Shawne Merriman is pretty good. He might be the best linebacker in the league. But beyond position, he is clearly the game’s best pass rusher. But that’s easy for me to say, because I’m a Chargers fan, right? I guess so. But there are some interesting numbers that back up my claims.

Sacks are an easy statistic to look up. So I could have easily gone ahead and added up all of Shawne’s sacks since 2005 (Merriman’s rookie year) and compared it to his league counterparts'. His 39.5 sacks since 2005 already puts him at the top of the list. But there are a number of guys who have similar sack totals, so there is not enough information in that statistic to make for an interesting argument.

Let’s take Jason Taylor; Taylor has 36 sacks since 2005. That’s a very impressive number. Diminishing it’s impressiveness, however, is the fact that Jason Taylor only recently started playing a DE/LB hybrid role. The same is true of Derrick Burgess. Burgess has 35 sacks since 05. But again, he only recently started playing with his hand off the ground. Defensive Ends are allowed to rush the quarterback every down, so their opportunities for sacks are greater. Merriman, on the other hand, is often asked to drop into coverage. Sure he blitzes a lot, but his opportunities to rush the quarterback are lower than those of a defensive lineman. But since I don’t have Shawne Merriman’s blitz totals on hand, I unfortunately can’t compare his opportunities to any other player.

But what I can do is compare Merriman’s number of games started versus guys like Taylor and Burgess. This will at least allow me to see the difference between starting sixteen games and having 11 sacks and starting ten games and having 11. Now, all of the sudden we arrive at an interesting statistic; something I call Sacks per Game (SPG)

Lets compare Shawne Merriman’s SPG with some of the best pass rushers in the NFL (numbers reflective of 2005-07 regular seasons):

Shawne Merriman
37 starts, 38.5 sacks = 1.04 SPG

Derrick Burgess, DE/LB
42 starts, 35 sacks = 0.83 SPG

Osi Umenyiora, DE
43 starts, 33.5 sacks = 0.77 SPG

Jason Taylor, DE/LB
48 starts, 36 sacks = 0.76 SPG

Jared Allen, DE
45 starts, 34 sacks 0.75

Aaron Kampman, DE
47 starts, 34 sacks = 0.72 SPG

Shaun Phillips, LB
32 starts, 23 sacks = 0.71 SPG

Demarcus Ware, LB
48 starts, 33.5 sacks = 0.69 SPG

Merriman is the only guy in the league who averages 1 sack per game since 2005. Nobody else can claim that, although Derrick Burgess comes close. The scary thing is, Merriman only started 10 games his rookie year and also missed some time with a suspension and an injury. Imagine Shawne’s sack totals with 48 games under his belt, instead of just 37! And did you guys notice Shaun Phillips numbers compared to Demarcus Ware’s? I guess that’s a discussion for another day…

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The Linebacker has long been one of my favorite positions to watch. Growing up a Chargers fan during the nineties, I like many of you, had to suffer through some bad years. Sure there were bright spots; the 94 season was one of them. But really, being a Chargers fan was about being a fan of the players. Guys like Rodney Harrison, Normand Hand, Natrone Means, heck even Curtis Conway! But for me personally there wasn't any Charger or player in the NFL who I loved to watch as much as Junior Seau. He was worth the price of admission. He could fire up the crowd like no other with his lightning bolt fist pump thing he did. Naturally I've become pretty fond of watching linebackers play, and Junior had a lot to do with it. So it was a lot of fun looking around at each team and coming up with what I feel are the top 10 linebackers in the league.

I know how controversial these types of rankings can be because its all so subjective. What type of linebacker are you looking for? Are we talking run stoppers, pass rushers, great coverage guys? My approach to these rankings was to throw out defensive scheme considerations. I wanted to look for guys who could succeed anywhere, on any team. The 10 I have chosen might not be the most popular players, some of them might not have even made any Pro Bowls. But this isn't a popularity contest, this is football, baby! Anyways, here are the top 10 linebackers in the NFL, according to BoltHype:

1. Shawne Merriman
Simply the most feared linebacker in the league; pass rushing skills second to none. He changes how Offenses operate like no other.

2. Demarcus Ware
Just a notch below Merriman as a pass rusher; Ware might be a bit more versatile. Poised to become a superstar.

3. Brian Urlacher
A presence in the middle; constantly around the ball making plays. The complete package. You always know where number 54 is on the field.

4. Patrick Willis
Has emerged as one of the most active linebackers in the league. A tackling machine who never gives up on a play. Will be among the NFL's leading tacklers for years.

5. Keith Bulluck
Underrated player who is probably one of the most football-savvy linebackers in the league. Has the speed and quickness to shut down some of the best running backs in the game.

6. DeMeco Ryans
Probably should have been a first rounder in 2006. Instinctive with great range. Heady guy with excellent intangibles.

