Whitney Mercilus - First Round Pick

[rmartin65]

Originally Posted by otisbean

He ran a 1.56 10yd, that's explosive. If you check the link on JPP I just posted you'll see they have similar numbers and I think most would say JPP is an explosive athlete

I am just going with what I saw on the field- quick, not so much explosive. This late in the first, a guy wont be a perfect prospect. At 26 I am satisfied with what we got.

[TimeKiller]

I'm good with it. There's a decent cross section of his 2011 season on youtube and he's all over the place. Usually lined up face up square with the OTs, he's quick off the snap and strong in the trenches. I think they'll move him farther out, to really utilize his natural ability in space rather than confine him in-line. The guy really hustles, that's for damn sure. Wade may have just got him another stud.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by EllisUnit

i think its a good pick, he is very quick and powerful. We lost Mario and i see a lot of the same physical features in this young man, so i am please overall.

Was wanting a WR until Wright went off the board. i guess J.J it is

Don't worry man. These guys are still available and I feel for a lot better deal.

Marvin Jones WR Cal
Brian Quick WR Appalachian St.
Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
Alshon Jefferey WR South Carolina
Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma

and if for some reason he is still there today....Coby Fleener TE Stanford

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by TimeKiller

I'm good with it. There's a decent cross section of his 2011 season on youtube and he's all over the place. Usually lined up face up square with the OTs, he's quick off the snap and strong in the trenches. I think they'll move him farther out, to really utilize his natural ability in space rather than confine him in-line. The guy really hustles, that's for damn sure. Wade may have just got him another stud.

Yeah , I posted these earlier and they got burried at the bottom of the page , reposting them here.

Whitney Mercilus Vs Wisconsin


Whitney Mercilus vs Ohio State

Whitney Mercilus vs UCLA

Whitney Mercilus Illinois vs Penn State

[TimeKiller]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

Don't worry man. These guys are still available and I feel for a lot better deal.

Marvin Jones WR Cal
Brian Quick WR Appalachian St.
Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
Alshon Jefferey WR South Carolina
Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma

and if for some reason he is still there today....Coby Fleener TE Stanford

For sure, there is going to be someone dropping to us in the 2nd as well. Ol' Smithy boy just stood pat while the trades flew around him and let a guy fall right to him.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by rmartin65

I slept on it... and now I would change my pick to 'I love it!'.

I worry about him being a one year guy, but I trust Wade. Also, there is no question the kid is talented (live in Big 10 country, saw him play a couple times) and a hard worker.

My only other concern is a lack of explosion, as I mentioned earlier. 32 inch vertical confirms that. He is quick, not so much explosive. I dont think he will be a high sack number guy (meaning 15+, I think 8-12 is a better projection), but he will be in the QBs face a lot.

Glad to see you came around. I wont go gaga over the guy either, but we got a football player who gives 110% every play. Taking plays off pisses off most every fan, so getting a guy who wont do that is pretty badass.

Also, it could have been alot worse. 9ners taking Jenkins #30 overall??

[Mike Kerns]

This guy was my "best case scenario" for round one, so to say that I am ecstatic with the pick is an understatement. He is going to absolutely RAKE in Wade's scheme.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

He didnt look good Vs the run as a DE , didnt seem to get off of blocks well but as a pass rusher , its a different story. He can get after the QB.

His biggest attribute that I saw was his effort. Not a bad thing.

I don't think the guy sucks, I just don't think he was the best player left on the board there.

I would have rather had the guy that went off the board right after him. But whatever, he's a Texan now kick some ass.

I would consider him an ok to good pass rusher. Maybe wade's scheme can make him really good or great.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by El Tejano

Don't worry man. These guys are still available and I feel for a lot better deal.

Marvin Jones WR Cal
Brian Quick WR Appalachian St.
Mohamed Sanu WR Rutgers
Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech
Alshon Jefferey WR South Carolina
Nick Toon WR Wisconsin
Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma

and if for some reason he is still there today....Coby Fleener TE Stanford

Isn't the LSU receiver Rueben Randle also still on the Board ?

[Brisco_County]

Originally Posted by Rey

His biggest attribute that I saw was his effort. Not a bad thing.

I don't think the guy sucks, I just don't think he was the best player left on the board there.

I would have rather had the guy that went off the board right after him. But whatever, he's a Texan now kick some ass.

I would consider him an ok to good pass rusher. Maybe wade's scheme can make him really good or great.

I'm glad that there are some non-Koolaid drinkers here, but I'm having trouble understanding this statement when he had the most sacks in NCAA.

[bckey]

Originally Posted by Mike Kerns

This guy was my "best case scenario" for round one, so to say that I am ecstatic with the pick is an understatement. He is going to absolutely RAKE in Wade's scheme.

I agree. I didn't think he would make it to 26 as the draft got closer. The guy is going to be an absolute beast of a pass rusher. I was thinking the Texans would end up with Shea McClelin, Nick Perry or Chandler Jones because Mercilus would be long gone. This is a fantastic pick. Extremely happy!

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by Rey

His biggest attribute that I saw was his effort. Not a bad thing.

I don't think the guy sucks, I just don't think he was the best player left on the board there.

I would have rather had the guy that went off the board right after him. But whatever, he's a Texan now kick some ass.

I would consider him an ok to good pass rusher. Maybe wade's scheme can make him really good or great.

