Brandon Merriweather Personal Foul

[Forty_Sixand2]

....what?

The tweet is right there...in the post...

Like, we can see it and therefore read it.

Can you not see the tweets?

 

[Shenanihanigans]

The problem is that this rule, like the bullshit rule that caused the jets to win their game vs the pats this weekend, is completely subjective. The bears wr lowered his body for crissakes in the first hit!

Orakpo was called for a personal,foul too, for what?

The bears players and their fans are whining, but the truth of the matter is that the only way a player should be penalized for that hit is if he leaves his feet AND leads with the head. Other than that, like when a wr makes himself smaller to avoid a collision, should be considered incidental contact.

Common sense.

 

[tk83]

Right!
Merriweather is a head-hunter & has been for some time.
A 2 game suspension is pretty light.

None of you can justify it - you're just wasting your breath - he leads with his helmet, period.
End of story.

 

[blh7068]

Still...no answer on the Brandon Marshall hit. How would you suggest we play it?

Maybe when the defensive backfield ends a few more careers, they will reconsider the high hit thing.


As for illegal 15 years ago...NOPE. Football didn't become a "poosy" sport until about 5 to 10 years ago.

How to play it? Well, step 1 would be the defender doesnt leave his feet. YEP- that would have been a flag 15 years ago...as that would have been classified as spearing...which has been illegal for YEARS.

 

[richig07]

Dude... the guy's tackling technique is to tuck his arms together, lower his head, and launch himself upwards towards the receivers head like a torpedo.

Those two hits wouldn't have been legal 20 years ago. More or less today. I hate these new rules, but this shit was blatant spearing to the head.

 

[Krusheasy]

How to play it? Well, step 1 would be the defender doesnt leave his feet.

Meriweather is on his feet in both shots posted below.

I hate these new rules, but this shit was blatant spearing to the head.

If you look at the picture of the 2nd hit, it is obvious the receiver is squatting & lowering his head to where his chest had been just moments before.

In real time I dont think it's as cut and dry as everyone wants to make it out to be. No fan is going to complain when a safety comes in & blows up a completion and turns it into a fumble/incompletion.



hit number one

hit number 2

 

[Krusheasy]

1h[/ame] Still don't think this is a defenseless WR.. How many steps do they need when they're looking at the DB? [URL="http://t.co/gViiqaphzV"]pic.twitter.com/gViiqaphzV


1h[/ame]
See how BM was committed before Alshon lowered his body.. [URL="http://t.co/f2yfaNwhVW"]pic.twitter.com/f2yfaNwhVW


1h[/ame]
Look at the bright side.. At least the [URL="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Redskins&src=hash"]#Redskins drafted 2 Safeties that can't tackle so they can comply with the new rules

 

[SoCalWizFan]

You can argue intent & various subtleties of the various plays. However - over the course of this season & beyond as Redskins fans we can't keep making excuses for this guy. The Packers game should have been a major red flag for this guy. The various arguments that are made here not withstanding - Meriweather leads with his head & very obviously is playing old school football where he is trying to apply the major blow to opposing players. That is just not going to work in today's NFL (whether it is right or wrong).

The point is not whether this is "sissy" football or if the refs or NFL are completely interpreting the rules correctly. The point is that Meriweather needs to adopt a new style or continue to face the consequences including the real possibility that he will no longer find a place in the NFL. A two game suspension might be just what he needs to take time and think about all of this (perhaps he is already trying to change his style but old habits die slowly).

As for not having him vs. Manning & Rivers - so what. It probably would not matter much anyhow & if the guy was not suspended he would probably continue to rack up the penalties since he would be under close scrutiny.

All of us should look at this from the opposing view. If a player from another team acted in this manner against one of the Redskins most people here would be screaming for a suspension.

HTTR

 

[Krusheasy]

You can argue intent & various subtleties of the various plays.

Thank you.

 

[blh7068]

Krusheasy- Your still of Merriweathers feet on the ground (before he launched into Marshall) is all that shows. I saw the play several times from a good angle- he left his feet, it was very easy to see. That was textbook spearing.

Im sure you know the guy has had headhunting tendencies throughout his career.

 

[Krusheasy]

Im sure you know the guy has had headhunting tendencies throughout his career.

Yeah, he's an old dog. His technique actually looked better in week 4 vs the Lions ... after getting fined in week 3 vs the Packers. Maybe there is still hope for him ?

But, with the pathetic state our secondary is in, we don't have the option to cut him as some fans called for during the GDT. I believe one fan called for is death, also.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

Yeah, he's an old dog. His technique actually looked better in week 4 vs the Lions ... after getting fined in week 3 vs the Packers. Maybe there is still hope for him ?

But, with the pathetic state our secondary is in, we don't have the option to cut him as some fans called for during the GDT. I believe one fan called for is death, also.

If he continues in this manner they won't need to cut him - he will be suspended long term by the NFL. Need to get past the impact he has on the secondary - this goes beyond that. Also - he is not as good as we first believed. He is certainly an upgrade but does not appear to be a major one especially when he is incurring penalties and suspensions.

I think whatever hope there is for this guy is fading fast. He better completely change his ways & make a public statement on this or basically wave his career goodbye.

 

[Krusheasy]

Need to get past the impact he has on the secondary - this goes beyond that.

Think you're getting carried away ... especially considering how quickly these decisions are made to place a hit, a WR deciding to squat, etc.

I don't recall anyone complaining how another Redskins strong safety knocked out players. But the times, they are a changing.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko1iFkz11xg]The Legend of Sean - YouTube[/ame]

 

[j_y19]

He can't change his ways for a couple reasons. First, we want our safety to be aggressive. Second, for him to change his tackling technique while still maintaining his aggressiveness, it requires practice. The new CBA limits severely the amount of contact during practice. This is also the issue with teaching rambo how to tackle. You can talk all you what about technique in the film room, but the only way to learn how to tackle properly is to..........tackle properly, over and over in practice at a live target. That just isn't going to happen during the season.

