it is though.

Unfortunately I watch all their games and attend atleast 1 every year.. My bro is a huge jets fan(long story)
I agree harris probably wouldn't have had the same numbers.. but he started a few weeks prior to the bye.. And if you look at their stats after the bye week, they only allowed an average of 18.14 points a week. His play had a big contribution to that.

Maybe he didn't have tackles that weren't at the point of attack in that one game but he still got 24 tackles that game.. And that team rushed over 200 yds on them.. This shows he has a high motor. And doesn't give up on the play.. Plus that game was lost in OT to a playoff team.
Oh he had 17 tackles the week before in a close game..

2nd, from what I saw, he stuffed a lot of the big boys and looked carefree playing in a 3-4.

To me right now Harris would have been the better selection.. Heck even Revis would have been better.. considering we lost A Samuel..
To early to tell but I wouldn't be disappointed if we went another direction..