7. D.J. Williams
Has quietly been one of the most talented linebackers since coming into the league. Finally settled into his true position, Williams should post big numbers again this year.

8. Jason Taylor
The clock is ticking, but Taylor remains a dominant pass rusher who displays great versatility on the field.

9. Julian Peterson
Has really blossomed into his potential averaging about 80 tackles and 10 sacks since arriving in Seattle.

10. Will Witherspoon
Extremely underrated. Watch this guy play and you'll as yourself why he has never made the Pro Bowl. An every-down player who can play all three positions.


Honorable mention: Lofa Tatupu, Thomas Howard, Mike Vrabel, James Harrison, Ray Lewis, Shaun Phillips

--

So what do you guys think? Any glaring omissions? Someone ranked way too high? Share your thoughts in the comments below:

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Raising a bit of awareness on the situation, Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips blogs about the very real and very unfortunate reality that pro athletes are increasingly becoming the targets of crime. Tragedy hit the NFL when Sean Taylor was murdered during an attempted home burglary and the impact of that event was felt nationwide. Its important that we realize our favorite sports stars are still human beings and because exposure is at an all-time high, these athletes also have huge targets on them. Props to Phillips for shedding some light from personal perspective.

Read: Athletes Under The Gun

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Shaun Phillips has caught on to the whole blog thing and I couldn't be happier about. I think its a great way for athletes to connect with their fans on a new level. Phillips has a blog over at YardBarker and I highly recommend you drop by his page and leave a comment or two...

I'm on the plane trying stay calm because I feel like I wanna go rip somebody's head off. I can't think of nothing that I would rather be doing than playing football on Sunday. This will be a fun game. The stage is set - we are the underdogs going into a hostile environment where no one expects us to win except us.

SP Getting ready for the big game @ YardBarker.com

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Luis Castillo is out for about six weeks with a torn ankle tendon. Jacques Cesaire will start in Castillo's place with Ryon Bingham also seeing reps in rotation.

Buster Davis and Shaun Phillips have been a bit dinged up, but it looks like those two are going to be ready to go against the Colts this Sunday. Its especially crucial that the team gets back Phillips, as the key to beating the Colts is to get as much pressure on Peyton Manning as possible.

Adrian Peterson had a monster game against the Chargers last week; 296 yards is a new single game record and likely seals the deal for Peterson's Rookie Of The Year bid. The Detroit Lions had the opportunity to draft Peterson with the number two overall pick, but were scared away by Peterson's college injury of a broken collarbone. The Lions had already been burned in the past with that injury: Carlos Rogers was their top pick in the 2003 draft and during his rookie season, Rogers broke his collarbone while practicing. Never getting his career back on the right track after the injury, Rogers went on to become known as a major bust.

When AJ Smith was asked recently about his course of action to replenish a banged up roster with free agents, Smith admitted that the search was certainly underway but that the pickings would be very slim eight weeks into the regular season. The Chargers are going to have to rely on their current depth to help them get through the final eight weeks of the season.

If the season were to end today, the Chargers would hold the #20 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. While it is still unclear as to which direction the team would go with their top pick, certainly a player like Texas' DT Frank Okam would make a lot of sense. Its almost guaranteed that the Chargers will draft a Defensive Lineman in the upcoming draft. Defensive Tackle is Chargers number two need behind Running Back in my mind so it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Chargers take a 300 lbs monster in the first round.

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Everyone has a theory about why the Chargers aren't leading the league in sacks right now. Have the coaching changes had a negative effect on the defense's ability to put pressure on people? Is Shawne Merriman getting less opportunities to rush the passer? Is the defensive line getting pushed around?

Where is that tenacity, that aggressiveness? Flying around was what this defense, and in particular the outside linebackers, did well last year. What happened?

Well there's a couple of things happening:

1. Don't look now, but Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman are better.

How dare you say that?!, you might ask.

Well through their first four games of 2007, Merriman and Phillips' numbers are extremely similar to what they had in 2006.


Merriman (first four games of 2006):
12 tackles, 4.5 sacks.

Merriman (first four games of 2007):
20 tackles, 3 sacks.

Phillips (first four games of 2006):
20 tackles, 4 sacks

Phillips (first four games of 2007):
16 tackles, 3.5 sacks

So between the two of them, they have virtually identical numbers from last year. I mentioned they were better players, and part of that is becoming a more complete player. No longer are they one dimensional pass rushers. These guys are playing the run, dropping into coverage, and blitzing a little less.

Merriman and Phillips carried the identity that they were purely pass rushers. Ron Rivera has helped make them better Linebackers.

2. Losing Donnie Edwards had an impact on the entire defense.

Its easy to blitz your outside guys every down when you have one of the greatest coverage linebackers of all time on the field for you. But when you lose a guy like a Donnie Edwards, all of the sudden you find yourself having to drop more linebackers back to make up for that drop in coverage ability.

