Tag: Shawne Merriman

Former NFL LB Shawne Merriman criticizes Chiefs’ slow start

Former #Chargers LB Shawne Merriman was critical of the #Chiefs’ slow start and their inability to protect star QB Patrick Mahomes. | from @EdEastonJr

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The sports world has been very vocal about the Kansas City Chiefs’ struggles this season, with opinions coming from every angle. The criticism from various personalities, players, and coaches reveals how loathed the team was because of the past few seasons of success.

Former All-Pro linebacker and longtime division rival Shawne Merriman was critical of the team’s slow start and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Merriman is currently an ambassador for Gambling.com appeared on the website to share his thoughts on Kansas City’s season.

“Outside of them not playing the run, I just think that people figured them out,” said Merriman. “As great as Patrick Mahomes is, it’s only so long you can keep up at that pace and be that explosive before people figure you out. The second thing is that they’re just not blocking. They’re not blocking for the passing game, not blocking for Patrick, and he’s getting hit too many times. And they can’t run the ball. Right now, they’re in shambles, man. It’s not looking good for them for the rest of the season.”

Merriman was a star for the San Diego Chargers from 2005-2010, appearing in multiple AFC West battles with the Chiefs. The three-time Pro Bowler believes this year’s Chiefs need to do more than rely on the greatness of Mahomes to succeed.

“They can get back to being contenders. I just don’t think it’s going to happen this year,” Merriman explained. “You know, they’re gonna have to spend in the offseason. But look, you pay Patrick Mahomes half a billion dollars over a certain period of time. And you don’t have the best blockers for him, they’re not protecting their investment. Patrick Mahomes is only going to take you so far by himself.”

Merriman finished his career with 45.5 sacks in seven seasons before retiring in 2012 with the Buffalo Bills. The emergence of threats throughout the rest of the AFC West has dampened the optimism regarding the Chiefs and their playoff hopes.

“The season isn’t over, and anything can happen, but even if they so happened to squeeze their way into the playoffs, which I don’t think they will because of the division, the Chargers and the Raiders are just a better team than they are,” Merriman said. “But even if they did, there’s no way they are going far. They’re just going to get beat in the playoffs. They’re going home in the first round. They don’t have what it takes to be the team that they were.”

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Longtime NFL tough guy Shawne Merriman loved seeing Dan Campbell cry after a loss

Longtime NFL tough guy Shawne Merriman loved seeing Dan Campbell cry after a tough loss

Nobody would ever accuse Shawne Merriman of being soft. The longtime NFL linebacker was nicknamed “Lights Out” for his hard-hitting and merciless play for the Chargers. But Merriman really appreciated and respected Lions coach Dan Campbell for shedding tears after Detroit’s Week 5 loss to the Vikings on a last-second field goal.

In an interview with Gambling.com, Merriman showed a lot of respect for Campbell.

“I really like Detroit head coach Dan Campbell,” Merriman said. “People talk so much about the money being tossed around in this game, the spotlight and the glitz and glamour of it, but with him you have a coach that really cares about his team. If I’m in that locker room and I see my coach talking like that, I’m bringing everybody together, so we better get our s— together. The coach can’t care more about this game than the guys playing it, so just to see that, you say I can play for this guy, and I’m calling a team meeting immediately.”

Merriman echoes several other former players who lauded Campbell for showing genuine emotion in the face of a devastating loss.

5 Chargers records that could be broken in 2021

The Los Angeles Chargers have a few players that could find themselves in the history books this upcoming season.

The Chargers have a handful of talented players on the roster, and it just so happens that their individual greatness can be sealed in the history books this upcoming season.

While there are several records that may seem unbreakable, there are a few that are well within reach. The future is now and it’s time for them to create some history.

With that being said, we will take a look at five single-season franchise records that we could possibly see broken this year.

Chargers legend says LB Kenneth Murray will be star in NFL

Kenneth Murray has high expectations set heading into Year 1.

Chargers rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray will be wearing No. 56, the same number that was once worn by the legendary Shawne Merriman.

