Tag: Whitney Mercilus

Did the Texans waste their edge defender talent in the 2010s?

The Houston Texans had one of the best groups of edge defenders in the 2010s, but the lack of playoff wins suggests such talent may have been wasted.

The Houston Texans had a formidable edge defender group throughout the 2010s. The catalyst was defensive end J.J. Watt, who the club took in Round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft. As the club transitioned from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, Watt became the war daddy for Wade Phillips’ defense and not former 2006 No. 1 overall pick, Mario Williams.

The Texans added outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus in the first round of the 2012 draft, and Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, the first of the Bill O’Brien era, who brought on Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Texans group of edge defenders had the best wins-above-replacement for the 2010s. However, aside from the Oakland Raiders, there are two teams on the list who achieved more than Houston.

The Denver Broncos with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware won a Super Bowl in 2015. The Philadelphia Eagles with Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, and Chris Long won a Super Bowl in 2017.

All the Texans have to show for the 2010s is four wild-card playoff wins — no Super Bowl appearances, no first-round byes, no conference title game appearances.

It would appear the Texans wasted the combined talent of Watt, Clowney, and Mercilus. After all, Watt produced 96.0 sacks, tied for second-most in the decade, and Mercilus had 50.0 of his own. The Texans as a team logged 370 sacks, tied with Buffalo for 17th in the 2010s.

However, the Broncos and Eagles had something the Texans didn’t receive until the end of the decade: stable quarterback play. Denver had Peyton Manning under center, and Philadelphia relied on Carson Wentz, who, even though he was injured and replaced by Nick Foles for their Super Bowl run, was an effective signal caller in 2017.

One fear is that as Deshaun Watson ascends to the top of the NFL, the Texans’ edge defense is going to taper off. If only the two forces could play at a high level in the same season, it could result in the Texans making a magical run in January.

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Touchdown Wire isn’t kind to the Texans in NFL defense rankings

Touchdown Wire released its recent rankings for all 32 NFL defenses, and the Houston Texans were relegated to the bottom fifth of the league.

The Houston Texans defense will be flying so low under the radar in 2020 they may as well drive.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, who compiled a ranking of all 32 defenses in the NFL, the Texans came in at No. 29 overall.

Last we saw of the Texans’ defense, they were blowing a 24-0 lead to the Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs, as then-defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel made the unfortunate decision to play almost exclusively man coverage against Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champs in a 51-31 humiliation. Crennel is now an associate head coach for the Texans, with Anthony Weaver running the defense. One can only hope the change augurs well for a defense that finished 26th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA metrics, 29th in the second half of the regular season, and fell off the face of the planet in the postseason.

Here is what happened to the Texans defense that may have affected their DVOA: J.J. Watt missed the last eight games of the season. Until he tore his pectoral muscle in Week 8’s 27-24 win against the Oakland Raiders, outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus was taking advantage of the extra attention Watt commanded and produced 5.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and an interception. Throw in the rash of injuries at cornerback that occurred midway through the year to starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby, along with reserves such as Phillip Gaines and Lonnie Johnson, and the Texans defense lost firepower near the end of the season.

By the same token, more than the shuffling of Crennel and Weaver has transpired for the Texans defense. Watt is returning healthy. Houston has their cornerback duo solidified with Roby and Gareon Conley. Timmy Jernigan comes over from the Philadelphia Eagles to possibly replace D.J. Reader at nose tackle. Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham is entering the final year of his contract and almost made the Pro Bowl in 2019. Edge rushers Charles Omenihu and Jacob Martin also get a year older.

Injuries decimated the Texans defense in 2019. That level of attrition won’t hit them again, and their play will look much better than bottom-5 in the NFL.

4 Texans who could have a future in broadcasting

The Houston Texans may have players on their roster with bright futures in sports broadcasting, much like the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees.

With New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees set to join NBC Sports once his football career is over, one can only wonder what kind of broadcast depth is on the Houston Texans roster.

Here are four Texans players who could have a future in broadcasting if that is the route they choose to go.

1. Justin Reid

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(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Reid was articulate and showed his personality in his media sessions as far back as his rookie season. The former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford has a nice balance of breaking down the game and also conveying how football is a game of emotion. Reid would have a wealth of stories to share during broadcasts as his brother, Eric Reid, played safety for the San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers.

Best fit: color commentator

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Texans 2020 free agency target: LB Clay Matthews

The Houston Texans need to beef up their pass rush, and they would be wise to look to outside linebacker Clay Matthews for a boost.

