Mercilus emerges as an unsung hero in first game back
Brian Cushing’s acrobatic game-tying pick-six Monday completed the biggest recovery in Texans franchise history and proved Cushing was all the way back from a career-interrupting knee injury. It also showed the Texans had placed a smart bet just five days earlier by awarding the intense inside linebacker a six-year contract extension.
Cushing’s back story made the interception and touchdown, his first in the NFL, a defining moment for him, a play he and the Texans and their fans will remember for a long time to come.
But Cushing’s accomplice in the larceny, Whit- ney Mercilus, deserves kudos, too.
It was Mercilus, returning to the fray after losing the preseason to a strained hamstring, who came storming in off the edge and forced Philip Rivers to dump the football into a dangerous place at a critical juncture.
And earlier, when things were seemingly going to hell in a hand basket for the Texans, it was Mer-
cilus who picked up their first sack of the season. That was a significant play, too, because it got Rivers sensitized to his rangy presence. When Rivers saw Mercilus in his grill again, it was panic city. There went the ball. And there went Cush. What had been a 21-point San Diego lead was gone, and the Texans would win on a walkoff Randy Bullock field goal.
To be sure, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips praised Cushing for his excellent “anticipation.” But Phillips noted how Mercilus “was free on the quarterback, and (Rivers) had to do something quick. I talked to Philip after the game, and he told me, ‘I had to do throw it quick because (Mercilus) was right on top of me.’”
The Chargers’ final five possessions netted all of 10 yards. San Diego couldn’t manage a first down in the fourth quarter. Cushing caught as many of Rivers’ passes over the last 20 minutes as did the quarterback’s teammates.
“It shows we have a lot of perseverance and a lot of tough players,” Mer- cilus said of the Texans’ stunning turnabout. “We don’t get down easy. We know we have the ability to rally, to do what you have to do to come back. Our players are all about the job, dedicated to getting it done. It showed me what kind of team we are. I have no doubt we have the team to go all the way.”
However, he conceded, “It also shows we’ve got to come out on fire from the start.” Good reviews
Mercilus is the only No. 1 Texans pick over the last six drafts who wasn’t asked to step in immediately as a starter. But the way things turned out, he still got plenty of snaps late last season after Brooks Reed tore a groin muscle. Although Mercilus showed his mettle as a pass rusher with 6½ sacks, Phillips said he needed to get stronger to be a force against the run, and that came to matter when the Texans lost Connor Barwin in the offseason to free agency.
Mercilus’ making the jump to being an everydown player seemingly required that he get in a full preseason of practice. When that didn’t happen, there was concern. But all of it was alleviated in San Diego.
“We thought he played good,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Mercilus’ effort. “For him to miss camp, then go out and play a lot of plays, he looked strong. He looked fast. Hewas a big factor in the game. Obviously, there was a little bit of an unknown factor there with him not playing in camp, but we were pleased with what we saw.”
Added Phillips: “Smart players get better, and Whit’s smart. He just needed to get stronger. Nowhe’s got real strength. He played the running game real strong Monday night. We knew he could pass-rush. Nowhe’s got power to his game.”
Mercilus’ frustration with the popped hamstring tested his patience, but he resisted the temptation to force the issue. Not that trainer Geoff Kaplan gave him a vote in the matter. Kaplan shut him down and kept him shut down until he was completely well.
“(The injury) wasn’t even on my mind (Monday),” Mercilus said. “I was going full speed from the start. I had no second thoughts about being out there. The trainers had kept telling me, ‘Don’t push it. Don’t push it. We’ve got time before Week 1. Let’s make sure it’s back to 100 percent.’ ” Did his homework
Five unassisted tackles (one for lost yardage), the sack and that huge quarterback pressure indicate all is quite OK.
“I kept my mind mentally sharp throughout camp,” Mercilus said. “I paid attention to calls, formations, that sort of stuff. I didn’t want to miss a beat when I came back. I didn’t want to be rusty.
“There were some things I didn’t do well out there (in San Diego), but I felt pretty good about what I was doing. I’ve gotten some compliments. I probably played a good game.”
Probably?