After today's Mac & Cheese Bowl (Kraft), Mercilus was a man among boys. If he declares, which I expect, he has to be Rex's #1 target in Rd 1. Players like Mercilus are very rare. 16.5 Sacks this year!!!!
http://www.google.com/url?url=http:...+stats&usg=AFQjCNFnQvAnR-nEofk8eWxdaEENwNzpmA Illini All-American quiet on future plan. Posted Dec 30, 2011 @ 09:30 PM SAN FRANCISCO — Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus hasn’t publicly tipped his helmet, when it comes to his future. As a first-team All-America and the nation’s leader with 141/2 sacks and nine forced fumbles, Mercilus earned the Hendricks Award as the nation’s top college defensive end. He’s a team leader and would be a valuable piece in coach Tim Beckman’s plans next season. “Sometimes I’ve got to take a minute and reflect on everything, just soak it all in,’’ Mercilus said. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I’ve got to have fun with it.” But Mercilus is expected to declare for the NFL draft and has told people close to him that there’s little chance he will return for his senior season. Illinois (6-6) plays UCLA (6-7) in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in AT&T Park at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN). Meanwhile, Mercilus only told the media he would make a decision shortly after the bowl game when he gets an evaluation back from the NFL. Mercilus appears in some NFL mock draft first rounds, and it would be hard to duplicate his success this season, so the time might be right. Mercilus will communicate with former coach Ron Zook and work his former coach’s contacts in the NFL, and Mercilus already met with Beckman. His big season came from following the plan of Illini defensive coordinator Vic Koenning. “Whitney is a great lesson in doing what you’re supposed to do, and then plays come to you,’’ Koenning said. “Whitney was steady Eddie.’’ Koenning didn’t want to compare Mercilus to DeMarcus Ware, a former first-round pick coached at Troy by Koenning, but Mercilus followed Ware’s path. “He was always the first one on the practice field,’’ Koenning said. “He practiced hard and did things the right way. In that respect, there are similarities.’’ Said Mercilus: “I always wanted to show the coaches I knew my responsibilities.’’ .
Glad to see a thread on Mercilus, but all I know about him are his size and award collection. I was having a discussion about the Jets 1st round pick today and trying to learn more about Whitney. Is he a fluid athlete in space? My concern with him is that although he has ideal size, the last guy we brought in had horrific instincts on two feet and couldn't translate his game to the 3-4 OLB position (Vernon). I think for this reason mainly you'll see Courtney Upshaw remain the #1 3-4 OLB prospect as Mercilus settles in as the #2 prospect due to potential. Upshaw is fluid in space and has shown he can be very effective at the 3-4 OLB spot. I take it you've seen him play a few times, so do you think he'd make a great 3-4 OLB? If the Jets do not address the OLB need in the 1st round then they won't be able to this offseason in the draft, so if Upshaw or Mercilus are there it will likely be too hard to pass on them.
The more I watch and read about this guy the more I like him as well. Twenty two and a half tackles for loss! Thats a big number. Here's a nice scouting report from walter football comparing him to Pierre-Paul.
Mercilus is my favorite player to get this Draft. I love the way he plays, He has that non stop motor, Excellent quickness around the edge and an arsenal of pass rush moves. I think he will be a better pure pass rusher then Upshaw.
Mercilus already is a better pure pass rusher than CU. Upshaw is an all around better football player. Upshaw game is consistency and he's played on a higher level for a longer period of time. Mercilus is all about NFL potential, he has the athletic ability to be another JPP/Suggs. The combine is going to be an important venue for Mercilus, he could skyrocket like Von Miller.
Vernon Gholston has scarred me for life as far as drafting a pass rusher in the first round. We have to overcome that fear though. It's like learining to ride a bike. when you fall down you just have to get back up and give it another shot.
Gholston was a one trick pony, edge pass rush, plus he had no heart. Any long time poster, and you can probably remember, I wanted no part of VG months before the Jets drafted him. Mercilus has a lot more to his game than VG ever did. With your thinking JPP, Von Miller & Aldon Smith would have never been drafted in Rd 1.
Yeah, Upshaw is very good against the run and decent in coverage. Mercilus isn't there yet but i just love his pure pass rushing skills.
Not saying we shouldn't draft an edge pass rusher just saying the Vernon gholston thing will always be in the back of my mind just like the dewayne Robertson thing, and the Blair Thomas thing. I don't get to watch enough college football to really evaluate these guys but I remember seeing gholston and thinking he didn't have good football instincts and played a little awkward. It just didn't seem natural to him but I figured the jets knew something I didn't.
JPP is the most athletic defensive end prospect to come into the league since Peppers and before that Jevon Kearse. Aldon Smith is second to JPP in that regard, as he, JPP and Kearse all have very similar builds and athleticism -- Peppers is a freak all unto his own. Admittedly I do not know that much about Mercilus, but his athleticism and on field ability seems closer to Vernon Gholston as a 4-3, hand in the ground defensive end than a player that can be fluid in space and succeed at 3-4 OLB. If you want a non-Jet comparison, he's closer to a Brandon Graham as a high motor 4-3 DE rusher than he is to Aldon Smith or JPP. I'm unconvinced of his ability to succeed as a 3-4 OLB, but I suppose I could be convinced with strong supporting argument.
