I'll try not to get too deep into the back-and-forth that will undoubtedly end at an impasse anyway, but here goes . . .
I've seen recent posts comparing Chung to Meriweather, but I don't know if a true comparison between the two can be made here. They're just too different in some respects:
1. The plays that Chung gives up are usually in man coverage and that's an area where he needs improvement. We all knew that coming into the season, though, so it shouldn't be a shock that he's given up some plays. Chung was a safety throughout his college career, so he's essentially learning a whole new skill at the pro level against pro receivers. Nowadays, thanks in part to NE, teams value slot receivers more than ever before. There are a few in the league that could probably easily be another team's No. 1 or 2. Asking a guy who has played safety most of his career to matchup one-on-one is asking a lot. The coaching staff obviously has enough confidence in him to ask such a thing, but that probably just means he's the best option to them right now. Maybe they just don't feel Butler can do the job as well, or maybe they think he's just too athletically gifted to take him off the field. Either way, he's got some learning to do.
Meriweather, on the other had, played corner in college. I'm not sure if he played that position full-time or not, but he played it enough that you'd think he could/would be asked to do some of that at the pro level. The coaching staff has not asked that of him. There could be a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a perceived lack of merit or skill, but one can only speculate. Why would such a tall order be entrusted to a second-year guy who is essentially a rookie since he didn't play a large number of defensive snaps last season and not a veteran of four season?
Meriweather does take bad angles. That's not opinion or subjective analysis. It's rather obvious if you're really watching. The Green Bay play where he annihilated McCourty it one such play that jumps out at me. McCourty was beat by a half-step or so, but he would have at least made the tackle had he not been torpedoed by his teammate.
2. As mentioned briefly, Chung is a second-year player. He's not only learning how to be a professional, but he's learning what is considered one of the more difficult defensive schemes in the league under a very demanding coach. That's got to be difficult for anyone. In spite of that, Chung has looked like a seasoned pro at times this season. The defense was OBVIOUSLY better when he returned to the lineup in the Pittsburgh game. I remember even Collingsworth noted the difference about ten or so minutes after I said it to my GF. The defense just didn't seem to function the same in the games that he missed this year. That's saying a lot when such a young guy can have that impact.
Meri is in his his fourth season. I don't recall a time when I thought that the D lacked something without him. He's around the ball enough that he does make a little impact here and there, but I don't think it's consistently enough that there's a considerable drop off when he's not on the field. Even last season when he occupied the SS position I don't feel like he had the same impact as Chung has had this season.
3. This is perhaps the biggest reason why I think the comparison shouldn't be made. When looking at Chung, I see a guy who is improving as time goes on. I see a guy who seems to want to get better with each practice and become the consummate professional. In fact, I've read article after article about how he's just as intense and passionate in practice as he is on the field. In meetings, he asks tons of questions and studies a lot.
Meriweather, on the other hand, was benched for a while for arriving late to a meeting. Now, I certainly don't know the circumstances behind his tardiness, but the fact remains that he was tardy and that's usually a knock against a person no matter the reason (even in the "real" world). One has to think that if the reason was really that good, then BB and co. wouldn't have felt the need to send a message to the kid by benching him.
There just seems to be something lacking mentally with the guy, whether it's a legitimate lack of intelligence or lack of passion or he thinks too highly of himself. Anyone who says that Meriweather has not regressed to a degree is just being foolish, IMHO. I need only to point you to the first game against Buffalo and some of the bonehead things he did in that game to illustrate that he is not playing to the level he did last season . . . or any of his previous seasons for that matter.
Disclaimer: Even with all that said, I actually still like the kid a lot. He possesses so much talent and he's a hard-hitter. Having two safeties who can lay the wood is a wonderful thing for the secondary. I would hate to lose him if he is still "coachable" and willing to make the changes that the coaching staff is asking of him.
