Phillip Merling,

[napsndreds]

As of now, All signs shows that this guy isnt gonna be starting right away or is he? Wasnt he hugely overweight in the OTAS and still nursing an injury? Is this guy ready to go size wise and physically? I need this guy to be out on the field starting Game 1. Anyone hear anything about him besides him being unsigned still? Im more interested in him being out ont he field at this point than Hen dog

[ZachThomas76]

Originally Posted by napsndreds

As of now, All signs shows that this guy isnt gonna be starting right away or is he? Wasnt he hugely overweight in the OTAS and still nursing an injury? Is this guy ready to go size wise and physically? I need this guy to be out on the field starting Game 1. Anyone hear anything about him besides him being unsigned still? Im more interested in him being out ont he field at this point than Hen dog

Why do YOU need this guy to be out on the field starting from Day 1?

[Ferretsquig]

Does anyone even know what position hes competing for yet? Some are convinced hes the RE of the future and others think hes going to drop the weight and be groomed to be Taylor's replacement. Once we see where he lines up in TC and who is ahead of him on the depth chart we can come up with the probability of him starting on opening day.

[huck1974]

Originally Posted by ZachThomas76

Why do YOU need this guy to be out on the field starting from Day 1?

I think we all individually need something or we wouldn't be on here. I need them to win the two games I actually get to watch live.

[napsndreds]

Originally Posted by ZachThomas76

Why do YOU need this guy to be out on the field starting from Day 1?

Its slang for he is needed on the field on day 1 to contribute his abilities in hopes of producing some success for his/our/your....team

[napsndreds]

Originally Posted by Ferretsquig

Does anyone even know what position hes competing for yet? Some are convinced hes the RE of the future and others think hes going to drop the weight and be groomed to be Taylor's replacement. Once we see where he lines up in TC and who is ahead of him on the depth chart we can come up with the probability of him starting on opening day.

he would need to drop 50% of his weight to be Taylors size.

[ChambersWI]

Originally Posted by napsndreds

As of now, All signs shows that this guy isnt gonna be starting right away or is he? Wasnt he hugely overweight in the OTAS and still nursing an injury? Is this guy ready to go size wise and physically? I need this guy to be out on the field starting Game 1. Anyone hear anything about him besides him being unsigned still? Im more interested in him being out ont he field at this point than Hen dog

1.He won't be a starter in TC, but he will compete with Roth to start (unless they want him to lose weight and go to OLB)

2.He wasn't hugely overweight and out of shape. He was at 290+ because he could not workout after having surgery on the hernia, and I believe they now want him to work on getting a little stronger to play DE in the 3-4

3.Is he ready size wise and strength wise? He was considered by many the best DE against the run. He'll probably take a bit more time to develop than Kendall Langford, not because of talent differential, but Langford has been close to 300 lbs even while at Hampton and has experience at both DE and DT so going to DE in the 3-4 is less of a transition. Merling (if the plan is for him to be a DE) will be learning new techniques. But he will get some time because he can get pressure on the QB

4.He and Henne should be signed by Friday. The negotiations for him and Henne were stalled due to waiting for some CBA issues to be settled.

[ChambersWI]

Originally Posted by Ferretsquig

Does anyone even know what position hes competing for yet? Some are convinced hes the RE of the future and others think hes going to drop the weight and be groomed to be Taylor's replacement. Once we see where he lines up in TC and who is ahead of him on the depth chart we can come up with the probability of him starting on opening day.

tough to tell. He can and has played effectively at Clemson at around 265, but at 290+ with his strength DE might be better for him (he does compare his game to Richard Seymour)

[hooshoops]

Originally Posted by ChambersWI

1.He won't be a starter in TC, but he will compete with Roth to start (unless they want him to lose weight and go to OLB)

2.He wasn't hugely overweight and out of shape. He was at 290+ because he could not workout after having surgery on the hernia, and I believe they now want him to work on getting a little stronger to play DE in the 3-4