“It’s cool, especially when you have a guy that can make some plays,” Merriman said about Murray.

“He’s explosive, man, and that’s the fun part. You look at these guys and I always evaluate, especially linebackers at his position, how their mental approach is and how they lay it all out on the field, right?”

Taken with the No. 23 overall selection after trading up with the Patriots, Murray is expected to add a dynamic element to the linebacker room and defense as a whole.

Murray is coveted for his ability to make consistent plays on the football, possessing the sideline-to-sideline speed, range and tenacious mentality against the run, in coverage and as a blitzer.

Merriman loves Murray’s style of play, citing how it will easily translate to the NFL. The Chargers legend even believes that he can become one of the best at his position in the league.

“You have some guys that just get to the ball and want to make a tackle. No, he’s running through guys, and that’s when you see this explosive movement come in and him finishing guys and swarming to tackles and being relentless.

This is what I see from him and without jumping the gun because the NFL is obviously much different from college, I can see right now he’s gonna be a player. He’s gonna be a star in the NFL,” Merriman said.

Murray needs to dial up his instincts, clean up some overaggressive tendencies and develop a better feel in coverage. However, he has the talent and skillset to be a really good linebacker and locker room presence for the next decade, especially playing alongside the ascending LB Drue Tranquill.

Rolling with the punches: Shawne Merriman finds passion post-football

SportsPulse: Once an All Pro linebacker in the NFL, Shawne Merriman badly missed the competition and purpose football gave him. Then he dove into the MMA world and never looked back.

SportsPulse: Once an All Pro linebacker in the NFL, Shawne Merriman badly missed the competition and purpose football gave him. Then he dove into the MMA world and never looked back.

Shawne Merriman puts Tom Brady-to-Chargers chorus to a halt

Ex-Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman isn’t in favor of Tom Brady coming to Los Angeles.

There’s been some chatter of quarterback Tom Brady joining the Los Angeles Chargers for weeks now.

While some fans are in favor of the excitement that Brady could bring when the team moves into their new stadium, there’s a handful that don’t buy it, including former Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman.

“Everybody stop right now. All right? Tom Brady isn’t coming to the Chargers,” Merriman said via his official Twitter account.

Merriman believes that L.A. shouldn’t move on from Philip Rivers, and proceeds to say that if the franchise does cut ties with him, they will be looking to get younger at the quarterback position.

We concur with Merriman. Though the 42-year old would likely sell some tickets in SoFi Stadium, the team is better off rolling with Rivers for another year or even Tyrod Taylor to serve as a bridge to the potential rookie quarterback.

Former player says Greg Manusky is not to blame for Redskins struggles

One of Manusky’s former players has come out and said that he is a great coach and not the reason for Washington’s defensive struggles.

The Washington Redskins’ defense has been one of the biggest holes for the team this season. After high expectations coming out of the offseason, the unit fell on its face coming out of the gates, giving up more than 30 points in four of their first five games.

Through 10 games, the defense is allowing on average 25 points per game, and they rank worst in the league when it comes to third down, as they allow opponents to convert on 49 percent of plays.

All of this has led major questions and doubts to be thrown at defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, but one former player is standing by the DC.

“I was fortunate I played for Greg Manusky out in San Diego my first couple years. He’s a damn good coach,” said Shawne Merriman, according to NBC Sports Washington. “I was fortunate. To see some of the things said about him, well, I had no problem playing in that scheme. It’s the same scheme and operation that they’re running [in Washington]. Guys have to go out there and make plays.”

If you asked Merriman — who played under Manusky in his first two years with the Chargers, where he was named to two Pro Bowls — it’s the players in Washington who are more to blame than the coach. That applies to offensive players as well.

“If you don’t have the right opportunities from your offense putting points on the board, where you can go after the quarterback and make those big plays, then what is there to do?” Merriman said. “Some of the teams I played on, we had a quarterback and offense where we knew it was good for at least 28 points a game.”

Merriman has a point. With the offense in Washington routinely unable to put points on the board, there is little that the defense can do to win games — we all can agree on that, regardless of your opinions on Greg Manusky.

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