Marques Murrell: Does he make the team?

I know it's only preseason, but so far he has been as active as any OLB we have. I figure TBC and Burgess are the only locks to make the team as OLB. Ninkovich is probably making the team and Murrell can easily replace Woods on special teams. Thoughts?

Based on what we've seen so far, and our lack of depth at OLB, I can't see how he doesn't. I don't even think he's on the bubble: I think he's pretty well played himself onto the team. I'd say that Cunningham is also a lock too, though. They're not going to cut a rookie second rounder.

BradyFTW! said:

Based on what we've seen so far, and our lack of depth at OLB, I can't see how he doesn't. I don't even think he's on the bubble: I think he's pretty well played himself onto the team. I'd say that Cunningham is also a lock too, though. They're not going to cut a rookie second rounder.

Click to expand...

My bad, forgot all about Cunningham. So essentially it's Murrell, Woods and Ninko for the last spot.

I've got 2 locks at OLB (Cunningham,TBC), and one near-lock (Burgess). I haven't seen anyone else lock themselves into a spot.

BadMoFo said:

I know it's only preseason, but so far he has been as active as any OLB we have. I figure TBC and Burgess are the only locks to make the team as OLB. Ninkovich is probably making the team and Murrell can easily replace Woods on special teams. Thoughts?

Click to expand...

You have it backwards.

No one has more ST tackles over the past four years than Pierre Woods, or is more valuable on ST. Woods was in the game in the 2nd period. Ninkovitch didn't show until the 4th Q. Murrell seems to be taking Ninkos job.

Hope not.

His special teams contribution isnt all that.

Murrell has been given a long look in practice and in preseason as an OLB, not just a special teamer. My interpretation, Murrell can win a job if his play with the regular defense is significantly better than Woods or Ninkovich.

I agree that, if the 3 are equal OLBs, Woods has the upper hand for his special teams production.

Deus Irae said:

I've got 2 locks at OLB (Cunningham,TBC), and one near-lock (Burgess). I haven't seen anyone else lock themselves into a spot.

Click to expand...

I'd agree that TBC and Cunningham are the only locks. However, Cunningham is pretty far from a lock to see the field on anything except 3rd down.

So Murrell isn't just making the team, he's your starter right now and is closer to a lock that Burgess. Burgess didn't do a darn thing yesterday and is actually more of a liability in coverage or against the run than Murrell.

Agree that Murell and TBC are starters right now.

I'm going to put Murrell on the final 53. A few observations from last night and the Saints game:

- So far, he looks like he can get after the QB. Seems to do a nice job of exploding round the tackle and closing in on the QB.

- On the plays I focused closely on Murrell, he held his own against the run. He was rarely getting pushed back and did a good job of sealing the edge.

- Didn't see a lot of him in coverage, but he seemed comfortable covering the RB coming out of the backfield.

I know it's only preseason, but Murrell has been one of my pleasant surprises so far. He's shown that the potential is there and if he can keep building off his preseason performances, he has a good shot of making the final 53.

Also, to anyone who has watched him on special teams, how does he look? If he can perform on special teams then that will go a long way towards him making the team.

bucky said:

I'd agree that TBC and Cunningham are the only locks. However, Cunningham is pretty far from a lock to see the field on anything except 3rd down.

So Murrell isn't just making the team, he's your starter right now and is closer to a lock that Burgess. Burgess didn't do a darn thing yesterday and is actually more of a liability in coverage or against the run than Murrell.

Click to expand...

I thought Burgess looked alright for having missed most of camp. At least against the run he seemed to hold his own, given the Falcons never really ran the ball well last night outside of a few carries.

Murrell is interesting to me. He's started both games now, and seemed to do well both against the run and rushing the passer. Not sure how much we can really take from it, but he's definitely looking like an option (which we can't have enough of right now at OLB).

I don't see how he can't make the team. He again pressured the QB last night (against the Falcons 1st string). He's held his end against the run as well and his coverage is decent enough. But the most important thing he brings to the table is his pass rush IMO. He's got deceptive speed and he has shown good strength to bull his way in the backfield. This guy has been the best surprise of camp so far IMO.

Jet fans are laughing because Murrell was only on their team as a ST contributor...and now he's a potential strting OLB on Pats.....

