SI article on Mario Williams

[hdbn]

Thought you guys might be interested in this article.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?eref=T1

[kravix]

MW FTW!!! I cant wait to see him blow up backfields this year. The end of last year he was insanely better at rushing, some of that has to be credited to Amobi and TJ getting decent pressure too. He has always been good against the run to, which IMO is underatted for a every down pass rusher (see Freeney).

At the bottom it talks about Roy Williams sucking in coverage. Makes you think maybe our new CB might be ok.

[JWarren14]

All good news on the Mario front this year, although I would like his inspiration to be the first winning season in team history and the playoffs. I am fine with him being motivated period. Any guess on sack totals and who the "Texans Official" was? Im guessing 18 sacks and the Kubster as the official. I am excited about the dlines potential, I hope someone steps up on the opposite side of Mario.

[TexansFanatic]

Who would have thought, two drafts ago, that we'd be sitting here today with the conventional wisdom being that Mario Williams is on the verge of being the preeminent pass rusher in the NFL?

The story surrounding Mario/Reggie/Vince is rapidly becoming a nice chunk of sports folklore for the ages in which the once lowly Texans made the right call in the face of all public ridicule and fan outcry. As a longtime Houston sports fan, I, for one, am extremely satisfied with that.

[HJam72]

I still want Reggie.

Actually, all I really wanted to do at the time was trade down, but I can honestly say that I'm glad we didn't/couldn't (whatever).

[GuerillaBlack]

With his confidence buoyed, Williams has started to combine his freakish athleticism with a solid set of rush moves to wear out tackles on the edge. His consistency is also improving and he appears to be on the verge of becoming one of the game's top pass rushers. "Players typically make their biggest improvement from their first to second year," said the Texans' official. "But Mario's injury hampered his rookie season, so we are expecting him to make that jump this year."

Damn.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by HJam72

I still want Reggie.

Actually, all I really wanted to do at the time was trade down, but I can honestly say that I'm glad we didn't/couldn't (whatever).

I'll bet after another year like last year, the Saints'll let you have him.

[Maddict5]

nice to read but not accurate at all..

mario isnt motivated by the PB snub..(see any and all of his interviews on the matter). the same way he isnt motivated by reggie/vince etc. he always maintains his motivation comes from within himself trying to play up to what he, his teammates and the coaches expect of him. plus hes a worker. worker + talent = success

bucky obviously heard he looked great in mini-camp and assumed it was because of the snub, whereas we all know hes been that way for months (as kubiak has stated)

[GuerillaBlack]

You don't think he is even a little motivated at the Pro Bowl snub?

[alphajoker]

Originally Posted by Maddict5

nice to read but not accurate at all..

mario isnt motivated by the PB snub..(see any and all of his interviews on the matter). the same way he isnt motivated by reggie/vince etc. he always maintains his motivation comes from within himself trying to play up to what he, his teammates and the coaches expect of him. plus hes a worker. worker + talent = success

bucky obviously heard he looked great in mini-camp and assumed it was because of the snub, whereas we all know hes been that way for months (as kubiak has stated)

Or known to Sports Illustrated as the Texans official...lame. Why don't they just write that it was Kubiak?

[mussop]

Originally Posted by JWarren14

I am excited about the dlines potential, I hope someone steps up on the opposite side of Mario.

Call me a homer if you will (not that there is anything wrong with that) but I think DE opposite MW will be just fine this year. A healthy Weaver, Kalu, Chaud Thompson and my favorite for the position Earl Cochran wont be as big a weakness as many here believe.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by TexMexVato

Or known to Sports Illustrated as the Texans official...lame. Why don't they just write that it was Kubiak?

That's what I was wondering. Kubiak said all of that.

[DiehardChris]

Mario's my favorite Texan by far, mainly because of how he pushed through all the negativity surrounding his selection, and has never once said "I told you so" or been a jerk about it. I think that's a measure of how mature he has become, and I love that IF he does use the PB snub and the selection controversy as motivation - he keeps it burning quietly inside, but takes it out on the poor saps who play him on game day.

