Merriman goes to IR

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by aceinthehouse

Can he be worse than Andre Carter at LB?
Guy is great as a pss rushing End,but can't cover in the 3-4 to save his life.

I believe that was one of merriman's strengths.
Yes,he's a sack machine (or was in 05,06 and 07...but i believe he can cover fairly well)

We are now a 3-4 team and we need to do everything we can to have the absolute best 4 LB's on the field at the same time.

Remember the Saints when they had Sam Mills,Ricky Jackson, Vaugh Johnson and Pat Swilling.
Hell,they had their own knickname called "The Dome Patrol"

We have that in Orakpo
McIntosh can certainly be a part of this as well. He's playing very well.
Love Fletcher,but how long does he have..1 yr..maybe 2? (We need to find his replacement)
Alexander is great,but for how long...the dude was an O-lineman and D-Lineman.

Merriman is only 26...but maybe his HGH was why he was good..who knows?
But if he can be had for cheap...You have to at least inquire about it imo...

Yeah Carter is the first one i thought about. This is definitly Carter's last year in DC unless we switch back to a 4-3, he made a no-trade clause for a reason - so that he can pick where he wants to be and it aint here anymore. Carter hasnt really been playing much after Houston this season anyways.

I dont see anyreason not to persue Merriman, were in a new system and any vet that can fit in the role should be considered.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Yeah Carter is the first one i thought about. This is definitly Carter's last year in DC unless we switch back to a 4-3, he made a no-trade clause for a reason - so that he can pick where he wants to be and it aint here anymore. Carter hasnt really been playing much after Houston this season anyways.

I dont see anyreason not to persue Merriman, were in a new system and any vet that can fit in the role should be considered.

Even if we were to switch back to 4-3, which will not, it is time to get rid of Carter. In the 4-3 Carter was a liability in the running game against power running teams that had a strong OT. Only good at rushing the passer. That is all.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

Even if we were to switch back to 4-3, which will not, it is time to get rid of Carter. In the 4-3 Carter was a liability in the running game against power running teams that had a strong OT. Only good at rushing the passer. That is all.

Well, strong against the run in a one-gap scheme, but the wider that gap is, the more likely Carter always was to miss his responsibility on counter/cutback/reverse action. It really was something teams have schemed against him for a long time.

Carter has always been a tough guy to block. Too quick for tackles, too strong for tight ends.

Valuable player as long as he still has his pass rushing skills, but he's at the age where pass rushers decline. He's a below average player if you sap away his speed rushing ability.