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TJ comes to Mario's defense

N

nunusguy

Hall of Fame
""Mario's going to take responsibility for what he does, but everybody has to remember Mario's a rookie, three games into it," said defensive tackle Travis Johnson, the Texans' first-round pick in 2005. "I can understand, being the No. 1 pick, everybody has anticipation of him doing all these Super Mario-type things.
"Eventually, when Mario starts making big plays and becomes Super Mario, all of a sudden, y'all are going to be talking different things about him. Everybody's going to be jumping on the bandwagon."
"For Mario and the Reggie Bush controversy, he's going to forever be linked to a running back, which is not fair," Johnson said. "We don't give Mario the ball to score touchdowns.
"I mean, everybody's sitting there (slobbering) all over themselves because Reggie Bush rushed for 63 yards (in the Saints' victory over the Falcons on Monday night), but Mario is a D-lineman, the second-hardest position to play on the field. But I think if we gave Mario the ball, he could rack up 63 yards, too."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4220367.html
************************************************
TJ can appreciate the criticism that Mario is being subjected to more than
anybody on the team. Still, expectations for Mario are higher, far higher than
the FSU grad who was taken in the mid teens of the first round last year.
 
nunusguy said:
""Mario's going to take responsibility for what he does, but everybody has to remember Mario's a rookie, three games into it," said defensive tackle Travis Johnson, the Texans' first-round pick in 2005. "I can understand, being the No. 1 pick, everybody has anticipation of him doing all these Super Mario-type things.
"Eventually, when Mario starts making big plays and becomes Super Mario, all of a sudden, y'all are going to be talking different things about him. Everybody's going to be jumping on the bandwagon."
"For Mario and the Reggie Bush controversy, he's going to forever be linked to a running back, which is not fair," Johnson said. "We don't give Mario the ball to score touchdowns.
"I mean, everybody's sitting there (slobbering) all over themselves because Reggie Bush rushed for 63 yards (in the Saints' victory over the Falcons on Monday night), but Mario is a D-lineman, the second-hardest position to play on the field. But I think if we gave Mario the ball, he could rack up 63 yards, too."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4220367.html
************************************************
TJ can appreciate the criticism that Mario is being subjected to more than
anybody on the team. Still, expectations for Mario are higher, far higher than
the FSU grad who was taken in the mid teens of the first round last year.
Click to expand...

Sounds Good...:rolleyes:
 
when i first read the thread i thought maybe mario was about to get in a fight with a scout, and TJ came and defended him

but this works to
 
Hulk75 said:
Its true.

You dont know the count, guys are pounding on you a step before you know what is going on, if you stand up too high you get KILLED!

QB and then DLine are the hardest to play.
Click to expand...

No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
 
nunusguy said:
""Mario's going to take responsibility for what he does, but everybody has to remember Mario's a rookie, three games into it," said defensive tackle Travis Johnson, the Texans' first-round pick in 2005. "I can understand, being the No. 1 pick, everybody has anticipation of him doing all these Super Mario-type things.
"Eventually, when Mario starts making big plays and becomes Super Mario, all of a sudden, y'all are going to be talking different things about him. Everybody's going to be jumping on the bandwagon."
"For Mario and the Reggie Bush controversy, he's going to forever be linked to a running back, which is not fair," Johnson said. "We don't give Mario the ball to score touchdowns.
"I mean, everybody's sitting there (slobbering) all over themselves because Reggie Bush rushed for 63 yards (in the Saints' victory over the Falcons on Monday night), but Mario is a D-lineman, the second-hardest position to play on the field. But I think if we gave Mario the ball, he could rack up 63 yards, too."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4220367.html
************************************************
TJ can appreciate the criticism that Mario is being subjected to more than
anybody on the team. Still, expectations for Mario are higher, far higher than
the FSU grad who was taken in the mid teens of the first round last year.
Click to expand...

He is right on with this, you can critique him all you want, but when people start fortune telling Marios future you just sound stupid.

