Mel Kiper's Pick For The Packers: Whitney Mercilus
by Brandon on Jan 18, 2012 6:00 PM CST
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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PrintMel Kiper's debut 2012 mock draft - NFC North Blog - ESPN. All four NFC North teams are discussed. For the Green Bay Packers, it's Illinois DE (who Kiper considers a LB) Whitney Mercilus. More on him from CBSSports.com:
Mercilus had a remarkable year for the Fighting Illini, tying Simeon Rice's single-season record and leading the nation with 16 sacks. He also forced nine fumbles on the season, breaking Illinois and Big Ten records and ranking as the second-most in NCAA history. His 22.5 tackles for loss in 2011 led the Big Ten, rank second in the nation and third in the Illinois record book.
He's a big time playmaker which is something that any defense can use. At 6-4 and 265 lbs. he's a candidate to convert to outside linebacker. I'm sure the Packers will take a look at him and see if he can drop back in coverage. If he can't play in coverage, then he'd be a bad fit for the Packers.
There are some success stories, like Clay Matthews, of college defensive ends that became great 3-4 outside linebackers. But there aren't a lot of them. This is a position to tread carefully on.
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CMIII was a linebacker at USC
Thought you might want to know.
by Jason Hirschhorn on Jan 18, 2012 6:37 PM CST reply actions
He was already considered a linebacker going into the draft
But at USC, all 10 of his career college starts were at defensive end.
Though he was a reserve linebacker his first three years at USC (no starts). Not a major conversion project, but he was drafted as a linebacker despite having never started a college game at linebacker.
really?
scout has him listed as a lb all 4 years at usc. something fishy going on here.
What do you have against the ring-tailed lemur?
by threadkiller on Jan 18, 2012 7:35 PM CST up reply actions
I believe he played a sorta standup DE.
Call it what you want… Either way he was perfectly suited to play 34 OLB. Don’t they call it the elephant DE or something?
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
I've heard "Jack Linebacker"
That’s waht they call Courtney Upshaw’s position, he’s pretty much a 3-4 OLB, he does the same stuff.
Tajh Boyd and Dre' Ellington are the future.
Brandon Jennings; Just keep waiting people.
by BlackPack-fan on Jan 18, 2012 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
Yes
Jack Will Mike Sam.
Clay is the Sam (LOLB)
by Revenge of the Fallen on Jan 18, 2012 11:04 PM CST up reply actions
Correct
Pete Carroll utilized the Elephant Defense, which has one DE standing up or playing off the line. Clay Mathews played that role, which can be clasified as a DE or OLB. Sometimes he would drop into coverage, other times he would rush the QB.
One game at a time...
USC, under Pete C, ran a 34 Leo D. Basically a 4-3 Under Defense but the weakside DE was in a 2 pt stance rather in a traditional 3 pt stance. Clay played that spot in his senior year.
by Revenge of the Fallen on Jan 18, 2012 11:01 PM CST up reply actions
The guy on the left is still a douche.
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jan 19, 2012 12:13 AM CST up reply actions
It's great.
You can watch him play and just tell he has no clue what he’s doing out there. He knows how to play football, sure, but he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing on a particular play.
2011: A wasted year
you're joking right? He's one of the best linebackers in the league, he obviously knows what he's doing on the field...
as much as he’s a moron who headbutted a helmeted lineman while not, himself, wearing a helmet during a game earlier this year
football does not build character, it reveals character.
He seems out of position more often than not.
And he blew a few coverages against Baltimore that KILLED them.
2011: A wasted year
i say we draft him based on last name alone.
what a great name for a defensive lineman/linebacker; mercilus.
What do you have against the ring-tailed lemur?
by threadkiller on Jan 18, 2012 6:37 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
meh, there's only one name on the back of his jersey.
What do you have against the ring-tailed lemur?
by threadkiller on Jan 19, 2012 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
Just adds to the rage, my man.
2011: A wasted year
by Tepo6688 on Jan 19, 2012 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
doubt he will be there at 28
plus you have to take into consideration how great Illinois D was last year and that his 16 sacks could be an inflation of lack of double teams and coverage sacks (I have no idea, but just a guess on a D as good as their’s was).
That being said, I’d love it if we got him
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by uofmike on Jan 18, 2012 7:41 PM CST via Android app reply actions
Mercilus has a chance to be there at 28
Bit of a one year wonder, and that will raise some questions for teams. Not saying its a bad thing, but its something to look at in depth. From the various scouting reports I’ve read on him, it appears that he lacks a good to elite first step and has struggles playing in space due to tight hips. His combine and workout is gonna be huge to show that he can make the conversion.
aaron maybin redux?
What do you have against the ring-tailed lemur?
by threadkiller on Jan 18, 2012 9:48 PM CST up reply actions
Maybins problem
Is his weight. At 228 or whatever his playing weight is now, he can’t set the edge in a 34. Once and If Mercilus learns how to play 34 OLB, he shouldn’t have a problem with holding the edge.
I doubt we'll get him
If he has a good combine, there’s no way he falls this low. I did like his stats in that he recorded a sack in almost every game this past season, so he has good consistency.
Various Mocks
I have seen us getting Whitney Mercilus, Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry, or Melvin Ingram in the first round.
I have also seen us getting Safety or Cornerback help to only pick up Billy Winn in the second round.
