WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Although the coaches always talk about competition, and players say they never feel secure, it goes without saying that six of the team's front seven on defense appear to be secure.
The ends are J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. D.J. Reader is the nose tackle. Brian Cushing and Benardrick McKinney are the inside linebackers. Whitney Mercilus plays the right side at outside linebacker.
Brennan Scarlett, an undrafted free agent from Stanford last year, is the leading candidate to replace John Simon opposite Mercilus.
"He's been doing great as far as making plays," Mercilus said Thursday.