And if your affended by what he said then he is talking to you!
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...

Seeing how I have played the possition in HS and College and had some camp time in the NFL I think I know what I am talking about.

***EDIT*** O and I forgot about 300lbs guys taking your legs out cause they cant block you and then if they miss they come with their leg wip.

And like I said if your affended by what Travis said then he is talking to you.
 
Good to hear teammates backing up one another.

Although I think the hardest positions to start in are in order:

QB
CB
DE
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...

How the hell would you know what is harder to play in the NFL? You are making a joke out of the name "xtruroyaltyx" with posts like this.
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...

Dude you wanted Reggie Bush.......
 
I like to hear that they're taking up for each other.

I would say O-line and QB are the hardest positions to play. I don't know that I'd say D-line is "second hardest" but I can appreciate most of what Travis is saying, especially since it's the same thing I've been saying: give the guy time (and I also appreciated how he threw in a quick jab at Reggie.)

We drafted Mario because he's an athletic freak and we said from the word go that the guy will need a little time to develop. I still think he will pour it on at the end of the year as he continues to improve and add a move or two to his rush.
 
Hulk75 said:
He is right on with this, you can critique him all you want, but when people start fortune telling Marios future you just sound stupid.

And if your affended by what he said then he is talking to you!
Click to expand...

LOL.....So it's ok to predict he will be great....but you just sound stupid when you predict he'll be a bust....Thats what you meant to say...
 
Hulk75 said:
Seeing how I have played the possition in HS and College and had some camp time in the NFL I think I know what I am talking about.

***EDIT*** O and I forgot about 300lbs guys taking your legs out cause they cant block you and then if they miss they come with their leg wip.

And like I said if your affended by what Travis said then he is talking to you.
Click to expand...

Maybe you're just biased....
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...

Sounds Good...:)
 
Hulk75 said:
Seeing how I have played the possition in HS and College and had some camp time in the NFL I think I know what I am talking about.

***EDIT*** O and I forgot about 300lbs guys taking your legs out cause they cant block you and then if they miss they come with their leg wip.

And like I said if your affended by what Travis said then he is talking to you.
Click to expand...

I am not "affended" by what he said...I like the fact that he's taking up for his DL buddy...I just don't put any stock into what he says....

And which part about D-Line is harder than any position...They don't take a beating like RB's...Don't have to think as much as O-Line and QB's....Don't have to run as much as LB, S,CB...How is it harder???
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
No...D-line is probably one of the easier positions to play....I know for a fact it isn't harder than O-line...And if you wan't to look at it from a physical standpoint...it's not harder than running back...I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...


As a former DE and a D-line coach, I can say that D-line isn't the hardest to play but it isn't the easiest either (about in the middle).

But the point I do disagree with you is that RB is harder physically. D-line and O-line hit someone everyplay (even when a DE drops back on a blitz package, they must first jam the TE or O-line). RB's don't carry the ball every play or may not even be on the field in certain sets.
 
V Man said:
As a former DE and a D-line coach, I can say that D-line isn't the hardest to play but it isn't the easiest either (about in the middle).

But the point I do disagree with you is that RB is harder physically. D-line and O-line hit someone everyplay (even when a DE drops back on a blitz package, they must first jam the TE or O-line). RB's don't carry the ball every play or may not even be on the field in certain sets.
Click to expand...

Ok I agree with your first part...Well not really agree...But I buy that more than it being "the second hardest"....

And I know all about OL and DL seeing as I played both in highschool and in college...And I wasn't a slouch either...And as far as the beating...I know what you are saying about having to hit someone every play...but as far as impact, and long lasting punishment RB's by far take the worse beating...which is why they average 3yrs....there is no disputing that...Sure on D-Line you have to engage almost every play...But it's not the same impact that you take running the ball...
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
And which part about D-Line is harder than any position...They don't take a beating like RB's...Don't have to think as much as O-Line and QB's....Don't have to run as much as LB, S,CB...How is it harder???
Click to expand...

