id love to read it


http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp06/insider/columns/story?columnist=smith_michael&id=2539314&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2ftrainingcamp06%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dsmith_michael%26id%3d2539314%26lpos%3dspotlight%26lid%3dtab1pos3
anyone?


[Edited on August 20, 2006 at 12:00 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2006 4:11:42 PM

If for some reason you still question the logic of the Texans selecting Mario Williams first overall over Reggie Bush or Vince Young all you need to do is pay a visit to Reliant Stadium and watch Williams practice, watch him move. In fact, all you need to do, really, is look at Williams. He is the definition of a specimen.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak says Williams (listed at 6-foot-6 and 293 pounds) is even more powerful than Kubiak thought watching film from N.C. State. Williams is so quick ("He bounces around like a DB," defensive tackle Anthony Weaver says) and so strong that based on what I saw during pass rush drills this week, trying to handle him one-on-one will literally be a waste of time for most linemen. Once Williams really learns technique, how to read and react, and how to move efficiently (Williams often solicits information about Bruce Smith from ex-Bill Eric Moulds), teams are going to have no choice but to double him, slide their protection toward him, chip him, have a guard help out -- do something. And to make matters worse for opponents, Williams can play just about anywhere along the line, making it difficult to draw a bead on him. The Texans plan to have him rush from inside on passing downs.

Because of all the attention he's sure to receive from the opposition, don't judge Williams or compare him to Bush based on his rookie season sack total. Instead, judge Williams based on how much the Texans' defense, ranked 31st overall last season, improves in '06. Judge him on how big a jump Houston makes from last against the run and last in scoring defense. Williams' mere presence all but guarantees substantial progress.

Williams will be a true impact rookie because he will cause a domino effect. He'll be doubled, creating opportunities for his teammates along the defensive line, whose penetration will create turnovers, which will generate more possessions and better field position for Houston's offense. The Texans forced a league-low 16 turnovers last season.

Weaver, who signed to play defensive end but has packed on 15 pounds so he can move inside to "three-technique" tackle full time, should see nothing but single coverage as the closest man to the double team. Jason Babin and Antwan Peek, former 3-4 linebackers who have added 15-20 pounds each for a move back to their natural 4-3 end positions, should benefit on the other side from both the scheme switch and Williams' presence. Tackle Travis Johnson, last year's first-round pick, who also is a better fit in the 4-3, should get lots of one-on-one chances inside too, when he's lined up alongside Williams.

Kubiak says he's told Williams, "Hey just do your job. If you do your job you can make all 10 guys on the defense better."

Cornerback Dunta Robinson says he hoped the Texans would select Williams, knowing the secondary's job would become easier thanks to an improved pass rush. "When we drafted Mario I already felt like I had two interceptions to start the season," Robinson says.

Though the Bush comparisons will always be there, and, short of 15 sacks as a rookie, second-guessing is inevitable, Williams says, "I don't have any pressure, I'm not trying to prove myself to anybody."

A lot of Bob McNair's money is in the Texans' defensive line. With the addition of Williams, he should see a handsome return on his investment, especially from Weaver, about whom teammates and defensive coordinator Richard Smith can't stop raving.

8/4/2006 4:30:18 PM

gg

8/4/2006 4:34:27 PM

Quote :

""When we drafted Mario I already felt like I had two interceptions to start the season," Robinson says."

haha beautiful

8/4/2006 4:43:08 PM

That is a bad ass article - I wish that someone would read that shit to old frog eyes Stuart Scott. That mother fucker keeps saying how he thinks the Texans made a mistake. He is just jealous that NC State beat UNC at something.