3.Is he ready size wise and strength wise? He was considered by many the best DE against the run. He'll probably take a bit more time to develop than Kendall Langford, not because of talent differential, but Langford has been close to 300 lbs even while at Hampton and has experience at both DE and DT so going to DE in the 3-4 is less of a transition. Merling (if the plan is for him to be a DE) will be learning new techniques. But he will get some time because he can get pressure on the QB

4.He and Henne should be signed by Friday. The negotiations for him and Henne were stalled due to waiting for some CBA issues to be settled.

yikes 290. wasn't merlings college playing weight around 275??? that means the guys put on 15 lbs of bad weight while injured.

i've read that the staff said that langford was much more impressive in offseason workouts than merling. i guess so when a guy gains 15 lbs of bad weight while unable to fully workout.

merling from my understanding was the best run defending end in the draft.

he looks like a rotational end to me in the short term. lb at 290 regardless of how hard he cuts weight for this season at least is out i would think.

[napsndreds]

Originally Posted by ChambersWI

1.He won't be a starter in TC, but he will compete with Roth to start (unless they want him to lose weight and go to OLB)

2.He wasn't hugely overweight and out of shape. He was at 290+ because he could not workout after having surgery on the hernia, and I believe they now want him to work on getting a little stronger to play DE in the 3-4

3.Is he ready size wise and strength wise? He was considered by many the best DE against the run. He'll probably take a bit more time to develop than Kendall Langford, not because of talent differential, but Langford has been close to 300 lbs even while at Hampton and has experience at both DE and DT so going to DE in the 3-4 is less of a transition. Merling (if the plan is for him to be a DE) will be learning new techniques. But he will get some time because he can get pressure on the QB

4.He and Henne should be signed by Friday. The negotiations for him and Henne were stalled due to waiting for some CBA issues to be settled.

Thanks man good informative post..

[napsndreds]

Originally Posted by hooshoops

yikes 290. wasn't merlings college playing weight around 275??? that means the guys put on 15 lbs of bad weight while injured.

i've read that the staff said that langford was much more impressive in offseason workouts than merling. i guess so when a guy gains 15 lbs of bad weight while unable to fully workout.

merling from my understanding was the best run defending end in the draft.

he looks like a rotational end to me in the short term. lb at 290 regardless of how hard he cuts weight for this season at least is out i would think.

watching te OTA videos, he definately looked stationary for the most part. Looked as if he was a bit out of shape and exhausted. And seemed as if he was looked upon as a work in progress type of player and not a impact right now kind of player. I hope that isnt the case, I want to see all these picks on the field..we barely have anyone else to turn to. I liek Langford though, the kid is a beast

[hooshoops]

Originally Posted by napsndreds

watching te OTA videos, he definately looked stationary for the most part. Looked as if he was a bit out of shape and exhausted. And seemed as if he was looked upon as a work in progress type of player and not a impact right now kind of player. I hope that isnt the case, I want to see all these picks on the field..we barely have anyone else to turn to. I liek Langford though, the kid is a beast

if a guy can gain weight that fast how is he going to play lb??? philip merling is a 3-4 def end. no doubt about it now.

love the langford pick. premier end size. we may have chris canty part 2 with him.

[napsndreds]

Originally Posted by hooshoops

if a guy can gain weight that fast how is he going to play lb??? philip merling is a 3-4 def end. no doubt about it now.

love the langford pick. premier end size. we may have chris canty part 2 with him.

then again, he might show up to camp ready...and in shape......

[Valandui]

Originally Posted by ChambersWI

tough to tell. He can and has played effectively at Clemson at around 265, but at 290+ with his strength DE might be better for him (he does compare his game to Richard Seymour)

He has also compared his game to Jason Taylor though.

[ZachThomas76]

Originally Posted by huck1974

I think we all individually need something or we wouldn't be on here. I need them to win the two games I actually get to watch live.

LOL. I hear that. I hope Merling looks good, but Im more interested in how they progress as the season goes on. Im more concerned with 09 and 2010, thats when these players should pay dividends if we have drafted the right ones. To take Merling at 33, Parcells obviously sees something in him. Merling was a consensus top 15 pick before his hernia surgery.