drewmar74
disgruntled
Didn't see this posted anywhere else.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/10/lions_backus_to_be_tested_by_t.html
FWIW, Marinelli (Detroit HC) was the D-line coach for some very good Tampa defenses. I like what he has to say about Mario and its good to see MW getting more and more "love" around the league - even from Jeff Backus who's going to line up against him tomorrow. I enjoy vindication.
Backus will be lining up against one of the most promising young defensive ends in the league -- Mario Williams, who was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft.
"He's got speed and power and he pretty much has it all,'' Backus said of the 6-6 and 285-pound Williams. "For the most part, I play against lighter guys than that, they're speed guys. He has the body type to bring both speed -- he's quick off the ball -- and he's big enough that he can power-rush you. Potentially, he can do it all.''
Williams, who had a franchise-record 14 sacks last season, has six of Houston's seven sacks this year. The Texans took a lot of heat in 2006 when they passed on USC running back Reggie Bush to take Williams, who only had 4 1/2 sacks in his rookie season.
"They were obviously two great players coming out,'' Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "Now, I like Mario a lot. I think he's a big-time player -- and he's proven that. It's just not the number of sacks, it's the number of close ones. I mean, he's around that thing all the time, so he's a force.''
Marinelli, whose specialty is defensive linemen, said it's not unusual for a high draft pick to struggle for a season or two before catching on at the NFL level.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/10/lions_backus_to_be_tested_by_t.html
FWIW, Marinelli (Detroit HC) was the D-line coach for some very good Tampa defenses. I like what he has to say about Mario and its good to see MW getting more and more "love" around the league - even from Jeff Backus who's going to line up against him tomorrow. I enjoy vindication.
Backus will be lining up against one of the most promising young defensive ends in the league -- Mario Williams, who was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft.
"He's got speed and power and he pretty much has it all,'' Backus said of the 6-6 and 285-pound Williams. "For the most part, I play against lighter guys than that, they're speed guys. He has the body type to bring both speed -- he's quick off the ball -- and he's big enough that he can power-rush you. Potentially, he can do it all.''
Williams, who had a franchise-record 14 sacks last season, has six of Houston's seven sacks this year. The Texans took a lot of heat in 2006 when they passed on USC running back Reggie Bush to take Williams, who only had 4 1/2 sacks in his rookie season.
"They were obviously two great players coming out,'' Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "Now, I like Mario a lot. I think he's a big-time player -- and he's proven that. It's just not the number of sacks, it's the number of close ones. I mean, he's around that thing all the time, so he's a force.''
Marinelli, whose specialty is defensive linemen, said it's not unusual for a high draft pick to struggle for a season or two before catching on at the NFL level.
