breaking-down-mario-williams-at-lb

[srrono]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/27994/breaking-down-mario-williams-at-lb

Breaking down Mario Williams at LB
September, 13, 2011
Comments By Paul Kuharsky
Mario Williams has a lot riding on his first season as an outside linebacker in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense.

When the Texans extended three contracts this summer to make salary-cap room for their free-agent additions, Williams was not one of them. Even though he’s heading into the final year of his initial NFL deal. Even though he’s regarded as a pass-rushing terror when healthy.

WilliamsThan means they wanted to wait and see on Williams

Game 1 brought two sacks and an excellent effort.

Jim Trotter monitored Williams closely Sunday, and said he dropped into coverage just twice in his 44 snaps. (I was there afterward when Williams showed a semi-selective memory and said he hadn’t dropped at all.)

Writes Trotter of Williams:

One of his sacks came with his hand down, the other with his hand off the ground. Overall, he played upright on 24 plays and appeared to drop into a three-point stance only when the Texans went to their nickel or dime sub packages. Phillips also moved him around, aligning 31 times on the left and 13 on the right.

Also of note in the piece: Williams had surgeries on both groins during the offseason. I’m not sure if we knew that.

 

[Vinny]

I liked what I saw from Williams on Sunday. That said, someone is going to have to cover if Mario doesn't. Those responsibilities are going to go to the inside linebackers in conventional sets (no nicks, dimes, etc...). Generally speaking, 3-4 inside backers aren't the best choices to take on explosive backs out of the backfield. I can see DeMeco and Cushing getting abused down the road.

 

[prostock101]

Wasn't he listed on the injury report with a "groin"? And was he listed because he is still recovering from surgery or is it different?

 

[Ole Miss Texan]

Wasn't he listed on the injury report with a "groin"? And was he listed because he is still recovering from surgery or is it different?

I don't know... but which groin was it?

 

[GlassHalfFull]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/27994/breaking-down-mario-williams-at-lb



Also of note in the piece: Williams had surgeries on both groins during the offseason. I’m not sure if we knew that.

What do they operate on in the groin? Sounds painful.

 

[run-david-run]

The thing that stood out most to me about Mario Sunday was how well he used his hands. He was constantly beating linemen (and abusing Clark) with his swim move, knocking their hands away before they could touch him. I can't remember him doing that as well in previous years.

Here's to real coaching, i guess.

 

[Playoffs]

What do they operate on in the groin? Sounds painful.

Need clarification from Dr. Cloak?

 

[ESAD2-14]

What do they operate on in the groin? Sounds painful.

The Groin.


CnD would probably be able to say better then I, gonna guess a muscle issue perhaps.

 

[hradhak]

The Groin.


CnD would probably be able to say better then I, gonna guess a muscle issue perhaps.

He had bilateral hernia repairs. The recurrence rate is pretty low ~1-2% with a mesh repair. My guess is he probably pulled his groin (muscle) rather than the hernias being the problem.

 

[Double Barrel]

I liked what I saw from Williams on Sunday. That said, someone is going to have to cover if Mario doesn't. Those responsibilities are going to go to the inside linebackers in conventional sets (no nicks, dimes, etc...). Generally speaking, 3-4 inside backers aren't the best choices to take on explosive backs out of the backfield. I can see DeMeco and Cushing getting abused down the road.

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

As far as Mario, I liked a lot of what I saw against the Colts. Granted, he blew by their TE, which is not a lineman, but with Watt and/or Smith on the line, they might not be able to double Mario as much this year. I think that could potential bode well for his season.

 

[Big Lou]

I don't know... but which groin was it?

I never knew I have two groins. Learn something new everyday.

 

[Big Lou]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

As far as Mario, I liked a lot of what I saw against the Colts. Granted, he blew by their TE, which is not a lineman, but with Watt and/or Smith on the line, they might not be able to double Mario as much this year. I think that could potential bode well for his season.

