who is top the redskins draft board?

[taylor #36]

Does anyone have anything more then opinion on who is at the top the redskins draft board?

[riggensghost]

They had Merriman at Redskins park yesterday for a workout. Not saying much but Gibbs camp is being pretty tight lipped about draft strategy.

[e16bball]

Yeah they had Merriman there, but it was part of the tryout day or whatever for local players. Not saying that they aren't interested in him, just saying don't read too much into it.

[riggensghost]

I know, there was a lot of folks there yesterday, but usually day one picks dont attend local invites unless the coahes want to chat with them. That kid they called little smoot was there too.

[sootedpair]

[redskins4life]

Who's better at the LB position, Derrick Johnson or Shawn Merriman?

[S. Taylor]

Little Smoot? Ronald Bartell? Foxworth? I know that Bartell was there but nor he or Merriman actuall worked out. As far as linebacker, I like Merriman better, but he'll more than likely be a DE in the NFL. Derrick Johnson is a big playmaker but the knock on him is that he doesn't shed blocks too well. The Redskins need at linebacker falls in the middle though, so unless they are going to try to convert Arrington or Marcus Washington, drafting Derrick Johnson wouldn't make much sense.

[riggensghost]

Yeah, Foxworth was there. In regards to the Derrick Johnson vs. Shawne Merriman, who is the better LB.

Johnson is the better pure linebacker, but Merriman is much morevaluable b/c of his ability to line up at end. He has more potential as well.

[ShakeNbake2128]

If Merriman is still on the board you have to take him he is going to become one of the best pass rushing DE's in the NFL behind Peppers and Freeney
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Charger-man thanks for the sweet sig and Scar for the avatar.

[inkwell]

Unless you play a 3-4 where Merriman will be lining up as a rush OLB, you are projecting Merriman based on his skill set. He has little if any experience dropping in coverage or shadowing a back or TE. Johnson has played the position so right now you have to give him the edge in a 4-3. They are totally different types of backers so it really depends on the system you are drafting them to play in.

[e16bball]

[ShakeNbake2128]

I was talking about him playing DE. Me personally I have never thought of Merriman as and OLB as everyone else seems he can WITCH HE NEVER WILL, he is no longer 255 like he was his sophmore year and he is now up to 275 from 265 in his last season of college. He is a legit DE and will be a force of a pass rusher. Also keep in mind he is just going to get bigger and stonger on in NFL lifting programs and with time, he is still very young.
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Charger-man thanks for the sweet sig and Scar for the avatar.

[inkwell]

It doesnt matter what you were talking about or what opinion you state as an absolute fact. In a 3-4 he is still an OLB. You dont play DE in a 3-4 at 275. You play OLB when you are a rush guy. The DE in a 3-4 has more run responsibility than pass rush responsibility. My response was to the guy who asked whether Merriman or Johnson was the better LB. They are different types of players who each will probably excel but each need to be in the right system to be their best. Merriman might be as good as you say but with the premium put on pass rushers in the NFL these days, if NFL personnel people agree with you, he will be gone before the Skins pick. I have to wonder how many times you have seen Merriman play in order to make such an absolute statement of fact about him. FWIW, as a MD grad I probably saw him play a dozen games over his career. What I saw was a very good, even all conference level performer, but not one who dominated to the extent that would lead me to believe that he is the next Lawrence Taylor or even the next Kearse or Freeney.

[ShakeNbake2128]

The Skins don't play a 3-4 do they?
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Charger-man thanks for the sweet sig and Scar for the avatar.

[inkwell]