Shawne Merriman in our

[DipChit]

6+ years of absolute futile efforts in trying to get pressure on other teams QB's, make negative plays and force turnovers says otherwise

like the others said...its the scheme..they are coached to be passive and sit back on their heals

David

I dont disagree that our scheme isnt a full blown attacking style. So if the discussion is about the defense as a whole thats one thing.

But in the case of just talking strictly about the pass rush capabilities of individual players in obvious (if not less than obvious) pass rush situations, the fact is the guys we've had the last 10 years just havent been particularly good at it.

I wouldnt think that should be so hard to accept. The Reggie Whites and Haleys and Strahans of the world dont grow on trees. I trust you dont think that Carver or Pittman or Ekuban or Ellis or anyone we put out there actually were one of those guys but we screwed it up. Guys who no matter what the scheme is and regardless of the fact that the opponent is "scared to death" of them so they focus on stopping them for the most part, get their action anyway.

I think thats the simple fear here for some guys. That Merriman will turn out to be viewed as one of those types and Ware wont.

To me scheme played no more of a role when it came to invidual capabilites of DE's we've trotted out there the last 10 years than it would've been to say that scheme was the over-riding problem in why our offense sucked so bad for so long. It wasnt scheme, the skill players just werent good enough. Individually or as a unit.

Obviously with Ware he's still young and growing and learning. Make no mistake though theres going to be no shortage of plays this year where his job is going to be nothing more than get to the QB. No shortage of snaps like that already in game 1. Lets see how he does.

 

[CATCH17]

Even if Merriman is a better pass rusher then thats the only thing he does better.

Demarcus Ware is the better all around linebacker and none of you can argue with that.

Merriman wouldn't fit in our system because he would be asked to do things he isnt capable of doing.

Ware would fit in theirs and be more versatile.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

defense would not be allowed to the things he is doing in San Diego.
I believe Ware in SD would be just as good.

Our defensive schemes suck.

keep in mind we played a 12-4 team with superbowl aspirations. they played the raiders with 1st pick aspirations and their players cheering against themselves. come on....get real

 

[Tass]

Here is the truth: If we HAD drafted Merriman, he wouldn't be the beast he is in SD. Zim's soft defensive schemes would not allow Merriman to run riot all over QBs like he gets to do in SD. The only positive attribute that Merriman has over Ware is his aggressive, pretend-that-you-slapped-his-mama style of play while Ware is the kind of guy who helps up QBs that he's just sacked. Then again, if I had to bet on who gets arrested first I'd put my money on Merriman. (But who cares? Athletes never EVER do serious time unless they kill someone...oh, wait a minute...)

Anyway, just saying Merriman would be wasted here in Dallas with our wimpy, attitude-free D. Stop coveting Merriman! If he were here he'd be...DeMarcus Ware.

 

[Bull Frog]

I just wish Ware was used more like Merriman. Ware's primary job should be pressuring the QB. When you think of guys like Derrick Thomas or LT you think of sacks and relentless pressure on the QB. Nobody thinks of LT and says, "wow, remember that game where he held Doug Cosbie in check". We remember him for destroying QB's. Guys like Freeney are coming 100 MPH every play and while he can be exploited his sacks provide a greater impact on the game. People don't say, "wow, that Freeney can really contain the outside run when he stays at home." His strength is rushing the passer.

The bottom line is we've needed QB pressure since Haley retired. We now have a dynamic player and I don't think we are utilizing him properly.

 

[Tass]

I just wish Ware was used more like Merriman. Ware's primary job should be pressuring the QB. When you think of guys like Derrick Thomas or LT you think of sacks and relentless pressure on the QB. Nobody thinks of LT and says, "wow, remember that game where he held Doug Cosbie in check". We remember him for destroying QB's. Guys like Freeney are coming 100 MPH every play and while he can be exploited his sacks provide a greater impact on the game. People don't say, "wow, that Freeney can really contain the outside run when he stays at home." His strength is rushing the passer.

The bottom line is we've needed QB pressure since Haley retired. We now have a dynamic player and I don't think we are utilizing him properly.

Everything you just posted was 100% correct. You win the internet!

 

[cnhnyy]

look, I still like Ware but the argument of " our scheme" preventing ware from getting sacks is getting old. The last time I checked, SD's scheme did not exactly produce 10+ sack player every year.

SD badly needed a pass rusher in years and they found one in Merriman. Period. This guy had 10 sacks, DROY, a pro-bowler, and had another three-sack performance in the season debut....

We are still searching for our consistent pass rusher.

 

[MarkBrunell]

Demarcus Ware lakes the swagger that Shawne Merriman plays with.

Ware is not the guy who will get into QB's heads. He has a very quiet demeanor. Merriman knows how to get into the heads of his opponents.

Ware needs to play with more attitude.

 

[CactusCowboy]

Ware is very good, but not the caliber of player as Merriman....so far.

 

[Thunderstruck]

They're both going to be great. Merriman will be more like L.T. or Derrick Thomas, and Ware will be more of a traditional 4-3 OLB and he will be very good at it. If you put Ware in our defense he'd probably have more sacks, though I do think Merriman is just naturally gifted when it comes to getting to the QB.

As a Charger fan one of the biggest things I think Merriman has in his favor is that he's already become the defense's emotional leader. He's ultra-confident, and that attitude seems to rub-off on the entire front-seven. Our defense has a swaggar that I've never seen in a Charger defense before. So, with Merriman a lot of it is attitude, but I don't think that can be discounted. Teams need to have attitude, especially on defense.