I'm hoping that we had our ears pinned back to go after Collins, and the strategy was to let'em have whatever they got from the run. Plus I feel like after two early fumbles in Colts territory followed by several quick scores who cares about a 5 yard run, give it to them till time expires because it chews up a lot of clock. You never see the two minute offense running the ball 10 out of 10 plays. Know what I mean.

 

[prostock101]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

As far as Mario, I liked a lot of what I saw against the Colts. Granted, he blew by their TE, which is not a lineman, but with Watt and/or Smith on the line, they might not be able to double Mario as much this year. I think that could potential bode well for his season.

We already have two Pro Bowl guys playin' inside. If we're vulnerable, what could we do different?

 

[Vinny]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

As far as Mario, I liked a lot of what I saw against the Colts. Granted, he blew by their TE, which is not a lineman, but with Watt and/or Smith on the line, they might not be able to double Mario as much this year. I think that could potential bode well for his season.

I think we may struggle against the run, but Wade hasn't installed his whole package yet, so this is a work in progress. I think we get pushed around in the middle of the field too much in any case. Cushing has looked slow to me, but he flashed a few times last weekend. Next week, we get a Dolphin team that has gotten away from a two back system and is in more of a spread. I think they will try to isolate the backs on our inside linebackers in our base set moreso than trying to run the ball down our throat. I like the look of our nick, dime packages so far...but that was Kerry Collins. I think it is a good thing we face Henne in a new offense, since we are pretty much in the same boat defensively, grasping a new identity.

You can't double Watt, Smith and Mario with 5 linemen, so I'm not too worried about the pass rush. Barwin and Cody are the weak links right now, but as a group, it's as talented as any (pass rush group) in the league if Watt keeps his play up. Barwin is still unproven in my eyes still, but I didn't see much to complain about last Sunday.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

Came across this very complimentary article in USA TODAY.

NFL Replay: Texans' Williams excels in new role
By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY

HOUSTON — Go ahead, give yourself a grade.

"I feel like I was probably a B or something," Mario Williams surmised late Sunday afternoon, after his smashing performance helped the new-look Houston Texans defense dismantle a Peyton-less Indianapolis unit during a season-opening 34-7 rout.

"There were a few missed sacks out there. The play before their touchdown, I definitely should've had him. That hurts. When we watch it on film, it'll be one of those things where I can't get a break. I should've had that one under my belt."

It is still about sacks, pressures, disruptions and any other measures of hitting the quarterback for Williams, transitioning from all-pro defensive end to play-making outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense that new coordinator Wade Phillips has installed.

Williams, a two-time Pro Bowl pick at end since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2006, passed his first real-game test as a linebacker with flying colors illuminated by two sacks, a forced fumble, two additional quarterback hits and a tackle for a loss. He also chased down battered fill-in Kerry Collins on another play that drew an intentional grounding penalty.

"I felt a lot more comfortable," he said of finally playing a full game in his new role.

If that was a B, imagine how devastating the game will be that earns an A-plus grade.

"It's a team game, but he made some individual plays, like we hoped he would," Phillips said of Sunday's showing, wearing a huge grin in the middle of the locker room. "That first sack of the ballgame (which extinguished the Colts' first drive) was a very big play. It set the tone. They couldn't stand there and hold the ball."

When Phillips, the former Dallas Cowboys coach, was hired in January to fix a defense that ranked 30th in 2010 (32nd against the pass), moving Williams into the type of role that DeMarcus Ware has flourished in with the Cowboys was one of his first signature moves. That instantly made Williams, 6-7, 285, the NFL's biggest linebacker. It prompted many questions about whether Williams was versatile enough to make the switch.

Williams' first thought of Phillips' arrival with his 3-4 scheme?

"Opportunity," he says. "I'm definitely going to drop sometimes. That's just what linebackers do. But at the same time, I know what he's done before with other players. He's going to put me in that position to make plays."

Neither Williams or Phillips recalled a single case in Sunday's game where the giant linebacker dropped in coverage. The mission, which included a few snaps at end in 4-3 alignments, was clearly to rush and pursue the run. Although the Colts were burned by mismatches that sometimes left tight end Dallas Clark trying to block Williams' outside rush from the 3-4, don't expect to see Williams trying to cover many tight ends or running backs on pass routes in open space.