Truthfully we are talking apples and oranges.

True RB will from time to time take the hardest hits in football while carrying the ball. But they don't take the physical pounding every play that a D-lineman does. So which is harder physically. I guess it is a matter of opinion.

As for thinking as much as O-line and Qb's. (Qb is the hardest thinking hands down). D-line and O-line is about the same.

D-line has to every play
Anticipate the snap count (watch the ball)
Then read the O-line as you are being hit
Is he giving me a high hat or a low hat read
Is he feet telling me that he is firing off or about to pull.
Is he attacking me or leaving me, then is play away or am I about to get trapped.
Is there a blitz or stunt on, what are my responsiblities.

So D-line is a little more complicated than most people think.
 
V Man said:
Truthfully we are talking apples and oranges.

True RB will from time to time take the hardest hits in football while carrying the ball. But they don't take the physical pounding every play that a D-lineman does. So which is harder physically. I guess it is a matter of opinion.

As for thinking as much as O-line and Qb's. (Qb is the hardest thinking hands down). D-line and O-line is about the same.

D-line has to every play
Anticipate the snap count (watch the ball)
Then read the O-line as you are being hit
Is he giving me a high hat or a low hat read
Is he feet telling me that he is firing off or about to pull.
Is he attacking me or leaving me, then is play away or am I about to get trapped.
Is there a blitz or stunt on, what are my responsiblities.

So D-line is a little more complicated than most people think.
Click to expand...

LMAO...If you do that much thinking...you'll look like Mario Williams....Buddy I don't know who you played for or coached but if you did that much thinking on defense you will never make a play....Defense is more about feeling and reacting, than it is about o.k...if he does this Im going to do this..if he does this I'm going to do this....

An OL probably has to do more thinking pre-snap, than a DL has to do the whole game....look...I am not saying that DL is easy...I know I played it....But You will never convince me that they do "as much" thinking as an O-Lineman...
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
I am not "affended" by what he said...I like the fact that he's taking up for his DL buddy...I just don't put any stock into what he says....

And which part about D-Line is harder than any position...They don't take a beating like RB's...Don't have to think as much as O-Line and QB's....Don't have to run as much as LB, S,CB...How is it harder???
Click to expand...

They dont take a pounding like RBs?
Is this a joke. Double teams, cut blocks, Chop Blocks (if your not careful), punching guys in the ribs when they are pass rushing, O lineman punching you and leaning on you, sliding their hands up into your throat, 2 300 lbs guys wrestling for 3 hours, ON THE GOALINE dont even want to talk about what goes on under a pile on the goaline and under a pile for a lost fumble.

And they dont run as much as DBs?
Ask Dwight Freeney and Peppers if they dont run as much as DBs, they dont get to play "zone pass rush" every other play like DBs and LBs. Playing Dline if you are one step late your pretty much beat.
TELL ME WHY!-------Why would Ray Lewis ask the Baltimore Ravens to draft a "BIG DLINEMAN" to be infront of him, are they that important.

And for a guy that I am sure has never been with in 100 yards of a football field I could care less about anything else you have to say, cause all your doing is guessing.Yea I am sure you have played before though, you sound like it.
 
Hulk75 said:
They dont take a pounding like RBs?
Is this a joke. Double teams, cut blocks, Chop Blocks (if your not careful), punching guys in the ribs when they are pass rushing, O lineman punching you and leaning on you, sliding their hands up into your throat, 2 300 lbs guys wrestling for 3 hours, ON THE GOALINE dont even want to talk about what goes on under a pile on the goaline and under a pile for a lost fumble.

And they dont run as much as DBs?
Ask Dwight Freeney and Peppers if they dont run as much as DBs, they dont get to play "zone pass rush" every other play like DBs and LBs. Playing Dline if you are one step late your pretty much beat.
TELL ME WHY!-------Why would Ray Lewis ask the Baltimore Ravens to draft a "BIG DLINEMAN" to be infront of him, are they that important.

