Last year, he switched from cornerback to wide receiver. This year, he successfully made the switch from wide receiver back to cornerback. In short, junior speedster Da’Mon Merkerson may be the most versatile player on Syracuse’s roster.

The move to defense was a must for both parties this fall. Merkerson was sick of standing on the sideline at receiver, and the secondary sunk to one of the lowest ranked units in the nation. Eventually, Merkerson approached SU coaches about the change. Here’s what he had to say about his position switch and preparing for Cincinnati’s high-octane passing attack:

Q: Three games in, how has the switch back to cornerback been for you?

A: It’s been good. Football is always a joy for me. The main thing for me was to get back onto the field.

Q: How did the switch happen?

A: I asked on the Sunday after the Maine game if I could switch back to defense. I felt like I wasn’t getting as much time on offense as I wanted. So I thought I could help the defense. I just wanted the opportunity. I went and talked to Coach Marrone and asked if I could be switched. He talked to all the defensive coaches and agreed to it.’

Q: And now you’re out there on a play-to-play basis. How has the transition been from being a utility guy on offense to being a starter on defense?

A: It’s an opportunity. Everybody on the team wants an opportunity. Getting an opportunity is an exciting thing and keeping it. I’m just another guy trying to help the team.

Q: Are you surprised that you’re playing so much?

A: I guess that’s a ‘yes,’ and ‘no’ because the theme of this coaching staff is that if you play well in practice, you’ll play in the game. I felt that I would have to work my way up of course, but if I produced in practice, I would get an opportunity to play on the field.

Q: Was it hard to stand idly by when you were a receiver?

A: Not playing, it took me to another mindset. When you’re not playing, you have to wonder if it’s because you’re not getting a fair opportunity or because I’m not playing hard enough. I went along the lines that I wasn’t playing hard enough. It made me sharpen every one of my skills on offense and work so hard that when I made the switch to defense, I had already put in so much work.

Q: What is the biggest difference between cornerback and wide receiver?

A: Preserving on defense. Both positions require a lot of confidence, because getting burned is just as mentally straining as dropping a pass as a receiver. The biggest difference at DB is when you get burned, you can’t let yourself get hesitant. A short-term memory is a must.

Q: Does the increase in your defense’s blitzes put you in more one-on-one situations at corner?

A: That generally happens here and there. At DB, you’re the last line of defense, so we’re prepared to be on an island, on our own. It’s an experience, to say the least.

Q: How are you approaching this weekend’s game against a prolific Cincinnati offense?

A: These are the games you think about before you get to any level of football. You think about that big game – the game that I know people are going to be watching. This is the best thing our secondary and our team could ask for. We just want to go out there and have an opportunity to play with the best.

Q: What stands out most about Cincinnati’s receiving corps?

A: They make plays. They’re big playmakers. Their receivers catch the ball, and their offense is designed for them to make plays.

Q: Does their No. 1 wideout Mardy Gilyard have a go-to route or tendency?

A: He’s a speedster. It’s obvious where he’s going with the ball. I don’t know if he shakes much. He’s definitely a catch-and-go kind of guy. He catches it and splits the seams.

Q: How do you stop him?

A: No. 1: don’t let him catch the ball. That’s the easiest way. I’m just going to stick to the game plan and press him up. That’s what I do. There’s no secret to what I like to do. I like to play bump-and-run. I guess we’ll see who’s faster.

Q: Does your make-up speed make this type of coverage possible?

A: I think that gives me a little bit of an edge. Coaches say I have good reach and good range, so when I press, I don’t need to be so close to the guy. I think my speed does come into play.

Q: Is there a player in the NFL you try to model yourself after as a corner?

A: My favorite corner has to be Charles Woodson. I like his style of play a lot. He’s loose. He doesn’t play tight. I’ve seen him get beat a couple times and he comes back and makes play. He also played both ways, so Charles Woodson has to be the guy.

Q: Does your experience at receiver help you out at corner?

A: It helps me out with releases the most. Where the ball is at on the field, where they are and based on their release I can tell what they’re trying to set me up for. It shortens down the route combinations they can do.

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on October 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm