Bills 41, Chiefs 7: A Quick Look At Shawne Merriman

by Brian Galliford on Sep 13, 2011 1:30 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

At first blush, Shawne Merriman's return to the NFL on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium might not appear to have gone well. The Buffalo Bills outside linebacker finished his first game with his new team despite suffering a shoulder injury, and picked up just one tackle on the day.

I'm not yet done reviewing the Bills' 41-7 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but my first impressions of Merriman's play are far better than what his stat line may indicate.

Merriman did not show much as a pass rusher, but I'm chalking that up to a pretty conservative defensive game plan on the part of George Edwards. The Bills didn't give the Chiefs a ton of looks nor dial up exotic pressures, because frankly, they didn't need to - they had a lead, and they were content rushing four and letting Matt Cassel bury the Chiefs further. Merriman appeared to be on cruise control in this department.

Where he really showed was against the run. Again, I haven't reviewed all of his snaps, but he looked highly physical at the point of attack, and did a great job setting the edge. He routinely separated easily from blockers and made plays in the pile. He was a big factor in helping the Bills shave a full two yards off of Jamaal Charles' yards-per-carry average against them.

In short: I'm not any more or less worried about Merriman than I was before Week 1. It was a quiet week for Merriman, but there were very positive signs. Keep the faith, if only for another week, that this experiment may just pan out.

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I can’t imagine the defensive emphasis will be vastly different against the Raid-ahs. What I really want is to see that ridiculous sack dance in week 3. Like, several times.

by Frank Reich Revolution on Sep 13, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Yup would, love to see brady on his back all day.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Sep 13, 2011 1:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

TWSS

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Sep 13, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I knew it was coming when I typed it.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Sep 13, 2011 1:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

~~TWSS~~ s/b That’s what Gisele said

Y'all- There's a "D" in rebuild, but no "O"- The gospel according to Buddy Nix 4:12

by fansince60 on Sep 13, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I want him bruised and sore from the game so he can not have fun for a week in those regards. I want him to feel the loss.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Sep 13, 2011 1:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Anyone else already tired of his super-lame uggs commercial?

"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby."
- Buddy Nix

"How can a guy with a name like Melo be such a pain in the ass?"
- George Lopez

by dnvrBillsfan on Sep 13, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

until they lose a game, i see no need to criticize anyone on the team.

Hi, I'm Jim Kelly for the Mancuso Family of Dealerships.

by captainStros on Sep 13, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

thats twisted logic

by billshabsriders on Sep 13, 2011 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

i dont know bout the rest of you guys but im digging

This slap your mother spank your daddy attitude this team has

. Nobody and I mean Nobody circles the Wagon Blasters like our Buffalo Bills. The Wagon is coming to collect your soul.-abayarde

by Gpluehri on Sep 13, 2011 1:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I say we keep up critsicm. This team feeds off of it. Especially the o line fitz said they came in to the game with.a big chip on their sholder they took the huge critisicm personally.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Sep 13, 2011 1:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

What?

That was funny. :)

Hey, win or lose we'll look better in our new uniforms! Go Bill's!

by buffalobacker on Sep 13, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

All good points. We didn’t seem concerned with really pressuring the passer and more focused on staying disciplined against the run (rightly so).

The fact he stayed don the field and contributed to the win is huge. I’m more concerned about who replaces him then if he’s gonna get a sack every game.

Don Banks is an early naysayer, but I’m pretty sure he just looked for a sack in his stat line.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Sep 13, 2011 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

As long as he keeps playing on a positive plane, I will not complain...

That goes for the rest of the defensive as well. I’d like to see them improve upton their performance against the Chiefs and take the home opener this weekend.

If Merriman can help in run support like he did against KC and pressure the QB here and there, I think that would be successful season. Sure, the sacks are pretty number, but providing pressure is the name of his game…and I’ll take that!

by jkra0512 on Sep 13, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Good topic

I watched the game and had recorded it to rewatch, as I wanted to focus on the OLBs/DEs and setting the edge. I was only partway through reviewing the first quarter when I discovered my wife had deleted the game to make room for 60 minutes (ouch!).

Merriman was just as you describe, very physical setting the edge. I found it amazing to watch how he was able to disengage from tackles and TEs with relative ease.

Kelsay also looked very strong against the run. I would like to know who blew there responsibility on the long run to the right side of the offensive formation, I don’t believe it was Kelsay, but I was unable to rewatch that particular play.

I would really like someones assement of Carrington. I believe it was Carrington who got pushed upfield by the LT on the long run to the offense left side. That said I would love to see what others saw in the OLB/DE play.

by WhatGoesAround on Sep 13, 2011 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

I may have missed it

but was there any update on the severity of his shoulder injury?

Y'all- There's a "D" in rebuild, but no "O"- The gospel according to Buddy Nix 4:12

by fansince60 on Sep 13, 2011 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

He’s fine.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Sep 13, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Y'all- There's a "D" in rebuild, but no "O"- The gospel according to Buddy Nix 4:12

by fansince60 on Sep 13, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope I think it was just a stinger from kyle jumping on his shoulder.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Sep 13, 2011 1:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I cringed

when I saw Kyle Williams basically jump on Merriman while his arm was trapped between the ground and opponent. I thought he for sure his broke his arm. It was reassuring to see him come back and just take care of his duties, while not trying to further hurt himself further.

Shun the non Billievers!

by Superduff on Sep 13, 2011 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

I thought “separated shoulder” for sure.

by paxon on Sep 13, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

"Keep the faith that this experiment may just pan out."

It already has with his recruiting.

GO BLUE!!!

by Kumario! on Sep 13, 2011 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

I wasn’t expecting 3+ sacks his first week, and hey, if he gives other players a chance to get some sacks because OLines are focused on him, then great! I’d like to see 8+ sacks on the season from Merriman. Plus, his first full game might have made him a bit hesitant… playing with a lead or not.

by JjR in TO on Sep 13, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I thought Merriman and the LB's did a fine job against the run

Other than the big McCluster run and Charles’ 22 yarder, they were fantastic. They need to be next week, too.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Sep 13, 2011 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

Next week should definitely be an equal or greater challenge. Serious power running and deep threat WR speed, that’s a hard mix to contend with. Luckily these boys are big, they SHOULD be able to withstand the grind.

by paxon on Sep 13, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

LB Not Merriman on Charles run

Carrington was on the right when Charles broke off the 22 yard run. He had charged too far upfield and took himself out of the play.

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Sep 13, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

It seemed that KC was focusing on him too.

There were quite a few plays he was doubled, plus like you said… he ended up going on cruise control. But he was right in the middle of that Charles forced fumble too.

I lied what I saw, hope hes good to go for the home opener, ready to pummle Campbell.

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Sep 13, 2011 2:39 PM EDT reply actions