And for a guy that I am sure has never been with in 100 yards of a football field I could care less about anything else you have to say, cause all your doing is guessing.
Click to expand...

Wow Great analysis....:wild:
 
Whether DE is the second hardest position on the field or not, it is certainly more difficult to have an immediate impact at that position as a rookie. I would be satisfied if the acquisition of Williams and Ryans was the beginning of turning our defense from a joke to a non-joke.

This is what Saban says about it from the conference call: (on it being too soon to give up on DE Mario Williams)
“Yeah, I think so. (Pittsburgh S Troy) Polamalu did not even play his first year and that guy has been on the Pro Bowl and he’s the most prolific safety in the game right now. So, unfortunately, these guys that get drafted in the first round, there are such great expectations for them that if they don’t have this tremendous success that goes with all the expectations that have been set for them they get frustrated, they lose their confidence and they have to be able to be able to play through that. We have some young guys that go through the same kind of thing. It’s difficult for a rookie to be a standout player in this league and some guys can do it. I think it’s a little bit easier at skilled positions, maybe running back or wide receiver or something. I’m sure he’s learning a lot we certainly liked him in the draft and I think he’ll be an outstanding player.”
Click to expand...

It is stupid to even be asking the question about it being too soon to give up on a player, but oh well.

In other related news, I answer all the key mysteries of Texans stuff in today's Chronic fanblog link. It is an interesting read if you are bored and have a bit of time.

In retrospect, I prolly should have left out the Mario stuff because then that is all that the comments end up being about because many commenters don't have anything else that they know to talk about the Texans other than the first pick in the draft.
 
jerek said:
I would say O-line and QB are the hardest positions to play.
Click to expand...
The LT position (assuming a right-handed QB is involved), would be among the most difficult and demanding to learn, probably along with CB.
Those 2 positions, along with QB of course, would be the "Big Three", with DLine somewhere below that group.
 
nunusguy said:
The LT position (assuming a right-handed QB is involved), would be among the most difficult and demanding to learn, probably along with CB.
Those 2 positions, along with QB of course, would be the "Big Three", with DLine somewhere below that group.
Click to expand...

I agree...
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
I would have to say D-Line is in fact THE easiest position to play...DT's being the easiest, and DE's being second easiest....
Click to expand...

You might have had a point and then you jumped straight off a cliff. RB is the easiest transition from college to the NFL. LT is certainly harder than DE but c'mon get serious.
 
infantrycak said:
You might have had a point and then you jumped straight off a cliff. RB is the easiest transition from college to the NFL. LT is certainly harder than DE but c'mon get serious.
Click to expand...

I know running back is the easiest transition, but that wasn't really the point...

edit: Well Im not going to even say that...I honestly think it's player specific...depending on how well coached they were in college and such...But from a broad view...yeah, the learning curve is probably the easiest for RB....
 
Well, it depends on what kinder of "harder" do you mean? Mental or physical?

DT and DE are mentally the easiest, but physically they are hand to hand combat every play.

But if I were Travis Johnson, that's what I would say also.

It would be hard to rank "hardest to easiest" in the NFL. They are all very hard except the holder, punter, deep snapper and place kicker. Then it is strictly skills and a head game!
:homer:
 
footballguy69 said:
Well, it depends on what kinder of "harder" do you mean? Mental or physical?
Click to expand...

Yeah that's what I was getting at...It's not really mentally harder than any other position...maybe wide reciever....

And I really won't agree that it is the position where you take the most physical punishment...It is the most physical...but not the most physically punishing...

Edit: actually I would say DT and C,G are the most physical...and DE,OTsecond....
 
Good article and shows our last two #1 picks speaking with confidence, defending themselves, breaking themselves down, internalizing call outs from the coach and the fans, etc.

Part of the total package of Mario was just this. In a world of hurt that many fans are in this type of fluff piece helps puts things in context unless you expected this team to be 8-8 or better.
 
