Draft Prospect: Whitney Mercilus - Illinois

[187]

Anyone watched film on this guy? Think he could convert to a 3-4 OLB? I haven't started watching any film yet but recently noticed how nasty he has been this season (I haven't been doing much draft pep outside of occasionally checking mocks):

13.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL, 9 FF. 6' 4" 265lbs. Just a complete beast, he's recorded one sack versus every single team they've played except for South Dakota State and based on the score (blowout) and his stat line he may have barely played. Apparently he had 1.5 sacks and a FF versus that OSU tackle whose supposed to be a 1st/2nd round talent.

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We could definitely use a monster at ROLB to help bring the noise and raise some hell.

 

[Broseph]

We have a ton of holes to fill man, I don't even know where to start. We could use some pass rush, couple tackles, and Matt Barkley will probably be available by the time we pick just to stir the pot a bit.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Here's some film on him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVBOcYWvYy8

He has good burst off the line, and can get to the edge pretty quick. He doesn't have a plethora of pass rushing moves, but that can be coached in the NFL. If we had a 2nd round pick, he would be a great value there, but he would be a reach in the 1st round, especially with the Cards picking in the top 10.

 

[187]

Here's some film on him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVBOcYWvYy8

He has good burst off the line, and can get to the edge pretty quick. He doesn't have a plethora of pass rushing moves, but that can be coached in the NFL. If we had a 2nd round pick, he would be a great value there, but he would be a reach in the 1st round, especially with the Cards picking in the top 10.

I am definitely not ruling out the possibility of trading back, so any prospect is fair game in my book. I have a feeling that we are going to get stuck in no man's land in the 7-10 range where there might not be anyone on our radar/worth taking and trading back could be an option. I just don't want to see us reach an OT for the sake of filling a need...again.

 

[Duckjake]

I am definitely not ruling out the possibility of trading back, so any prospect is fair game in my book. I have a feeling that we are going to get stuck in no man's land in the 7-10 range where there might not be anyone on our radar/worth taking and trading back could be an option. I just don't want to see us reach an OT for the sake of filling a need...again.

Knowing the Cardinals they'll let Calais Campbell get away and use their 1st round pick on his replacement while getting a new contract with Levi Brown.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Knowing the Cardinals they'll let Calais Campbell get away and use their 1st round pick on his replacement while getting a new contract with Levi Brown.

C'mon, you know better than that!!! They'll let Calias go, draft his replacement, let Levi sign a good deal as a guard somewhere else and then sign a 34yr old backup RT from the Steelers to compete with a 7th round pick for the LT spot

 

[Cards Czar]

Anyone watched film on this guy? Think he could convert to a 3-4 OLB? I haven't started watching any film yet but recently noticed how nasty he has been this season (I haven't been doing much draft pep outside of occasionally checking mocks):

13.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL, 9 FF. 6' 4" 265lbs. Just a complete beast, he's recorded one sack versus every single team they've played except for South Dakota State and based on the score (blowout) and his stat line he may have barely played. Apparently he had 1.5 sacks and a FF versus that OSU tackle whose supposed to be a 1st/2nd round talent.

You must be registered for see images attach

We could definitely use a monster at ROLB to help bring the noise and raise some hell.

I have seen just about every game he has played. Mercilus started out playing the Bandit position before moving to the DE spot. So he has experience playing a upright rush backer position. He runs a 40 in about 4.6 - 4.67 range. In the bandit position he had to cover the TE/RB comming out. I really like him but he will be gone late in the 1st or early in the second. I wish we had that 2nd rounder becase I would be all over him if he was sitting at that spot.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

as long as the Cards stay in front of Washington on draft day, they can get that 2nd round pick back.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Apparently he had 1.5 sacks and a FF versus that OSU tackle whose supposed to be a 1st/2nd round talent.

You must be registered for see images attach

We could definitely use a monster at ROLB to help bring the noise and raise some hell.

That may have been Adam's(OSU tackle) first game back from suspension though. Adams has actually played well this year but still think he is overrated and not a 1st round talent. Mid-2nd and lower is where I think he should be.

 

[cardsfanmd]

as long as the Cards stay in front of Washington on draft day, they can get that 2nd round pick back.

Good call.

