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I actually posted most of this as a reply to Pat Moran's excellent article about Meridith that is posted on the BZ front page, but want to share it with those on the BZ forum who may have already read Pat's article or might not bother reading the articles on the front page.
Like a lot of Bills fans, I have been wondering why the Bills didn't sign Jon Runyan, especially after Brad Butler got hurt. It seems like a strange move for a team lacking experience on the offensive line and in dire need of help at the tackle position with Butler going down for the season. Passing over an experienced--read expensive--veteran for a raw rookie project seems like the kind of folly that could only be financially motivated, right?
Well, not necessarily.
While the Bills were, perhaps, the team most in need of immediate help at offensive tackle this week, they were by no means the only team that expressed interest in Runyan's services or that is pretty desperate for offensive line help (for example: with Chad Clifton out, the Packers, considered playoff contenders, will have to move their RT or LG to LT until Clifton returns). Yet, none of those teams--some known to be more liberal with their money than the Bills--have yet made a move to sign Runyan. Why?
Just because the doctors say that a player has recovered from an injury and can play, that doesn't necessarily mean that the player is ready to play yet. Runyan's knee may be healed after his surgery, but is it ready to be subjected to the kind of pounding that it would get every day in practice, let alone in games? With a lot fewer players on the roster, it is harder for a player to skip reps in practice during the season than in training camp, especially if he is trying to learn a new offense.
And, is he in good enough shape yet to play? There is a difference between being healthy, being in shape, being in NFL shape, and being in "game shape". Playing in a no-huddle offense is tough enough for NFL players who are in "game shape", it could take weeks for a player who isn't in "game shape" to be ready to step on the field and play well for a whole game or even part of a game in a no-huddle offense.
So, is it possible that Runyan may not be ready yet to step on the field and play in a game for a NFL team? Well, the fact that no NFL team has signed him yet, despite several teams being interested in him, would seem to indicate that more than one team has its doubts about what Runyan can do right now--not just the Bills.
If Runyan isn't ready to play right now, why sign him and give up a roster spot to someone who can't even help your team in an emergency?
OK, then, why not sign a veteran offensive lineman who can play offensive tackle?
First of all, the Bills already have an offensive tackle who can step in and play for them in Kirk Chambers (I can hear the shreaks already!). Chambers may not be a guy that you want starting at offensive tackle for your team every week, but he proved last season that he can step in and give the team decent play in short stretches during games and, if necessary, in case of a short-term injury. And, with the exception of Levi Jones--who reportedly wants to be paid more than any team is willing to pay--and, maybe, Langston Walker--who may not be willing to get in good enough shape to play in a no-huddle offense--if you don't count Runyan, there really aren't any veteran offensive tackles out there currently that are going to be that much better than Chambers (Damion McIntosh?).
So, why sign a veteran offensive lineman now, if the Bills don't need to? Especially when they had a chance to get their hands on a talented kid that they might be able to develop into a player who can contribute to the team down-the-road?
As Pat points out in his article, Meridith is a talented young player who isn't likely to be ready to play in the NFL this season, but who has the potential to become a solid player in a year or so. According to the article, some scouts felt that Meridith had second or third round talent, but he slipped down to the fifth round because of his attitude and lack of maturity.
While Meridith may not be ready to play in the NFL this season, for all of their failures, the Bills have had some success in recent years developing young offensive linemen, like Peters, Bell and Scott. Scott admits that he had attitude and immaturity issues when he was with Detroit and that the Bills' offensive line coaches have helped him to develop and see the game in an entirely different way. If the Bills' coaches can similarly get through to Meridith and help him to straighten out his attitude, adding him to the roster would be like acquiring an additional draft choice at no cost.
If Meridith doesn't get his head straightened out, then the Bills only have to keep him for three games. So, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having signed him away from Green Bay's practice squad.
But, what if Scott or Bell should get injured?
Well, Meridith wouldn't start or play or probably even be active in the first place. Chambers would be the one who would step in and play. If the injury is minor, Chambers would probably fill-in as the starter in the short-term. If the Bills signed Runyan tomorrow and he was not yet in "game shape" that would likely still be the case. If the injury is a major one, the Bills would put the injured player on IR and, having done so, would have a roster spot available to sign a veteran offensive lineman like Runyan, etc. Let's say the Bills signed Runyan at that point: Chambers would still start a game or two until Runyan was ready to take over for him as the starter.
But, why not sign Runyan now, even though he may not be ready to play or practice yet, as a precaution?