"I'm not stupid," Phillips said.

Referring to critics, he added, "They keep thinking that. But that's not what we do."

Still, this switch has forced a new approach with growing pains, as Williams tries to become fluid in exploding from a stand-up alignment rather than a three-point stance.

Williams says that he didn't shed any pounds because of his new role, but has had to make a key physical adjustment with his long, lean frame: more stretching.

"The biggest thing for somebody 6-7, 285, is leverage," he says. "When it goes to getting off properly with stance and technique, it takes being flexible and bending."

It also takes avoiding what he calls the "false steps" that slow acceleration. Barely noticeable to casual observers, that's been a nagging issue throughout the transition as Williams has had too many cases where he wasted a step at the snap. It even happened a couple of times on Sunday, which he blamed on anxiety.

"When you're in a two-point stance, a lot of times guys pick up their front foot before they even move," he said. "So basically, you just stepped underneath yourself. That's what I don't want to do. That's half of my step, taking one step back, then stepping forward. That's one of those things I definitely have to work on every day in practice. It's just something that comes along with reps.

"A split-second," he added, "is the difference between a sack and a non-sack."

The progress, though, was evident with his fast, furious rush on Collins.

"Until a week-and-a-half ago, he was having problems with that," Phillips said. "He's done better and better in this. That's what he does from a three-point stance. He gets off the ball quick. If he can do it from a two-point stance, he's a little closer to the football."

Which can't be a good thing for opposing quarterbacks.

 

[Rey]

If the defense starts giving up big chunks on runs then I'll be worried. This is a passing league and even run oriented teams air it out quite a bit.

5 ypc is not good, but teams are going to throw it. And when they do we have to make plays. With the way the league is built I'd much rather have an avg or slightly below avg run d and phenomenal passing defense.

If they can become great at both that's be cool too

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

He had bilateral hernia repairs. The recurrence rate is pretty low ~1-2% with a mesh repair. My guess is he probably pulled his groin (muscle) rather than the hernias being the problem.

hradhak is correct........sports hernias. As I posted in the pre Colts injury thread, it is most likely that the "groin" problem is probably related to a condition that is very closely associated with sports hernias.........nearby adductor tendon inflammation which can cause the adductor muscle to spasm/shorten and subsequently be strained/torn with sudden stretch.

In some cases of sports hernia, pain in the inner thigh continues after surgery. An additional surgery, called adductor tenotomy, may be recommended to address this pain. In this procedure, the tendon that attaches the inner thigh muscles to the pubis is cut. The tendon will heal at a greater length, releasing tension and giving the player a greater range of motion, thus allowing relief of pain. I should mention that some surgeons will empirically release the adductor at the time of the sports hernia rather wait for the inflammatory changes to resolve.......and find out that it won't.




Note the proximity of the sports hernia "zone of disruption" (adjacent to the pubic bone) with the anatomic insertion site of the adductor tendon into the pubic bone. This area commonly demonstrates overlapping inflammation.:

 

[76Texan]

If the defense starts giving up big chunks on runs then I'll be worried. This is a passing league and even run oriented teams air it out quite a bit.

5 ypc is not good, but teams are going to throw it. And when they do we have to make plays. With the way the league is built I'd much rather have an avg or slightly below avg run d and phenomenal passing defense.

If they can become great at both that's be cool too

OK, so Addai was 8 for 39 and Carter was 7 for 25.

Let me try to see if I can put the run D in a litte better perspective.

Right off the bat, I can say that Addai had a run for minus one (toward the sideline) tackled by Cushing.
The Texans accepted a holding penalty to make it 1 and 20 instead, so there was no play.
Just that one play would change it to 9 for 38 for just over 4yd ave.
That's a little better.

Next, it looks to me that Addai's first run for 11 yards was due to Watt. He kinda lost his balance for a tad after he had beaten his man and was free to prevent the cut back. The D-line had closed up all the gaps.

