Whitney Mercilus, OLB/DE, Illinois 6-4 265

[TheFinisher]

With all the debate focused on Ingram/Upshaw I think some are heavily underrating Mercilus. His combination of strength and athleticism is pretty special and it was on display all season long as he led the nation in sacks with 16... and the more impressive stat IMO is that he forced 9 fumbles. He can gain the edge as well as overwhelm and bullrush. He got the better of Ohio St. OT Mike Adams in their matchup, who is a 1st Round prospect in his own right and gave Wisconsin's OL fits.

That fact that he's still raw and putting up the numbers he did this season has me heavily intrigued, in fact it's eerily similar to Aldon SMith and JPP when they were coming out.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/1011/chi_i_mercilusw_400.jpg

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[Dash28]

There was an article last year about Vic Koenning talking about he has that want to be great like Ware had and works extremely hard.

Mercilus has the potential to be a great pass rusher. I do like that he has that "relentless" title on most reports.

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't know about Whitney.

Could be a one year wonder. He only had 2 sacks prior to this season.

Really interested if he does have the speed and athletic ability to explode off the snap, get low and turn the corner... Against NFL offensive tackles.

[TheFinisher]

I don't know about Whitney.

Could be a one year wonder. He only had 2 sacks prior to this season.

Really interested if he does have the speed and athletic ability to explode off the snap, get low and turn the corner... Against NFL offensive tackles.

Same concerns were said about Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith *shrugs*

He's still putting everything together, but the fact that he was as productive as he was this season while still learning is exciting.

[MichaelWinicki]

Same concerns were said about Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith *shrugs*

He's still putting everything together, but the fact that he was as productive as he was this season while still learning is exciting.

Lot's busts in the first round too like Vernon Gholston.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Same concerns were said about Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith *shrugs*

He's still putting everything together, but the fact that he was as productive as he was this season while still learning is exciting.

He's not the same situation as Smith. Smith had 11.5 sacks and 19 TFL as a Freshman. In his Soph. season, he had 4.5 sacks, 10 TFL but he sustained a significant injury that year. Smith is kind of opposite from what we have seen out of Mercilus.

[TheFinisher]

He's not the same situation as Smith. Smith had 11.5 sacks and 19 TFL as a Freshman. In his Soph. season, he had 4.5 sacks, 10 TFL but he sustained a significant injury that year. Smith is kind of opposite from what we have seen out of Mercilus.

Even so, that's still one year of production and it was a concern for some with Smith.

[jnday]

I don't know about Whitney.

Could be a one year wonder. He only had 2 sacks prior to this season.

Really interested if he does have the speed and athletic ability to explode off the snap, get low and turn the corner... Against NFL offensive tackles.

Vela and Bunting had a session on Mercilus recently . Vela stated that Bunting had told him some things " off the record " that was not good concerning Mercilus . Maybe this is the reason that he is not in the discussion with Ingram and Upshaw .

[TheFinisher]

Scouting Report from Walterfootball

Whitney Mercilus Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:
Raw speed to turn the edge
Agility to sink his hips/shoulder
Strength
Repertoire of moves
Active hands
Has the strength to anchor and hold his ground vs. the run
Always looking to force fumbles
Quick get off
Shedding blocks when pass rushing
Ability to bull rush heavy tackles and guards
Extremely athletic




Weaknesses:
One-year wonder
Lacks complete body of work in college
Quality of tackles he faced

Summary: Whitney Mercilus was the most productive pass-rusher in college football in 2011. He led the nation in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9). It was a record-setting season as Mercilus topped Simeon Rice's school record for sacks in a year. Like Rice, Mercilus is a fabulous athlete. He has a special combination of size, speed and strength to go along with excellent technique. Mercilus also recorded 57 tackles and 22.5 tackles for a loss.

Entering the NFL, Mercilus is an advanced pass-rusher. He got the better of the best tackles he faced this season. Against Ohio State's Mike Adams, Mercilus recorded 1.5 sacks with a forced fumble. The Wisconsin Badgers' powerful offensive line couldn't contain Mercilus. He bull rushed through massive right tackle Josh Oglesby to get a sack-fumble on Russell Wilson. Mercilus also knocked out left tackle Ricky Wagner for part of the game.

Mercilus has a very impressive repertoire of pass rushing moves. He attacks with speed around the edge. As a counter to the speed, he has the strength to execute rip moves and shed offensive linemen. Mercilus has the raw power to get under offensive linemen's pads and bull rush into the pocket. That catches linemen by surprise as they are so cognizant of being ready for his speed rush. Beyond his great physical skill set, Mercilus is an advanced pass-rusher technically.

