Whitney Mercilus Question

[robert70x7]

I just got done watching his tape from the Arizona State game and I noticed something that I had not given much thought to before.

It seems like the majority of the defensive snaps they were only running 3 down lineman with extremely wide splits, and when they would run 4 down lineman, Mercilus was in the middle. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm sorry if it has been brought up before, but it seems like his production would be greater in a 4-3 or strictly a 3-4 OLB role.

It reminded me of Bruce Irvin playing in the 3-3-5 and how both players were still able to produce. I have gone on record here saying that I am not a huge fan of Mercilus, but if he was able to produce those kind of numbers and that type of defense then I can see why everyone is so high on him.

Can anyone explain/confirm what kind of defense Illinois runs?

 

[Leadbelly]

I just got done watching his tape from the Arizona State game and I noticed something that I had not given much thought to before.

It seems like the majority of the defensive snaps they were only running 3 down lineman with extremely wide splits, and when they would run 4 down lineman, Mercilus was in the middle. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm sorry if it has been brought up before, but it seems like his production would be greater in a 4-3 or strictly a 3-4 OLB role.

It reminded me of Bruce Irvin playing in the 3-3-5 and how both players were still able to produce. I have gone on record here saying that I am not a huge fan of Mercilus, but if he was able to produce those kind of numbers and that type of defense then I can see why everyone is so high on him.

Can anyone explain/confirm what kind of defense Illinois runs?

Just wanted to point out something people may not know:

The D Coordinator at Illinois -- Vic Koenning -- was the D Coordinator at Troy when Demarcus Ware was there. He's moved on to North Carolina for 2012.

I grabbed this from a Q&A he did with a North Carolina media outlet...

Is the 4-2-5 your preference for defensive scheme?

“Well, I know they’ve been a four-down front here. My roots are of an odd front, but I understand the issues that an odd front presents itself in today’s college football. I think if you try to analyze what we do and the package that we run, and Coach [Dan] Disch ran an offshoot of it at Southern Miss, we’re part 4-2-5, part odd stack, part 3-4, part 4-3. Kind of through the years, we’ve been able to build this package and mold it into what our players do best. That’s the one thing that we will do – we will see what we’ve got as players and then we’ll devise a package that best suits them.”


You’re also known for developing hybrid end-linebacker types –

“We call that guy the ‘Bandit’…. It’s not Burt Reynolds, but it is Burt Reynolds. Doesn’t drive a Trans-Am. But I’ve been very blessed to have some good players. And I know Coach Disch had a good player – they call it the ‘Bandit’ down at Southern Miss, too. It’s a weakside defensive end that’s kind of like an outside linebacker in a 3-4. We’ll do a lot of things with them that maybe isn’t prototypical. And our Sam linebacker position is kind of a hybrid safety-linebacker person.”

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/1145459.html

One thing I've liked about Mercilus (and Vin Curry, who I prefer) is they have a good inside counter rush and they aren't just running around the edge.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Just wanted to point out something people may not know:

The D Coordinator at Illinois -- Vic Koenning -- was the D Coordinator at Troy when Demarcus Ware was there. He's moved on to North Carolina for 2012.

I grabbed this from a Q&A he did with a North Carolina media outlet...

Is the 4-2-5 your preference for defensive scheme?

“Well, I know they’ve been a four-down front here. My roots are of an odd front, but I understand the issues that an odd front presents itself in today’s college football. I think if you try to analyze what we do and the package that we run, and Coach [Dan] Disch ran an offshoot of it at Southern Miss, we’re part 4-2-5, part odd stack, part 3-4, part 4-3. Kind of through the years, we’ve been able to build this package and mold it into what our players do best. That’s the one thing that we will do – we will see what we’ve got as players and then we’ll devise a package that best suits them.”


You’re also known for developing hybrid end-linebacker types –

“We call that guy the ‘Bandit’…. It’s not Burt Reynolds, but it is Burt Reynolds. Doesn’t drive a Trans-Am. But I’ve been very blessed to have some good players. And I know Coach Disch had a good player – they call it the ‘Bandit’ down at Southern Miss, too. It’s a weakside defensive end that’s kind of like an outside linebacker in a 3-4. We’ll do a lot of things with them that maybe isn’t prototypical. And our Sam linebacker position is kind of a hybrid safety-linebacker person.”

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/1145459.html

One thing I've liked about Mercilus (and Vin Curry, who I prefer) is they have a good inside counter rush and they aren't just running around the edge.

Bingo, exactly, this is why i think cowboys are interested in mercilus because he can be moved around. If you remember cowboys are going to install a few more plays for the 4-3 and reports were that they would have more of the 4-3 defense next year. Dont know how true those reports were but thats what was said best to my memory, which is fuzzy in itself sometimes.

 

[xwalker]

You’re also known for developing hybrid end-linebacker types –

“We call that guy the ‘Bandit’…. It’s not Burt Reynolds, but it is Burt Reynolds. Doesn’t drive a Trans-Am. But I’ve been very blessed to have some good players. And I know Coach Disch had a good player – they call it the ‘Bandit’ down at Southern Miss, too. It’s a weakside defensive end that’s kind of like an outside linebacker in a 3-4. We’ll do a lot of things with them that maybe isn’t prototypical. And our Sam linebacker position is kind of a hybrid safety-linebacker person.”

FYI - #99 Michael Buchanan was normally the "Bandit"