Quick Kicks: Meriweather “working” on tackling woes
Written by Erik Scalavino on March 18, 2010 – 11:24 am -Several of us media types spent about 15 minutes this morning talking with “Pro Bowl” safety Brandon Meriweather, who had just finished his daily workout here at Gillette Stadium.
You all know that Team PFW has been pretty critical of Meriweather’s tackling ability since he arrived in Foxborough in 2007. With that in mind, I asked him about the serious problem of missed tackles that plagued him and his defensive teammates all too often last season, and whether that was an area that he has targeted for improvement.
“For me, yes,” he replied. “I think with tackles, it all comes [down] to hustle. If everybody’s running to the ball, you could miss 10 tackles and they still won’t get too many yards. You know, the best defenses in the league this year, I think the first guy didn’t make the tackle. Barely ever made the tackle, should I say. It’s always the pursuit. Whenever you have a lot of guys running to the ball, you’re going to have a good defense, no matter what.”
So, let me get this straight … it’s about quantity, not quality? It’s less about using proper technique to bring down an opponent, and more about sending as many people as possible at a ball carrier, so that your odds of tackling him increase?
Hmm … I have to challenge Meriweather on this point. Yes, pursuit is important, no doubt. But it should be an added benefit, not a primary tactic. Call me a traditionalist, but I believe you need to exercise the fundamentals first.
To his credit, he explained that he’s going to spend the rest of the day watching the Saints game from last November — one of the worst performances by the Patriots secondary in ‘09 — to try to pinpoint what he and his teammates did wrong. Meriweather said he could actually spend several days or even weeks watching one particular game film if he feels he can learn from the mistakes he sees on screen.
Ed Reed, the Ravens All-Pro safety and fellow “U” alum, encouraged him to study film that way, Meriweather told us. Meriweather also revealed that his goal for 2010 is to lead the AFC in interceptions.
Posted in General |
March 18th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Shorten the chase when looking at that Saints game film, look for what you did right.
March 18th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I think that after watching this supposedly “Pro-Bowl” quality safety for 3 years now , it’s pretty apparent that he has earned his nickname :
BRANDON “U-TURN” MERIWEATHER
With Darren Sharper a free agent ( and a few solid rookie Safety candidates out there in the draft )I for one would love the Pats to “go in a different direction” (pun intended )
THE ONLY WAY THIS GUY LEADS THE LEAGUE IN INT’S IS IF THE PATS GET TO PLAY THE BEARS EVERY WEEK ( See Delholme )
ps - For those of you harpin’ on his ‘09 ProBowl selection as proof he is top shelf … I think it’s important 2 pt out that David Garrard was also a ‘09 PBer
( the fact is that so many real invitees bowed out ~ inferior product was showcased last season )
March 18th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
BRANDON “U-TURN” MERRIWEATHER WILL LEAD THE NFL IN DROPPED “GIMME INTs” , BITING ON PUMP FAKES , AND OF COURSE … U-TURNS .
March 18th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
The throw back uniforms are so sweet… you guys should get ride of the lame flying elvis ones.
March 18th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
arthur, if u only look at what u did right ur not gonna learn how to fix your mistakes
March 18th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
It seems as though the whole league has gotten away from proper tackling. I have witnessed it time and time again last yr. not just from the Pats but from almost every team. Its awful, because it seems everyone is trying to make the “big play” and not concentrating on how to bring a man down corrrectly.
March 18th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Fundamentals. I’m a woman, and nothing errks me more than to see professional athletes who lack them, or just plain don’t use them & coaching staffs who don’t get on them for letting them get away with not using them. It ticks me off when I see a guy over peruse or get to the RB or WR first and then try to tackle his shoulders. I realize the game is fast and sometimes you just react rather than predetermine your moves. But getting a probowl vote means you are one of the best at your position in the league. BM is super fast and has great hands for int’s, but I want to tackle him myself (and not in a good way) when I see him just plain give up on tackling after he worked hard to get there. I’m sorry BM but pursuit & and tackling are a package. Who gives a rip if you get to the ball first, or heck 5 of you get there first and you all get run over. It just makes the D look, well like rookies and incompetent. Once you know the basics and understand how important they are that is when you can become an intelligent and disciplined athlete and not an example of out of control athleticism. BM has the potential, I hope he’s not too proud to take some advice from a Woman!
P.S. BM should get Billbashed for his comments!
March 18th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
On the that play when the Pats played the Ravens in the playoffs when Rice ran for a touchdown there was a hole in the defensive line that you could drive a tractor through. When a safety comes up to make the tackle its like making an open field tackle running at full speedtoward the runner- very difficult. One deek by the back and he is gone as was the case. If the defensive line holds position so that the back cannot maneuver then tackling is a lot easier. Missed tackles like this are at least partially the fault of a poor defensive line against the run.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
you guys are too harsh - put ed reed, brian dawkins, darelle revis and champ bailey in your secondary and they will get torched if the pass rush is a non existent piece of (i cant say) If the pass rush is good any secondary will hold up (Giants 2007) - its not hard to see
March 18th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
You don’t know which of your teammates are behind you. You see the runner, you have to stop the runner. NOt brain surgery guy.
