Merriman vs Ware....what was our draft dept thinking?

[Mash]

As of right now....Ware has shown no more potential other then pre draft press clippings then Pittman who was drafted in the 20's by the Boys.

Ware deserves all the bashing....Ellis received it....Ek...took it....Pittman took it...

From a pick that high.....he needs to produce.....is it the system?....coaching?.....but as Bill said....scheme is overrated....good football players can play in any system...

So far...IMHO...Ware...Burnett...Spears....have all been disappointments.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Yes and this is the reason.

I watched the Charger game yesterday. At times Merriman and Foley would line up on the same side. They stunted him inside to take on a guard, blitzed him outside. They move him around much more than Ware. Our defensive philosophy has Ware rushing when the TE is on the other side and that's it. He's always rushing on the outside. No imagination at all. Merriman is more physical, but they use him more efficiently. They are maximizing his talents.

I also watched the part of the Pittsburgh game. Their inside LB's will stunt outside or blitz inside. Us? We run an all out blitz once or twice a game which is a guaranteed first down for the other team. We can't even get to the QB with an all out blitz and our QB is getting killed by a four man front. Very frustrating. It's the same thing year after year.

Because at this point Ware can only speed rusher from the outside. You can't stunt him, because he'll get blown up at the point of attack. I expect Ware to go into the offseason and get a lot stronger. But he'll never be a natural 270 lbs. specimen like Merriman is. That's what makes Merriman a once in a lifetime player. I don't think the game has ever seen a 270 lbs. linebacker that strong, fast and explosive.

 

[SultanOfSix]

Don't you people get sick of these threads? I mean, what happens if D.Ware gets three sacks and pressures Delhomme all over the field in Carolina, and Merriman is absent from his game? Will there be a thread that says Merriman sucks and D.Ware is a beast, and I'm glad we drafted him, blah, blah, blah.

It's not like one is significantly better than the other, where one hasn't done anything while the other is blowing the ceiling off. Sheesh.

 

[kartr]

First off, Ware isn't playing that badly for a rookie. His QB pressures are mounting. His sack numbers don't particlularly reflect how well he is playing. He is also leading the team in tackles for losses.

Having said that, those who were around on draft day will remember I was adamant about taking Merriman over Ware.

What's done is done however and I will be rooting for Warre to get better and better........and he will...........so will this team.

The main point here is that the best protected qb in the NFL was eaten alive by Merriman, plus tackled Edge in the backfield and ran Reggie Wayne down from behind. Clearly he was the better player cause he drew double teams in the 2nd half that opened up things for this teamates. He's a true difference maker and just like we whiffed on Al Johnson and Jacob Rogers and Bledsoe, we also whiffed on Kevin Williams and Rashean Mathis and Quincy Carter. Parcells makes a habit of making bad personnel decisions which is costing us big time. More spotty drafts and free agency moves wont help us get better.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I think Ware will be awesome next year & I'm sick and tired of so many people being upset with performance of Ware and our other rookies. There wouldn't even have been a Cowboy Hall of Fame if some of you guys had your way cause we would have cut everybody who didn't perform at pro bowl level in first year. No body would have heard of Landry cause he would have been gone after 4th year of not winning SB. Geez.

In ADDITION to the above post. It seems that this is "last years thread" with a different name. Last year it was Newman(2nd year)... this year its WARE

Ware will be fine. We still need more guys on D. The D is not complete.

 

[Sarge]

Don't you people get sick of these threads? I mean, what happens if D.Ware gets three sacks and pressures Delhomme all over the field in Carolina, and Merriman is absent from his game? Will there be a thread that says Merriman sucks and D.Ware is a beast, and I'm glad we drafted him, blah, blah, blah.

It's not like one is significantly better than the other, where one hasn't done anything while the other is blowing the ceiling off. Sheesh.

These threads will always exist as long as we respond to them.



PS - I'll Merriman right now for Ware and I love Ware.

 

[joseephuss]

The main point here is that the best protected qb in the NFL was eaten alive by Merriman, plus tackled Edge in the backfield and ran Reggie Wayne down from behind. Clearly he was the better player cause he drew double teams in the 2nd half that opened up things for this teamates. He's a true difference maker and just like we whiffed on Al Johnson and Jacob Rogers and Bledsoe, we also whiffed on Kevin Williams and Rashean Mathis and Quincy Carter. Parcells makes a habit of making bad personnel decisions which is costing us big time. More spotty drafts and free agency moves wont help us get better.

How did they miss on Quincy Carter? They did draft him. In fact, they took him too soon when they could have drafted him in the 4th round. They could have had Shaun Rodgers instead of QC and not needed Kevin Williams.

Rashean Mathis? Why do you hate Newman so much. Newman is having a great year.

Is there anyone on the Cowboys that you actually like? I actually wish they would bring Quincy back just to show you it would not work. Of course he would have to sit out a whole year. What excuse would you use for that? Have you notice that no team in the NFL has picked up Quincy. In a league that is starved for QBs, don't you think it is a bit odd that no one wants this guy? Must be a conspiracy.

 

[conner01]

cut him1 he's a bust
we know he is a failure so why go on?
and we know this after 1 season in a new system surounded by young guys learning as well.
amazing!

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

If he switched them Ware would have the numbers and we would be talking about how great he is.