If Meriweather starts to pull up on hitting guys, the next thing you know, he wiffs and a huge gain results. I'm not defending his hitting style, it does need to change. I'm just making a statement as to his ability to change it this year. Highly unlikely.

One of the things lost in this whole discussion is how fast these hits occur and the real ability for a player to hit a moving target (such as a WR) at top speed. This is the error of the new rule. These hits happen in microseconds. A player begins his tackling move, while the ball carrier/receiver is also moving. The target that the tackler is aiming for is now no longer there. If the carrier crouches, turns, etc, before the hit, a target that was the numbers or even the waist may now be the chin. I just don't see how a tackler can avoid this other than to go low at the knees. We all know what the results of that will be.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

Think you're getting carried away ... especially considering how quickly these decisions are made to place a hit, a WR deciding to squat, etc.

I don't recall anyone complaining how another Redskins strong safety knocked out players. But the times, they are a changing.

The Legend of Sean - YouTube

Disagree. Sean Taylor was a much smarter player than Meriweather. You guys act as if there is nothing the guy can do to avoid this, and I don't believe this is the case. If Taylor were alive I am 100% confident that he would adjust his game if he was incurring suspensions & penalties that impacted the outcome. I believe he was much less selfish than Meriweather.

This kind of irks me since it portrays Taylor as little more than a headhunter & nothing could be further from the truth. He was an all around defender & one of the Skins best playmakers in spite of the fact that he played safety. Bad comparison IMO.

Anyhow - I wish nothing bad for the Skins, but we need to face reality on this one. I agree that some of this is not fair to defenders & decisions must be made in seconds. However - you cannot honestly tell me that Meriweather doesn't use his head as a weapon more than most defenders in the NFL. Time for him to change his ways.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

Actually - Meriweather's play reminds me a lot of Landry when he was here. Landry might have changed his ways since leaving the Skins (not sure - since I don't follow him anymore). However - when he was with the Redskins he would make some great plays but always offset this with penalties & stupid celebrations even after other teams gained a 1st down.

Landry was much more of a "me" player who often did this to the detriment of the team. That is why I was not too sad to see him go even though it resulted in less talented safety play (that & the fact that he was frequently injured which is another trait he shares with Meriweather).

 

[Krusheasy]

I believe he was much less selfish than Meriweather.

This kind of irks me since it portrays Taylor as little more than a headhunter & nothing could be further from the truth. He was an all around defender & one of the Skins best playmakers in spite of the fact that he played safety. Bad comparison IMO.

I don't get the selfish comment. He's out there laying the lumber to help the team get wins.

The comparison I was trying to make was in their fearless style of play, not in level of talent.

This debate gets to the culture change Mike has made since taking over. He has brought in a lot of solid character guys. But teams also need players willing to get their hands dirty. Joe Gibbs understood that. For every Darrel Green, there was a Dexter Manley. For every Art Monk, there was a John Riggins.

Our special teams unite is a prime example. They might be upstanding young men, but the special teams unit needs are players willing to go out there and take someones head off.

15m[/ame] Brandon Meriweather has appealed his two-game suspension by the NFL, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

I don't get the selfish comment. He's out there laying the lumber to help the team get wins.

The comparison I was trying to make was in their fearless style of play, not in level of talent.

This debate gets to the culture change Mike has made since taking over. He has brought in a lot of solid character guys. But teams also need players willing to get their hands dirty. Joe Gibbs understood that. For every Darrel Green, there was a Dexter Manley. For every Art Monk, there was a John Riggins.

Our special teams unite is a prime example. They might be upstanding young men, but the special teams unit needs are players willing to go out there and take someones head off.

15m Brandon Meriweather has appealed his two-game suspension by the NFL, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

I am not referring to talent. I was stating that Taylor had a much higher football IQ than Meriweather. As a matter of fact IMO Taylor had one of the highest football IQs of anyone who played the game.

Meriweather & others may believe their style is helping the team, but - given current rules - you just cannot think that way. If "laying the lumber" means making a solid tackle without the crown of your helmet (like D. Hall did a few weeks ago) - fine. However - using the top of your helmet in certain ways is not going to be tolerated and it also leads to problems for the person making the tackle. Like it or not - it won't be tolerated.

You can't make comparisons to the Gibbs I era since the rules, etc were totally different then. Heck - they allowed someone like Lawrence Taylor to play when he was probably coked up half the time. Someone like Riggins quite possibly would have had issues in this era. Manley may not have made it more than a few seasons.

I agree you need dedicated players that will "go to war" for you. However - in this era - you also need to be smart. Players like Meriweather, Suh, etc are going to have to realize this. They will figure it out - or else.....

 

[sublime4eva]

How about leading with shoulder and not the head

You make that sound like that's easy to do for how fast the game is...

Did you happen to see how knee injuries their were this weekend? It's going to only get worse, break the guys leg or knee I say cause apparently that's ok.

 

[SoCalWizFan]

You make that sound like that's easy to do for how fast the game is...

Did you happen to see how knee injuries their were this weekend? It's going to only get worse, break the guys leg or knee I say cause apparently that's ok.

That is true & will be a tough adjustment given what these guys were probably taught early on (although ultimately it might be better for their long term health). However - what they can avoid & need to stop is launching themselves head-first. That needs to stop. If not - then they should not complain when they incur penalties, suspensions, fines and injuries. That is any player's choice, but I would not defend those actions even if the player is on the Redskins.