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JJ Watt: All-Pro DE

It's great to hear Watt stating such a "rather" lofty goal.

Now we'll see him work his tail off even more and more.
And that's exactly what we need. :cow:
 
Fiddler said:
I don't ever recall him complaining about playing DE in the 3-4, he's always said he will do what they ask him to do.
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I recall the first comment I heard from Williams after the announcement of Phillips' hiring was negative. This was prior to any official announcement of a change to a 3-4 front.

1/4/2011 Mario, You are Killing Me! By John Hallam When asked about Wade Phillips coming to Houston as defensive coordinator, this is what Mario had to say about it:

“If a pass develops, you’re pretty much rushing the guard. If I have to do it, I have to do it, but it would be a huge change.”

So, let me get this straight… Mario is concerned that he can’t beat a guard in a pass rush situation? Wow! Based on his performance in all but about 7 of his last 29 games, I can see why he would be concerned. I don’t know that Wade will be the next coach. But I do know that is an awfully poor attitude by someone that is supposed to be a team leader, who just lead the defensive to an abysmal season. So, he prefers Frank Bush’s system… Hmm, perhaps if he had played better then he would not have contributed to Bush and three other defensive coaches losing their job. Or, perhpas he would like Richard Smith’s defense back? Under Smith, the defense certainly sucked but Mario had his career best sack totals. Please tell me Mario isn’t this selfish a player and so unconcerned with winning. Please?
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I remember reading this at the time and thinking that Smith was talking specifically about Williams because the big question of the day was how Williams would transition to a 3-4. Smith had experience at the position and no one expected him to have trouble with the transition.
1/5/2011 Paul Kuharsky A 3-4 scheme would require Williams and fellow defensive end Antonio Smith to adjust their techniques and attack more to the inside of the line than the outside.

"If it doesn't suit you, it doesn't suit you," Smith said. "I think that sometimes players get a bad rap in making a decision that best suits them and the longevity of their career, and half the time they're looked at and seen in a bad light because they want to keep their career going on the same course that it was going on. And with a change of defense that doesn't suit you, you're going right on the road to ending your career, if you don't perform at that position.

"Now, if it suits, it suits," Smith said. "And if it's feasible, I can do it. But if it's not, it's just not."

Williams also said the Texans will need to get a massive nose tackle to clog the middle to make a 3-4 alignment work.

"We've got big guys, but it's just a totally different animal," he said
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1/5/2011 The Texans will switch to a 3-4. Phillips will use Mario Williams like he used Bruce Smith, who had 65 sacks in 6 seasons under him. @MCLAIN_on_NFL
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1/5/2011 “Wade feels confident about running a 3-4, and I’m excited about that,” Kubiak said. “Wade said he feels good about the talent we have and how he’ll use the players.

“He said (defensive end) Mario (Williams) has to be one of our most successful players and that it’s up to him to put Mario in position to do that. Wade talked about some things he did with Bruce Smith in Buffalo compared to what he’ll do with Mario, and I like what I hear.”

Smith, who’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recorded 65 sacks in six seasons of playing for Phillips.

“What we do depends on the players we have and the situation (down and distance),” Phillips said. “I’m really excited about working with Mario and seeing how we can take advantage of all that talent.