Hulk75 said:
He is right on with this, you can critique him all you want, but when people start fortune telling Marios future you just sound stupid.
Click to expand...
T.J said:
"Eventually, when Mario starts making big plays and becomes Super Mario, all of a sudden, y'all are going to be talking different things about him. Everybody's going to be jumping on the bandwagon."
Click to expand...



Is that not "fortune telling Marios future"....or did you just mean when people predict he'll be bad.....
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
LMAO...If you do that much thinking...you'll look like Mario Williams....Buddy I don't know who you played for or coached but if you did that much thinking on defense you will never make a play....Defense is more about feeling and reacting, than it is about o.k...if he does this Im going to do this..if he does this I'm going to do this....
Click to expand...

If Mario maybe did a little more reading or thinking he wouldn't run up field so much and the other team wouldn't run were he just left. And Buddy, as for me' I made plenty of plays, but maybe I'm just smarter than other people. Maybe if more people thought more on the field they wouldn't trap bait or not burned by the reverse (but I guess just reacting and chasing a WR 20 yards on the reverse is ok for some teams)
 
V Man said:
If Mario maybe did a little more reading or thinking he wouldn't run up field so much and the other team wouldn't run were he just left. And Buddy, as for me' I made plenty of plays, but maybe I'm just smarter than other people. Maybe if more people thought more on the field they wouldn't trap bait or not burned by the reverse (but I guess just reacting and chasing a WR 20 yards on the reverse is ok for some teams)
Click to expand...

I respect you opinion and understand what you mean...But I don't really call that thinking....thats more of a discipline thing....Most thinking is done pre-snap.....i honestly don't think Mario needs to think more...I would rather him let loose...make mistakes....get coached up....thats how it should be....and right now it looks like Mario is trying not to give up a play rather than make a play....and that isn't good enough...
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
I respect you opinion and understand what you mean...But I don't really call that thinking....thats more of a discipline thing....Most thinking is done pre-snap.....i honestly don't think Mario needs to think more...I would rather him let loose...make mistakes....get coached up....thats how it should be....and right now it looks like Mario is trying not to give up a play rather than make a play....and that isn't good enough...
Click to expand...


Well thank you, and I guess what you call reacting and I call thinking are really pretty close to the same. Having discipline to me is thinking while you are moving, "plays going away I need to keep my contain and watch for reverse." or "why did the guy who normally blocks me leave me alone, is play going away or should I be looking for trap or counter."

I guess this is similiar to coaching, everybody does similiar things they just all have different terminology.
 
Did he say anything about himself making any plays? We don't need him taking up for Mario, everyone's well aware of his situation, what is he going to do to ease mario's transition, that's all i care about.
 
Mr teX said:
Did he say anything about himself making any plays? We don't need him taking up for Mario, everyone's well aware of his situation, what is he going to do to ease mario's transition, that's all i care about.
Click to expand...

He probably did not say anything about himself making plays because he was only asked about Mario. That question and answer thing can be confusing at times to understand.
 
He probably did not say anything about himself making plays because he was only asked about Mario. That question and answer thing can be confusing at times to understand.

My post had sarcasm all over it, sorry u didn't pick that up.
 
if you include mental, maybe QB. but in terms of physical, QB isn't even close to the most difficult. it's actually CB.
 
Mr teX said:
He probably did not say anything about himself making plays because he was only asked about Mario. That question and answer thing can be confusing at times to understand.

My post had sarcasm all over it, sorry u didn't pick that up.
Click to expand...

Sorry I did not catch it. But since you are a self annointed know it all, per your sig, maybe you can clue us lesser types in by incorporating a smilie such as - :rolleyes: or :sarcasm:
 
Try this on for size....we get down to the two yardline a couple of times and give the ball to Mario and let him score a couple of TDs. If he got a sack or two and a couple of TDs, I wonder how ESPN would spin that if Bush still had zero TDs. Could be real funny to watch.
 
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