That's what's happening right now. The Chargers lost about 20 years of combined experience when Randell Godfrey and Donnie Edwards departed.

With what seems like a new set of starters at inside linebacker every week, its difficult to be totally confident that those guys are going to be on the same page with the defense. The Chargers have been getting burned badly by over-the-middle stuff and thats where Donnie Edwards used to cherry pick.

The Chargers don't have that right now, and are trying to make up for it by dropping more linebackers in coverage than they'd ideally like to.

3. Teams know how to attack the Chargers Defense.

We've witnessed how offenses have been successful against the Chargers' D; spread them out.

Spreading the defense out can cause breakdowns in communication and coverage assignments. It also allows the QB to get rid of the ball quicker and avoid the pass rush.

We have seen the Patriots, Packers, and Chiefs all do this effectively, and as a result those teams have put up big passing numbers against the Chargers that ultimately won them games.

So if you are looking for answers as to why the team is ranked 14th out of 32 teams in sacks, think about the above three answers.

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Brian Urlacher used to garner a lot of respect from me from the way he played the game. I liked his versatility, his intensity, and the fact that he is just as dominant as a pro as he was in college.

That respect has since been overtaken by the foul stench of bullshit that spews from Mr. Urlacher's mouth. He's called out just about everyone one on the Chargers and has lost just about any credibility he once had. There's been so much trash talk between the Bears and the Chargers that its making my head spin, so credit Ryan Wilson for keeping up on all of it.

The latest choice quote comes from Urlacher in response to the Chargers calling Cedric Benson 'soft'

"It's guys I've never heard of (doing the) talking," Urlacher said. "I don't even know who these guys are (who are) saying this stuff. Maybe they just want to get their names in the paper. I'm just getting tired of hearing it, and I'm sure Rex (Grossman) and Cedric (Benson) are also."

Urlacher said the team will rally around any teammate, but he doesn't know why any of them are being verbally abused in the first place.

"Whenever something's said about any one of my teammates, everyone on our team will stand up for them and defend them," he said. "I don't know what we have to defend (though).

"(But) it doesn't surprise me. I've said some things in the past also. I guess anyone can be provoked, but I don't know who these guys are who are talking. I've never heard of them before; I've never seen them on the field."

Urlacher played three seasons under former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, the Chargers' inside linebackers coach, who allegedly referred to Grossman as a "mental midget" in team meetings, a charge that Rivera has denied.

"I know Ron pretty well," Urlacher said. "I don't see those words coming out of his mouth, but who knows? I wasn't in their meetings."

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=37659&src=148

Urlacher will become quite familiar with Mr. Shaun Phillips and the rest of the Chargers defense as they continue to dominate opponents this season.

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Part two of my post-game impressions. Click on to read about guys like Shaun Phillips, the Bears and their D-line, Shawne Merriman, Lorenzo Neal, and Antonio Gates.


Shaun Phillips is going to win most one-on-one matchups, and at the very least he is going to put some pressure on the QB. But when you let the man run into the backfield without even touching him, then you're fixing to get your quarterback killed. The guy is the Chargers' fastest linebacker off the ball, and he takes sacking QBs very seriously. As long as teams keep focusing on getting Shawne Merriman blocked, Shaun Phillips is going to have fun punishing guys like Rex Grossman. I've already talked about the real possibility that Shaun Phillips is going to have an amazing year, and he started his campaign for a Pro Bowl with his game in Week 1.

The offensive line was getting bullied by the Bears, but that should come as no surprise. The Chicago Bears have an amazingly strong and athletic set of linemen, and that extends to the situational guys as well as the four who come out on the base defense. There was a question mark on that defense let behind when they waived Tank Johnson, but it looks like the Bears wont miss a beat. Good on them, I say. As a football fan, ts a pleasure to watch such an impressive group of linemen in a 4-3 defense, something that seems to becoming more and more rare each season.

Shawne Merriman has been looking extremely impressive as he displays abilities other than his highlighted pass rush skills. Rushing the passer is how he gets paid, but lets not discount his ability to affect the game in the flats. He causes Cedric Benson is drop a pass coming out of the backfield; Merriman read the play, and began pursuit of Benson before the ball was even thrown. Benson, hearing footsteps coming from #56, decided it was best to just mis-handle the catch rather than take a huge hit from Lights Out. Benson undoubtedly saw Merriman's latest commercial.

Merriman was moved around the field, lining up outside and then pre-snap stunting in the middle. Instead of having to beat the offensive tackle with a spin move and then have to possibly take on a running back as an extra blocker, Merriman is freed up to simply bull rush the center, like he did on that infamous sack of Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. Merriman is becoming a complete player.