 

[Buckybird]

as long as the Cards stay in front of Washington on draft day, they can get that 2nd round pick back.

explain please

 

[NashDishesDimes]

As dissapointing and boring as it sounds...the smartest thing is for them to draft the top LT and hope the young linebacking core can develop an average pass rush next year. Draft will be boring...

 

[187]

explain please

He's assuming they'll want to trade up to ensure they get a QB.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

explain please

Washington will be desperate for a QB and have to trade up to get one. The Cards will be in position to swap 1's and pick up their 2 and, unless Kalil is on the board, the Cards can trade down and not lose out on the top prospect in relation to their major needs.

Let's say the Cards pick 5th and Indy, Car, St.Louis, and Minny are in front of them. Indy takes Luck and none of the other 3 are taking QB's so the Cards would be the logical spot to trade for a team, like Washington, wanting a QB.

 

[Russ Smith]

Washington will be desperate for a QB and have to trade up to get one. The Cards will be in position to swap 1's and pick up their 2 and, unless Kalil is on the board, the Cards can trade down and not lose out on the top prospect in relation to their major needs.

Let's say the Cards pick 5th and Indy, Car, St.Louis, and Minny are in front of them. Indy takes Luck and none of the other 3 are taking QB's so the Cards would be the logical spot to trade for a team, like Washington, wanting a QB.

kind of my hope too.

that and that martz persuades Warner to come out of retirement if he did I think we'd have to be compensated the way Green Bay was for Favre.

 

[CFLredzoned]

Anyone watched film on this guy? Think he could convert to a 3-4 OLB? I haven't started watching any film yet but recently noticed how nasty he has been this season (I haven't been doing much draft pep outside of occasionally checking mocks):

That's a problem with the 3-4. I think there's only a handful of college teams that run it. So you have to basically guess whether a guy can convert. I'm sure the bust rate on this is probably double that of other positions. Then on top of that, the guy has to buy in to the conversion. So you need a high character guy on top of that, because it's probably not what these guys are hoping for when drafted. High reputation franchises like the Steelers and Pats are probably in a better position to get away with this.

 

[JeffGollin]

Unless we bring in O-linemen wh can run block and protect the QB, we will be having the same conversation next year.

One way or another, it's going to cost us players, draft picks and dollars.

Which brings up the following Draft question: Is this a good year for drafting a franchise LT? Or is it supposed to be one of those subpar "off years?"

 

[Bodha]

cool name



not that it matters, but Im curious as to why such a beast is so under the radar? Talent doesnt stay hidden, and by your description and stat line, he should be in the conversation for best defensive players in the draft.


Read his profile, looked up some info on him. good player. His number are indicative of a College level talent. Very fast, very quick, but thats his only weapon to get past the line. If he meets up with an NFL tackle who isnt beat by speed, then he will be a non factor. He needs to develope more skills. 2nd to early 3rd round pick. If we had that 2nd we couldve nabbed him. oh well.

 

[gmabel830]

cool name



not that it matters, but Im curious as to why such a beast is so under the radar? Talent doesnt stay hidden, and by your description and stat line, he should be in the conversation for best defensive players in the draft.


Read his profile, looked up some info on him. good player. His number are indicative of a College level talent. Very fast, very quick, but thats his only weapon to get past the line. If he meets up with an NFL tackle who isnt beat by speed, then he will be a non factor. He needs to develope more skills. 2nd to early 3rd round pick. If we had that 2nd we couldve nabbed him. oh well.

Can you clarify what you mean here? I'm an Arizona Cardinals fan, so I've never seen one of those!

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

cool name



not that it matters, but Im curious as to why such a beast is so under the radar? Talent doesnt stay hidden, and by your description and stat line, he should be in the conversation for best defensive players in the draft.


Read his profile, looked up some info on him. good player. His number are indicative of a College level talent. Very fast, very quick, but thats his only weapon to get past the line. If he meets up with an NFL tackle who isnt beat by speed, then he will be a non factor. He needs to develope more skills. 2nd to early 3rd round pick. If we had that 2nd we couldve nabbed him. oh well.

Not saying he's as good but alot of people thought that about Von Miller.

 

[LarryStalling]

Doesn't that refer to most DE. An elite LT will neutralize all but the very best pass rusher.