Philip Merling Article

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

DE/Merling and WR/Kelly work out updated. JLC blog

Posted at 3:56 PM ET, 04/24/2008
En Route To Oklahoma (UPDATED - And JC Is Rolling With Them)

So the Skins hearty contingent, including the owner and vp of football ops and head coach, has indeed left Clemson, where DE Phillip Merling worked out, and should be working out Malcolm Kelly shortly, the WR prospect.

Also, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is with the Skins and flying to Oklahoma, so you would have to imagine he'll be throwing some passes Kelly's way.

As for Merling, spoke to some people down there at the workout. The kid is working through sports hernia surgery - no small deal - but went hard for 45 minutes, I am told. He was out there by himself and showed very well. About half the league had a representative there, but the Skins large contingent certainly drew ample attention.

Merling is tough as nails, and took a needle to the groin every Saturday just to be ablel to get on the field with Clemson, gutting through the hernia (the injury caused him to miss the physical part of the combine, and thus he held his workout today, on the last possible day). Scouts I talk to say he has strong character and is very stout at the point of attack ("He's not going to get outflanked," one said). He does not project to be a big sack guy, but could be a beast against the run (and considering what the Skins are looking for on the strong side, he sounds like a younger Phillip Daniels, with better upside). Could be good for a handful of sacks as well.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

Also, another name to watch on the second day of the draft is San Diego QB Josh Johnson, sources said. Johnson had a very good visit to Redskins Park and has been in touch with coach Jim Zorn, team sources said. He may not last until the 4th round, and that's a bit higher than where the Skins would probably like to take a QB given he would be a project and behind Campbell and Todd Collins for a while, but it's certainly worth watching with Zorn so closely tied to the QB position.

Sounds like Merling would be a nice compliment to Carter at the DE position.