8/4/2006 5:30:43 PM

^ are you 12? I doubt he cares that much

8/5/2006 9:24:51 PM

mario not gettin any love after first preseason game:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260812034

Quote :

"HOUSTON (AP) -- If the Houston Texans hope to justify spending their No. 1 pick on Mario Williams, he'll have to contribute more than he did Saturday night. Williams assisted on one tackle in a quarter of play in Houston's 24-14 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Shuffled all around the defensive line, Williams looked tentative at times and was stood up on a couple of plays. "I kind of got too excited and that made me get a little tired," Williams said. "But I was not nervous at all." He finally registered his first stat late in the first, when he joined second-round pick DeMeco Ryans to stop Larry Johnson for a 3-yard gain. In his 11 plays, Williams mostly lined up against Chiefs left tackle Kyle Turley, who was playing in first game since 2003 because of back problems. Turley was thrust into the starting lineup when 11-time Pro Bowler Willie Roaf unexpectedly retired the night before training camp. "I have a lot to learn," Williams said. "I was moving up and down the ball. I'm used to just coming off the edge and it's a lot different here." While Williams' debut was forgettable, another Houston rookie -- sixth-round draft pick Wali Lundy -- had a head-turning first outing."

dude played 1 quarter, and it was his first preseason game. give the guy a fucking break. i can already tell this is only the beginning of a media onslaught of hatred on mario. every fucking down he place will be nitpicked to hell and nothing will be good enough.

g/l next week mario

8/13/2006 3:43:03 AM

What people need to realize, and there was an article on this, is that his presence on D will allow the D to tighten up. He might not make that many plays because people are going to be running away from him, so "instead of looking at his stats, look at the teams defensive improvements from last year"

8/13/2006 9:27:34 AM

^not only will they run away from him. but he will be double teamed a lot allowing other people to do something.

8/13/2006 10:51:16 AM

Seriously, Go Pack and all that jazz but he got pushed around real fuckin bad.... Played like a highschool freshman @ a college training camp

8/13/2006 7:03:47 PM

Williams is never gonna live up to first overall pick status...everytime Reggie Bush does something, even more pressure on Williams...the expectations are too high.....i mean, how can you compare a DE to a RB? How much did Williams make on that one tackle he had in his first preseason game?

[Edited on August 13, 2006 at 7:40 PM. Reason : w]

8/13/2006 7:35:37 PM

Quote :

"Seriously, Go Pack and all that jazz but he got pushed around real fuckin bad.... Played like a highschool freshman @ a college training camp"

we mustve not watched the same game. mario held his own at the point of attack. he needs to use his hands more and that will come as the game slows down for him. he was only in 11 freakin' plays.

8/13/2006 7:45:08 PM

Quote :

"judge Williams based on how much the Texans' defense, ranked 31st overall last season, improves in '06. Judge him on how big a jump Houston makes from last against the run and last in scoring defense."

For people who know football, this will be the measure of his impact on the team. He's got a lot to live up to, especially since Reggie Bush is gonna have a couple of highlight runs every game. In order for him to compete with that, he's gotta have an impact similar to Peppers in his rookie year, or Merriman last year.

8/13/2006 7:45:20 PM

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14430772/

Quote :

"Updated: 12:14 a.m. ET Aug 20, 2006 ST. LOUIS - A calmer Mario Williams was a lot more disruptive in his second pro game than the amped-up one was in his first. Williams, who made a negligible impact last week, showed signs of justifying Houston’s decision to take him at No. 1 over Reggie Bush in a 27-20 Texans win over St. Louis on Saturday night. He drew the Rams into a pair of penalties, batted down a pass to force a punt and tackled running back Tony Fisher for a 3-yard loss. Last week, Williams said he was too excited. “I just came out and was really thinking about taking my time and not being too caught up in just being on the field,” Williams said. “I just took my time and let it happen, just had fun. “I had a lot more fun today than I did last week.” Coach Gary Kubiak said Williams “played like a rookie” in the preseason opener. He saw a different player against the Rams. “Without looking at the film I could feel his pressure out there,” Kubiak said. “That’s what you have to have. You have to take steps each week.”"

8/20/2006 11:28:33 AM

gg mario

8/20/2006 12:22:41 PM