Unwanted Notice

Both the Boston globe and WEEI have started vibing Brandon Merriweather's stunted development. The elder print and Christopher Gasper had things like "played only 1 snap out of 65 against Indianapolis" to say leading up to the Bills game two weeks ago. The November 17th column proved Merriweather's lack of playing time would actually not qualify him for the rookie field explored in the blog(ah-hem). He is sympathized by veteran James Sanders who has exceeded expectations, if there were even any outside the actual Patriots locker room and leads the secondary unit with 41 tackles. The Big Show and Steve DeOsse and Fred Smerlas just Fridayhad a discussion pointing out the great lengths of deservedness and earning Belichick commands when awarding playing time. Simply put, Meriweather has just not impressed enough in practice to earn the snaps Rashad Baker, an undrafted Volunteer, and Eddie Alexander who had not seen the field until two weeks ago in Buffalo, have. Unfortunately for Brandon, he is being spoken about, but for negative reasons. It is now very evident he has not learned and matured quite as quickly as an All-American and 24th overall pick should. Right?

Is it fair to call out Meriweather this early into his career. Yes, the past few first rounders have started immediately upon entering the league. However, it is not as though each has come in and dominated their position. Laurence Maroney, certainly the recent draftee with the most to justify, had been injury plagued and not produced what most had hoped. Logan Mankins has just now turned into a premier guard. Further, Belichick, whose standards are higher than all coaches, trusts him and consistently plays him on special teams. A task Meriweather has been up to, second on the unit(Pierre Woods) with 10 special teams tackles. Yes, maybe he has not graduated and become Ed Reed, but he has surely shown he can physically compete at this NFL level. Now, he must prove he can learn the complicated Belichick defense game plans.

Although he saw snaps against the Eagles last week, he was unable to record a tackle after wrapping up two solos against the Bills.

Wright Moves

Unfortunately, the subject of the blog has had a rough go of it the past month. Each of the other young DB's have put in productive minutes in the past three weeks. As mentioned in the previous post, after Laron Landry had a career day versus the Patriots in painful defeat, he provided a very serviceable line in the overtime win in East Rutherford recording 7 tackles and a pass defensed. Although he was a bit M.I.A in the home loss to Philadelphia, he has quickly become an effective 5th DB and even starter, right now third on the 'Skins in tackles(with 2 for losses as well). Aaron Ross, lining up down on 95 in East Rutherford, for the stadium's namesake, has slowed just a bit. His minutes were scarcer to open the season. Once they spiked, he responded with a 5 week stretch(Wks 5-7) that totaled 20 of his 25 tackles and 3 interceptions, one for a 43 yard return for a touchdown. Against the Dolphins in swampy London and divisional opponent Cowboys in Irving, he took down 4 ball carriers.

None, however, have left a deeper imprint on the field than Eric Wright. Over the past 3 weeks- in St. Louis, home for Seattle, and in Pittsburgh- Wright has amassed 24 more tackles, only one of those assisted, for a season total and team leading 68. An astonishing 64 of those have been solo, displaying a refined ability for the open field tackle as a rookie. He also defensed 3 more passes. I was personally exposed to his natural progression into a shutdown NFL corner, just this weekend, taking in the Browns-Steelers shootout from the comfort of a downtown Detroit sports bar, Harry's. While I was rooting for the Steelers(a touch forced), I have now become a Browns fan as well. I was treated to "rookie" performance Charles Woodson had to be impressed with.

First, he set his season, and thus career, high in tackles with 12. All of which were solo. I recall one in particular when Hines Ward made an impressive 8 yard in-route reception with Wright on his numbers, wrapping him up and stopping him short of the first down marker. His pass-defensed may have been more impressive. Again, against one of the most proven wide receivers of this generation with the ball at the 8 or 10 yard line, he was positioned forward, stationed at the front of the goaline when he broke from his first responsibility, and quickly released to the back corner of the endzone, timing a leap perfectly and glancing the well-thrown Big Ben pass off his gloves and over Hines' helmet. Oh yes, while I cannot specifically recall seeing it, he also recorded a full sack. He has become the most stable and productive player not just in the Browns secondary, but on the entire defensive unit. Makes me regret not purchasing the NFL Ticket. There's still time.

Apres Epique

Well I am not sure if that is how you spell epic in French..........

