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Should Mario stay in one spot?

TEXANS84

Moderator
Staff member
I was thinking about this while reading the day one wrapup on OTA's on the official website.

Kubiak now states that Mario will only be staying exclusively on the right side. While I agree with that comment and move, I though back to the sacks that he had last year.

Against the Dolphins, Mario was lined up on the left where he collected his first 1.5 sacks. Against the Giants, Mario was once again lined up on the left hand side where he sacked Eli.

Now my question is, do you feel Mario should stay exclusively at one side, or should he be able to rotate or stay stronger at left?
 
I would agree with Lance Z's assessment this morning.. Keep Mario in one spot - for now... If and when he becomes dominant, then maybe you can move him around..
 
I want him to get down one thing until he is almost perfect and then go from there if coach chooses. I'd rather have Nolan Ryan throwing a 100 mph fast ball
excellently than a pitcher throwing 4 pitches so so. If the other D guys do what they are supposed to, Mario will be just fine.
 
I agree with everyone here, leave him at one position until he is dominent and then think long and hard about moving him around.



:d: :d:
 
I was thinking about this while reading the day one wrapup on OTA's on the official website.

Kubiak now states that Mario will only be staying exclusively on the right side. While I agree with that comment and move, I though back to the sacks that he had last year.

Against the Dolphins, Mario was lined up on the left where he collected his first 1.5 sacks. Against the Giants, Mario was once again lined up on the left hand side where he sacked Eli.

Now my question is, do you feel Mario should stay exclusively at one side, or should he be able to rotate or stay stronger at left?

One spot for sure, but I like you said, think he seemed to be more successful from the LE spot. But I know that is probably where Weaver is most comfortable as well.
 
I think Mario should play RE primarily but I do think that we should move him to the strongside on definite passing downs, and bring in Babin to play the weakside...

Mario had problems switching last year because they would move him on any given down, but if he is only moved on definite passing downs I don't think there would be a problem because all he'd have to do is pin his ears back and go. The problem with switching him on downs that can either be a run or pass is that you give him too much to think about. Like I said if we know it'll be a pass then get your pass rushers on the field and that means Babin. Move Mario to right end and just let him pin his ears back and go against the normally slower, not as agile right tackles(which was noted in the original post, where he got most his sacks from)...
 
I think Mario should play RE primarily but I do think that we should move him to the strongside on definite passing downs, and bring in Babin to play the weakside...

Whichever side Mario lines up on is going to become the strong side once they move the TE over. Not too often are they going to double up Babin and leave Mario singled up.

Move Mario to right end and just let him pin his ears back and go against the normally slower, not as agile right tackles.

The RDE goes up against the LT.
 
Whichever side Mario lines up on is going to become the strong side once they move the TE over. Not too often are they going to double up Babin and leave Mario singled up.

lol..

That's not true...at all....

Offenses don't adjust their formations based on how the defense is lined up....it works the other way around.....If the play is called with the TE on one side they aren't going to break the huddle, see Mario on one side and then switch it around...

And just because the TE is on the opposite side doesn't mean they aren't still going to double him...They can use a RB or they can simply call a protection slide.....Neither of which do I think they would do for Mario because he just hasn't proven to be a dominant pass rusher...They have more to worry about than where Mario is lined up at like what the linebackers and safeties are doing...

And besides...I said nothing about a TE...They could be in no tight, or the TE could be out on a route....



The RDE goes up against the LT

I meant left DE....

But everyone is entitled to a little nit-picking every now and again...
 
lol..

That's not true...at all....

Offenses don't adjust their formations based on how the defense is lined up....it works the other way around...

Sure they do, it is called game planning. No matter which end Mario consistently plays on teams will adjust and plan for doubling him rather than Babin. Never said they would do it after the broke the huddle and if he doesn't swap sides periodically they won't have to.

And besides...I said nothing about a TE...They could be in no tight, or the TE could be out on a route...

Well the strong side is defined by where the side a single TE lines up on. Generically it is the right side of the O because that is the traditional spot for the TE but where he actually lines up controls the strong side for the play.

I meant left DE....

But everyone is entitled to a little nit-picking every now and again...

Wasn't trying to be nitpicky--the entire theme of the thread has been about Kubiak's statement Mario would be at RDE--merely trying to clear things up.
 
To me, it looked like he was more productive against the RT's at the LDE spot, although I belive that Weaver was a better fit at LDE.
 
I think it would be best to keep him at one spot so he can learn the position. Throwing too much at him at this point in his career seems counter-productive.

I think it could be a lethal combination with Okoye up the middle (once he learns how to play DT in the NFL).
 
Sure they do, it is called game planning.

I can't get down with this. I agree that they will double Mario more, but that doesn't mean he's on the strong side which you originally stated. As I said, the double team doesn't have to, and most of the time may not come from the TE. And Mario isn't going to be getting doubled that much until he starts putting more pressure on QB's. I'm not saying he never gets doubled, but some of the best DE's in the leauge aren't ALWAYS doubled like some claimed Mario to be last year.