Mercilus holds up well in run defense. Linemen don't push him around, as he is strong at the point of attack. He also will burst into the backfield to disrupt running plays.

The big question regarding Mercilus is why didn't break into the lineup sooner and why didn't he produce more earlier. In 2009 and 2010, Mercilus combined to record 24 tackles with two sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss.




Player Comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul. There are a lot of similarities between Mercilus and JPP. Both are fantastic athletes who come to the NFL with a special combination of speed and strength. They also were one-year wonders at the college level. Mercilus had more production than JPP in their final college season, and the latter has turned into one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL.

Right now, it looks like Mercilus should get drafted in the same range as JPP. However, it is possible that Mercilus will be this year's Aldon Smith and surprise some by cracking the top 10. It is not out of the question for him to pass North Carolina's Quinton Coples in the lead up to the 2012 NFL Draft. JPP did that with Derrick Morgan in 2010. Projecting Mercilus to the pros, I see a player similar to Pierre-Paul.

NFL Matches: Jacksonville, Chicago, San Diego, New York Jets, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit

What team couldn't use another pass-rusher? Mercilus has the athletic ability to be a stand-up edge-rusher in 3-4 defenses, and that opens him up to consideration from a lot of teams. He looks like a natural right defensive end in a 4-3 defense who will challenge left tackles.

The Jaguars will have the first crack at Mercilus, and they need an edge rusher. Buffalo, San Diego and the Jets are all 3-4 defenses that need to find a player who can put heat on the quarterback. If Mercilus gets past all of those teams, he could end up in Chicago. They need some young talent for their defense. It would be a significant fall for Mercilus to get to the Browns' second first-round selection, but they could use an end to complete their young front four. The Lions almost took a defensive end last year, and if they don't re-sign Cliff Avril, they might consider trading up to land Mercilus.


http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2012wmercilus.php

[RoyTheHammer]

He looks like a very impressive kid.

Upshaw/Ingram/Hightower/Curry/Mercilus

Lot of good pass rushing options in the first couple round. We should probably get our hands on one of these 5 guys if Spencer isn't resigned.

Actually, even if he is resigned we should still take one of these 5 guys.

[Primetime42]

When I saw him play, I saw a lot of sloppy technique. Can that be corrected?

But I gotta say, even with the poor technique, there's a pretty good possibility that he could flourish opposite DeMarcus Ware.

I think his raw athleticism puts him out of our reach at 14, anyway.

[RoyTheHammer]

When I saw him play, I saw a lot of sloppy technique. Can that be corrected?

But I gotta say, even with the poor technique, there's a pretty good possibility that he could flourish opposite DeMarcus Ware.

I think his raw athleticism puts him out of our reach at 14, anyway.

No way he's gone by 14. I was thinking late first round to mid second.

Just a side note.. the scouting report said he has excellent technique.

[Primetime42]

No way he's gone by 14. I was thinking late first round to mid second.
You know how teams fall in love with numbers. Right or wrong, I think he'll wow some at the combine.

[tm1119]

Love his ability to rush the passer but I'm not sure about the rest of his game. How will he hold up against the run? Could he cover in space if asked? He seems like the type of guy who would need to be paired/rotated with another OLB(Spencer). If he were to last all the way to 45 I would jump all over him. That isn't going to happen, and he's just too risky at 14 for me.

[Dash28]

I'm starting to lean towards targeting pass rusher in 2-3.

Don't have a great feel on anyone that I would love to have at 14 right now(3-4OLB).

[RoyTheHammer]

I'm starting to lean towards targeting pass rusher in 2-3.

Don't have a great feel on anyone that I would love to have at 14 right now(3-4OLB).

I was thinking trade down if DeCastro isn't there at 14. We could pickup Mercilus or Perry/Curry and still get a solid CB like Kirkpatrick possibly or Johnson or Jenkins.

[RoyTheHammer]

Actually, with the amount of talent available in the first 2 rounds, i can't see how trading down wouldn't be a great option for us. 3 picks in the first 45 would look alot better than just two.

Think about coming out of the draft with maybe Mercilus or Ingram, Poe, and Johnson/Kirkpatrick/Gilmore

Throw in some other options like Cordy Glenn, Nick Perry, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, etc.. plenty of talent available that could start right away and have an impact for us.

[Primetime42]

Actually, with the amount of talent available in the first 2 rounds, i can't see how trading down wouldn't be a great option for us. 3 picks in the first 45 would look alot better than just two.