Because 1.) it won't take Runyan or another veteran that long to learn the Bills' offense and "get up to speed" once he is signed; 2.) the longer Runyan is unsigned, the more time his knee has to recover and the less pounding he and it will take; 3.) with Meridith, the Bills will have a full compliment of players who can work in practice, with Runyan not yet in good enough condition to go full out, they would not and would be short a man; and, 4.) the Bills lack talented, youthful depth on the offensive line now--at 35, Runyan would help the team, if they were to need and use him, for only a year, Meridith has the potential to help the team over the long-term and even push Butler and Scott for the starting RT job if he gets his head screwed on right.
What if Runyan signs with another team and then the Bills suffer another injury at OT?
Well, that's the calculated risk that the Bills are running. In that case, the team may have to pay Levi Jones what he wants or settle for a Damion McIntosh. Or, if it is late enough in the season and they have had some time to develop, the Bills may have to go with Meridith or Hennessey as their back-up swing tackle.
For some Bills fans that would undoubtedly be too great of a risk. And, I can understand that. I must confess that I wouldn't feel that confident if Kirk Chambers had to start six games with Meridith or Hennessey or even McIntosh (or one of the other no-name available vets) as his back-up either.
But, on the other side of the coin, I can see the sense and value in their move to pluck Meridith away from Green Bay. The kid is smart and talented, but he has an attitude problem. Perhaps the Bills coaches and being around the other hard-working, close-knit young offensive linemen that the Bills have will help Meridith to mature and develop a better attitude. If that happens and he is able to develop as a player, the Bills could end up having gotten themselves a gem who can help the team for the next couple of years for virtually nothing. Nothing except being willing to take the risk that they will be able to get through the rest of this season without needing to add a Jon Runyan--a player who may or may not be able to play as well as he played before his recent injury.
Would I want the Bills to sign the Jon Runyan who was such a great player for Philly for over a decade? Definitely. But, there is no guarantee that Runyan is ready or able to be that player--now or ever again. And, if so many other teams haven't been willing to sign him yet, maybe the Bills know something about his current condition that we don't. Something that has given them good reason not to sign him at this point. If that's the case, then the signing of Meridith not only makes sense, it could prove to be a very good move. Whether it will be a good move depends a lot on Meridith and on whether the Bills are able to get through the bulk of the season without their starting offensive linemen getting hurt. It's a risk, but a calculated gamble that could end up paying off for the team down-the-road.
Like a lot of Bills fans, I have been wondering why the Bills didn't sign Jon Runyan, especially after Brad Butler got hurt. It seems like a strange move for a team lacking experience on the offensive line and in dire need of help at the tackle position with Butler going down for the season. Passing over an experienced--read expensive--veteran for a raw rookie project seems like the kind of folly that could only be financially motivated, right?
Well, not necessarily.
While the Bills were, perhaps, the team most in need of immediate help at offensive tackle this week, they were by no means the only team that expressed interest in Runyan's services or that is pretty desperate for offensive line help (for example: with Chad Clifton out, the Packers, considered playoff contenders, will have to move their RT or LG to LT until Clifton returns). Yet, none of those teams--some known to be more liberal with their money than the Bills--have yet made a move to sign Runyan. Why?
Just because the doctors say that a player has recovered from an injury and can play, that doesn't necessarily mean that the player is ready to play yet. Runyan's knee may be healed after his surgery, but is it ready to be subjected to the kind of pounding that it would get every day in practice, let alone in games? With a lot fewer players on the roster, it is harder for a player to skip reps in practice during the season than in training camp, especially if he is trying to learn a new offense.
And, is he in good enough shape yet to play? There is a difference between being healthy, being in shape, being in NFL shape, and being in "game shape". Playing in a no-huddle offense is tough enough for NFL players who are in "game shape", it could take weeks for a player who isn't in "game shape" to be ready to step on the field and play well for a whole game or even part of a game in a no-huddle offense.
So, is it possible that Runyan may not be ready yet to step on the field and play in a game for a NFL team? Well, the fact that no NFL team has signed him yet, despite several teams being interested in him, would seem to indicate that more than one team has its doubts about what Runyan can do right now--not just the Bills.
If Runyan isn't ready to play right now, why sign him and give up a roster spot to someone who can't even help your team in an emergency?
OK, then, why not sign a veteran offensive lineman who can play offensive tackle?
First of all, the Bills already have an offensive tackle who can step in and play for them in Kirk Chambers (I can hear the shreaks already!). Chambers may not be a guy that you want starting at offensive tackle for your team every week, but he proved last season that he can step in and give the team decent play in short stretches during games and, if necessary, in case of a short-term injury. And, with the exception of Levi Jones--who reportedly wants to be paid more than any team is willing to pay--and, maybe, Langston Walker--who may not be willing to get in good enough shape to play in a no-huddle offense--if you don't count Runyan, there really aren't any veteran offensive tackles out there currently that are going to be that much better than Chambers (Damion McIntosh?).