The 13yd run was a run left where Addai somehow squirted through Barwin, Jamison (and their blockers).

A 7yd run by Addai was a mis-tackle by Demeco at the LOS.

The last two plays were meant to show that the interior was not a problem in this game.
The other guys had fulfilled their gap assignments.
In fact, on Addai's 7yd run, it was Watt that somehow got through big bodies to come back and made the tackle.

....
As noted above, Carter was 7 for 25.
But he had two runs (for 8 and 2) at the end of the half where the Texans simply played back to prevent the pass.

...

BTW, thanks for the link, CNND!

 

[dinkatoid]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

We definitely will still have some struggles on D, as a full conversion to a 3-4 is virtually impossible in 1 season. I have no doubt phillips can make this d decent, but you don't become great overnight. That being said, I think this is where it helps to have a great offense. Sure, they might be able to run up the middle, but that takes a lot of time. If we can put up a lot of points, they will not be able to just sit back and run.

This is kinda how Indy was built (though Indy can't run well and I hate their d, but I think this was the design anyway.) Get a quick lead and force them to play into your strengths.

 

[GP]

The thing that stood out most to me about Mario Sunday was how well he used his hands. He was constantly beating linemen (and abusing Clark) with his swim move, knocking their hands away before they could touch him. I can't remember him doing that as well in previous years.

Here's to real coaching, i guess.

I saw the same thing. He's been using great hand-fighting techniques right off the snap of the football, and it allows him to get up the field and into making moves on the blocker.

In the past, he just ran up to the guy and would engage with the blocker and try to shed the blocker away.

 

[Tango]

Came across this very complimentary article in USA TODAY.

NFL Replay: Texans' Williams excels in new role
By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY

Good fine Doc. He's growing before our eyes.

 

[House of Pain]

I saw the same thing. He's been using great hand-fighting techniques right off the snap of the football, and it allows him to get up the field and into making moves on the blocker.

In the past, he just ran up to the guy and would engage with the blocker and try to shed the blocker away.

Does anyone else feel a lack of development of the D until this year? I mean I can only speak for myself, but the defense looks like they are all on the same page and know EXACTLY what needs to be done. Wade Phillips has accomplished this feat in 3 MONTHS. WTF?!?!?

How could Kubiak see how underdeveloped his D was and not give a crap? (Lucky has said this in other threads) It's a real shame that Smithiak wasted a portion of their careers because of their buddy-buddy crap.

 

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Does anyone else feel a lack of development of the D until this year? I mean I can only speak for myself, but the defense looks like they are all on the same page and know EXACTLY what needs to be done. Wade Phillips has accomplished this feat in 3 MONTHS. WTF?!?!?

How could Kubiak see how underdeveloped his D was and not give a crap? (Lucky has said this in other threads) It's a real shame that Smithiak wasted a portion of their careers because of their buddy-buddy crap.

About 2 months and our D will get better every reps they get. Can you imagine how our D will be by mid-late this season? Oh how I missed the House of Pain.

Go Texans!!!

 

[Texan_Bill]

I never knew I have two groins. Learn something new everyday.

Yup. One each side. The groin muscles are right at the bend of the leg and your torso in towards your nether regions, therefore you have two.

 

[hadaad]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

I don't want to say this and jinx things, I also don't want to take any pages from our division rivals, but if we're of the mindset that teams will be playing catch-up with our offense being as good as I hope it is, I'm thinking that we'll be geared more toward stopping the pass. I don't want us to be as laughably bad against the run as the Colts, but if teams are down 7 or 14 early, then they'll be more likely to abandon the run game first.

I'm far more concerned by the turnovers on the offense than our run defense.

 

[BigBull17]

I know it's just one game, but did it look like power rushing teams could have a field day with our D? The 3-4 is already vulnerable to the power game, especially up the middle. It concerns me that a 4-5 yard average could be had against us with our current personnel. Thoughts?

As far as Mario, I liked a lot of what I saw against the Colts. Granted, he blew by their TE, which is not a lineman, but with Watt and/or Smith on the line, they might not be able to double Mario as much this year. I think that could potential bode well for his season.