Think about coming out of the draft with maybe Mercilus or Ingram, Poe, and Johnson/Kirkpatrick/Gilmore

Throw in some other options like Cordy Glenn, Nick Perry, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, etc.. plenty of talent available that could start right away and have an impact for us.
I'm thinking along those lines.

The OLB and DB crops look better than what I initially thought they would be.

[Dash28]

Actually, with the amount of talent available in the first 2 rounds, i can't see how trading down wouldn't be a great option for us. 3 picks in the first 45 would look alot better than just two.

Think about coming out of the draft with maybe Mercilus or Ingram, Poe, and Johnson/Kirkpatrick/Gilmore
How far would we have to trade down from 14 to add an extra 2nd?

Unless one of the top players slide to us, I would only love DeCastro at 14 right now. A trade may be good if DeCastro is gone.

Still team can fall in love with someone after the combine and FA can shift a lot too.

[RoyTheHammer]

How far would we have to trade down from 14 to add an extra 2nd?

Unless one of the top players slide to us, I would only love DeCastro at 14 right now. A trade may be good if DeCastro is gone.

Still team can fall in love with someone after the combine and FA can shift a lot too.

Not far i wouldn't think. Maybe 20-22.

[Eskimo]

Actually, with the amount of talent available in the first 2 rounds, i can't see how trading down wouldn't be a great option for us. 3 picks in the first 45 would look alot better than just two.

Think about coming out of the draft with maybe Mercilus or Ingram, Poe, and Johnson/Kirkpatrick/Gilmore

Throw in some other options like Cordy Glenn, Nick Perry, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, etc.. plenty of talent available that could start right away and have an impact for us.

I wholeheartedly agree with that approach in this draft. This is a deep draft but there aren't going to be many players where we are drafting that are head and shoulders better than what we could get in the mid 20s.

The one player that would be worth sitting that high for is a pass rushing SOLB who could play opposite Ware. The closest guy to that description is Ingram but he may not be on the board and even if he is there is question about whether he is going to be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL.

If we trade back into the 20s and pick up an extra second we stand a good chance of getting a good CB, good SOLB and good OG who could all be starters next year with our first 3 picks. I think the strength of this draft is from about 20-50 or so.

I would really love it if we could somehow net Brockers/Poe, Whitney/Ingram/Irvin/Hightower, Gilmore/Minnifield/Boykin/Horsley or Glenn/Osmele/Zeitler/Konz.

[RoyTheHammer]

I wholeheartedly agree with that approach in this draft. This is a deep draft but there aren't going to be many players where we are drafting that are head and shoulders better than what we could get in the mid 20s.

The one player that would be worth sitting that high for is a pass rushing SOLB who could play opposite Ware. The closest guy to that description is Ingram but he may not be on the board and even if he is there is question about whether he is going to be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL.

If we trade back into the 20s and pick up an extra second we stand a good chance of getting a good CB, good SOLB and good OG who could all be starters next year with our first 3 picks. I think the strength of this draft is from about 20-50 or so.

I would really love it if we could somehow net Brockers/Poe, Whitney/Ingram/Irvin/Hightower, Gilmore/Minnifield/Boykin/Horsley or Glenn/Osmele/Zeitler/Konz.

Hell, we may be able to get all 4 of those options if Zeitler or Konz slips and we trade up a bit.

[tm1119]

How far would we have to trade down from 14 to add an extra 2nd?

Unless one of the top players slide to us, I would only love DeCastro at 14 right now. A trade may be good if DeCastro is gone.

Still team can fall in love with someone after the combine and FA can shift a lot too.

According to the draft pick value chart our 14th is worth 1100 points. Without giving up any additional picks we would most likely have to go down to 23(760) and pick up the 55th(350).

[RoyTheHammer]

According to the draft pick value chart our 14th is worth 1100 points. Without giving up any additional picks we would most likely have to go down to 23(760) and pick up the 55th(350).

Im betting we could get a better deal than that. Just depends who is still on the board at 14.

[rester]

so who you going to trade with ?

I watched him play two games was not impressed at all

took plays off

[RoyTheHammer]

so who you going to trade with ?

I watched him play two games was not impressed at all

took plays off

Every report i've seen says he's a relentless player with a non stop motor.

[Primetime42]

Every report i've seen says he's a relentless player with a non stop motor.
Yeah, motor's not his issue. It just seems at times he doesn't know what the hell he's doing when rushes. Looked out of control some plays. Gets by on pure athletic ability. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.