March 18th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
stop hating on one of our up and coming players tom brady wasnt a top gun when he came out of the draft half of you so called fans dont even know when brady was drafted or the fact on how to evaluate talent you should not be doggin your own team no matter how much you dont like them or you dont deserve to be called or wear patriots pride In bb we trust
March 18th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Could be another personel bust on a below average D…
March 18th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
I think that he had a decent year, whether he made the probowl or not. He just needs to not let a guy run downfield wide open, like in the saints game, even though he did put a good pop into Shockey.
But anyways, I dont think he did bad this year.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I honestly don’t understand where the Meriweather hating is coming from. He had a pretty solid year, his tackling was not perfect but come on, he was always hustling to make plays and compared to some safteys in the NFL, Meriweather’s tackling was great. He’s a big hitter, and big hitters don’t always make clean tackles, but when they do they’re memorable. Remember that hit on Shockey? And you can’t blame Meriweather for all of the Patriot’s secondary woes, I mean look at how Wilhite and Springs played at corner.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Well, it’s tough to replace him unless you have someone solid to replace him. Otherwise, he’s still got room to grow. Come on, the “glue” on the secondary was still drying last year.
March 18th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Wow … Meriweather actually SAID that? I’m stunned … and I’d like him traded asap please.
Fundamentals are, well, fundamental. That’s why they’re called fundamentals.
March 19th, 2010 at 1:23 am
Wow, you guys are morons. Meriweather is a good safety, and he just keeps improving.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:09 am
I’ve been waiting for the Pats to pick up Sharper as well. He’s good for a couple more years. He had boocoo INTs.
March 19th, 2010 at 7:26 am
Brandon Meriweather needs to find another team to practice for.
We need someone in that position that can actually tackle.
Until then consider the patriots secondary “Open”.
March 19th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Christ, these comments are getting worse with every week passing.
Get off the bandwagon, DB’s (and I don’t mean defensive backs)
March 19th, 2010 at 8:56 am
As a Pats fan from Canada I went to 3 games last year and came away at disbelief of how negative the fans were. Lest we not forget the 2-14 years and appreciate more what we have been given in the last 10 years.
March 19th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I have to agree with you Erik, quantity over quality is not the way to go. First things first, stop trying to tackle a guy in the upper body. Chances are the secondary plater is smaller in size than the offensive guy who has the ball. One of Brandons problems is he tries to hit like he’s bigger than he is and all to many times thaty has cost him yardage and even TD’s. If he wants to improve he should be studying all the games from last year not just the Saints, that’s not the only game he played poorly in. Nuff said
March 19th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Mcchampion, I don’t think most of the fans are unappreciative of the winning teams the organization has put together for the past decade or so. But we all got to see what it takes from the organization and from the players to win SB’s, so it is a little frustrating when you see players that don’t show that same type of hard work and effort on the field, and according to Brady, sometimes in practice and when it comes to film study & game preparation. Believe me, I was pretty ticked at the “loyal” Pats fans who were fortunate enough to see the unfortunate NE vs. MIA loss in 08 who booed the guys, so I get where you’re coming from.
March 19th, 2010 at 11:29 am
And you guys would rather have who….DOnt talk about Sharper who is a one year stop gap and would nto play as great here as he did in N.O. with this complicated defense anyway…We need a future saftey and we have one, but he has to grow and learn…duh! I didnt see anyone complaining when he made plays and INT’s and pick sixes, and sacks last year…Damn you guys are brutal…Are you the same guys crying when we traded Milloy cuz that prevuous year in 02′ Milloy had all zeroes across the board except for tackles and even that was down…so Be happy we’ve upgraded and stopped acting spoiled….Meriweather/ Chung will be the best safety tandem in 2 years …mark my words…
March 19th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Time out stop violating my man B.M so what if he missed a couple of tackles ..go head up with him and i bet he put you on your cheeks
March 19th, 2010 at 11:50 am
First, how long does Meriweather get to live on as a “future safety?” Dude has been in the league for three years already. Two more years? He could be on the downside of his career by then. And what did Chung show you to make you think he’s the future? Not that he isn’t, but I didn’t see much either way. I say Meriweather will always be a big play safety — he’ll make a few and will give up just as many or more.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Is this really what you want your SS saying? Does he know he is the last line of defense? who else is going to tackle when he’s the deepest guy? Instead of looking at other players to help he should look at his own abilities and improve. Keep saying he needs to be moved to CB, give him less field to worry about and tell him man to man and not loss him, he did that at Miami. He has the speed to play CB.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I don’t think anyone is hating Merriwether the player, just his dumb comments. I hope Belichick sees his statement and spends the entire offseason with Brandon in tackling drills. It’s the one weak point in his game and if he can’t even recognize that it needs to be addressed, than he won’t be getting any better.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Forget tackling drills -dude can’t tackle and won’t earn his check ever being known as a solid tackler per his own comments !-we are stuck with him till someone else shows ….