Well the strong side is defined by where the side a single TE lines up on. Generically it is the right side of the O because that is the traditional spot for the TE but where he actually lines up controls the strong side for the play.

I could understand if we were talking about college or highschool. But from my own observations NFL teams run a lot of two tight, flex, and no tight...I've even seen several occasions where they go heavy and put two tackles on one side...Strength of the formation isn't always as clear cut as looking at the TE.
 
To me, it looked like he was more productive against the RT's at the LDE spot, although I belive that Weaver was a better fit at LDE.

Honestly I really don't see how occasionally moving him to that side on definite passing downs would be much of an overload....If we know it's gonna be a pass, all he has to do is pin his ears back and go...
 
I can't get down with this. I agree that they will double Mario more, but that doesn't mean he's on the strong side which you originally stated. As I said, the double team doesn't have to, and most of the time may not come from the TE. And Mario isn't going to be getting doubled that much until he starts putting more pressure on QB's. I'm not saying he never gets doubled, but some of the best DE's in the leauge aren't ALWAYS doubled like some claimed Mario to be last year.

Definition: The side of the offensive formation where the tight end aligns.
Examples: With a right-handed quarterback, the strong side is generally to his right side

Link

Wasn't making any prediction about how often Mario will get doubled so that is a non-issue. The point was if they are choosing to run a single TE set, they are much more likely to put it on Mario's side whichever it is than on Babin's.

I could understand if we were talking about college or highschool. But from my own observations NFL teams run a lot of two tight, flex, and no tight...I've even seen several occasions where they go heavy and put two tackles on one side...Strength of the formation isn't always as clear cut as looking at the TE.

Dude, you are arguing for no reason now and going off on tangents. You are the one that brought up moving Mario to the strong side and treated it like a static side of the formation. My only point which was correct despite your LOL is the strong side is defined by whichever side there is an overload on and will be game planned for Mario rather than Babin most of the time. FYI-when they line up two T's on one side one is technically in as a TE like Wand was.
 
I think he should play a very high percentage of his plays at one spot - 90% or more I guess.

I wondered why the coaches planned on moving him around as a rookie last year when they first announced it. I figured they had a reason that I didn't see. I guess their reason didn't pan out.

I don't care if it is the left or right side until he shows he can be a dominant, explosive rusher. If he does, then I'd like to see him at the QB's blind side.
 
Probably was.

At least Kubiak tries to recover from mistakes he may make when building his staff. One more mark for the plus column.

I agree. Bringing in Jethro Franklin and Frank Bush were probably the best aquisitions made for the defense this off-season.:)
 
I thing the natural position for Mario is RDE, he needs to grow into though, wich he won't do being moved around. Keep him at RDE and let him mature their. weaver does alot better from LDE and with more pressure by Okoye, Mario should be able to shake things up on the right. If they double Okoye, Mario will be free, and if they double Mario, Okoye will be free. I think Kubiak knows how to handle it. If anything, if Mario is ineffective you bring in Babin at RDE, that doesnt mean you have to rotate Mario over to LDE, I would just keep Weaver in. IMHO
 
I thing the natural position for Mario is RDE, he needs to grow into though, wich he won't do being moved around.
Mario's "natural position" was what he played in college - strongside DE. He of course comes in the jumbo size and is more suited to play over there, while you'd have a smaller, a quicker-type DE on the weakside. However they want to play Weaver at DE and not inside, and he's just not quick enough to be on the weakside so Mario has to basically play there to accomadate Weaver.
But for the time being, hopfully they will keep him one place and thereby reduce the confusion factor for Mario. Last year I'm thinking he was like a new toy that the coachs who liked to experiment with him, but they probably realize by now what Mario needs most is stability.
 
Mario's "natural position" was what he played in college - strongside DE. He of course comes in the jumbo size and is more suited to play over there, while you'd have a smaller, a quicker-type DE on the weakside. However they want to play Weaver at DE and not inside, and he's just not quick enough to be on the weakside so Mario has to basically play there to accomadate Weaver.
But for the time being, hopfully they will keep him one place and thereby reduce the confusion factor for Mario. Last year I'm thinking he was like a new toy that the coachs who liked to experiment with him, but they probably realize by now what Mario needs most is stability.

the reason why I say its his natural position is his combination of strength and speed. compared to our other D-lineman. he does need to develop and refine more pass rush moves. but I dont see any of our other guys having the attributes to be a true pass rushing RDE. Babin gets pushed around too much and weaver isnt quick enough. Mario does play well at LDE but that leaves the right side weakend and they never really gave Mario a chance to develop on the right side. I also think Mario can create more havoc if he is a threat to get to the QB on every play. from the strong side he will usually have to get inside the tightend wich he hasnt show he can do, he goes outside and more times than not takes himself out of the play. I dont care wich spot they put him at, I just want them to leave him in one spot long enough to develop.
 
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