He also had 6 hurries and QB hits as well. I dare say all of them werent against Dallas Clark. The grounding would have been one too. Also, I dont care who the sacks are against. If he gets 16, I'm not gonna pick them apart. Not saying you are, but some will.

I don't want to say this and jinx things, I also don't want to take any pages from our division rivals, but if we're of the mindset that teams will be playing catch-up with our offense being as good as I hope it is, I'm thinking that we'll be geared more toward stopping the pass. I don't want us to be as laughably bad against the run as the Colts, but if teams are down 7 or 14 early, then they'll be more likely to abandon the run game first.

I'm far more concerned by the turnovers on the offense than our run defense.

It's a passing leauge. I would much rather be able to hang with a passing game. Drew Breese had 400 yards passing and he may be 4th in the NFL after one week. 4 guys had 400+ yards. Fitzpatrick may have had they not butt sexed KC.

 

[Double Barrel]

I'm hoping that we had our ears pinned back to go after Collins, and the strategy was to let'em have whatever they got from the run. Plus I feel like after two early fumbles in Colts territory followed by several quick scores who cares about a 5 yard run, give it to them till time expires because it chews up a lot of clock. You never see the two minute offense running the ball 10 out of 10 plays. Know what I mean.

yeah, no doubt the plan was to go after Collins with ears pinned back. Dude is a statue, and obvious with his current 0-8 record against Wade's D over the years.

I'm not complaining. We will see more pocket QBs than mobile ones, so I'm liking the thought of having a D that can pin it's ears back and attack.

We already have two Pro Bowl guys playin' inside. If we're vulnerable, what could we do different?

That's what I'm curious about. I'm not criticizing by any means. It's the first game, lots to work out, and it's going to be a lot of fun this year seeing the new scheme gel. I think with the talent and Wade's ability to disguise and mix it up, it's going to be a serious challenge for any opposing offense. I'm really excited about the aggressiveness they show out there!

I think we may struggle against the run, but Wade hasn't installed his whole package yet, so this is a work in progress. I think we get pushed around in the middle of the field too much in any case. Cushing has looked slow to me, but he flashed a few times last weekend. Next week, we get a Dolphin team that has gotten away from a two back system and is in more of a spread. I think they will try to isolate the backs on our inside linebackers in our base set moreso than trying to run the ball down our throat. I like the look of our nick, dime packages so far...but that was Kerry Collins. I think it is a good thing we face Henne in a new offense, since we are pretty much in the same boat defensively, grasping a new identity.

You can't double Watt, Smith and Mario with 5 linemen, so I'm not too worried about the pass rush. Barwin and Cody are the weak links right now, but as a group, it's as talented as any (pass rush group) in the league if Watt keeps his play up. Barwin is still unproven in my eyes still, but I didn't see much to complain about last Sunday.

I'm really excited about this pass rush. If the Texans can consistently put up points early, it'll play to the strength of the passing defense by forcing teams to play catch up. The Colts D is built around this style. I'm really stoked about Watt. I think that dude has the potential to be a major force in this D. The kind of player whose greatness radiates out to his teammates. I'm drinkin' some JJ koolaide, but what the heck, y'know. Gotta' believe sometime!

My thoughts on our run D was more specific to the power teams, like the Steelers or Ravens. And just something to chat about other than fan v fan stuff, too. We won't see many power teams this year, so it's more food for thought than criticism or debate.

If the defense starts giving up big chunks on runs then I'll be worried. This is a passing league and even run oriented teams air it out quite a bit.

5 ypc is not good, but teams are going to throw it. And when they do we have to make plays. With the way the league is built I'd much rather have an avg or slightly below avg run d and phenomenal passing defense.

If they can become great at both that's be cool too

I agree completely. I hate seeing them get burned on pass plays. It's excruciating, and we saw it too often last year. Mark friggin' Sanchez?!! aaaurghh!

