FrankReichComeback Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I'm very concerned with what Shawne Merriman's role is going to be on this team. He can't play LB in a 4-3 that's for sure. I'm not so sure whether he can play DE however. How many career sacks does "Lights Out" have with his hand on the ground? Pretty sure it's not too many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARMchairgm Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I'm very concerned with what Shawne Merriman's role is going to be on this team. He can't play LB in a 4-3 that's for sure. I'm not so sure whether he can play DE however. How many career sacks does "Lights Out" have with his hand on the ground? Pretty sure it's not too many. just let him stand up and rush the passer like he normally does he could play strong side lb or rde imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cocktosten Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 If he gives you anything at all it will be as a situational pass rusher. He just can't hold up for an entire game anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankReichComeback Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 If he gives you anything at all it will be as a situational pass rusher. He just can't hold up for an entire game anymore. The liability is that Merriman will not be great in a 4-3. Look at a guy like Joey Porter. He sucked with Wannstedt's 4-3 but was a hero when they switched back to a 3-4. If you put Merriman in a situation pass rusher, teams know he's gonna blitz. If they leave him in coverage, they're gonna get smoked as Shawne can't cover worth shite. Honestly he doesn't fit in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 The liability is that Merriman will not be great in a 4-3. Look at a guy like Joey Porter. He sucked with Wannstedt's 4-3 but was a hero when they switched back to a 3-4. If you put Merriman in a situation pass rusher, teams know he's gonna blitz. If they leave him in coverage, they're gonna get smoked as Shawne can't cover worth shite. Honestly he doesn't fit in Situational pass rusher as in he subs in for Kelsay at DE in the nickel and dimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
....lybob Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Merriman is 6,41/2 265-275 and has good lower and upper body strength - If he's 100% healthy he shouldn't have any problem playing with his hand on the ground- but if he can't explode out of his stance because of injuries then he can't help us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cocktosten Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Merriman is 6,41/2 265-275 and has good lower and upper body strength - If he's 100% healthy he shouldn't have any problem playing with his hand on the ground- but if he can't explode out of his stance because of injuries then he can't help us. He's never going to be 100% healthy ever again. Achilles injuries never are the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shouldaplayedflutie99 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Isn't his contract guaranteed anyway? I'm sure he will play, and if it's on 3rd and long its fine with me...however, I think he did better against the run than Kelsey IMO...We gotta see him with his fresh legs and see what he can and can't do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog69 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I'd be thrilled if he is able to be a situational pass rusher for us. Even if he can make it through 10-15 plays a game and provide 4-6 sacks and some pressures, that would be good enough for me. His energy and excitement are great. I am excited as hell to see this defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estro Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Tim ryan and Pat Kirwan were commneting on Sirius that they could see him being released. Don't know if it was just pure speculation or something they've been hearing, found it interesting nonetheless. Have we ever gotten an anwer on how much of a cap savings would be realized if Merriman is chopped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogblitz Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 He played DE last year primarily until he got hurt. I was at the Eagles game and watched him and he was holding his won but being double teamed A LOT. With Mario on the other side I suspect that would not be the case anymore. I could see it working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog69 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Merriman will not be released. I think Chan has already said that. You save about $1m if you release him. You could not replace him for that with anyone better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 If he gives you anything at all it will be as a situational pass rusher. He just can't hold up for an entire game anymore. Yup, but that's all we need him for. It's a nice card to have up the sleeve...if he is healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefan66 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 This should be the year that his injury is heeled. Thought it takes 2-3 years for it. Gotta give him one last chance, looked like a maniac in preseason last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Hasn't been discussed much, but according to Nix, one of the things that Mario liked about coming to the Bills and the defensive scheme was that he was told he could play LDE, which he prefers. Apparently, that is where he played in college but not with the Texans. I really think that on passing downs it's going to be MWilliams - MDareus - KWilliams - SMerriman across the front four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanGuzman Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I know Chan has said that he'd rather him Rushing the passer out of the RDE position, i think when he was asked if Merriman would play LB his answer was "I think not". What little I've seen of Merriman as a bill -- I thought he was much better pass rushing out of the motorcycle stance as opposed to having a hand in the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'm very concerned with what Shawne Merriman's role is going to be on this team. He can't play LB in a 4-3 that's for sure. I'm not so sure whether he can play DE however. How many career sacks does "Lights Out" have with his hand on the ground? Pretty sure it's not too many. Per Chan Gailey, quoted on Buffalo Rumblings by Brian Galliford on Feb 24, 2012 10:04 AM EST Speaking with The Buffalo News from the 2012 NFL Combine, head coach Chan Gailey made it very clear that if Merriman is healthy enough to contribute next season - and he's clearly skeptical about that - Merriman will do so as a situational pass rusher from the right defensive end position. There had been some thought that Merriman could play the vacant SAM linebacker spot and add a rush threat from there (again, if he's healthy), but Gailey quickly put an end to that idea: ""I’d rather him not," Gailey said. "I think we’d rather him be a right defensive end rushing the passer all the time." So....Gailey thinks Merriman could play DE as a situational pass rusher, if he's healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBSS151 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I'm very concerned with what Shawne Merriman's role is going to be on this team. He can't play LB in a 4-3 that's for sure. I'm not so sure whether he can play DE however. How many career sacks does "Lights Out" have with his hand on the ground? Pretty sure it's not too many. Merriman ran out of gas in San Diego - nothing left in the tank San Diego did better with Spikes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) There is little doubt that Shawne Merriman can play DE on passing downs. (Which in the NFL against the Patriots is most of the game) No one should have any concerns about the possibility of Merriman at DE. You can be concerned about his health, for obvious reasons. The year is 2012 and there have been dozens of examples of people returning from Achilles. They all took multiple years to regain their form a la Spikes. Still, there is no guarantee Merriman will be healthy. There is no guarantee Mario Williams, Kyle Williams or Marcell Dareus will be healthy as well. Good news, Kelsay is actually competent at DE in a 4-3 and IF Merriman is healthy, Tom Brady, Mark Sanshez, and whatever bum lines up Miami won't be vertical very often. Edited March 16, 2012 by Why So Serious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campy Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Hasn't been discussed much, but according to Nix, one of the things that Mario liked about coming to the Bills and the defensive scheme was that he was told he could play LDE, which he prefers. Apparently, that is where he played in college but not with the Texans. I really think that on passing downs it's going to be MWilliams - MDareus - KWilliams - SMerriman across the front four. He played both DE positions in Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre Speed Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 the fact that you're concerned is great frank, that shows you're a dedicated fan. but the fact is, wannstache has been concerned about it for probably more than a year, and he's the one who has a chance to do anything about it. don't forget to revel in the facts of what happened today, and enjoy your fandom. after all our suffering, don't we all deserve as much ?? cheers, ~AS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubes Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 So if Mario is going to play LDE, where does that leave Kelsay? As far as I know, Kelsay has never played RDE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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