Killer B's

I’ve been high on safety Brandon Merriweather since his second-year breakout season. He finished 2008 second on the team in tackles, led the team in interceptions with four, and forced two fumbles. What really stood out was the significance of the turnovers, as twice they were the difference in wins.

I also think he will establish himself as an intimidating hard-hitter throughout the league. His speed was on full display against Baltimore as he deflected two passes. If Merriweather went after the receiver instead of the ball on the deflection of the curl route, it would had looked like a painful stick. And Brandon tagging RB Willis McGahee as he crossed the goal line wasn’t bad either.

It’s encouraging to see the emergence of Merriweather, but it’s a better feeling knowing he’s not alone in the secondary as a safety that can bring the wood. Brandon McGowan is quickly making an impact with a surprising Patriots defense.

McGowan came to the Patriots after four injury-plagued years with the Chicago Bears. He was signed after the draft with no fanfare as rookie safety Pat Chung drew the headlines as the Patriots top draft pick. And when McGowan survived the final cuts, every noticed that S Tank Williams was let go instead.

At the rate McGowan is making plays, it’s impossible not to notice him. The former University of Maine Black Bear got most of the credit for holding Atlanta’s then-leading receiver TE Tony Gonzalez to just one catch for 16 yards and a forced a fumble in week three. Last week he was in on a critical fourth-and-one stop of McGahee in the fourth quarter.

Teams with two game-changing safetys consider themselves fortunate. But what are the chances of having a pair of game-changers both with a first name of Brandon or with the same initials? Before racing to say McGowan surpassed Merriweather, don’t forget Merriweather was the first to rip at the ball cradled in Buffalo returner Leodis McKelvin’s arm before LB Pierre Woods finished the job. That turnover led to the game-winning touchdown, the third time Merriweather was in on a game-winning turnover (interception vs. NY Jets and forced fumble on a sack vs. Seattle).

Isn’t it funny how we were concerned about who would replace Rodney Harrison? It’s not that either Merriweather or McGowan fulfill what Harrison did for the Pats, but more like they share the responsibilities whether in coverage or attacking the line.

Merriweather is currently leading on the team in tackles with McGowan in third place. If they keep on making plays, they will be deserving of a clever nickname. I submit The Killer B’s, as in The Killer Brandons. Hopefully the moniker spreads to the whole secondary, representing a complete unit that swarms to the ball and delivers stinging hits.

With Merriweather and McGowan as the leading bees in the Patriots hive.