Tae Bo Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGBW5KG2Q5E.html Feb 28, 2005 Merriman Plays Lights Out By IRA KAUFMAN ikaufman@tampatrib.com INDIANAPOLIS - Shawne Merriman might be the most intriguing defensive prospect in the 2005 NFL draft, hands down. Or not. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound junior out of Maryland is tantalizing NFL executives at the scouting combine with his imposing package of versatile skills. Merriman is predicting a 4.45 time in the 40 at his March 16 pro day, which will be well attended. While NFL coaches drool over Merriman's physical tools, they remain unsure whether his future rests at defensive end or outside linebacker. With more teams going to the 3-4 alignment, Merriman could find himself at outside linebacker, providing heat off the edge as a rookie. In the more traditional 4-3, he would play end with a hand on the ground. ``Whatever they need me to play, I'll play,'' said Merriman, who earned the nickname ``Lights Out'' at Maryland for his savage hits. ``I think I can play any linebacker - middle linebacker, outside, whatever they need me to play, I can play it.'' As a junior, Merriman registered 8.5 sacks and 85 tackles, including 17 for losses. He has a 41-inch vertical leap and Merriman is expected to go within the first 15 picks of the April 23-24 draft. ``When you find a guy who can really get to the quarterback and disrupt an offense, he's attractive,'' Jets coach Herm Edwards said. ``You want a difference maker.'' Edwards already has a Merriman clone in John Abraham, who was also considered a ``tweener'' coming out of South Carolina. As an undersized defensive end, Abraham has quickly developed into one of the league's premier pass rushers. Merriman appears to fit the mold of New England's versatile linebackers. ``Some people find that maybe a tweener is not so good, but from what I've seen so far, I find being a tweener is an excellent thing these days,'' Merriman said. Want to make him mad? Just call Merriman a finesse player. This is one prospect who relishes his reputation for intimidation. ``My nickname comes from the punishing hits,'' he said. ``I don't know how many people watched me during the season, but I've knocked out a couple of people in my time.'' The defensively challenged Vikings are likely to take a long look at Merriman at No. 7, the pick Minnesota obtained from Oakland in the Randy Moss deal. Whoever drafts this Terrapin will add some swagger to the locker room. ``I can run with any back or any tight end,'' Merriman said, ``and at the same time, I can go against any tackle. Whatever teams want to do with me is fine ... I can adjust to it.'' Merriman named Florida State tackle Alex Barron as his toughest Atlantic Coast Conference opponent and said he harbors no regrets about bypassing his senior season, adding 10 pounds to make him more attractive for the pro game. He lists Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington as a mentor, frequently asking the former Penn State standout for guidance. Merriman obviously doesn't require any tips on self-confidence. ``I'd be lying to myself and you all if I said I didn't think I was the best defensive player in the draft,'' he said. ``But there's some talent here, man. Nobody wants to admit it, but when you come here, players look at players. Ballers recognize ballers.'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 If Williams and Edwards are gone, I'd be more than happy with this choice at #9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Made Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Yea , Merriman would be a nice weapon for G Williams! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miragv Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Called it all along, he WILL be a top 10 pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfitzo53 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by Gilgamesh If Williams and Edwards are gone, I'd be more than happy with this choice at #9. If not, WR really is our most pressing need, but I wouldn't complain about a good DE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martino Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 It looks like we may be going D again this year with our first pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[[ghost]] Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 he sounds good, but he looks scarier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexter's Better Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by [[ghost]] he sounds good, but he looks scarier He apparently is a really nice guy. My Brother has spoken to him frequently over the past 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cphil006 Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 If he wants to be like LaVar, then he will find a way to D.C... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGS_DADDY Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 This kid is a BEAST. I'd be happy with that pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowghost Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I would be amazed if we picked a DL in the first round, and if we do, I hope it is Merriman.:point2sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I didn't see too much of the Terps, but did this guy play mostly end or OLB at Maryland? Or did they move him around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexter's Better Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by Dirk Diggler I didn't see too much of the Terps, but did this guy play mostly end or OLB at Maryland? Or did they move him around? They moved him around. Honestly, he can play against almost an LT one on one -- however he gets crushed when he gets double-teamed. I still think he is a 3rd rounder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hauss Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 We need him at DE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GURU Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Merriman's size doesn't bother me one single bit. Guys with similar size, like Jason Taylor, Simeon Rice, and Jevon Kearse have become very good run defenders. Abraham and Dwight Freeney are coming on strong in that department, too. It's a matter of technique and gaining experience--learning to take advantage of superior athletic ability and not staying blocked. And wiley defensive coordinators learn how to put these guys in advantageous positions. 