OK -- guns and stomping aside -- how good IS Merriweather?
That's the part that I don't have a good handle on, because everyone is so wrapped up in the personality issues.
I don't watch a lot of college FB, but how does Merriweather stack up to guys like Sean Taylor, Ed Reed, Polamalu, Eugene Wilson, Bob Sanders, etc., when they were coming out of college?
Can this kid play? Is he a hitter or a speed guy?
Meriweather covers (played CB during part of his senior season, held Calvin Johnson in check (twice), and didn't give up a single reception in four other games)
Meriweather hits (I watched him lay a few different players out, and get some very good hits on others. Why else would he be called "The Hit Stick"?)
Meriweather blitzes (I've seen him come flying off the edge or up the middle and nail the QB, or stop RB's in the backfield. He also has good timing on his blitzes.)
Meriweather tackles (He's a solid tackler who delivers good hits, but also wraps up. During his college career Meriweather racked up 293 tackles, which is the most by a DB in Miami history, and he didn't even start his rookie year.)
Meriweather plays the run (he will play deep in coverage but he will also play close to the LOS, and he likes playing the run. I've seen him make plenty of tackles on RB's close to and behind the LOS.)
Basically he does it all which is part of the reason his other nick name is "Old School". Out of the group listed Meriweather reminds me of Ed Reed who was also a Miami product. I think Meriweather likes playing the run a little more than Ed, though.
Honestly, I think Meriweather is better than Eugene Wilson, and if I didn't think Meriweather was something special I wouldn't have been advocating drafting him since Febuary.
