Texans & Draft Choices (ESPN)

[Kimmy]

Nice picture of Cushing on the ESPN NFL homepage and an interesting story about draft picks, pointing out the GOOD ones Houston has made.

ESPN Draft Story

Immediate contributions: Drop Brian Cushing in the lineup at the start and you can get 18 tackles in his first two games. Drop Eugene Monroe into an opener at Indianapolis and you get big quarterback pressure on the game’s crucial snap from Dwight Freeney.

and

The Texans could have had Patrick Willis at No. 10 in 2007. I don’t know how they rated a player who’s turned out to be spectacular, but they went with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye there instead of Willis and with good reason -- they drafted another middle linebacker they loved, DeMeco Ryans, in the second round a year earlier.

[ObsiWan]

This was my favorite part of the piece...

Batting averages: Drafting is a very inexact science. The best scouts in the business have a laundry list of players they miscalculated or projected poorly on their résumés. Crystal balls don’t come with guarantees and are non-refundable.

Too many fans seem to expect a team with seven draft picks will find long-term starters in the fourth, fifth, sixth and even seventh rounds. It’s hard to talk draft batting averages because we’re talking about a target that moves more than any breaking ball. A first-round hit is different than a fourth-round hit is different than a sixth-round hit.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Our batting ave on DT and DE hasn't been so hot. We've picked 7 DTs and 4 DEs, with 2 of each picked in the 1st round. Mario's been our only satisfactory investment in the bunch.

[JB]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Our batting ave on DT and DE hasn't been so hot. We've picked 7 DTs and 4 DTs, with 2 of each picked in the 1st round. Mario's been our only satisfactory investment in the bunch.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Our batting ave on DT and DE hasn't been so hot. We've picked 7 DTs and 4 DTs, with 2 of each picked in the 1st round. Mario's been our only satisfactory investment in the bunch.

If you are counting Barwin, give him some time. He flashed some good stuff last year and put up 6 sacks in limited duty. I think he transforms into a starter opposite Mario this year.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Our batting ave on DT and DE hasn't been so hot. We've picked 7 DTs and 4 DTs, with 2 of each picked in the 1st round. Mario's been our only satisfactory investment in the bunch.

Typo. He meant 7DTs and 4DEs
DTs: Charles Hill, Amobi, TJ, Howard Green, Ahmad Miller,Keith Wright, Frank Okam
DE:Mario, Barwin, Greg White, Babin

Sadly Amobi, Okam, mario, and barwin are the only ones still on the team. Okam is hanging on by a thread and Amobi may get replaced.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

Our batting ave on DT and DE hasn't been so hot. We've picked 7 DTs and 4 DTs, with 2 of each picked in the 1st round. Mario's been our only satisfactory investment in the bunch.

Satisfactory sure but that's being kind to him as a overall number one selection. Don't misunderstand... I'm happy we took Mario. I just think his production should be a bit more problematic for opposing teams considering where he was taken.

I think there's been a lot of hype surrounding Mario Wìlliams in light of Vince Young and Reggie Bush's struggles. He's been dubbed Super Mario but has he really earned that title yet? I'm not so sure...

I don't think Mario Williams is as feared as we think he is.

[JB]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

Satisfactory sure but that's being kind to him as a overall number one selection. Don't misunderstand... I'm happy we took Mario. I just think his production should be a bit more problematic for opposing teams considering where he was taken.

I think there's been a lot of hype surrounding Mario Wìlliams in light of Vince Young and Reggie Bush's struggles. He's been dubbed Super Mario but has he really earned that title yet? I'm not so sure...

I don't think Mario Williams is as feared as we think he is.

Scouts Inc. has Mario as the #2 DE.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/featu...ng?position=31

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by JB

Fixed my original post.

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by JB

Scouts Inc. has Mario as the #2 DE.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/featu...ng?position=31

So? ESPN's a hype machine is it not? I do not subscribe to insider.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

Satisfactory sure but that's being kind to him as a overall number one selection. Don't misunderstand... I'm happy we took Mario. I just think his production should be a bit more problematic for opposing teams considering where he was taken.

