Tag: Whitney Mercilus

Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus feels ‘stronger, quicker, more alert’

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says he is feeling much stronger and more alert after the first nine weeks of the season.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus has played seven games to this point in the season, and is feeling better as he gears up to plays his eighth.

The 30-year-old had two weeks off, the bye and then missing Week 9 due to contact tracing results from being in close proximity with outside linebacker Jacob Martin, who did test positive for the novel coronavirus and was placed on COVID-19 reserve on Nov. 4. With Mercilus set to get back in action in Week 10 at the Cleveland Browns, the former 2012 first-round pick says he feels refreshed.

“I feel much better, stronger, quicker, more alert, especially with the time off as well, too,” Mercilus said. “Adjusted to earlier in the season, getting adjusted to that adrenaline rush when you don’t have preseason in order to really — you kind of feel a little light. The adrenaline gets pumping and you don’t know how to work your body kind of like Bambi out there. For me, I feel great at this point in the season.”

Mercilus has provided the Texans with 14 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery through six starts.

Nine weeks into the 2020 season, one that has been pocked with COVID-19 disruptions and the firing of coach Bill O’Brien on Oct. 5, Mercilus is still adapting to the constant motion.

“As far as the world getting accustomed to COVID, we had to go through that transition,” said Mercilus. “Then, the coaching change. I’ve been through that before, so it’s as if it’s a double whammy to a triple whammy as far as the season and how it’s been going. Losing some of these games we shouldn’t have been losing as well, too. It’s just been an interesting year.”

The 2-6 Texans have a chance to post their first winning streak of the season when they face the 5-3 Browns.

3 Texans return from COVID-19 reserve

The Houston Texans had three players return from the COVID-19 reserve: ILB Dylan Cole, OLB Whitney Mercilus, and G Max Scharping.

The Houston Texans had three players return from the COVID-19 reserve on Tuesday.

Inside linebacker Dylan Cole, outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, and guard Max Scharping were all cleared to return to the team, the Texans announced Tuesday.

Scharping was the first COVID-19 positive case the Texans have had in 2020, and the former 2019 second-round pick tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Oct. 28.

Cole and Mercilus were on the list due to contact tracing after an investigation revealed they were in close association with outside linebacker Jacob Martin, who tested positive for COVID-19 on the night of Nov. 4 and is the only remaining player on the list.

Interim coach Romeo Crennel told reporters Monday he expects Martin to be away from the team a little bit longer than Cole, Mercilus, and Scharping.

“Jacob, he’s going to be away from us a little bit longer because he was on that 10-day COVID list,” Crennel said.

The 2-6 Texans take on the 5-3 Cleveland Browns Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Texans dealing with COVID-19 issues, closes down facility

The Jags’ Week 9 game against the Texans could be in jeopardy due to COVID-19.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against the Houston Texans could be in jeopardy of being rescheduled, though the plans right now are to take the field on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST as expected. The reason for that is because Houston is currently dealing with a COVID-19 case, which caused them to shut their facility down Thursday and place several players on their Reserve/ Covid-19 list.

It was initially announced that linebacker Jacob Martin would be the first player going on the Texans Reserve/ COVID-19 list after word broke about the facilities shut down, but later two other players joined him. Those players were fellow linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Dylan Cole for contact tracing reasons. As a result all will miss Sunday’s game against the Jags.

After the news broke out about the Texans’ situation, the team released the following statement:

“We were informed last night that a Texans player has tested positive for COVID-19. In consultation with the NFL and medical experts, we have made the decision to close the facility and conduct all operations virtually today. The player immediately self-isolated and contact tracing has begun. We will follow the NFL’s intensive protocols and guidance regarding the team’s operations. The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority.”

The situation is unfortunate all the way around, but the biggest loss is that of Mercilus, who has started in six of seven games for the Texans this season. Much like the Jags’, their defense already is struggling and not having a pass-rusher of Mercilus’ caliber certainly doesn’t help. That said, Jags rookie quarterback Jake Luton now has one less star to deal with as he’s set to start in his first game.

With the three players set to miss Sunday’s game, former Florida Gator Jonathan Greenard will likely see an increase in snaps on the edge to fill Mercilus’ void. Per our comrades at Texans Wire, it’s possible the team could also activate linebacker Peter Kalambayi to fill the void for Cole and provide special teams support.

Report: Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus, ILB Dylan Cole out against Jaguars due to contact tracing

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus and inside linebacker Dylan Cole are out versus the Jaguars due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

The Houston Texans will be without two of their veteran linebackers as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at TIAA Bank Field.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, after outside linebacker Jacob Martin tested positive for COVID-19, contact tracing revealed that outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus and inside linebacker Dylan Cole had been in contact with Martin. As a result, though they may or may not be positive with the novel coronavirus, they go on the COVID-19 reserve list. In order to get off, they have to test positive over the next five days, and the game is three days away — not enough time.

