Philip Merling Article

[Dirtbag59]

"At least 11 other teams had representatives in attendance: Baltimore, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Miami, Green Bay, Carolina, New York Jets, New York Giants, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay."

That bodes well for us gettting a chance to select Merling at 21. The only team on that list that worries me is Tampa Bay, as they could be dreaming of pairing Adams and Merling together in back to back years. However other then that as long as Brown remains an idiot and Bidwill follows suit then we'll be in good position to take Merling at 21 on draft day.

[SC Skins Fan]

Does anyone else find it odd how public the Redskins are being about their interest in Merling and Kelly? Flying in Snyder, etc. When they wanted Campbell back in 2005 they flew in a contingent secretly. Now word got out nonetheless, but it just doesn't seem to fit the pattern of this regime to be so obvious in their desires? Is that indicative of a change of strategy with Gibbs gone and Vinny in the lead or does it smell of subterfuge?

[skinsfan_nn]

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Posted at 3:56 PM ET, 04/24/2008
En Route To Oklahoma (UPDATED - And JC Is Rolling With Them)

So the Skins hearty contingent, including the owner and vp of football ops and head coach, has indeed left Clemson, where DE Phillip Merling worked out, and should be working out Malcolm Kelly shortly, the WR prospect.

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

As for Merling, spoke to some people down there at the workout. The kid is working through sports hernia surgery - no small deal - but went hard for 45 minutes, I am told. He was out there by himself and showed very well. About half the league had a representative there, but the Skins large contingent certainly drew ample attention.

Merling is tough as nails, and took a needle to the groin every Saturday just to be ablel to get on the field with Clemson, gutting through the hernia (the injury caused him to miss the physical part of the combine, and thus he held his workout today, on the last possible day). Scouts I talk to say he has strong character and is very stout at the point of attack ("He's not going to get outflanked," one said). He does not project to be a big sack guy, but could be a beast against the run (and considering what the Skins are looking for on the strong side, he sounds like a younger Phillip Daniels, with better upside). Could be good for a handful of sacks as well.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

Also, another name to watch on the second day of the draft is San Diego QB Josh Johnson, sources said. Johnson had a very good visit to Redskins Park and has been in touch with coach Jim Zorn, team sources said. He may not last until the 4th round, and that's a bit higher than where the Skins would probably like to take a QB given he would be a project and behind Campbell and Todd Collins for a while, but it's certainly worth watching with Zorn so closely tied to the QB position.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Posted at 3:56 PM ET, 04/24/2008
En Route To Oklahoma (UPDATED - And JC Is Rolling With Them)

So the Skins hearty contingent, including the owner and vp of football ops and head coach, has indeed left Clemson, where DE Phillip Merling worked out, and should be working out Malcolm Kelly shortly, the WR prospect.

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

As for Merling, spoke to some people down there at the workout. The kid is working through sports hernia surgery - no small deal - but went hard for 45 minutes, I am told. He was out there by himself and showed very well. About half the league had a representative there, but the Skins large contingent certainly drew ample attention.

Merling is tough as nails, and took a needle to the groin every Saturday just to be ablel to get on the field with Clemson, gutting through the hernia (the injury caused him to miss the physical part of the combine, and thus he held his workout today, on the last possible day). Scouts I talk to say he has strong character and is very stout at the point of attack ("He's not going to get outflanked," one said). He does not project to be a big sack guy, but could be a beast against the run (and considering what the Skins are looking for on the strong side, he sounds like a younger Phillip Daniels, with better upside). Could be good for a handful of sacks as well.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

Also, another name to watch on the second day of the draft is San Diego QB Josh Johnson, sources said. Johnson had a very good visit to Redskins Park and has been in touch with coach Jim Zorn, team sources said. He may not last until the 4th round, and that's a bit higher than where the Skins would probably like to take a QB given he would be a project and behind Campbell and Todd Collins for a while, but it's certainly worth watching with Zorn so closely tied to the QB position.

Sounds like Merling would be a nice compliment to Carter at the DE position.

[SmootSmack]

I think he's all but a lock to be our pick at #21. I think he'll probably be there when we pick and if he is, unless some great offer comes along we're taking Merling at 21.

[mooby]

I hope I'm wrong when I say this, but to me Phillip Merling is more of a run stuffing defensive end then a pass rusher. I was watching some of his highlights on NFLN today and he didn't really stand out as a pass rusher.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think he's all but a lock to be our pick at #21. I think he'll probably be there when we pick and if he is, unless some great offer comes along we're taking Merling at 21.

Good stuff, I hope he is there for us.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by mooby

I hope I'm wrong when I say this, but to me Phillip Merling is more of a run stuffing defensive end then a pass rusher. I was watching some of his highlights on NFLN today and he didn't really stand out as a pass rusher.

Well, here are several things I've heard (in no particular order)

-Blache loves Daniels (but I think we all knew that already) and would ideally like to get a similar player seeing as to Daniels is a bit long in the tooth

-They don't want to draft a pure pass rusher. Meaning they don't want someone who's only value is really against the pass because they realize AC's weakness is playing the run. They don't want that issue at both ends

-The team is really high on Wilson (and supposedly Buzbee, to a much lesser extent) and think he can really excel as their unofficial "sack specialist" and they like the idea of having a "young Daniels" that can slide to the inside effectively on situations where Wilson would come in

So all the above kind of points to Merling

-Also, I think they're trading their 2nd round pick

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

-Also, I think they're trading their 2nd round pick

I think they're going to trade their 2nd round pick as well, but what do you think they'll trade it for? Personally I think the team will trade up with the Jets for a shot at Jordy or Malcolm.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

-Also, I think they're trading their 2nd round pick

WHAT...WHAT...WHAAAAAT !!!!!

For what,or rather whom? Don't hold out on us O keeper of behind the scenes knowledge.

[SmootSmack]

For more picks in later rounds (possibly later in the 2nd and early 4th and 5th). I don't exactly know. I just know that they're starting to think that that pick might be easier to trade and help them achieve their goal of stocking up on mid-round picks. And they think there are a couple of potential trade partners.

It will really depend on how the draft unfolds.

[Skinny Tee]

I like the sound of Merling with our first. WR shouldn't be that big of a need that we need to address with our early picks.

[Stuck in TX]

Its all up and crazy right now. I just watched the Sports Center Mock Draft Special and they have us getting Merling as well, but with almost the entire first ten picks, there was almost always a mention of trading up or down. I would not be surprised if anything happened. Every year it gets more and more unpredicatable! As far as Merling is concerned, I think he would be a great pickup but only because the CB talent is low this year. I would much rather draft a CB in round one. Maybe next year.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

I hope I'm wrong when I say this, but to me Phillip Merling is more of a run stuffing defensive end then a pass rusher. I was watching some of his highlights on NFLN today and he didn't really stand out as a pass rusher.

We already have a pass rusher in Carter, we need a run-stopping DE and someone to eventually replace Daniels.

[killromo]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

I like the sound of Merling, I hope he is there for us. He sounds like a pretty tough mofo and a nice compliment to our line. Off topic, but what I really like about this update from JLC is JC's visible commitment to the team, flying out to test out the WR prospects. He has wonderful character and is really doing everything he can to be the best he can and help out. I am really excited about him this year working with Zorn, I feel a breakout year for him and he most definitely deserves it!