Jeff Merrow was no Vic Beasley. Then again, Vic Beasley is no big No. 75.
While Beasley lines up these days for the Falcons and heads straight for the quarterback, Merrow played during a time when the NFL wasn’t so specialized.
Playing all nine of his NFL seasons in Atlanta, he called the trenches his home and saw every block known to defenders, now many of them illegal. Those included, he said, “Getting cut at knees, the chop block, the crack back, the blindside and even the blindside crack back chop block. It was crazy then.’’
Merrow was a huge part of the Falcons’ “Grits Blitz’’ defense in 1977.
He went to Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio, where he also tried to played basketball, but said he “always had something broken in basketball season.’’
He was courted heavily by Ohio State’s Woody Hayes, but chose Bobby Bowden and West Virginia, where as a sophomore in 1973, he had an astounding 141 tackles, 15 for loss and six sacks. Merrow continued his dominance the next two seasons, but weighed only 230 pounds coming out of college and was not a coveted draft pick.
The Falcons selected him the 11th round (263rd overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft.
Atlanta was searching for defensive help and Merrow ended up starting 12 games as a rookie. He didn’t miss a game until he was injured in 1979.
This included playing on the memorable ’77 team that allowed just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. He had 10 sacks that year to lead the team, though the Falcons didn’t make the playoffs, finishing at 7-7.
But Merrow was part of the city’s first taste of success at professional football as he helped push the Falcons to the playoffs the following season and started all 16 games in ’80, when they went 12-4.
Merrow and the Falcons returned to the playoffs in the strike-shortened season two years later, but he retired after the following year, his body beat up after numerous lower body injuries.
For the next few years, Merrow said he “had to get a feel of what life was all about’’ before starting a heavy-duty truck lift company with his brother David. His best friend on the team those days was Don Smith, one of the other defensive ends. He joined Merrow’s company.
Where he lives: Merrow, 63, has been married to Lisa for 36 years and they live outside Buford on Lake Lanier. He has three sons, Jeffrey, Ian and Thor. They all played football for Buford High School and have a total of six state championship rings.
What he does: Merrow continues to grow his company, hiring all his sons to work with him. He says his health, other than some aches and pains in his feet and knees, is good. He doesn't start paying attention to the NFL season until the playoffs begin, but watches a lot of high school and college football.
On going to West Virginia: "I heard from every school in the Big 10, but I committed pretty early to West Virginia. I don't mean to belittle Woody Hayes and Ohio State, but when I talked to Bobby Bowden, I just liked the way he said things and what he was about, and I wanted to play for him. It was a good move for me.''
On the difference in rushing the passer when he played: "It was a different game. We had to play the run, which was a much bigger part of the game then. They are throwing the ball around ridiculously now. The guys that play end are not linemen now, they run like safeties. I was a power rusher. When I walked up to the line, I had to think a lot about down and distance and where we were on the field. It is less of a guessing game these days. I will say I think the Falcons are doing a good job of getting after the quarterback.''
On the best offensive lineman he faced: "It was a young Anthony Munoz. I knew when I was playing against him I had to have two good legs in that game. I did get a lot of work in practice though as I went up against Mike Kenn every day, and he was one of the best pass blockers in the game.''
On the "Grits Blitz:'' "It was a bunch of guys who loved to play the game and we all brought 100 percent to the field, and it just snowballed.''
On retiring: "I was beat up bad after the '83 season. I had my feet rebuilt in '78 and tore a hamstring in '81. It just stopped being fun.''