Definitely give me a strong passing D if I had to have only one. Both, though, is what this fan's dreams are made of. I'd probably have to figure out a way to get season tickets just to be a part of that home-field advantage. That's when the effort of fans really matters. All starts with the D!

We definitely will still have some struggles on D, as a full conversion to a 3-4 is virtually impossible in 1 season. I have no doubt phillips can make this d decent, but you don't become great overnight. That being said, I think this is where it helps to have a great offense. Sure, they might be able to run up the middle, but that takes a lot of time. If we can put up a lot of points, they will not be able to just sit back and run.

This is kinda how Indy was built (though Indy can't run well and I hate their d, but I think this was the design anyway.) Get a quick lead and force them to play into your strengths.

yep. I didn't mean to repeat your point about Indy, but it's so true. That whole team, both sides of the ball, was built around Manning.

I think a defense that can hold leads and even get the ball back with aggressive turnovers can really fire up an offensive unit, as well. They play off of each other, and it's rare to see a playoff caliber team that does not have a solid unit on both sides of the ball.

I don't want to say this and jinx things, I also don't want to take any pages from our division rivals, but if we're of the mindset that teams will be playing catch-up with our offense being as good as I hope it is, I'm thinking that we'll be geared more toward stopping the pass. I don't want us to be as laughably bad against the run as the Colts, but if teams are down 7 or 14 early, then they'll be more likely to abandon the run game first.

I'm far more concerned by the turnovers on the offense than our run defense.

yep, good points. I don't want to jinx anything, either, but I like the idea of being in a position to see us protect leads instead of playing catch up all the time. And with an aggressive ball-hawking defense, the potential is there to help the offense if they get off to a slow start. Nothing like getting the ball back in enemy territory!

He also had 6 hurries and QB hits as well. I dare say all of them werent against Dallas Clark. The grounding would have been one too. Also, I dont care who the sacks are against. If he gets 16, I'm not gonna pick them apart. Not saying you are, but some will.

It's a passing league. I would much rather be able to hang with a passing game. Drew Breese had 400 yards passing and he may be 4th in the NFL after one week. 4 guys had 400+ yards. Fitzpatrick may have had they not butt sexed KC.

Yeah, I'm not being critical, and glad you saw it that way. I was just trying to generate some conversation about strategy and the Xs & Os of football.

I could care less how Mario or any of them get their sacks, too. Just give us them sacks!

Thanks to all for respectful and thoughtful replies. I enjoy football, like all of you, and it is refreshing to chat about it, much less just have the season underway.

 

[jtexas]

Mario had 8 qb pressures, 1 qb hit and 2 sacks. By far the best OLB performance of the week. Barwin on the other hand did not play well statistically.

 

[Rey]

OK, so Addai was 8 for 39 and Carter was 7 for 25.

Let me try to see if I can put the run D in a litte better perspective.

Right off the bat, I can say that Addai had a run for minus one (toward the sideline) tackled by Cushing.
The Texans accepted a holding penalty to make it 1 and 20 instead, so there was no play.
Just that one play would change it to 9 for 38 for just over 4yd ave.
That's a little better.

Next, it looks to me that Addai's first run for 11 yards was due to Watt. He kinda lost his balance for a tad after he had beaten his man and was free to prevent the cut back. The D-line had closed up all the gaps.

The 13yd run was a run left where Addai somehow squirted through Barwin, Jamison (and their blockers).

A 7yd run by Addai was a mis-tackle by Demeco at the LOS.

The last two plays were meant to show that the interior was not a problem in this game.
The other guys had fulfilled their gap assignments.
In fact, on Addai's 7yd run, it was Watt that somehow got through big bodies to come back and made the tackle.

....
As noted above, Carter was 7 for 25.
But he had two runs (for 8 and 2) at the end of the half where the Texans simply played back to prevent the pass.

...

BTW, thanks for the link, CNND!

Those are good points.

Watching the game I didn't feel like we were especially vulnerable to the run. I thought that they got some good runs in, but I didn't feel like we'd be especially vulnerable throughout the year. The runs that we gave up were tough runs...It wasn't as if the Colts were opening gashing holes and forcing us off the ball...