I picked Zietler in the Texans Draft Challenge thing .... Would have loved to get him.

Pass rushers are at a premium .... and consider the who's who list of QB's this team will face this season , I cant complain.

I noticed Merciles played DT on some occasions .... Might be interesting to plug him in between Watt and Smith on passing downs with Barwin , Reed and Cushing ....

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Isn't the LSU receiver Rueben Randle also still on the Board ?

List of WR's still available -


Hill
Alshon Jeffery
Brian Quick
Mohamed Sanu
Nick Toon
Dwight Jones
Tommy Streeter
Marvin McNutt
Jeff Fuller
Greg Childs
Ryan Broyles.


Out of that group - someone will be there when the Texans are up with #4 of the 4th.
I'd almost be content to go with two of the three - OL , DE , CB in the second and third thinking that one of those big WR's is going to fall.
Sure , I prefer some over others but if you can get value at those other spots , you almost have to do it.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Isn't the LSU receiver Rueben Randle also still on the Board ?

Yes he is. He is the top WR on the board. I would like to see the Texans move up and grab him.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Brisco_County

I'm glad that there are some non-Koolaid drinkers here, but I'm having trouble understanding this statement when he had the most sacks in NCAA.

There are a lot of guys that put up prolific stats in college that don't pan out in the NFL.

I'm answering your question specifically...Right now I'm not suggesting that Mercilus won't pan out (whatever your definition of "pan out" is) because I don't know that.

[TexanAddict]

This was my best case scenario for the way the draft played out. The guy looks like he gives good effort on all plays and really got after the QB last season. He's the same size as Reed, but a tick faster in his 40 and just a tick slower in his 10 yd split (Reed's split was ridiculously good last year). Plus, the dude's biggest weakness was being on the line and being run directly at, which shouldn't be a problem, since I expect them to start off using him as a situational pass rusher in their rotation.

I'm happy. Now we just need to move up to secure a receiver like Hill, Randle, or Jeffrey.

[Vinny]

He hasn't played football very long since he wasn't from America. He was a soccer player I think.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Vinny

He hasn't played football very long since he wasn't from America. He was a soccer player I think.

Oh, you went there.

[Rey]

Mercilus' startling 2011 season sent scouts scrambling to learn more about him, and the news was better than expected. After two mediocre seasons at Illinois, Mercilus used cat-like moves to become an All-American and win the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in the country. He led the nation with 16 sacks, nine forced fumbles and had 22.5 tackles for a loss. Of all his statistics, forced fumbles is the one that many scouts admire most. "I just have a knack for it," he said. "Throughout the game I was able to watch the quarterback's movements and just see him open up and then I just go in there and just knock it away." Scouts gush a listof positives traits, including quickness, agility, strength, instincts, condition, attitude ... and he is just beginning to mature and could be a great outside linebacker. Reaching for comparisons, they mention names like Simeon Rice, Dwight Freeney, Richard Dent, and even the great Reggie White. The U.S.-born son of parents who emigrated from Haiti in the 1980s, Mercilus played mostly soccer until high school. His 2011 season had an auspicious beginning when he lost the tip of his left index finger last spring in a weight-room accident. Teammates were shocked when he light-heartedly dismissed the injury as only a bother when he played the keyboard or tried to pick up coins

Pass rush: Very active and plays with top effort on every snap. Moves all around the defensive line, lining up off the edge and inside at defensive tackle. Has the natural speed to win the edge and closes in a flash. Attacks gaps and is a pesky rusher, finding ways to squirm into the backfield. Hard player to block cleanly. Plays with a fighting mentality and has the violent hand usage to battle through the trash and make the play. Hustle player with a nonstop motor. Tends to play high and doesn't worry much about technique or fundamentals. Still developing his snap anticipation and will jump offside at times. Run defense: Lacks an obvious power element to his game andstruggles to shed blocks on run plays. Doesn't consistently set the edge and will over run his responsibilities. Still developing his recognition skills and instincts. Struggles to consistently locate the ball and will get caught out of position at times. Explosion: Fires off the snap with a first step burst that really stands out. A bit tight in the hips and straight-linish in his movements. Lacks great change-of-direction ability to explode laterally or smoothly redirect his momentum. Strength: Has adequate build with very good length and overall measureables. Plays tough with the hand strength to rip the ball out and force fumbles. Lacks an ideal frame for the position and doesn't have the prototypical muscle definition. Lacks great bulk and doesn't have a lot of room to get much bigger. Tackling: Physical in the trenches and doesn't try to avoid contact. Has long arms to wrap and wrestle ballcarriers to the ground. Takes pride in his ability to finish and complete tackles. Intangibles: Has only one year of starting production under his belt, causing questions about being a "one year wonder" and was a relative unknown entering the 2011 season. Had above average production in 2011, leading the nation in sacks (16.0) and forced fumbles (9) and finishing second in tackles for loss (22.5) -- consistent production week-in and week-out as a junior in 2011. Decided to leave early to help his family financially (both his parents are immigrants from Haiti). --Dane Brugler

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1689559

[nero THE zero]

Highly productive one-year-wonder Junior that Wade covets?

Welcome to the Texans Aldon Sm... er... Whitney Mercilus.

[Rey]

I talked about Anthony Spencer earlier on another topic...But their measureables are actually similar.