Ingram
would be my choice of those. I’m most familiar with Upshaw and Ingram, as they have participated in the annual beatdowns of my favorite college team (Kentucky). I don’t know much about Perry, but he does seem to be showing up in lots of mocks. I think all four of those guys would be good choices.
The main safety I’m seeing is Mark Barron out of Alabama. I think Collins’ health would be the factor there; I’m also not sure what safety position he would play.
I did a video vids on him, He’s a bit stiff in his hips.
I think he’s a 4-3 LDE in the NFL.
Also, ILL Defense zone blitzes a lot. When they did, they (in the 3 vids I made on Whitney) dropped the other DE in coverage.
by Revenge of the Fallen on Jan 18, 2012 11:06 PM CST reply actions
Dan Kadar at MTD doesn’t think he’ll be able to make it as an OLB. He doesn’t like the pick for GB much at all.
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I still like Vontaze Burfict from ASU
I said it in another thread too, but the kid just jumps off the tape when you watch him. Big, powerful, incessant, with the speed, athleticism and range to play side to side. Obviously coverage ability is a big factor, but he at least appears to have the open field speed and quickness to play coverage
by rip_city_swagger on Jan 19, 2012 12:25 AM CST reply actions
he's a complete idiot though
football does not build character, it reveals character.
Burfict
Is strictly an ILB… Never played OLB in his life. Watched him 3 yrs at ASU and he is completely over-rated! A run stuffing ILB is all he is… Rarely blitzed and suck in coverage. Would play Hawks position and probably not as good.
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Yup. He is either a 4-3 MLB or a 34 Strong side ILB.
by Revenge of the Fallen on Jan 19, 2012 8:58 AM CST up reply actions
not to mention
he’s an offsides machine.
What do you have against the ring-tailed lemur?
by threadkiller on Jan 19, 2012 12:02 PM CST up reply actions
all i wanna see is get a pass rushing lb in the first
and getting someone like Jared Crick in the second. he might be there b/c of the injury. i’d take a chance on him
If he's there, that would be awesome
But I saw a mock the other day projecting us to take Crick at 28.
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crick
Glad you brought up Crick. I think he’s been injured this year. Is he expected to make a full recovery?
i've read positive reports on him
apparently, he’s doing really well and is going to report to the combine so we’ll see what happens there. i’m kind of concerned that he can be like Harrell but this was Crick’s first major injury and it’s kind of a freak thing so i think the risk would be minimal
If Crick is not there...
What about this guy.
Brandon Thompson from Clemson. I’ve seen him all over the draft boards. No scout really has him set in stone, they are either really high or really low on him.
That dog just won't hunt.
by Bush League All Star on Jan 19, 2012 1:51 PM CST up reply actions
idk what to think of him
i watched him in Clemson’s bowl game where they got trounced by West Virginia. There were times he looked really good and times where he couldn’t get off his block. i remain skeptical on him. in the first round, i feel like it’s gotta be Nick Perry (if he’s there), Mercilus, Cox, or if in some miracle he falls, Still
Crick
He would probably be a good pick, but I’m just scared he would be the 2nd coming of the last Neb DL drafted in the 1st. Don’t know why, but thats my feeling. If I’m going DL, I MUCH prefer Brockers… Not nearly as polished, but far more upside! At OLB, I like Upshaw cuz he actually has played standing up. I’m not sure that Ingram has and he’s listed at 275 and would have to drop about 15 lbs. I don’t know if Ingram played standing up either. After Upshaw I would go w/ Perry and Mercelus and if he comes out the LSU kid who’s name escapes my, but is 6’4 and 245 pass rusher. He’s only a Redshirt Soph, and I don’t think he’s declared yet.
BTW anyone know when the deadline is to declare for the draft?
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
I think the LSU kid your thinking of is
Sam Montgomery. He was talking about declaring, but decided on staying in school for at least one year. And from what I gather online, Jan 15th was the last day to declare for the draft, with Jan 18th being the last day to withdraw your application.
Agree with Brockers, tons of potential with him. Id take Crick in the second, but in the first is too rich IMO. Fletcher Cox looks like a good 34DE, I’d say hes a possibility at 28. But Brockers is a much better value/talent at 28 if he’s there.
Have you taken a look at Andre Branch from Clemson? From the various sites I visit, several “analysts” have talked about being able to make the conversion to 34 OLB. Listed at 6-5 260lbs.
Yeah, Montgomery is the guy I was thinking of… So now we know who’s in the draft I guess. Looked at Branch some, not extensively at anyone yet. Read that he isn’t all the explosive, but does have good overall athleticism. Sounds like he’s best suited as a 34 OLB, than a 43 DE. Just my impression from what I’ve read. He has a chance…
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
by the last Nebraska lineman drafted in the first, did you mean Suh?
because that would be beyond awesome if they could get a guy that good for the D-line
football does not build character, it reveals character.
Ooops...
No clearly not Suh… Adam Carriker. Carriker and Crick seem like carbon copies of each other. Just how I see them anyway.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
ahhh gotcha
football does not build character, it reveals character.
Meh,
I’m just scared he would be the 2nd coming of the last Neb DL drafted in the 1st. Don’t know why, but thats my feeling.
that’s just your Oklahoma bias, there, Stroh. :)
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After further review,
the Munsters of the Midway still suck!
TT
In TT we trust the rest not so much, Ted will get us a player anyone think he moves up in th draft.
by I bleed green more on Jan 24, 2012 8:21 PM CST reply actions
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