Ware is just screwed until Zimmer and BP leave town.

Well said! Ware is not being used to maximize his talents-Merriman is. Also, Merriman went into a situation where he is playing along side established pros, in an established system. Ware walked into a team where not only he, but the entire "D" was learning the 3-4. Ware has not had nearly the support from fellow lineman as Merriman, as Dallas is playing their other two rookie lineman almost as much as their pros.

I jumped around & screamed for 10 minutes when the Cowboys took Ware over Merriman, but I feel now that they made the right move. He shows every game that he is the best player in that front seven, and will get even stronger and better, as his fellow rookie teammates do the same. Add one or two more quality players on this front seven, fire Zimmer & BP, and use these guys to their full potential---for God's sake!!

 

[Bull Frog]

Not to make excuses, but one thing I've wondered is about all of the games Ware has played including the pre-season. He played almost every defensive down, plus special teams in the pre-season and rarely comes out of the game. He was playing 10 games a year in college, but has played 18 as of today. Just a musing not an excuse. He could just be 'waring' down.

 

[Hiero]

I am not really sure. It seems like Ware never really ever gets help, he just always goes one on one with the LT, no stunts, nothing special, just same old bullrush. Maybe Merrimanw as the better choice....

 

[jfell99]

http://rapidshare.de/files/8079312/merriman.wmv.html

These highlights are only up to about Week 11 or 12, so it won't include the last few Charger games....a sequel has been promised..

Those highlights left me... unimpressed.

At draft time i was a huge merriman fan, and expected to watch this highlight video and become extremely jealous. And i did... but not of Merriman. Of the rest of their d-line. On nearly every one of his sacks it was the result of internal pressure from a DT that flushed the qb into Merriman's arms.

In other words, he was almost always the second guy there.

Of course he's good, of course he's talanted, but i didn't see anything that made me regret our decision.

-josh

 

[Sarge]

I am not really sure. It seems like Ware never really ever gets help, he just always goes one on one with the LT, no stunts, nothing special, just same old bullrush. Maybe Merrimanw as the better choice....

I agree - we should be blitzing more from Ware's side or at least faking same.

 

[AbeBeta]

Demarcus did something very wrong this off-season. Instead of trying to gain massive weight like Merriman did, he continued to go to school and finished his degree.

That put him behind Merriman physically. What a selfish jerk Ware is.

 

[Hiero]

Those highlights left me... unimpressed.

At draft time i was a huge merriman fan, and expected to watch this highlight video and become extremely jealous. And i did... but not of Merriman. Of the rest of their d-line. On nearly every one of his sacks it was the result of internal pressure from a DT that flushed the qb into Merriman's arms.

In other words, he was almost always the second guy there.

Of course he's good, of course he's talanted, but i didn't see anything that made me regret our decision.

-josh

very true, merriman has al ot more opportunities. Their NT is absolutely dominant, Jamal Williams, plus Luis Castillo is a big guy. Plus they blitz him way more than Ware it really seems like.

 

[Hiero]

I agree - we should be blitzing more from Ware's side or at least faking same.

Wouldnt it be nice to see Ware with a blitz go free to the QB for once, instead of having to go one on one with LT's like Samuels who dominated him? Merriman seems to be free quite often, while Ware always has to do a ton just to get a pressure.

 

[TunaFan33]

Zoners, CrazyCowboy (if you review old posts) was and still is really high on DeMarcus Ware. He can fly (run fast), great person, needs a little more strength, lot's of POTENTIAL football player.

While Merriman may have character (supposedly) issues, he is fast, strong as an OX, his nickname is "lights out", and should be headed to Hawaii (Pro Bowl)!

Question: Was the Cowboys in the DARK again on draft day #1 picking DeMarcus Ware over Shawn "Lights Out" Merriman?

:bang2:

Why did I eat an apple for lunch instead of an orange?

Two words-"Mike Zimmer"

Frankly-put Richard Seymour on our DL, and we'll still stink up the joint.

 

[Sarge]

Wouldnt it be nice to see Ware with a blitz go free to the QB for once, instead of having to go one on one with LT's like Samuels who dominated him? Merriman seems to be free quite often, while Ware always has to do a ton just to get a pressure.

Yes. I'm not a Zimmer basher at all but one complaint I do have of the guy is his lack of designing good blitzes. We can't blitz effectively to save our hides.

It's been a problem for a long time so in that respect - I do blame Zimmer.

 

[whateverman]

pretty much what others have said...I noticed merriman rushing from several spots yesterday, solb, wolb, rde, lde, inside, outside...ware is only rushign from his wolb spot and as a de in nickle situations....its not a fair comparison at this point

 

[CrazyCowboy]

5. Cincinnati's Odell Thurman probably wins the league's defensive rookie of the year award. But I just changed my vote to San Diego's Shawne Merriman. He creates havoc when he rushes the passer, as Manning discovered Sunday. It was Merriman who sacked Manning twice and tackled the star quarterback for a loss on a fourth-and-goal at the San Diego 1. Merriman's two sacks put him at nine for the season, and don't mention it to Cowboys coach Bill Parcells. He wanted to draft Merriman this year, but owner Jerry Jones tilted toward DeMarcus Ware. There was a furious debate the morning of the draft, and guess who won? Yep, San Diego.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9104505