It is no secret that the Houston Texans are in need of some help on defense. Especially with the departure of defensive tackle D.J. Reader, their already lackluster pass-rushing unit lost a major asset. And given the injury issues, their linebacker corps has suffered the last few years, veteran Clay Matthews would be a smart acquisition.

The 33-year-old former All-Pro made a name for himself with the Green Bay Packers after they selected him 26th overall in 2009 out of USC. The long-haired, long-term Packer left the icy winds of Wisconsin last year to return to the sunny shores of LA and the Rams.

However, eight sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 appearances weren’t enough for Sean McVay’s side as they released him this spring. This is where Bill O’Brien should step in.

Houston’s linebacker room is talented but thin and young. A veteran presence would be welcomed and take the pressure off of OLB Whitney Mercilus. While Mercilus had a strong start to the season in 2019, as the year went on the linebackers failed to contribute enough pressure on the QB despite DE J.J. Watt continuously being double-teamed.

Romeo Crennel’s defense mustered just 31 sacks, 26th in the NFL and last in the AFC South, while they ranked eighth in rushing yards allowed in the league with 1,937.

If new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is to tackle these issues head-on, Matthews would be a fantastic addition to the mix. He would give the defense a cool and experienced head to lean on, as well as a consistent tackler and productive blitzer.

Given that Matthews cost the Rams just $3 million last season, the now 33-year-old would likely command something around that range once again if not slightly less today. This would make the hirsute California native a good value addition to a side lacking in big names on defense.

Texans’ defensive grades from 22-19 overtime win versus the Bills

The Houston Texans beat the Buffalo Bills on Saturday to advance. How did the J.J. Watt-led defense do to earn the win?

The Houston Texans were the first victors of wild-card weekend. In a thrilling, come from behind win over the Buffalo Bills, the Texans surged to leave their hometown crowd happy with a 22-19 overtime win and move on to face the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.

While it was the offense (largely Deshaun Watson), that willed the Texans to victory, let’s take a gander at what the defense did on Saturday to help get the win. The re-addition of a certain three-time Defensive Player of the Year was certainly felt.

Defensive line

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(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

It took a while for the defensive line to muster up anything, but midway through the third quarter, they finally got going. Well, J.J. Watt did in his return from a torn pectoral.

Watt’s only sack was a momentum-swing one, as the Texans responded to it by scoring 19 straight to ultimately win in Houston. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader also did a good job against the run, as he typically does.

However, outside of Watt and Reader, the Texans’ defensive line play was sub par at best. When the Bills figured out how to contain Watt, Josh Allen had all the time to throw. When they ran opposite of Reader, they gashed the Texans’ rush defense. The two stars give Houston a passing grade.

Grade: C
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WATCH: Texans defense forces fumble of Bills QB Josh Allen

Watch Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus force a fumble on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the playoffs.

The Houston Texans got themselves going. Seemingly, a J.J. Watt sack started everything, a Deshaun Watson 20-yard scampered helped and a Whitney Mercilus forced fumbles on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen did more.

On third-down, in the first minute of the fourth quarter, Allen stepped up in the pocket, only to be met by Texans outside linebacker Mercilus. The now newly extended pass-rusher forced a fumble on Allen, and Houston recovered from giving the Texans the ball back down eight.

Watch below, Mercilus makes the clutch play on the second-year Bills quarterback.

With the play, the Texans have hope. After entering halftime down 13-0, Houston has a shot at giving Watson his first NFL playoff win. Last year, they were unsuccessful; this year that can change, but the third-year quarterback will have to continue to perform.

Unfortunately, the Texans were not able to capitalize with six points, as Watson took his sixth sack of the day late into the ensuing drive. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a field goal to narrow the Bills’ lead to five.

OLB Whitney Mercilus says Texans have talented depth

Heading into the postseason, Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus sees a lack of talent drop-off on his team.

For the second year in a row, the 10-6 Houston Texans are playoff-bound. On Saturday, Jan. 4, they will host the 10-6 Buffalo Bills in the wild card round.

Recently extended outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus is confident in what the Texans have brewing. He doesn’t see a talent drop-off on any level of the team. If a backup plays, he’s confident.