If not for the haplessness of the Jets, the 'Skins would be looking at a three game skid, it all beginning with the 45 point slaughter Belichick's new school put on Mr. Gibbs. However, you cannot take away the Redskins resolve to get the overtime 23-20 win when needed in Giants Stadium against the visitin home team's Minions of Mangini. Of course, the Patriots overcame an evil twin of Tom Brady in the first half and a blatant and despicable attempt to effect the outcome of this great game by higher powers, to stage a surgical 4th quarter comeback and 24-20 victory. Anyone who watched that game objectively, and let's be honest, there were not many, most wanted to see the landlord Pats fall, could not have left it without noticing the absolute bias the referrees were showing the Colts. Be it Vegas or preferred franchise faces of the NFL theories, someone did not want New England to win. Yet, they did. Further proof that barring a Tom Brady injury, this team will not lose. Before the Week 9 matchups for these merger foes, the massacre at Gillette Stadium did see two of the active members of this blog pitted against one another, LaRon Landry and of course Brandon Merriweather.

Landry may possibly have been the only bright spot on the Redskins roster that October afternoon. He had a career(season) day administering 15 takles, 11 solo, and a pass defensed. Merriweather had the unfortunate distincton of being the only victimized Patriot, literally, all day. 3 minutes into the 4th Quarter, he was singled in the slot against 'Skins TE Chris Cooley. Jason Campbell threw a quick hit and Cooley took it to 15 yards to the house, about 12 with Meriweather saddled to his back attempting to bring Cooley down before the endzone. He was unable to get into the statbook, something that plagued him in Indianapolis as well. It's safe to say, Brandon has not progressed as much as Belichick and Pioli would have hoped. He has had the opportunity with the miriad of injuries(and suspensions) to the Patriots secondary. Luckily, the hobbled verterans have played well enough to supliment the offenses' dismantling of the opposition allowing Meriweather the field time he needs to learn the NFL system, however slowly.

Seeing Quality Time and Producing

After a week of research, the three "base" players for Brandon's comparison will be Aaron Ross of the Giants, LaRon Landry of the Redskins, and Eric Wright of the Browns. There exists multiple contingent provisos in how these young talents were chosen. First, there are both Corner Backs and Safeties. I originally had planned and hoped to dissect simply Brandon's counterparts, Safeties. However, after reviewing the first two rounds of the draft, there were not sufficient safety draftees who have amassed enough playing time, and thus results, to build a matrix with respect to Brandon's. Thus, a defensive back approach will be taken. Second, because of the presence of both positions, although part of the same micro unit, the ability to investigate and evaluate the unique responsibilities Brandon shoulders across each of these players and their respective positions affords itself. After 7 weeks of the season, here are the principle stats each "base" has produced:

Aaron Ross, CB(Texas) - NY Giants

Tackles: 21 Solo: 17 Sacks: 1 PD: 7 INT: 3 FF: 0
Game High Tackles: 8(Wk 7 vs San Francisco)

LaRon Landry, S(LSU) - Washington Redskins

Tackles: 35 Solo: 21 Sacks: .5 PD: 2 INT: 0 FF: 0
Game High Tackles: 12 (Wk 3 vs NY Giants)

Eric Wright, CB(UNLV) - Cleveland Browns

Tackles: 44 Solo: 41 Sacks: 1 PD: 5 INT: 1 FF: 0

Game High Tackles: 10(Wk 2 vs Cincinnati)

The above numbers also reflect the unit each was drafted into and will be taken into account. Is Brandon's playing time less because of veterans Asante Samuel and Randall Gay?

Site Launch

This blog, over the course of the remainder of the term(and NFL season), will record, analyze, and give theoretical predictions on the impact four rookie defensive backs will have on their respective teams. The central character and basis for all points will be New England Patriots' rookie first round draft pick, Brandon Meriweather out of the University of Miami. Three additional rookie defensive backs will be researched and chosen for comparison in the next few days. Eligibilty for nomination and appointment include:

• Minimum of 5 games played
• Minimum of 10 plays per game
• Drafted in Rounds 1-2

I will compare and contrast these young talents in these statistical categories:

• Tackles
• Interceptions
• Passes Defensed
• Forced Fumbles

• Number of times thrown to - This is an extremely telling statistics from teh point of view of the opponent, yet is not easily found
  

Observational points and opinions will be made with respect to value of each within own organization and unit as well as how each stacks up versus one another, again, with Brandon as the focal point. While each of their statistics will be followed and updated, stories, photos, team stats, and more will employ the former Hurricane and his team as protagonists.