RealGM

bigrich88 wrote:I do not think Brad Jones is that bad of an option. I would like the addition of Merriman but i truely do not understand the hate on Brad Jones. He put up the same exact stats that Merriman did with less playing time. When Jones came on after Kampman got hurt he was a solid starter. With another offseason learning the 3-4 defense I believe Jones will only get better.

Wade-A-Holic wrote:

bigrich88 wrote:I do not think Brad Jones is that bad of an option. I would like the addition of Merriman but i truely do not understand the hate on Brad Jones. He put up the same exact stats that Merriman did with less playing time. When Jones came on after Kampman got hurt he was a solid starter. With another offseason learning the 3-4 defense I believe Jones will only get better.

I don't get the Brad Jones hate either. He was solid against the run, pretty good in coverage, showed signs that he'll be able to develop as a pass rusher, and the coaching staff said that the whole defense played faster the week he was inserted into the lineup. Considering that he was only about 230 lbs coming in, a full off season in the weight program, a year's experience in this defense, and some practice adding some pass rush moves might turn him into a pretty darn good player. Am I saying we shouldn't look elsewhere for linebacker and pass rush help? Absolutely not - it'd be stupid for the Packers to rely solely on him to step up without having other options - but for people to flatly say "Brad Jones sucks" is equally stupid.

WRau1 wrote:Merriman is a playmaker

Not yet 26 years old, Shawne Merriman has become a faint shadow of the dynamic force he was at 22. He has compiled 43 1/2 career quarterback sacks, but had none in his last six regular-season starts (or the playoff game against the New York Jets). He has forced only one fumble in his past 28 regular season starts. Though Chargers coaches credited Merriman with 46 tackles last season (34 solo, 12 assists), NFL.com shows him with 26 solos and 10 assists — exactly identical to the numbers posted by his presumed heir, Larry English.

While some of Merriman’s statistical decline surely relates to rehabilitation — and some, perhaps, to shifting responsibilities — there is little basis to believe that a setback-free offseason will restore the burst that once made him so special. Accordingly, there is no reason to believe the Chargers should negotiate with him now based on what he was then.

WRau1 wrote:Woodson's play fell off prior to coming to GB, too.