Shawne Merriman was one of the greatest pass rushers at what was then an edge linebacker spot, so he understands the value of someone like Dante Fowler Jr., who led the Commanders with 10.5 sacks this season.
Here’s the problem, though: Merriman prided himself on also being tough in the run game, too, something the Commanders struggled with this year because many of their rotational ends and edge rushers were not really three-down players – Fowler played just 52 percent of the defensive snaps this year, and only three players in the front seven even took two-thirds: Daron Payne, at 68.5 percent, and then linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, who were both over 97% and rarely left the field.
No wonder that Luvu was second on the team in sacks and Wagner led it in tackles, but when Merriman joined Grant & Danny Wednesday for some Super Bowl chat, he gave them a breakdown of why having a good edge rush is important, but having them be three-down players is just as big a deal.
“The crazy thing is, I know they throw the ball a lot, and sacks are important, but what you don't want to put on film is a guy that didn't have the ability to play the run,” Merriman said. “Because now it just makes you one-dimensional when they bring you on the field; they got to take you off at certain downs. Having the ability to hold up against the run just makes you a complete player.”
Which is why Merriman prided himself on being able to do and be just that.
“Sometimes, people talk about my career, and I loved to play the run, because stoping the run was a mentality for me,” Merriman said. “It's like, I'm not gonna let this guy push me around, and I'm not gonna be the weak link on this defense. So, being an all-round player is really more important than sometimes going out and getting a sack.”