Titans vs Texans: 7 Questions with Toro Times Editor Stephen Forsha

Joshua: Whitney Mercilus, who possibly has the best last name of any NFL defensive player, was drafted with the 26th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Although he didn’t play as much as other first-round defensive players from that class, he was one of the most productive players. Now that he has transitioned into a full-time role, Mercilus made his impact felt with a solid first game that included two quarterback hits, one of which was a sack. How much of an impact can he have playing behind J.J. Watt in that defense?

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) looks at the game against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Forsha: Whitney’s potential playing behind a player like JJ Watt is unknown. He has the chance to become a big time key player for the Texans at outside linebacker. His stat line against the Chargers that also included five solo tackles.

My thoughts are he’s in a very good position in the Texans’ offense because not only is he playing behind Watt, but he has a player like Brian Cushing playing in the same linebacker group with him. This could be a big year for Mercilus.