I'd like to how "coachable" he is.

[JerryFan]

Yeah, motor's not his issue. It just seems at times he doesn't know what the hell he's doing when rushes. Looked out of control some plays. Gets by on pure athletic ability. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.

I'd like to how "coachable" he is.

this kid is everything you want in a football player. he works his tail off and is very coachable. i'm a huge Illinois fan and just read this in one of the premium articles on their site.


Mercilus has heard a variety of opinions on where he might go in the draft, but there is still plenty of confusion.
"I'm not getting much of a read. A lot of teams are interested right now. Basically, we just have to see what happens after the combine."
Mercilus is as ambitious as he is talented. One of his motivations is to prove he can have a long career and not just be a flash in the pan.
"I have a lot of personal goals for the combine. I'll try to run the best 40 I can, 4.6 or maybe high 4.5, something like that. On the bench (press), I'm trying to get somewhere around the high 20s, maybe even 30 (repetitions of 225 pounds)."

[Outlaw Heroes]

I have a feeling that by the time late April rolls around, this kid will be threatening the top 10. He has a chance to really blow things up at the combine.

[Gaede]

Mercilus is the pass rusher I really like in the first round.

Knowing that the coach compared him to Ware is pretty impressive.

[ABQcowboyJR]

Have not watched him much. From what I have seen, highlights a game here or there, I was no that impressed. Just seemed like he had a hard time shedding blocks. But like I said, i have not watched every game.

[JerryFan]

Have not watched him much. From what I have seen, highlights a game here or there, I was no that impressed. Just seemed like he had a hard time shedding blocks. But like I said, i have not watched every game.


I think he gets off blocks fine. Not only was he a monster in passrush, forced fumbles, but he was sixth nationally in TFL's per game at 1.75.

[supercowboy8]

looks like a true 3-4 DE, stiff hips and plays high.
Never dropped back to cover, which is very important for the SOLB in a 3-4. Whitney wuld get killed by TEs and RBs.
Also Whitney isn't great at stuffing the running lans.

[realtick]

Mercilus reminds me a lot of Greg Ellis; tall, lanky and not your ideal 34 OLB.

I think he's a tailor-made 43 DE, the type the Giants love to draft. I also could see the Eagles looking seriously into him to put in their wide-9.

Not a good fit in Dallas.

[RoyTheHammer]

Mercilus reminds me a lot of Greg Ellis; tall, lanky and not your ideal 34 OLB.

I think he's a tailor-made 43 DE, the type the Giants love to draft. I also could see the Eagles looking seriously into him to put in their wide-9.

Not a good fit in Dallas.

You don't think he's more athletic then Ellis?

[realtick]

You don't think he's more athletic then Ellis?

It's all relative. Ellis was a good athlete for his size and length, but he didn't have a lot of suddenness or explosiveness to his game. I see the same positives/negatives with Mercilus. I think he's more of a power player trapped in a more leaner DEs body. I think he can be an effective player, but is best suited as a 43 DE.

[burmafrd]

if he could give us Greg's production, then you would have to consider him in the first.

[MichaelWinicki]

if he could give us Greg's production, then you would have to consider him in the first.

I liked Ellis as a 4-3 DE.

As a 3-4 OLB I thought other than pass-rushing that his game suffered. I didn't think he was as good vs the run when playing as a 3-4 OLB and his pass coverage skills were abysmal.

Spencer was in coverage 164 snaps and stayed "home" 372 times. He rushed the passer 403 times.

The fact is that whoever ends up playing the strong-side OLB spot, that person is going to have to be more than a pass-rusher.

Also have to keep in mind that pass-rushing from the sprinter's stance of the 4-3 is far different from pass-rushing from an upright position. Many guys can't do it.

[burmafrd]

I liked Ellis as a 4-3 DE.

As a 3-4 OLB I thought other than pass-rushing that his game suffered. I didn't think he was as good vs the run when playing as a 3-4 OLB and his pass coverage skills were abysmal.

Spencer was in coverage 164 snaps and stayed "home" 372 times. He rushed the passer 403 times.

The fact is that whoever ends up playing the strong-side OLB spot, that person is going to have to be more than a pass-rusher.

Also have to keep in mind that pass-rushing from the sprinter's stance of the 4-3 is far different from pass-rushing from an upright position. Many guys can't do it.


Point is that Ellis gave us a lot more pass rush then Spencer has. And the name of the game anymore is pass rush. Simply the way it is.

[MichaelWinicki]

Point is that Ellis gave us a lot more pass rush then Spencer has. And the name of the game anymore is pass rush. Simply the way it is.