I was expecting for Antonio Gates to have a great season. There was talk all during the summer about how Norv Turner was going to use Antonio in a variety of ways to exploit matchups and to get the ball into the hands of one of our most dangerous weapons. However, I never expected Gates to get an amazing thirteen passes thrown his way!

I love Lorenzo Neal. I love what he brings to the team, and I love that he is a personal bodyguard to Ladainain Tomlinson. He has an awesome personality and hits like a Mack Truck. But can we please stop throwing it to him?! It seems like its such a wasted play. I don't care enough to do the actual research on it, but I'd be surprised if the success/fail ratio of throwing it to Neal the past three years is better than 40/60!

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Shaun Phillips has shed his old nickname 'The Other Guy' with an eye-popping season in 2006. Phillips established himself as one of the leagues' premier pass rushers and answered the doubters' questions as to whether or not he can play the run.

Among Chargers players the past two seasons, only Shawne Merriman has had as much success forcing the ball loose as Shaun Phillips.

Phillips and Merriman both had four forced fumbles in 2006, which accounted for 8 of the Chargers 17 total on the year. Those 17 total forced fumbles place the Chargers in a tie for sixth place among all NFL teams. Certainly there is room for improvement in this area, but Phillips and Merriman are clearly doing their part.

Shaun Phillips has already shown that he is ready to have an even bigger year in 2007. In the Chargers preseason matchup against the St. Louis Rams, Phillips worked two forced fumbles. This is an example of a trend that is continuing with Phillips:



Shaun Phillips

2006 Regular Season - 04 Forced Fumbles
2006 Post Season - 01 Forced Fumbles
2007 Pre Season - 02 Forced Fumbles
2007 Regular Season - 07 Forced Fumbles (BoltHype Projection)

I'm expecting a career year for Shaun Phillips. Watching him in the offseason workouts and preseason games showed me that he is in world-class shape. His agility and speed off the ball are off the charts. He has greatly improved his ability to drop back into coverage and turn his hips, and can read and identify a run play with the swiftness of a top safety.

In a sixteen game season, my projected numbers for Shaun Phillips is as follows:

65 tackles, 12 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 7 passes defended

Its going to extremely difficult to earn a pro bowl berth at Outside linebacker with all the talent in the AFC, but it would not be out of the question to expect Shaun Phillips to make a real case for himself this season.

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FanProphet did the San Diego Chargers' fantasy outlook and determine that the Chargers have a number of players/units that are top picks.

Among Tomlinson and Gates each being the tops at their positions, FanProphet also says the Chargers Defense and Special Teams unit is top five in terms of projected fantasy points:

DEFENSE: Without question this defensive unit is one of the top 5 defenses in the league and worthy of fielding every week in your fantasy lineup. Last season they produced a total of 28 takeaways and 61 sacks, therefore, it would behoove you to draft them when the defensive draft barrage begins. If they show half of the intensity they showed in 2006, they will remain dominate.

The fierce pass rush that Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, and Luis Castillo provide is going to mean lots of sacks, negative yardage plays, forced fumbles, and interceptions. Those interceptions will come with natural playmakers like Antonio Cromartie and Eric Weddle getting more playing time. As long as the Chargers defense can become effective at stopping the pass game like they are at stuffing the run game, then not only will the unit be a top fantasy scoring defense, but they will also be a top defensive league-wide.

If you are a fantasy football fan, I would suggest you go check out FanProphet.com to get help with building your draft board for the upcoming season.


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Few people in can rock a pink Polo shirt like Shaun Phillips can. In his recent appearance on the NFL Network with teammate Luis Castillo, Phillips was seen sporting his clean cut look. I didn’t get a chance to see what kicks he was rocking, but no doubt he had had his stunna shades nearby and a fresh pair of jeans. And don't expect Phillips to get on camera without getting his hair cut. He brought along his own barber to the NFL Network Studio. We should change Phillips nickname from ‘The Other Guy’ to ‘Fly Boy’

As for the football talk, Eisen basically asked Castillo and Phillips about how the team was responding to the new coaching changes. Phillips explained that they are trying to get on the same page with the new staff, and are making strides in doing so. Keep in mind, Shaun has a new position coach, a new defensive coordinator, and a new head coach:

Right now, it’s all about gelling. We’re gelling together as a team. We are learning to trust coaches and coaches are learning to trust us. They’ll learning how we work and we are learning how they work. It’s all about gelling right now. - Phillips

And you’re not talking about your shoe inserts? - Eisen

Castillo is a class act and is an excellent ambassador for the Chargers and for the NFL in general. Its nice to see a couple of clean-cut players represent the NFL is a good way, and at the same time perform at such high levels on the football field.

Castillo said he wants at least 10 sacks this season, and combined with ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Fly Boy’ they should hit around 45 sacks. Lofty goals, but these three are devastatingly good at what they do.

Watch: Chargers DL Luis Castillo and LB Shaun Phillips in studio (Real Media Player required)