Just looking over the roster, and Merling's and Odrick's outlook really have me wondering.....what can we expect from these two recent DE draft picks??
I hope they both blossom into solid, starting DEs. I have high hopes for Odrick, but maybe Merling will start turning things around...
People will call me crazy, but I think Odrick is going to be one of the better 3-tech pass-rushers in the league. I have little faith in Merling, mainly because I'm not sure he'll even get enough reps to make an impression. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they try and work him out on the inside in some packages. That might be the only way he can make an impact.
I agree with you on Odrick. Same on Merling, except he may end up being able to stand up, which I thought he should've tried from the beginning.
Jared Odrick was given a starter job this last season. This coaching staff has done a good job accurately promoting rookies to their competence. Outside of John Jerry arguably, no one has been given snaps disproportionate to their play(And that was arguably special circumstances). Given Odrick was able to fend off what looked like two decent vets in Charles Grant and Marquis Douglas, and was able to prompt a move to NT for Starks to get the best three on the field, you've got to think he's at least a solid starter. I think Phillip Merling gets a bad rap. He's a mediocre player, not an awful player. There are multiple worse starting defensive ends in the league. That being said, if you've got three "starter" quality guys who are going to eat up most of the snaps, should you move him for whatever you can trade him for? Is the space more valuable trying to develop a player without depending on him to start? Should you Matt Roth him, like alen noted?
How tradeable is he, based on his injury and off the field issue? I'd like to see if he can contribute
I like Merling, think he shows up well this yr, professional "near death" and a contract yr come together.
I don't think he can now Alen, he is morphing into Trevor Pryce, or who was that Lb who became a NT? Was that Truck?
Nothing close to what you got him for, but at a certain point I think you try to move him just to get something out of him because you're better off finding a developmental prospect, because Odrick is going to eat most of the snaps that went to McDaniels/Merling/Baker/etc last year.
The man was 110 yrs old at that point Killahp.. Do we typically carry 4 or 5 De's? If 4, Merling is clearly the odd man out, unless they move him to NT in a sort of Jay Ratliff move which to me is not a bad idea but with the Cap coming back this is his last yr here so would that be worth the time to do it only to see him walk via FA?
