DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus declares...

[InmanRoshi]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-illini-junior-mercilus-to-enter-nfl-draft-20120103,0,1972667.story

This would be my preference at #14, if he falls that far. What better guy to replace "Almost Anthony" Spencer than a someone who had 16 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 22.5 TFLs as a junior. He also shifted inside to a 3 tech sometimes on sub packages.

[SDogo]

I'll bite, I'm intreagued.

Only if DeCastro and Claiborne are off the board.

[gmoney112]

The plot thickens.

[TheCount]

A lot of early scouting reports I'm saying say strictly DE and not OLB due to stiff hips, lack of athleticism and no experience in coverage. Haven't really watched him play myself, how accurate are those statements?

[InmanRoshi]

Yeah, probably is a DE and not a OLB. Probably plays around 270 and can move inside to DT on nickel. Frankly, I'm fine with that in a 3-4 DE. I don't care anymore about DEs holding 2 gaps in the running game. The good offenses we'll have to go through to get to the Superbowl don't run anway. Being overly concerned with that stuff is how we've got a DL full of Marcus Spears, Kenyon Colemans and Igor Olashanskys while our division opponents have been aquiring a roster full JPPs, Justin Tucks, Osis, Babins and Cullins Jenkins. If your scheme cant find a way to utilize a 16 sack, 9 FF player, something is seriously screwed up with your scheme. Finiding a guy who can do that from the DE position is even more rare than an OLB who can edge rush.

[tm1119]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-illini-junior-mercilus-to-enter-nfl-draft-20120103,0,1972667.story

This would be my preference at #14, if he falls that far. What better guy to replace "Almost Anthony" Spencer than a someone who had 16 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 22.5 TFLs as a junior. He also shifted inside to a 3 tech sometimes on sub packages.
I'm on my phone so I cant link right now but I read more than 1 scouting report that said he should be left at de. I believe they said he doesn't have the hip movement or agility to do anything but rush straight at the passer.

[Gaede]

Sounds good to me.

[dogberry]

Would we play him on Ware's side?

[cowboysfan31]

I've seen him play a few times and I think he could play as a 3-4 OLB. Ryan Kerrigan plays there effectively for the Redskins, and from what I've seen I think Mercilus is more mobile than Kerrigan is. Mercilus uses his hands very well and he can fight through double teams which may be why some people think he should stay at DE, but he looked to be in good shape and played with a high motor when I saw him.

[808CowboyFan]

By the sounds of Bunting, he may be a reach at 14.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Illinois-DE-Whitney-Mercilus-declares-for-the-NFL-Draft.html

[VACowboy]

By the sounds of Bunting, he may be a reach at 14.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Illinois-DE-Whitney-Mercilus-declares-for-the-NFL-Draft.html

Definitely a reach. He sounds just like Terrell Suggs.

[cowboysfan31]

Definitely a reach. He sounds just like Terrell Suggs.

If he's definitely a reach, then Suggs is wrong person to compare him to. Suggs has averaged nearly 10 sacks, 3 FF, and 1 INT per season over his career, and he was the 10th overall pick.

[VACowboy]

If he's definitely a reach, then Suggs is wrong person to compare him to. Suggs has averaged nearly 10 sacks, 3 FF, and 1 INT per season over his career, and he was the 10th overall pick.

Attempt at sarcasm. Sorry.

[cbow44]

I just want someone that can rush the passer. with 14 sacks he sounds like he can.

[jblaze2004]

give me bruce irvin. (how well did bruce play this season anywayz?).

[supercowboy8]

Definitely a reach. He sounds just like Terrell Suggs.
ha funny,

I think Melvin INgram looks and plays alot like Suggs does.

I think Whitney is to stiff and slow off the line to be a OLB.

[supercowboy8]

I just want someone that can rush the passer. with 14 sacks he sounds like he can.

well there is more to playing SOLB than just rushing the passer. He may get sacks but he will give up the pass to TE and RB in the flats due to being to stiff to cover those players, and he isn't that great at anchoring the edge vs the run. SO all those sacks he can get will be given up by screens and TE catches and runs to his side.

[InmanRoshi]

give me bruce irvin. (how well did bruce play this season anywayz?).

Disappointing. Turned out to be a bit of a one trick pony who just has one speed outside rush move, and opponents caught up to it. I still love his athleticism, but he could drop to late 2nd or 3rd round.

[InmanRoshi]

At this point I'd be pretty happy with a guy who just rushes the passer. We have an entire team full of front 7 guys who do everything well but rush the passer.

[TheCoolFan]

Yep forget all the other stuff, just someone who can rush the passer. We play enough nickel and rush with 4 anyway.

[VACowboy]

ha funny,

I think Melvin INgram looks and plays alot like Suggs does.

I think Whitney is to stiff and slow off the line to be a OLB.

As I posted in another thread, I've never seen Mercilus play, so all I have to go by is his numbers and what people write about him. And similarly to Merc's production and the stuff written about him, Suggs led the country in sacks his senior season, had long arms and was said to have an unbelievably quick first step (but then ran a "slow" 40 at the combine).

You've obviously seen him play, but what I've read says he gets off the line very quickly. He's doing SOMETHING very well to get to the QB. Ton of TFL. 9 FF is unreal. Kid is just a disruptive playmaker.

I agree with Inman: If a DC can't find a way to use a guy like that, mebbe he needs a new job.