Merriman's injury impact biggest of all
Top 10 injured teams
Some of the NFL's biggest stars have gone down. Alex Marvez ranks the teams hit hardest.
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No offense to Tom Terrific, the decade's top quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. New England's odds of reaching a second consecutive Super Bowl plummeted when Brady went down with a mangled knee in the season opener against Kansas City.
But when identifying the sidelined star whose injury has hurt his team most through the first half of the season, Merriman best fits the bill.
The Tuesday firing of Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell reinforces the claim.
The final straw for Cottrell came when San Diego failed to register a sack let alone a good hit on New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in last Sunday's 37-32 loss to the Saints. Once Merriman underwent season-ending knee surgery following Week 1, Cottrell could never find a way to compensate for what the hulking outside linebacker brings to a defense besides outstanding leadership.
Even with the less-heralded Matt Cassel replacing Brady, the Patriots still have a skill-position player (Randy Moss) who draws consistent double teams. None of San Diego's pass rushers command nearly the same respect as Merriman, who averaged 13 sacks in his first three NFL seasons.
Opposing offenses were forced to structure their game plans around him. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, Merriman was big enough to stuff the run and fast enough to snare running backs from behind when teams attacked the opposite side.
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
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Merriman's impact in the passing game was even greater. Rather than immediately release into patterns, running backs had to hover in the pocket waiting to chip a rushing Merriman. Tackles would often need further blocking help by guards when Merriman would come storming from the perimeter. All the attention Merriman received would create opportunities for others.
Jyles Tucker, Merriman's inexperienced replacement, doesn't generate the same respect. He also has missed three games with a hamstring injury.
Note the tepid production of the two Chargers aligned in front and to the opposite side of where Merriman played. Right defensive end Luis Castillo has a ho-hum 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits and four tackles for losses in eight games. Left outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, who averaged 10 sacks the past two seasons, has notched only 3.5.
The problems have trickled down to a struggling secondary, where cornerback Antonio Cromartie isn't playing at the same high level as during last year's breakthrough season. While the Chargers have the same number of sacks (17) as this same point in 2007, San Diego fields the NFL's lowest-rated pass defense.
In comparison, New England's offense ranks No. 23 in passing and No. 19 overall under Cassel. Despite having taken 28 sacks largely because of indecisiveness, Cassel has completed a Brady-like 65.8 percent of his throws with more touchdowns (seven) than interceptions (six).
The most important numbers, though, are wins and losses. Even with a middle-of-the-pack defense, New England (5-2) is tied with Buffalo for the AFC East lead. The Chargers have the NFL's 11th-ranked offense but are the NFL's most disappointing team at 3-5.
New England's coaching staff deserves credit for tweaking an offensive system run masterfully by Brady to cover for Cassel's inexperience and weaknesses. This is what Chargers coach Norv Turner hopes will happen to his defense after replacing Cottrell with linebackers coach Ron Rivera.
During a season and a half in San Diego, one of the biggest internal knocks on Cottrell was the belief he didn't best utilize the strengths of his personnel. For example, Cottrell had Merriman and Phillips drop into coverage more frequently than blitz-happy predecessor Wade Phillips.
With input from outside linebackers coach and 3-4 specialist John Pagano, Rivera is expected to redefine player roles, deploy a more aggressive pass rush and trust that the secondary can hold up.
The tactics had better work. Otherwise, Merriman's nickname "Lights Out" will take on a whole new meaning when it comes to San Diego's postseason fate.
Member Comments
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DallasBarbie21411/1/2008 23:33:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Marvez, your initial comment about Brady's absence affecting NE more than Merriman's with the Chargers can not be supported any longer because the turn around that Billy B. has accomplished with NE. It didn't take him long to convince the "D" that Brady doesn't play "D" so why is it affecting them, and they listened. Besides that, as I mentioned somewhere else, Unlike, Dallas & KC, Billy B has prepared better with a really good backup QB who just had to get a few more reps and now NE is headed for the top once again so much so, that I don't see Brady returning in favor of an acting career.
zuko10/31/2008 10:16:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
pic pac and if you really want to know your wifey has all the info and details you will need <br />golf ball through a garden hose is what i call her
10/31/2008 8:42:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
pic pac <br />i got it from sticking my nuts in lil bitches mouths like yourself <br />want to find out?
10/31/2008 8:38:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Let me know when Cheating Merriman wins the MVP, will ya, Fatso?
10/31/2008 5:09:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
T baggs.......I hear you can suck crome off a door knob, is that true? How does a guy get a name like t baggs anyway? Is that your favorite pastime with the boys?
picpac10/30/2008 21:55:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
All I have to say is remember when the Pats did the "Lights Out" Dance?<br /><br />In terms of dance skills, Merriman brings more of that to San Diego than Brady does to New England.<br /><br />GG!