So, why sign a veteran offensive lineman now, if the Bills don't need to? Especially when they had a chance to get their hands on a talented kid that they might be able to develop into a player who can contribute to the team down-the-road?
As Pat points out in his article, Meridith is a talented young player who isn't likely to be ready to play in the NFL this season, but who has the potential to become a solid player in a year or so. According to the article, some scouts felt that Meridith had second or third round talent, but he slipped down to the fifth round because of his attitude and lack of maturity.
While Meridith may not be ready to play in the NFL this season, for all of their failures, the Bills have had some success in recent years developing young offensive linemen, like Peters, Bell and Scott. Scott admits that he had attitude and immaturity issues when he was with Detroit and that the Bills' offensive line coaches have helped him to develop and see the game in an entirely different way. If the Bills' coaches can similarly get through to Meridith and help him to straighten out his attitude, adding him to the roster would be like acquiring an additional draft choice at no cost.
If Meridith doesn't get his head straightened out, then the Bills only have to keep him for three games. So, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having signed him away from Green Bay's practice squad.
But, what if Scott or Bell should get injured?
Well, Meridith wouldn't start or play or probably even be active in the first place. Chambers would be the one who would step in and play. If the injury is minor, Chambers would probably fill-in as the starter in the short-term. If the Bills signed Runyan tomorrow and he was not yet in "game shape" that would likely still be the case. If the injury is a major one, the Bills would put the injured player on IR and, having done so, would have a roster spot available to sign a veteran offensive lineman like Runyan, etc. Let's say the Bills signed Runyan at that point: Chambers would still start a game or two until Runyan was ready to take over for him as the starter.
But, why not sign Runyan now, even though he may not be ready to play or practice yet, as a precaution?
Because 1.) it won't take Runyan or another veteran that long to learn the Bills' offense and "get up to speed" once he is signed; 2.) the longer Runyan is unsigned, the more time his knee has to recover and the less pounding he and it will take; 3.) with Meridith, the Bills will have a full compliment of players who can work in practice, with Runyan not yet in good enough condition to go full out, they would not and would be short a man; and, 4.) the Bills lack talented, youthful depth on the offensive line now--at 35, Runyan would help the team, if they were to need and use him, for only a year, Meridith has the potential to help the team over the long-term and even push Butler and Scott for the starting RT job if he gets his head screwed on right.
What if Runyan signs with another team and then the Bills suffer another injury at OT?
Well, that's the calculated risk that the Bills are running. In that case, the team may have to pay Levi Jones what he wants or settle for a Damion McIntosh. Or, if it is late enough in the season and they have had some time to develop, the Bills may have to go with Meridith or Hennessey as their back-up swing tackle.
For some Bills fans that would undoubtedly be too great of a risk. And, I can understand that. I must confess that I wouldn't feel that confident if Kirk Chambers had to start six games with Meridith or Hennessey or even McIntosh (or one of the other no-name available vets) as his back-up either.
But, on the other side of the coin, I can see the sense and value in their move to pluck Meridith away from Green Bay. The kid is smart and talented, but he has an attitude problem. Perhaps the Bills coaches and being around the other hard-working, close-knit young offensive linemen that the Bills have will help Meridith to mature and develop a better attitude. If that happens and he is able to develop as a player, the Bills could end up having gotten themselves a gem who can help the team for the next couple of years for virtually nothing. Nothing except being willing to take the risk that they will be able to get through the rest of this season without needing to add a Jon Runyan--a player who may or may not be able to play as well as he played before his recent injury.
Would I want the Bills to sign the Jon Runyan who was such a great player for Philly for over a decade? Definitely. But, there is no guarantee that Runyan is ready or able to be that player--now or ever again. And, if so many other teams haven't been willing to sign him yet, maybe the Bills know something about his current condition that we don't. Something that has given them good reason not to sign him at this point. If that's the case, then the signing of Meridith not only makes sense, it could prove to be a very good move. Whether it will be a good move depends a lot on Meridith and on whether the Bills are able to get through the bulk of the season without their starting offensive linemen getting hurt. It's a risk, but a calculated gamble that could end up paying off for the team down-the-road.
"Expect rejection, but expect more to overcome it." 
" ~ yordad
Meredith certainly seems to be a genuine prospect, the more you hear about him, including some of the reasons for his apparent slide down the rounds - especially the position change to guard in his last season. I'm not so worried that he supposedly has a bit of 'attitude', as I think the likes of Wood, could actually show him the right place to display that, i.e. on the field. It also has to be said that he may well be needed in the future, because there are no guarantees that Butler will be back (although certainly it is to be hoped for).
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