As the Pittsburgh Steelers get ready to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, we’re doing something different for this edition of “First Call.”
Former Chargers pass-rusher Shawne Merriman joined me for Friday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. The three-time All-Pro connected with us to preview Steelers-Chargers and to promote his “Lights Out Xtreme Fighting” platform.
The conversation was too good to cram into just one “First Call” entry.
Never hurts to ask
Merriman’s coach with the (then San Diego) Chargers was Fort Cherry High School alum Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer was also a coaching mentor to former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher.
Merriman said he always loved how Cowher coached and thought he might wind up playing for him one day.
“Marty Schottenheimer introduced me to Bill Cowher,” Merriman said. “One day we went to dinner in L.A. We had a chance to just talk about football. I was in football heaven for an hour and a half. Hearing them talk back and forth. Both passionate as hell. They had the same kind of style and mindset when it comes to coaching. You’d run through a wall for those guys.”
Merriman said he liked Cowher so much that after Anthony Lynn was fired, he reached out to Cowher to see if he’d be interested in coming out of retirement to coach the Chargers.
“I texted him when that was going down … I took my run at Bill Cowher,” Merriman said. “The Chargers lucked up by getting a coach like Brandon Staley. But I’ll be damned if I wasn’t going to reach out to Bill Cowher.”
Battling Big Ben
Merriman reflected on what it was like to face Roethlisberger in his prime.
“I didn’t realize how big Ben Roethlisberger was in person,” Merriman said. “He had this ability to get himself out of bad situations and throw the ball down the field 30 or 40 yards when you thought you had him wrapped up. Somehow his arm is out. He gets out enough to throw the ball downfield. The hardest quarterbacks to bring down were Ben Roethlisberger and Steve McNair.”
That said, Merriman did have a sack of Ben Roethlisberger in that classic 2005 “Monday Night Football” 24-22 victory for the Steelers.
That was the game where Roethlisberger left injured late in the fourth quarter, and Charlie Batch and Jerome Bettis came in to polish off a game-winning field goal drive.
Best of the best
Two of the NFL’s best pass rushers could square off Sunday night. That’s if T.J. Watt’s hip and ankle injuries allow him to play. And if Joey Bosa clears covid-19 protocol.
So who is the best?
“I love Khalil Mack (Chicago Bears),” Merriman said. “But freakish athletes — guys that we haven’t seen anything like before — it’s Myles Garrett. For sure. You talk about a freak of nature. His picture should be up there somewhere (because of) what his capabilities are.”
Merriman said what separates Garrett from the rest is his ability to effectively pass rush from the interior of the defensive line as well. Garrett has 13 sacks to lead the league. Watt is next at 12.5.
The story behind the story
After an electrifying first season, many expected Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to be an MVP candidate in 2021.
His numbers are fairly similar to last year. But they haven’t jumped to the level that some people projected. He’s been under 250 yards three of his past four games.
Merriman blames the Chargers NFL-worst rush defense for being so bad that it’s dragging down Herbert on the other side of the ball.
“He’s getting a possession or two less (per game),” Merriman said. “No team wants him on the field for more opportunities. You have to be able to stop the run and they haven’t been able to do that this year.”
The Chargers are allowing 155.1 yards per game on the ground. To Merriman’s point, Los Angeles is 26th in the NFL in time of possession at 28:30. Over their past three games, the Chargers are 24th in the league in total number of offensive snaps, at 59.3 per game.
Second gig
One aspect of “Lights Out XF” that differentiates it from some other MMA companies is that Merriman recruits former athletes who are looking to stay competitive after their team sports careers end.
He thinks Steelers running back Najee Harris would be a good candidate. Merriman said he’s a huge fan of his talent, stamina and work ethic.
“Around his ninth or tenth year, I’ll be knocking on his door,” Merriman said. “Remember that good stuff I said about you when you were a rookie? Come on over!”
That said, Merriman claims cornerbacks and 3-4 pass rushers tend to be the most natural fits in MMA.
“Could you imagine if T.J. Watt decided to pick up jujutsu and learn how to strike? Who would want to face that guy? Nobody would,” Merriman said.
On the hockey front, Merriman said he’d love to land Ryan Reaves or Tom Wilson someday.
If there truly is a God in heaven, I’ll live long enough to see either T.J. Watt or Najee Harris choke out Tom Wilson.
Make it happen, Shawne.