The Texans could rely on rookie outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard to play more snaps on the edge and also activate inside linebacker Peter Kalambayi to provide support on special teams, where Cole has excelled for his four-year career.

Texans OLB coach Chris Rumph says Whitney Mercilus had ‘COVID legs’ to start the season

Houston Texans OLB coach Chris Rumph says that Whitney Mercilus took a little bit to get going in the 2020 season, citing “COVID legs,” a la sea legs.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus took a couple games to get going in the 2020 season.

In Week 1 at the Kansas City Chiefs, he collected three combined tackles before being shutout in the stat sheet in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph, Mercilus was working his way into playing shape, something every NFL player had to do without an offseason program, traditional training camp, or preseason.

“At the beginning I think he had those COVID legs,” Rumph said. “I think he was struggling a little bit, trying to get in shape the first probably two games. He wasn’t the guy that I saw on film.”

Rumph was even concerned to the point he talked to the strength and conditioning staff, who assured Rumph that Mercilus just needed more time.

“He is starting to heat up here during the last few games,” said Rumph. “He is starting to make some plays and starting to look like his old self. I think a guy, you got to know who you are. You got to know what you have, what you possess, what you can do.”

It wasn’t until Week 3 at the Pittsburgh Steelers that Mercilus came alive with five combined tackles, including a tackle for loss.

In Week 4’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Mercilus got to quarterback Kirk Cousins twice. The following week in the club’s 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mercilus produced 1.0 sack and a fumble recovery. For the season, the former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois has 14 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Rumph also says part of Mercilus’ challenge is being productive at 30 years old.

Said Rumph: “As you get older, and stuff like that you have to rely on other things. He has to be perfect on my techniques. Maybe before I was able to round this thing a little bit more because I had the ability and quickness to really recover. Now, I got to almost be perfect on some of my steps and my hand placement. I got to really be sharp on my game, on my study to really know. The margin for error, you know, when you get a little older, you know how it is.”

As the Texans come out of their bye week with a 1-6 record, they will need more from Mercilus to generate a pass rush and affect opposing quarterbacks.

WATCH: Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus gets a sack against the Jaguars in Week 5

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus got his third sack of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus picked up his third sack of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon during the team’s Week 5 game at NRG Stadium.

The sack was on a second-and-14 that ultimately backed up the Jaguars third-and-19, a 5-yard loss. Mercilus was able to bring down quarterback Gardner Minshew and force Jacksonville’s offense to overcome a third-and-a-mile early in the third quarter.

The Texans needed as many splash plays on defense as possible. Houston’s defense had been giving up 181.8 rushing yards per game and almost 118.0 passer rating. Factor in no takeaways, and it is easy to see why they had an 0-4 record.

That may change on Mercilus’ sack Sunday.

Whitney Mercilus says Texans giving up the run is an attack on their pride

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says that the defense giving up the run easily is an attack on their pride.

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The Houston Texans defense has given up 727 rushing yards through the first four games, averaging 181.8, the absolute worst in the NFL.

When an offense is able to hand off the ball and pick up 4.9 yards — the Texans’ yards per carry surrendered — at will, it is an attack on the defense’s pride.

“It definitely is going to attack your pride because you take so much pride in your work, how much you work, how many hours you put into this game and all that,” outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. “Especially to give up a ton of X-plays, whether it be pass or run. It doesn’t show the type of defense that we have been in years past. Pretty much we’ve got to take the lick.”

The Texans are facing another formidable rushing attack in the Jacksonville Jaguars, who visit Houston for Week 5 Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium to kickoff the Texans’ six-game AFC South slate. The Jaguars have churned 417 rushing yards through the first four games, the 12th-lowest in the league, but undrafted rookie running back James Robinson has collected 285 of those yards, the eighth-most in the NFL.

Houston can’t get obsessed with what was; they have to quickly prepare for what will be when the Jaguars come to town.

Said Mercilus: “What’s done is done and we can just move forward and work harder, more consistent in our techniques, in this defense as well to understand the concepts and things of that nature, trust each other even more to overcome that.”

Mercilus, a former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois, had his best game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings in the Texans’ 31-23 loss last week. The 30-year-old provided 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and four combined tackles. Houston will need a similar performance, complemented by a great game on the edge stopping the run.

Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus says it is critical to play assignment football versus Ravens

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says it is critical for the defense to play assignment football against the Baltimore Ravens.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus knows the defense has a hefty challenge on their hands when they face the Baltimore Ravens at 3:25 p.m. at NRG Stadium.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson is as much of a threat through the air as he is on the ground. The Texans got the business end of the Ravens’ offense in Week 11 last year as Baltimore thumped Houston 41-7 with Jackson gaining 70 yards on the ground while through four touchdowns through the air.

