Official Houston Texans Fan Thread - Topic

draino

Member

Posts: 40,861

Joined: Sep 18 2008

Gold: 90.00

#361

Nov 29 2011 09:17pm

oh god...

tj yates better do good.

MADmartigan

Member

Posts: 126,160

Joined: Oct 14 2009

Gold: 358.44

#362

Nov 30 2011 12:51pm

Can soon-to-be free agent Mario Williams play the Nose Tackle position with a full off-season to prepare?

The Texans defense is already the best in the NFL (ranked number 1 overall) - 2nd against the pass and 4th against the run. They're also 2nd best in points allowed. Most of their success started when Mario Williams was lost for the season.

Brooks Reed came in at OLB and is flat out dominating as a rookie. People said he looked like Clay Matthews with the long hair but he's actually been playing like him (5 straight games with at least one sack). Connor Barwin is amazing on the other side, and Cushing and Ryans are anchors in the inside. You can argue that Houston has the best 4 LBs of any team in the game right now. Those guys are getting it done.

So what happens when Mario Williams comes back next season? I don't think you can bench Brooks Reed. There's no way he would start at either end position because J.J. Watt is a flat out stud and Antonio Smith is playing good football. Unless the Texans decide to part ways with Antonio Smith this off-season and Mario Williams can re-adjust to playing right end in a 3-4 defense, which he was already playing in a 4-3 defense.

The only other option would be for Mario Williams to play the the Nose Tackle position. He's big and strong enough to play it. That would be the only position he could start and be a significant upgrade over the likes of Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell.

It would be a lot to ask of Mario Williams: Basically playing a third position in as many years, but the defense is already good without him. If he came back and could bolster the defense even more, Houston's defense under Wade Phillips would go from the best in the NFL to historically good: Possibly on par with the 2000 Ravens and 1985 Bears.

I can't imagine the Texans not re-signing Mario Williams this off-season. But I guess you never know in today's game. There's always somebody that steps out of nowhere and plays out of his mind. Who would have thought Brooks Reed would be this good?

umade

Member

Posts: 107,673

Joined: Jan 20 2007

Gold: 2,443.00

#363

Nov 30 2011 12:52pm

I can't see Mario playing NT and I doubt that he'd do it if asked to.

Odds

Member

Posts: 38,581

Joined: Jun 28 2006

Gold: 0.00

#364

Nov 30 2011 12:58pm

Mario Williams at NT would be a waste, and I don't think it would go too well

MADmartigan

Member

Posts: 126,160

Joined: Oct 14 2009

Gold: 358.44

#365

Nov 30 2011 01:04pm

Quote (umade @ Nov 30 2011 12:52pm)

I can't see Mario playing NT and I doubt that he'd do it if asked to.

Then what are the other options? Texans can just let him walk in free agency and use that money on another need. The Texans don't have a lot of weaknesses right now (other than quarterback, LOL). But what I mean is they're prety solid at most positions heading into the off-season.

It would be a luxury to see Houston upgrade at the number two WR position (somebody more explosive than Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones), or even add another solid cornerback on the opposite side of Johnathan Joseph - who's having a pro bowl caliber season.

Kareem Jackson has been much improved but he's probably the only real weakness on the defense right now. The safety play has been pretty strong. Glover Quinn has made the move to free safety a great one and Danieal Manning added a lot of toughess at the strong safety position. Came back from a broken leg in less than month.

Where else would the Texans use that big money if they don't re-sign Mario Williams? I don't think Mario Williams would be against playing right end if Houston decided to let Antonio Smith go. I just don't see how you keep Mario Williams at outside linebacker when it's obvious that Brooks Reed and Connor Barwin are perhaps the best OLB tandem in the game right now.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Nov 30 2011 01:13pm

MADmartigan

Member

Posts: 126,160

Joined: Oct 14 2009

Gold: 358.44

#366

Nov 30 2011 01:12pm

Quote (Odds @ Nov 30 2011 12:58pm)

Mario Williams at NT would be a waste, and I don't think it would go too well

People said the same thing of him playing outside linebacker and he was on pace for a 20-sack season prior to his injury. Then again, it may just be Wade Phillips' great defensive coaching? Even the rookie Brooks Reed is on pace for a 16-sack season given a full 16 games. There hasn't been much downgrade from Mario Williams to Brooks Reed. You can't justify benching Reed at this point. The kid can play and has earned that starting job.

Mario Williams is such a freak of nature, I don't buy the talk that he can't play right end or nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. He definitely can, IMO. He would probably cause even more havoc for opposing offenses if he were still on the defensive line. Because the current linebackers are already playing as good as you can possibily imagine.

Hako

Member

Posts: 31,161

Joined: Sep 5 2007

Gold: 775.01

Warn: 10%

#367

Nov 30 2011 06:06pm

Quote (Madmartigan @ Nov 30 2011 10:51am)

http://i42.tinypic.com/2m3nqms.jpg
Can soon-to-be free agent Mario Williams play the Nose Tackle position with a full off-season to prepare?

The Texans defense is already the best in the NFL (ranked number 1 overall) - 2nd against the pass and 4th against the run. They're also 2nd best in points allowed. Most of their success started when Mario Williams was lost for the season.

Brooks Reed came in at OLB and is flat out dominating as a rookie. People said he looked like Clay Matthews with the long hair but he's actually been playing like him (5 straight games with at least one sack). Connor Barwin is amazing on the other side, and Cushing and Ryans are anchors in the inside. You can argue that Houston has the best 4 LBs of any team in the game right now. Those guys are getting it done.

So what happens when Mario Williams comes back next season? I don't think you can bench Brooks Reed. There's no way he would start at either end position because J.J. Watt is a flat out stud and Antonio Smith is playing good football. Unless the Texans decide to part ways with Antonio Smith this off-season and Mario Williams can re-adjust to playing right end in a 3-4 defense, which he was already playing in a 4-3 defense.

The only other option would be for Mario Williams to play the the Nose Tackle position. He's big and strong enough to play it. That would be the only position he could start and be a significant upgrade over the likes of Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell.

It would be a lot to ask of Mario Williams: Basically playing a third position in as many years, but the defense is already good without him. If he came back and could bolster the defense even more, Houston's defense under Wade Phillips would go from the best in the NFL to historically good: Possibly on par with the 2000 Ravens and 1985 Bears.

I can't imagine the Texans not re-signing Mario Williams this off-season. But I guess you never know in today's game. There's always somebody that steps out of nowhere and plays out of his mind. Who would have thought Brooks Reed would be this good?

LOL NT? LOL

You guys just need to let him go. Let him go play where he wants to play. He isn't a 3-4 player and he shouldn't have his talents held back because of it. Dude is a 4-3 DE and that is where he should be, every snap, every game. Reward the guy who's helped build that Franchise.

and of course he can play the position, He's a freak talent and freak athlete, but why? LOL

draino

Member

Posts: 40,861

Joined: Sep 18 2008

Gold: 90.00

#368

Dec 1 2011 05:48am

Quote (Hako @ Nov 30 2011 06:06pm)

better in the 3-4 olb than 4-3 de

Bluth

Member

Posts: 37,825