MAN OF MANY MOVES
A deep bag of tricks helps make Texans LB Whitney Mercilus one of the NFL’s top sack artists.
Spinning around blockers, Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus has a growing repertoire of pass-rushing moves.
He has a well-practiced spin move, rip move, swim move and speed rush working in his favor.
Mercilus holds the Texans’ franchise record with six sacks in the postseason, including one of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during a playoff loss in January to the eventual Super Bowl champions as he passed J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed in the record book.
Over his past 25 games, Mercilus ranks third in the NFL with 19½ sacks. That’s exceeded only by the Oakland Raiders’ Khalil Mack and the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller.
“He can beat you several ways,’ Texans linebackers coach Bobby King said. “He can beat you with speed, he can beat you with power, he can also drop, he can rush over the center, the guard, the tackle. He’s just a hard matchup and he’s a true pro, too. He really studies the game and he’s a good football player.”
When Mercilus was drafted in the first round by the Texans out of Illinois in 2012, it took him some time to adjust to the higher expectations of the NFL. He eventually figured it out and recorded a franchise-rookie record six sacks.
Mercilus recorded a careerhigh dozen sacks during the 2015 regular season.
Although frequently a marked man by blockers last season with Watt sidelined after undergoing back surgery, Mercilus led the Texans last season with 7 ½ sacks and 22 quarterback hits and ranked second to Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with 13 tackles for losses. With four fumble recoveries, Mercilus tied first in the NFL with Miami Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso. He was named a third alternate to the Pro Bowl.
“Just looking at new moves to add to my arsenal, watching all the different players at my position, see what they do and see if I can emulate that,” Mercilus said. “Practice it out there on the field, whether it works or not, it doesn’t hurt.”