That guy has a fire that a lot of people didn't think he had. I can't wait to see him tear it up this year.

[Tulip]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

You don't think he is even a little motivated at the Pro Bowl snub?

Given his hula dance after one of his Denver game sacks, I'd say yes, he is partly motivated by the snub.

[IlliniJen]

Originally Posted by Tulip

Given his hula dance after one of his Denver game sacks, I'd say yes, he is partly motivated by the snub.

If Mario is motivated because he's a worker, that's super. But if he's extra motivated by the PB snub and he's just a wee bit nastier this season...GREAT! I don't think a little bit of extra motivation hurts at all. I think Mario just doesn't jaw jack about that kind of stuff, which makes him all the more appealing as a team leader. Get out there and get the job done.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by TexansFanatic

The story surrounding Mario/Reggie/Vince is rapidly becoming a nice chunk of sports folklore for the ages in which the once lowly Texans made the right call in the face of all public ridicule and fan outcry. As a longtime Houston sports fan, I, for one, am extremely satisfied with that.

That's so true. Maybe the media won't be so quick to speak in definites about things they don't know as much about?... naw, that'll never happen.

What's crazy is that ESPN ranked the pick of Mario as one of the Top 10 draft blunders of all time. Don't remember when, but I think it was after the '06 season. I understand how 'unpopular' the pick was, but to be towards the top of an 'all time' list seems very very premature.

They really really look like complete idiots now. I wish I was good at putting video clips together, because I definitely think someone needs to add on youtube a video of TONS of material from Kiper, ESPN, other analysts, etc that were so vocal about how horrible this pick was. They need to bear some responsibility.. cuz Mario is being talked about as one of the BEST DE's in the entire league after only two years of play as opposed to being one of the best RB's ever in NFL history before he played a down...and subsequently looks very mediocre (not bad... but normal).

[TexanAddict]

I frankly don't care what is motivating Mario, be it the snub, his his pride, or the voices in his head that tell him opposing QBs are evil and must be destroyed. If he enters the season hungry, I'm happy.

[Maddict5]

i think this is the defining article of the '06 draft (its the one i always remember anyway).. i looked for the thread on it but i couldnt find it, bill simmons writes in a controversial style on purpose and hasnt been afraid to give the texans props for the decision in the meantime (or admit his other mistakes- frequently calling himself an id1ot)..

but fatass is a supposed 'respected' writer. respected writers dont write emotional/reactive pieces before anybody knows the outcome. has he even apologised for that crap like others have?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft0...len&id=2426087

Snubbing Bush a Texans-size blunder

Ladies and gentlemen, your Houston Texans, an outfit that might do better were Mr. Magoo executing its lottery selections. Hand out the darts, folks, and take cover

Some teams try to exercise foresight with such threshold football decisions. Houston, on the other hand, apparently makes them blindfolded.

Maybe the Texans, who haven't had many answers for anything else in their first four seasons, actually have one for that query.

Yeah, right.

When you are as a team as bad as the Texans have been, you need to make solid football decisions, and eschewing a playmaker such as Bush, who will have an immediate impact on the league, in favor of a guy still in his gestation period is a dubious call at best.

[HJam72]

I thought when he did the hula in Denver he was still trying to make the Pro Bowl team. I think Mario gets motivation from everything he can, but doesn't run his mouth about it. If Mario does turn into the player and person he's supposed to be--and all indications are that he will--he will surely be worthy of respect.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by HJam72

I thought when he did the hula in Denver he was still trying to make the Pro Bowl team. I think Mario gets motivation from everything he can, but doesn't run his mouth about it. If Mario does turn into the player and person he's supposed to be--and all indications are that he will--he will surely be worthy of respect.

They hadn't announced who was going but the voting was closed at the time from what I remember. I could be wrong but I think that's how it went.