Drafted to slow Peyton Manning, Texans' Mario Williams hasn't yet

[Wolf]

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stori...71221231.shtml

"He's an excellent player," Manning said. "He's really playing at a high level -- really kind of took over the Broncos game himself in a lot of ways and put a lot of pressure on their passing game."

Williams hopes to get that kind of pressure on Manning this week when the Texans look to win their eighth game for the first time in franchise history. He said Manning and the Colts present a number of different challenges.

"It's just the whole thing," he said. "It's the offensive line and it's him just knowing the scheme of things and getting rid of the ball," Williams said.

Last season, Williams wasn't comfortable enough to be moved around on the line and preferred to stay at right defensive end. As he's gained confidence this season, coaches have been able to shuffle him around and create more problems for opponents.

"Last year, there was so much stuff thrown at me and now I'm just a lot more comfortable," Williams said. "So it's just something that I've gotten accustomed to doing and I like doing it. Everything's pretty good right now."

Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said he thinks Williams will win over fans who wanted the team to draft Vince Young or Reggie Bush. Dungy even compared him to his star defensive end Dwight Freeney.

"He has played outstanding football the last seven, eight games that we just looked at here and I'm sure that's what everybody envisioned," Dungy said. "That type of play helps you win championships. No question about it. He's giving them the type of impact that Dwight gave us with our first pick when I was here."

Coach Gary Kubiak said Williams is enjoying himself, and that he's so excited in practice he often asks to take scout team snaps.

"He loves to do it," Kubiak said. "It makes our offensive line guys mad, but that's a good thing. He's getting really comfortable with who he is as a pro and where he's headed with his career. It's not hard for him out here anymore. He loves practice. That's the key to being a great player."

[kastofsna]

i would certainly hope the Texans didn't take a player #1 overall for 2 games a season.

[Texans_Chick]

AP article.

Actually, Mario Williams had a lot to do with the Texans win last year.

The Texans had a hard time slowing down the Colts offense, but IIRC, Mario was responsible for a fumble recovery as the Colts were driving. In a game decided by a last second field goal, I figure that has something to do with that victory.

Oh well, pesky details.

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by kastofsna

i would certainly hope the Texans didn't take a player #1 overall for 2 games a season.

Well duh.

If you can disrupt Peyton Manning, you can pretty much disrupt anybody in the league. And if you can't beat Manning, well then you ain't likely getting out of the AFC South any time soon.

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

Well duh.

If you can disrupt Peyton Manning, you can pretty much disrupt anybody in the league. And if you can't beat Manning, well then you ain't likely getting out of the AFC South any time soon.

Unless there is a drastic change in the division, if the Texans are able to thrive in the AFC South then they will be a darn good football team capable of doing somethings in the playoffs.

[Wolf]

Indy star article

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...2210370&theme=

Mario Williams kept conference-call answers brief a day after being passed over for the Pro Bowl.


"I'm pretty much not worried about it," said the Houston Texans defensive end and 2006 No. 1 overall draft pick, whose 13 sacks rank second in the NFL. "I thought it was more of a production thing, but obviously that's not the case.
"I was criticized so much last year about how many sacks I had, things like that, and then I come out and I have 13 sacks now and it's like no big deal."
The draft selection of Williams and his rookie output of 41/2 sacks prompted fan outcry about why the rebuilding franchise didn't choose Texas quarterback Vince Young or USC running back Reggie Bush.
A year later, Williams is coming on with a vengeance as he prepares for Sunday's game in Indianapolis. Dubbed "Super Mario," the right end has nine sacks in the past five games, including a dominating 31/2-sack effort the last start against Denver.
Meanwhile, Bush put up so-so numbers for New Orleans before he was sidelined this season by a knee injury, and Young has been an inconsistent passer at best for Tennessee.
The Texans appear to have chosen wisely.
"I said that last year when he got picked," Colts coach Tony Dungy said of Williams. "I remember Joe Greene wasn't a real popular pick (with Pittsburgh in 1969). There were a lot of offensive players that people wanted to be taken, and Joe didn't have a national presence at that time."

[Scooter]

that's some decent praise when tony dungy compares you to joe greene and dwight freeney.

[tulexan]

Dungy has always been really high on Mario and it wouldn't surprise me if the Colts were one of the teams that had Mario at the top of the draft board.

[Dread-Head]

If Indy DOES win this one. They will have earned it.

[joedinkle]

From the sound of it, Mario is really pissed, and I think it will reflect in his play. Expect another 2+ sack performance. If not, I expect him to rattle Peyton all day. Yes, I know it's Peyton, but I have a feeling Mario is gonna play angry.

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by tulexan

Dungy has always been really high on Mario and it wouldn't surprise me if the Colts were one of the teams that had Mario at the top of the draft board.

thats an astute observation

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by tulexan

Dungy has always been really high on Mario and it wouldn't surprise me if the Colts were one of the teams that had Mario at the top of the draft board.

Well we all know Bill Parsells and his team at the time,the Dallas Cowboys, had
Mario at the top of their Board because Parsells said so himself on ESPN earlier
this year in September.

[powerfuldragon]

Originally Posted by kastofsna

i would certainly hope the Texans didn't take a player #1 overall for 2 games a season.

your logic is sound, but it doesn't let mario off the hook. the fact is, he needs to figure out that colts o-line.

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Well we all know Bill Parsells and his team at the time,the Dallas Cowboys, had
Mario at the top of their Board because Parsells said so himself on ESPN earlier
this year in September.

In fact, I heard Parcells say this several times around these parts even before that. Of course, this could have turned into a Bill and Jerry battle as I am not sure that Jerry could have passed on the marketing aspects of Bush or Young.