“You’ve just got to be very disciplined as far as playing those zone reads and trusting your guys as well, too,” Mercilus said. “There’s a big trust factor that has to happen on defense. The chemistry and then also just being in great position, pinning the near hip, getting into great tackling position on Lamar and those other guys.”

Jackson was more of a pocket passer last week as he stayed in the pocket 2.6 seconds on average, tied for the second-longest time to throw in Week 1. The former 2018 first-round pick carved up the Cleveland Browns going 20-of-25 for 275 yards and three touchdowns, leading Baltimore to a 38-6 win and a 1-0 start.

If Jackson is able to get the ball out early in the game, Mercilus believes the pass rush still has to be patient.

“The thing is you’ve just got to keep on trying and keep going until that opportunity presents itself. Like last week, [outside linebacker] Jacob (Martin) got there early. The ball is getting out much more quickly than we anticipated and what not. It’s just a combination between rushing coverage and all being on the same page. DB’s do a great job so guys up front can get there.”

The Browns were able to get to Jackson for two sacks last week. If the Texans can sprinkle their harassment of Jackson throughout the game, it should keep the contest competitive and give Houston’s offense a chance to dictate the pace of the game.

Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus says decision was ‘tough’ to decide to play amid COVID-19

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus says it was a tough decision to play football with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every player had to make a decision when the NFL finally got its 2020 training camp underway. Were they going to play amid the COVID-19 pandemic, or were they going to opt out?

Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus wasn’t taking the same risk to play pro football every season since the Houston Texans drafted him in Round 1 of the 2012 NFL Draft. It wasn’t as though he would get COVID-19 and keep it at the team facilities, like a hamstring injury. There was a risk that he could spread the illness with his family.

“My sister just had a baby girl, so I like to be around my niece a lot, so it’s tough. I don’t want to be selfish as far as that goes,” Mercilus told reporters on Aug. 4. “Just talking to my fam about it — and I don’t want to catch it myself — we all agreed upon I’m going to go in, I’m going to do what I have to do. I’ll probably be keeping socially distanced away from them for quite a while, which I know a lot of guys around the league are doing, away from their wives, their kids and all that.”

Mercilus admits the decision was tough, but he is willing to see how it all plays out, including playing the first NFL game of the pandemic on Sept. 10 versus the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

“By the time we get to the first game, I don’t know,” Mercilus said. “We’ll see. As we hear around the league, some people were getting COVID and being put on the COVID-IR list or what not. Everything is up in the air. Ain’t no advantage.”

Mercilus is curious what the ramifications are if a player tests positive within 48 hours of kickoff on any given Sunday.

Said Mercilus: “As soon as you get tested on Friday, you get the results back in about 24 hours or whatnot, you’ll know if somebody has COVID pretty much the night before. By that time, I mean, you’ll have players that are already in contact with that person who has COVID. So, like, what happens then? Like 10? The whole team? Really, I don’t know as far as that goes and I don’t know what the guidelines for that goes as far as will they shut down that entire team? Will they shut down the game before then or are we still going to go play? That’s a good question.”

Mercilus made his decision to play ball. Now, it is the NFL’s job to keep Mercilus and other players safe as they attempt to play a contact sport in the age of social distancing.

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Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus has advice for young pass rushers on how to have breakout season

The Houston Texans have young pass rushers with potential, and OLB Whitney Mercilus has advice for them on how to have breakout seasons.

Whitney Mercilus has become the old man in the room at 30 years old.

The outside linebacker is one of the leaders in the locker room and a mentor to some of the younger Houston Texans edge defenders.

Houston seeks to rebound from its sixth-place finish last year with just 31 sacks. To do so, they will need contributions from their younger pass rushers.

Mercilus, a former 2012 first-round pick, knows the key to having a breakout season.

“Just understanding your body, understanding your skillset, understand what moves work for you and have a number of moves,” Mercilus told reporters on Aug. 5. “You have an initial move and then you have a counter off that initial move. Just to be able to play chess with the offensive lineman as well to change up your alignment, whether you’re closer to the tackle, further from the tackle. Just those little things.”

In his rookie season in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme, Mercilus produced 6.0 sacks, followed by 7.0 in 2013. Mercilus didn’t have his first double-digit sack season until 2015 when he collected 12.0.

Houston has a few promising edge defenders on the roster in Jacob Martin, Charles Omenihu, and Jonathan Greenard. Martin tallied 3.5 sacks after coming to Houston as part of the Jadeveon Clowney trade with Seattle. Omenihu, a fifth-round rookie from Texas, notched 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. Greenard, who the Texans selected in Round 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, has been constantly asking Mercilus for advice.

“Just keep it real simple,” Mercilus said. “Keep it real simple for you and just go out there, and if you mess up, you mess up, and just keep going. Just don’t repeat the same mistake. That’s all I teach team.”

If the Texans’ young pass rushers are able to apply Mercilus’ advice to the playing field, then first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will have plenty of tools to work with to generate an effective pass rush.

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