“We’re talented at every different level from our starters to our backups,” Mercilus said on Sunday. “There’s not really a drop-off anywhere, so if somebody goes down, somebody will be able to replace and make plays out there as well. When we get everything going — offense, defense and special teams — we can be a pretty good team, so we’ve got to be able to make sure all three click.”

The Texans opted to showcase that backup talent on Sunday, when they rested most of their starters and, by the second half, played a roster loosely resembling one of a preseason team. They lost to the starters of the Tennessee Titans 35-14.

Nonetheless, Sunday’s game was not about winning for the Texans. They treated it as a bye week, maintaining health to the starters that matter most. It was also an opportunity for those backup players to get valuable snaps. In case they are needed against Buffalo, they will be a bit more experienced.

Houston will not enter the postseason limping. They avoided major injuries on Sunday and aside from a few players — most notably Will Fuller and Tytus Howard — they will play the Bills at full-strength.

Even better: the Texans should enjoy the re-arrival of defensive end J.J. Watt. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year will hope to provide Houston with a much-needed pass-rush presence alongside Mercilus, outside linebacker Jacob Martin, defensive tackle D.J. Reader and a slew of others.

Bring on Buffalo.

The Texans extending OLB Whitney Mercilus was inevitable

The writing was on the wall for outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus’ contract extension with the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans signed outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a four-year, $54.5 million extension with $24.5 million guaranteed, his second contract extension since the club drafted him in Round 1 of the 2012 NFL draft.

Though the 29-year-old’s production has been inconsistent in 2019, the extension should come as no surprise. After the Texans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16, coach Bill O’Brien raved of Mercilus and stated he’d like to bring him back.

“He tries to do whatever he can to do what’s best for the team. He is an excellent teammate,” O’Brien said of Mercilus. “We want Whitney back here and we want him to be a part of our team for a while. It was great to see him break through with a sack, but he does a lot of other things other than that that help us win.”

A week later, the Texans did what they wanted to do: extend Mercilus.

In 2019, Mercilus leads the Texans with 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and his 15 QB hits only trail defensive end J.J. Watt’s 21. Mercilus has also been disruptive with the ball in the air as he has collected two pass deflections and two interceptions. While his statistics don’t scream $54.5 million, his veteran leadership, edge setting and presence as a pass-rusher help make up for them.

Mercilus is the rare case of a player that started with a team and then earned two extensions with that club. That should come as no surprise. He’s a constant leader in the locker room and the community.

Houston will pay Mercilus an annual value of $13.5 million a year, making him the NFL’s 16th highest-paid edge rusher. However, the official contract may not quite resemble that. In the extension, Houston should opt to front-load the money, especially the guarantees.

The Texans may have slightly overpaid for Mercilus, but the reality of the matter is that edge rushers will always be overpaid. If Houston did stack the contract as they should, paying him less as time wears on, the deal looks like a solid one for a foundational piece of their defense.

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Details of Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus’ extension revealed

Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus signed a four-year extension with the team. What are the details of the new contract?

Details of Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus’ four-year extension have been revealed.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the former 2012 first-round pick’s extension is worth $54 million, an average of $13.5 million annually, and $24.5 million of that deal is guaranteed.

According to Over the Cap, the Texans are projected to have $74.3 million in salary cap space in 2020. The Mercilus contract would also cost them $13.5 million in 2020, which would be the third-highest salary on the roster behind defensive end J.J. Watt ($15.5 million) and receiver DeAndre Hopkins ($14 million), according to preliminary figures from Over the Cap.

Mercilus has collected 48 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his 15 starts for the Texans. When the club traded edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney on Aug. 31, Mercilus became the complementary presence to Watt’s pass rushing prowess on the other side. When Watt tore his pectoral muscle on Oct. 27, Mercilus became the point of attack for Houston’s defense in rushing opposing quarterbacks.

Report: Texans re-sign OLB Whitney Mercilus to four-year contract

The Houston Texans have reached a four-year contract with outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus.

The Houston Texans like what they have seen from 29-year-old Whitney Mercilus and want to keep the outside linebacker a part of their future plans.

According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Texans have reached a deal with the former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois that would keep him in Houston for the next four years.

Mercilus has collected 48 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 15 starts this season. The 6-4, 258-pound edge defender has had to play more of a role generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks since the club traded Jadeveon Clowney on Aug. 31 and lost defensive end J.J. Watt to a torn pectoral on Oct. 27.

After Week 16’s 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Bill O’Brien expressed interest in bringing back Mercilus. Now, that has become a reality.