But when I looked at Addai's ypc I could see why there would be some concern...But the points you made in the things you brought up in the post were very good points...

 

[Rey]

Mario had 8 qb pressures, 1 qb hit and 2 sacks. By far the best OLB performance of the week. Barwin on the other hand did not play well statistically.

That's what I'm saying...

And to me it was evident during the pre-season that Mario wasn't sucking...He is an absolute handful for blockers to handle standing up and coming from that far out...Standing up and rushing can help you get to the O-lineman before he has a chance to get strong....To me he looks a lot more fresh and athletic than he has ever looked...He has an extra spring in his step...Standing up also doesn't wear on your legs as much..

IF QB's hold the ball too long Mario for sure will be all over there ass and I'm very confident in saying that...Dude is a beast and I think he is going to have a very, very good year....JMO...

As far as Barwin is concerned...I didn't pay attention to him and I don't like to look solely look at stats to make my judgements on players...I don't know how he played but he didn't seem like a weakness. With Mario rushing most fo the time, Barwin will be in coverage more...

Overall just a good performance by the D as a whole and I am happy with that.

 

[Ole Miss Texan]

Mario is on pace for a 32 sack season with 16 forced fumbles.

 

[Big Lou]

Mario is on pace for a 32 sack season with 16 forced fumbles.

As awesome as that sounds, it would take two teams salary cap to sign him to a new contract.

Maybe we could get a like a time share thing going with another team.

 

[Rey]

As awesome as that sounds, it would take two teams salary cap to sign him to a new contract.

Maybe we could get a like a time share thing going with another team.

I know right...

Players doing good and having great seasons is such a damper on the cap..

 

[BigBull17]

Mario had 8 qb pressures, 1 qb hit and 2 sacks. By far the best OLB performance of the week. Barwin on the other hand did not play well statistically.

I saw 6 hurries. Maybe mine didn't add his sacks as hurries. Oh well, great game none the less.

 

[Tango]

For the record I believe Mario will be great as an OLB under the tutelage of our defensive Yoda. Everyone telling us to abandon ship because of what they didn't see in pre-season was just plain over-reacting.

With all that being said, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Super Mario still has lots to figure out. As evidenced by the article pulled up by our good Dr...

Still, this switch has forced a new approach with growing pains, as Williams tries to become fluid in exploding from a stand-up alignment rather than a three-point stance.

Williams says that he didn't shed any pounds because of his new role, but has had to make a key physical adjustment with his long, lean frame: more stretching.

"The biggest thing for somebody 6-7, 285, is leverage," he says. "When it goes to getting off properly with stance and technique, it takes being flexible and bending."

It also takes avoiding what he calls the "false steps" that slow acceleration. Barely noticeable to casual observers, that's been a nagging issue throughout the transition as Williams has had too many cases where he wasted a step at the snap. It even happened a couple of times on Sunday, which he blamed on anxiety.

"When you're in a two-point stance, a lot of times guys pick up their front foot before they even move," he said. "So basically, you just stepped underneath yourself. That's what I don't want to do. That's half of my step, taking one step back, then stepping forward. That's one of those things I definitely have to work on every day in practice. It's just something that comes along with reps.

"A split-second," he added, "is the difference between a sack and a non-sack."

The progress, though, was evident with his fast, furious rush on Collins.

"Until a week-and-a-half ago, he was having problems with that," Phillips said. "He's done better and better in this. That's what he does from a three-point stance. He gets off the ball quick. If he can do it from a two-point stance, he's a little closer to the football."

....Super Mario still has work to get better. I'm liking what I'm seeing though!

 

[jtexas]

I saw 6 hurries. Maybe mine didn't add his sacks as hurries. Oh well, great game none the less.

Add to it he only rushed the passer 26 times. Which means he was disruptive close to 50%!!!! I'm sure he was being doubled on some of those snaps too.

 

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Mario is on pace for a 32 sack season with 16 forced fumbles.

I like the way you think.

Go Texans!!!