March 19th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Merriweather best watch his back cause #35- Ahmad Black [ Lakeland ] with Florida Gators currently can school Brandon on just how to play safety on a very good D in Gainesville ! Patriots would benefit from drafting him next April !…
March 19th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Meriweather is good cause he can play corner or Safety, but, I would start James Sanders and McGowen, put Meriweather in on 3rd downs. Sanders can tackle, he learned from the “Man” Rodney Harrison! Last season he ended up in the famed Belichek dog-house, and BB didnt start him? That hurt the team! With Sanders in the Pats gave up less passing and running yards, and won more games!! Bill, whats up? What, did he spill a drink on the floor? Was he 30 seconds late for a meeting? Hurt the team cause this guy was late for 1 meeting! Ya, thats real smart! This goes for Adailus Thomas too, the 1 meeting he was late for, it was snowing like hell! CaMon Bill, these are Pro’s, fine them money, don’t hurt the team by not starting them! Contrary to what BB thinks we don’t have the depth we used to! Take the 2001 squad, our linebackers were so deep, Phifer, Bruschi, Johnson, Vrabel, McGinist, Cox, Chatham, same on D-line, Seamour, Mitchell, Pleasant, Hamilton, Sagapoltelli, the whole team had depth and talent! Not any more Bill! We loose a middle lb, we’re screwed! Never mind a WR, TE, DE, OLB,CB, get moving Bill!!!!!
March 20th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Several of us media types spent about 15 minutes this morning talking with “Pro Bowl” safety Brandon Meriweather, who had just finished his daily workout here at Gillette Stadium.
I like how pro bowl is in quotations. We need some mean, physical types on our Defense, like maybe Taylor Maze. Someone who can bring the kind of presence Rodney Harrison brought to the secondary.
March 20th, 2010 at 9:57 am
i think the chick who is talking about tackles needs to shutup.
unless you played highschool/college/pro football I really dont think you have room to judge or critisize a mans tackling ability. have you ever tackled a 280 guy running full speed? would you “tackle his shoulders” or just do whatever it is you could do to hinder his pursuit to the goal. You “fans” are way to critical. Obviously most of you havent been a fan long enough to remember the bledsoe grogan years where our experienced OLD team couldnt make a tackle or interception. We have a young young team besides for the lines we have a pretty much sophmore junior team right now. DEVELOPMENT. but you “fans” already knew that.
March 20th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
junior was a joy to watch tackle,shoe tops.just hitten em is not getting it done
March 20th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
tackling is the one thing holding Meriweather back. it’s good he’s acknowledging this but if that’s the way he’s approaching it…there’s gonna be some major issues.
i have to agree with Andy though–how much longer will it be before Meriweather changes from “future safety” to the safety that we expect him to be?
March 21st, 2010 at 1:57 am
Shane, have you ever tackled someone who’s 280? I’d like to know where you played that they had players carrying the ball anywhere near 280 so the Pats can draft them. She’s right anyway, the Pats have had plenty of missed tackles(not just BM) and it comes down to fundamentals. She’s right whether you want to give her credit or not, but the good news is things like that are correctable. With BM’s athleticism he could be top tier if he concentrates more on wrapping guys up rather than going for the big hit every time. You got to pick your spots.
And I don’t think BM was trying to say tackling in itself doesn’t need to improve, just that one of the the things they need to do is to attack the ball more. He’s not wrong
I know we want guys to say the right thing every single time, but not everyone is Tom Brady, give the guy a break.
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:00 am
I just hope that the next years patriots D# is going to be better than last years because last years was horrible
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:34 am
I think BM is a solid safety that needs to remind himself that you cant try to make a highlight reel with every play your in. He has to remember he’s a safety and most of the time he’s going to be the last line of defense and needs to concentrate on bringing the player down. In my opion his mentality would be great for corner, have someone who could be as physical as Ty Law was in his prime.
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:46 am
Case In Point….
Eli Manning…We had everyone and his uncle there and a solid tackle would have changed that whole game ..No one brought him down…The rest is History.
BM just needs to get council from the better tacklers and ones that will dispel and disprove his philosophy.
March 24th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Wow. Lots of upset pats fans????? Why all the Hostility??? The 10 strait winning seasons,three superbowl trophies, countless division titles,4 confrence championships, a brand new stadium, huh which one?? Is it we didn’t over pay for peppers?trade for that bum from SanDiego?sighn an over priced free agent, give up a first and third pick ……we don’t have a third rd pick !!!! The season still a ways down the road we still have the draft , and cut players during camp, trades relax and give them a chance at the start of the season well all know the team they put on the field… then judge them until then stop acting like selfish school kids