3rd rounder my A$$. A guy with that kind of pass rush ability is rare, and you pray he gets double teamed. If you double team a defensive end, you are going to leave either LaVar Arrington or Marcus Washington unblocked, or blocked by a running back. Believe me, that's EXACTLY what Gregg Williams wants to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 This guy sounds almost exactly like Jevon Kearse when he came out of Florida. At Florida, they moved Kearse all over the place (MLB, OLB, DE, DT, even SS as a frosh) and he eventually played his majority of snaps at OLB. Kearse absolutely blew up at his Pro Day and ran a 4.43 at 265 and had CB scores/times for all the agility drills. Still, he wasn't a top pick because this was a time when teams were getting burned by tweeners, especially in the first round. No one knew what to make of him other than that he was a freakish athlete. The reports considered him a jack of all trades/master of none but that was Bob Stoops fault for not getting all he could out of the guy. Tennessee steals him in the middle of the 1st and made him concentrate on end and the rest is history. I don't know if Merrimen is built like Kearse with arms down to knees to rush the passer but everything else sounds eeirly familiar. Definitely someone to consider though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tae Bo Posted February 28, 2005 Author Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by Dirk Diggler This guy sounds almost exactly like Jevon Kearse when he came out of Florida. At Florida, they moved Kearse all over the place (MLB, OLB, DE, DT, even SS as a frosh) and he eventually played his majority of snaps at OLB. Kearse absolutely blew up at his Pro Day and ran a 4.43 at 265 and had CB scores/times for all the agility drills. Still, he wasn't a top pick because this was a time when teams were getting burned by tweeners, especially in the first round. No one knew what to make of him other than that he was a freakish athlete. The reports considered him a jack of all trades/master of none but that was Bob Stoops fault for not getting all he could out of the guy. Tennessee steals him in the middle of the 1st and made him concentrate on end and the rest is history. I don't know if Merrimen is built like Kearse with arms down to knees to rush the passer but everything else sounds eeirly familiar. Definitely someone to consider though. The other reason Kearse fell was because that draft was absolutely loaded at the top. 2- McNabb 4- E. James 5- R. Williams 6- T. Holt 7- C. Bailey 8- D. Boston 9- C. Claiborne 10- C. McAlister 11- D. Culpepper 13- T. Edwards 14- J. Tait 15- A. McFarland 16- J. Kearse 17- D. Woody 19- L. Petigout 21- LJ Shelton 23- A. Winfield 31- A. Wilson not to mention Jon Jansen, Mike Rucker, Dre Bly, Joey Porter, Randy Thomas, Dat Ngyun, B. Stokely, R. Colvin, E. Mulitalo Looking back, Tim Couch and Akili Smith stick out like sore thumbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdarugar Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Merrimen reminds me of Terrell Suggs more than anyone else, a smart team that runs a 4-3 won't pick him, I look for Dallas to scoop him up at #11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon_mikal Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by fdarugar Merrimen reminds me of Terrell Suggs more than anyone else, a smart team that runs a 4-3 won't pick him, I look for Dallas to scoop him up at #11. I think Merriman would be a perfect fit in a 3-4, but I think #11 may be too high. Still, Dallas needs a pass rusher in the worst way so I wouldn't be suprised if Bill pulled the trigger on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miragv Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 Originally posted by Dexter's Better They moved him around. Honestly, he can play against almost an LT one on one -- however he gets crushed when he gets double-teamed. I still think he is a 3rd rounder. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Joe Hog Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 As a Terps season ticket holder, I've seen Merriman play numerous times. He is a great athlete who makes plays all over the field. He is tough, strong, smart and relentless. I think he would be great in a 3-4 defense as an inside linebacker but not in a 4-3 as a DE. I say this because the only weakness I've seen in his game is that he sometimes struggles a bit when playing against good, big offensive tackles. Other than that, he is a "lights out" player who is definitely worthy of a first round pick, but probably not a top ten pick - and I don't see him going to the Redskins (darn it!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpfan Posted February 28, 2005 Share Posted February 28, 2005 I don't understand why he is being called "small" The dude is 6-4, 272 lbs!! Thats not really small for a DE at all.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMat184 Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 Merriman usually played at 245 or so from what I can remember. If hes up to 272 without losing his speed hes worth a top 5 pick cause hes a freak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopper Dave Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 I'd actually be very happy with this guy if Williams is off the board. He's the pass rushing DE that we've been wanting FOREVER, and with his versatility, who knows what GW could do with him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miragv Posted March 1, 2005 Share Posted March 1, 2005 Merriman is exactly what the Terps need right now...an amazing player who will go in the top ten and tear it up in the NFL. "Lights Out" could help MD turn the corner for their football program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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