Shows to go ya how thin Pats are at OLB......either that or recognizing talent and coaching up a player can change his role....

Is there any question if Murrell makes the team? I think the bigger question is whether he showed enough to start.

BlueThunder said:

Jet fans are laughing because Murrell was only on their team as a ST contributor...and now he's a potential strting OLB on Pats.....

Shows to go ya how thin Pats are at OLB......either that or recognizing talent and coaching up a player can change his role....

Click to expand...

I think it also shows that the Jets run a different scheme than the Pats and players may be better off in one scheme over another.

BlueThunder said:

Jet fans are laughing because Murrell was only on their team as a ST contributor...and now he's a potential strting OLB on Pats.....

Shows to go ya how thin Pats are at OLB......either that or recognizing talent and coaching up a player can change his role....

Click to expand...

Jets fans also laughed when the Pats made Bobby Hamilton and Roman Phifer starters too. Steelers fans laughed when the Pats made Vrabel a starter too. The Packers laughed when the Pats made Joe Andruzzi a starter after they cut him in camp.

I don't know if Murrell will turn into anything close to Hamilton, Phifer, Andruzzi, or Vrabel; but there has been plenty of cases of players who are buried on a team's depth chart who leave and become solid starters with other teams. Sometimes the team doesn't recognize the talent they have or just don't use them correctly or he is just not suited for the system they run. Murrell could be in one of those categories. When did see the field on defense with the Jets, it was my understanding he played pretty well.

It has been promising what Murrell has brought so far, but it is too early to annoint him anything.

I agree that Murrell has pretty much played his way onto the team.

It's probably 75/25 rational to wishful thinking, but I'm pulling for him big time. Didn't realize he was only 25, but he's got good size for the system. Here's hoping he can pull a Vrabel; only Murrell would have more value over the long term because of his youth.

Murrell had earned himself a spot, and may "start". Burgess make get more reps, but primarily as a DE.

Woods is one of our best special teamers (perhaps best after Aiken and Arrington). I would keep him on the squad as the #9 LB and as an emergency OLB.

Ninkovich could still make the team, depending on how much Belichick is willing to depend on Cunningham. Ninkovich may be competing with Williams for the 10th LB spot at this point.

We certainly could keep 10 LB's (and 10 DB's and 6 DL's). The offense only needs 24 roster spots, even including Aiken (2 QB, 6 WR, 4 RB, 3 TE, 9 OL).

mgteich said:

Murrell had earned himself a spot, and may "start". Burgess make get more reps, but primarily as a DE.

Woods is one of our best special teamers (perhaps best after Aiken and Arrington). I would keep him on the squad as the #9 LB and as an emergency OLB.

Ninkovich could still make the team, depending on how much Belichick is willing to depend on Cunningham. Ninkovich may be competing with Williams for the 10th LB spot at this point.

We certainly could keep 10 LB's (and 10 DB's and 6 DL's). The offense only needs 24 roster spots, even including Aiken (2 QB, 6 WR, 4 RB, 3 TE, 9 OL).

Click to expand...

Essentially, based on what I've seen, it's coming down to whether we want to keep 6 WRs, 6 CBs, 5 RBs, or 10 LBs. We get to pick 3 out of 4. I don't see anyone standing out as a 7th DL, and I think Hoyer has shown enough that we don't need a 3rd QB.

Rob0729 said:

Jets fans also laughed when the Pats made Bobby Hamilton and Roman Phifer starters too. Steelers fans laughed when the Pats made Vrabel a starter too. The Packers laughed when the Pats made Joe Andruzzi a starter after they cut him in camp.

I don't know if Murrell will turn into anything close to Hamilton, Phifer, Andruzzi, or Vrabel; but there has been plenty of cases of players who are buried on a team's depth chart who leave and become solid starters with other teams. Sometimes the team doesn't recognize the talent they have or just don't use them correctly or he is just not suited for the system they run. Murrell could be in one of those categories. When did see the field on defense with the Jets, it was my understanding he played pretty well.

It has been promising what Murrell has brought so far, but it is too early to annoint him anything.

Click to expand...

Man, I don't think I could've have responded better even if I typed everything verbatim. I hope Murrell turns out to be half as good as those other guys did. We won SB's with them!