Patr1otsG1rL10/30/2008 19:32:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
stevo<br />you know little about football<br />moss is by far the best wr he has ever had <br />let see his best wr in 06 was rashe caldwell who was cut in 07 and befor that names troy brown, deon branch where did he go<br />the fact is is that brady makes people better cause yes he is that good <br />you could put him on the chiefs and he would even make bowe there sucky wide out look like a pro bowler
10/30/2008 18:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
It does seem to have worked out that way...the Patriots have the confidence that Championship's create, and have a roster full of other guys who have been there, done that...<br />Merriman was not only the Chargers best defensive player (in my opinion), he was also their emotional leader...His presence alone forced teams to change their game plans...Without him, they've proven to be an underachieving group this year...If anything, the Chargers should give Merriman an even larger contract now that his importance to the team has been demonstrated by their collapse without him. <br />People who don't believe this can go Plaxico themselves (just kidding...trying out new uses for my new fave term)
peterfaden10/30/2008 13:50:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Have any of you learned from History? What makes you believe that no one could of picked up on what they did last year to stop them this year? Hell, last year they had almost been beat by the Eagles who totally sucked. Get off Brady's weaner.
Stevo8510/30/2008 12:59:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I usually disagree with Marvez but he is right about Bolts. They are a team in disaray. They are on the edge of a cliff.<br /><br />Let's see....they have the worst passing defense in the league, cannot bring pressure on any quarterback, fired the D coordinator mid season, already have 5 losses and their running game is hit and miss. In short Bolts are screwed. They now face Steelers, Falcons, Bucs, Indy and Broncs again.<br /><br />Bolts will be lucky to finish 8 and 8.
10/30/2008 11:14:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
typical patsies fans. they're always crying "woe is us", even with something as stupid as which team's loss has had a bigger impact. it always has to be all about them.<br /><br />i've come to the conclusion that patsies fans will do anything for attention, even if it is negative attention. and i think it stems from a culture of losing (or losers), during a time when their teams were so horrible that they would do anything for some attention. and, as pathetic as it may be, they still haven't been able to escape that mindset despite championships in baseball and football. <br /><br />now, the chargers' problems have nothing to do with coaching, unless you consider cheating coaching. if you want to win, just follow the patsies' recipe for success: <br />cheating
doc813210/30/2008 10:32:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
So is this guy joking? or do you really think he believes this garbage
10/30/2008 9:45:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
simpletruth,<br />I can say the same about 95% of the posts here. They have nothing to do with the article.<br /><br />Yes Pats are 5-2 and Chargers are 3-5. I did not expect the Pats as you say "fall off a cliff".<br /><br />What record strength has to do with this article is simple: If San Diego had as weak of a schedule as New England this article would be named: "Brady's injury impact biggest of all"....<br /><br />Good Luck.<br /><br />As far as you mentioning that a Brady team would be better than a San Diego team with Merrriman , I would have to say that a better San Diego coaching staff (like Bill B.) would be better that a a Pats team with a healthy Brady on it.
10/30/2008 9:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I'll tell ya why the Chargers are in a worse scenerio. The opponents the Pats have beaten are a combined:<br />19 wins and 31 losses, while Chargers opponents a combined 31 wins and 20 losses. Obviously San Diego is a better football team as the Pats were handed a beating by San Diego.Math is math and the Patriots weak schedule has helped them out.With the Pats it's about they're weak opponents (not really coaching), with the Chargers it's about coaching.PERIOD
10/30/2008 8:50:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Is this a joke? The chargers would be 4-3 with merriman and the Pats would be 7-0 on there way to another superbowl. That is a dumb article.
Halladay110/30/2008 8:45:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I write this as a football fan, not as a Pats fan BTW. This Chargers squad is one of the most talented teams, roster wise, since the 90's Cowboys. Its a shame to see them underachieve due to a dunce of a head coach.
10/30/2008 6:30:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
This article is stupid. The Chargers D is still ridiculously talented. The reason the Chargers are 3-5 and the Pats are 5-2, with a significantly less talented team, is because of COACHING, COACHING, COACHING!<br /><br />Norv Turner is not the answer. Give someone like Andy Reid, The Hoodie, Jeff Fisher or John Fox a team like the Chargers and they would win the Super Bowl, easy. I have been saying this since last season, does no one else see this? I feel like I am taking crazy pills!<br /><br />Marvez, what is up with you recently man, you have been writing one stinker after another.
10/30/2008 6:24:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Pancho...aka Marvex....it's about time you stop using your fake Fox ID to defend your article.....LOL
10/30/2008 6:15:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)


Some of the NFL's biggest stars have gone down. Alex Marvez 

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