I think that's a way, way over simplification of the position... And not necessarily an accurate one.

[kevinhickey]

At present, his draft value like some have suggested is late 1st to mid 2nd round. He would be a nice gamble in the 2nd. To much of a gamble at #14 with our roster needs. I'm sure though, Demarcus would be a nice teacher to correct his techniques.

[realtick]

Vinny Curry > Mercilus

[jnday]

Vinny Curry > Mercilus

I agree .

[BAT]

Love his ability to rush the passer but I'm not sure about the rest of his game. How will he hold up against the run? Could he cover in space if asked? He seems like the type of guy who would need to be paired/rotated with another OLB(Spencer). If he were to last all the way to 45 I would jump all over him. That isn't going to happen, and he's just too risky at 14 for me.

Coverage may be his weakness, but that is the same with either Upshaw or Ingram. Mercilus is not only the better athlete of the 3, but he has the most upside.

I like Mercilus, especially in a small trade down.

[IlliniNation]

I would not take Mercilus with a first round pick. I like him alot more than I did Martez Wilson from last year who was an Illini draft pick. Some on here last year wanted Wilson and even though he is an Illini I was against that big time. Mercilus was an absolute stud for the Illini this year. I hope his stock drops and you could get him with a 3rd round pick. He would be great there. Over valued at 1st round. Prob a 2nd round pick but has Pro-Bowl type potential.

[TheCount]

Vinny Curry > Mercilus

Perhaps. At the senior bowl practices though, they never let Curry even attempt the LB drills, he was strictly hands in the dirt. Ingram, Upshaw, McClellin and Cam Johnson all went through LB drills. I'm not exactly sure why Curry didn't, but I found that interesting.

[realtick]

Perhaps. At the senior bowl practices though, they never let Curry even attempt the LB drills, he was strictly hands in the dirt. Ingram, Upshaw, McClellin and Cam Johnson all went through LB drills. I'm not exactly sure why Curry didn't, but I found that interesting.

Are you sure? I could have sworn they had him doing LB drills. I'll have to look back at it.

IIRC, they run a straight 43 during the game with no blitzing.

[RoyTheHammer]

I would not take Mercilus with a first round pick. I like him alot more than I did Martez Wilson from last year who was an Illini draft pick. Some on here last year wanted Wilson and even though he is an Illini I was against that big time. Mercilus was an absolute stud for the Illini this year. I hope his stock drops and you could get him with a 3rd round pick. He would be great there. Over valued at 1st round. Prob a 2nd round pick but has Pro-Bowl type potential.

I can't see him lasting anywhere near the 3rd round, especially if he puts up good numbers at the combine as far as athleticism. He's got ideal size and has produced in college. Especially if you say he has pro bowl potential.. can't see him lasting past the early 2nd round at the latest.

[CATCH17]

if he could give us Greg's production, then you would have to consider him in the first.

If he could do what Ellis did for us post Achilles injury I'd draft him in a heartbeat.

[realtick]

I can't see him lasting anywhere near the 3rd round, especially if he puts up good numbers at the combine as far as athleticism. He's got ideal size and has produced in college. Especially if you say he has pro bowl potential.. can't see him lasting past the early 2nd round at the latest.

Neither do I. As of now, I see him as a late 1st rounder at best, but more likely a 2nd round pick. This is of course assuming he doesn't go Jevon Kearse at the Combine, then all bets are off.

[RoyTheHammer]

Neither do I. As of now, I see him as a late 1st rounder at best, but more likely a 2nd round pick. This is of course assuming he doesn't go Jevon Kearse at the Combine, then all bets are off.

Haha.. true that. If he puts up athletic freak numbers, i can see him being gone before we even get a chance to select him.

[TheCount]

Vinny Curry > Mercilus

Are you sure? I could have sworn they had him doing LB drills. I'll have to look back at it.

IIRC, they run a straight 43 during the game with no blitzing.

Yeah, he played well during the game.

I just remember hearing a tweet about how he was kept out of LB drills, or maybe he opted not to do them, or maybe he did them later. But I am high on him as well, so I was kind of bummed to hear that.

During the game they don't run that stuff, but teams often want to see it at practice, obviously.

[NeonDeion21]

I wanted to see Mercilus for myself so I went back and watched some of his games I had recorded in the season. Let me first say, he has a ton of work to do and has no idea what he is doing yet. This itself will scare off some teams. But man he has some natural pass rush skills. I can only imagine what Rob would do with him.