I think there's been a lot of hype surrounding Mario Wìlliams in light of Vince Young and Reggie Bush's struggles. He's been dubbed Super Mario but has he really earned that title yet? I'm not so sure...

I don't think Mario Williams is as feared as we think he is.

4.5 sacks rookie year with plantar f.
14 sacks in 2nd year
12 sacks in 3rd year
9 sacks last year

While the numbers went down remember that he had Barwin notching 6 sacks, Cushing getting 5 from the Sam, Smith with 4.5, Zgonia had 2.5, Okoye 1.5, Pollard 1.5, Meco 1.0, and Cody 0.5. So Mario had 9/29 or 31% of the Texans sacks.


In 2009 he had 9/29 or 31% of the sack total.
In 2008 he had 12/25 or 48% of the sack total.
In 2007 he had 14/31 or 45% of the sack total.
In 2006 he had 4.5/28 or 11% of the sack total when injured.

He is still dominant, its is just that he is getting more help these days.



Thats 11.6 per year when he has been healthy. That's a pretty good clip! Plus remember now that Barwin and

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by awtysst

4.5 sacks rookie year with plantar f.
14 sacks in 2nd year
12 sacks in 3rd year
9 sacks last year

While the numbers went down remember that he had Barwin notching 6 sacks, Cushing getting 5 from the Sam, Smith with 4.5, Zgonia had 2.5, Okoye 1.5, Pollard 1.5, Meco 1.0, and Cody 0.5. So Mario had 9/29 or 31% of the Texans sacks.


In 2009 he had 9/29 or 31% of the sack total.
In 2008 he had 12/25 or 48% of the sack total.
In 2007 he had 14/31 or 45% of the sack total.
In 2006 he had 4.5/28 or 11% of the sack total when injured.

He is still dominant, its is just that he is getting more help these days.



Thats 11.6 per year when he has been healthy. That's a pretty good clip! Plus remember now that Barwin and

I don't think you finished your post...

I think opponents fear Osi Unmeniora far more than Super Mario. I never said Mario wasn't dominant. I think he IS. I simply think he's being overhyped because of the failures of the next two picks. I've seen more motor from Connor Barwin than I have from Super Mario.

Basically, the more sacks others get, the more pedestrian Mario looks...

[DocBar]

I think it's kind of telling that when we went for need over BPA, we didn't do so hot. I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

[LonerATO]

I hope Barwin can secure the LDE and just have Smith move into the tackle position.

[IDEXAN]

The problem area is DT, not DE. And don't include Babin, he was drafted to play LB not DE.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

The problem area is DT, not DE. And don't include Babin, he was drafted to play LB not DE.

OLB in a 3-4 is basically the same thing as a DE in a 4-3.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by awtysst

OLB in a 3-4 is basically the same thing as a DE in a 4-3.

Both positions serve the function as the primary edge-rusher in passing situations for their respective defenses, but after that there's far more differences than similarities. After all the DE plays with his "hand in the dirt" as all Dlinemen do while while the OLB doesn't because he's a LB.

[El Tejano]

Isn't Mario entering a contract year this year? If so, watch out!!!

[CloakNNNdagger]

Babin faired even worse after he left Houston......with seattle, KC and Philly.

Hope he enjoys "continued success" now with the Tacks.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by NitroHonda

Satisfactory sure but that's being kind to him as a overall number one selection. Don't misunderstand... I'm happy we took Mario. I just think his production should be a bit more problematic for opposing teams considering where he was taken.

I think there's been a lot of hype surrounding Mario Wìlliams in light of Vince Young and Reggie Bush's struggles. He's been dubbed Super Mario but has he really earned that title yet? I'm not so sure...

I don't think Mario Williams is as feared as we think he is.

Sometimes you're your own worst critic. Folks outside of Texans fandom say Texans fan are harder on Mario than we should be. Opposing coaches laud our defensive line as one of the most talented in the league.

Mario's one of the best DE in the league. Hell, he had 9 sacks last season and the fanbase is down on him like he quit on the team.

Go post on LZ's blog and ask him how much planning his dad did for Mario. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the answer.