“I think there are ways I can help him, technique-wise, and putting him in the right matchups. He’s a special guy.”
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This was in March:
3/14/2011 Mario Williams' role will not change: Houston Texans DL Mario Williams' role in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme will not change, according to John McClain, of the Houston Chronicle. Williams will continue to play with his hand on the ground as a defensive end. 'I think Mario fits in well with what we're going to do,' Phillips said. 'He's a five-technique, an outside rush guy. That's what he is. I don't see any difference for him. He's going to be outside all the time.' The philosophy of Phillips' 3-4, which he says is closer to a 4-3 than a traditional 3-4 because the linemen have to control one gap rather than two, is to get up the field when the ball is snapped and pressure the quarterback.
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Then in May we started to hear something different:
5/5/2011 Texans will use Mario Williams at LB: The Houston Texans are planning to use DE Mario Williams as the weakside outside linebacker in their new 3-4 defensive alignment.
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5/6/2011 Mario Williams will not be in pass coverage much: Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said LB Mario Williams likely will be in pass coverage only five percent of of the time next season. It will allow Williams to rush the passer most of the time and also help stop the run.
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5/6/2011 Mario Williams excited about change: Houston Texans LB Mario Williams said he is excited about moving from defensive end to outside linebacker because it will allow him to concentrate on rushing the passer more than before. 'I'm very excited about this,' Williams said. 'I think it'll be a good change-up for our team - not just for me, but overall because of the flexibility (defensive coordinator Wade Phillips) will have with the way he'll be able to mix things up. Playing defensive end, I have a few more responsibilities. Being an outside linebacker, I'm always on the edge. When the ball's snapped, it's full go after the quarterback.'
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5/8/2011 Texans appear willling to move Mario Williams back to DE if needed: Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak appears to be willing to move LB Mario Williams back to defensive end if he is not successful at linebacker.
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5/9/2011 Mario Williams will look to drop some weight: Houston Texans LB Mario Williams is expected to try to slim down to around 265 pounds so he can play at outside linebacker. Williams weighs 282 pounds at this time.
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At some point they changed their minds about Williams' ability or willingness to play the 5-technique and to be be resigned the following year. They moved him to OLB, a position where the league average salary is less than half of Williams'. Mario only really has a bull rush...that only works if you're stronger than the other guy (good against tight ends and weaker tackles or empty space, not so good against stronger competent tackles). If you can't play against two blockers, you can't play interior line in a 3-4. They get good use out of Smith, Watt, Mitchell and Jamison who they can play at the 5-technique and then move inside on passing downs where they can attack the gaps in the line. Watching the Texans ex-pizza delivery guy destroying quarterbacks using spin and swim moves as a second year player makes me wonder why Williams never seemed to make that next step where experience and ability come together...even so it would have been cool to see him play at OLB the rest of last season. That game against Pittsburg was epic.
 
pec0sb0b said:
I recall the first comment I heard from Williams after the announcement of Phillips' hiring was negative. This was prior to any official announcement of a change to a 3-4 front.
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Good recap... still not proof that Mario made noise, or was upset about playing DE in a 3-4.

Now, for Wade's defense to truly dominate, you have to have the outside rusher & a strong inside rush. Merriman had Igor & Castillo in Sandiego, Ware had Spears & Ratcliff in Dallas. We're getting that rush from both Antonio & Watt, but we're missing that strong outside rush.

The thing that changed the conversation in your recap, was they drafted Jj Watt. If the original thought was to put Mario at end, then they just didn't see the guy they wanted to rush from the outside when it was our turn to pick. They saw Jj & figured Mario could be that guy from the outside & judging by how it went through week 5 last year, they chose right.

Think about that defense & what we've seen this year. Through week 5 last year, Mario had 5 sacks, Antonio had 3 or 4, Barwin had 2 or three, Watt had one or two, the front 7 accounted for most of our sacks & we'd occasionally blitz an ILB.

This year, we've got CBs & Safeties blitzing to get pressure on the QB (I like that we are doing it, I don't like that we have to do it). It's Jj Watt or no one getting to the QB.
 
Yeah, you see Barwin's big ass back in coverage a lot...Phillips likes to put the OLBs in coverage in the flats then rush an ILB and a DB or two. I loved that disguised safety blitz that put Jake Locker on the bench against Tennessee.
 
Fiddler said:
Good recap... still not proof that Mario made noise, or was upset about playing DE in a 3-4.

Now, for Wade's defense to truly dominate, you have to have the outside rusher & a strong inside rush. Merriman had Igor & Castillo in Sandiego, Ware had Spears & Ratcliff in Dallas. We're getting that rush from both Antonio & Watt, but we're missing that strong outside rush.

The thing that changed the conversation in your recap, was they drafted Jj Watt. If the original thought was to put Mario at end, then they just didn't see the guy they wanted to rush from the outside when it was our turn to pick. They saw Jj & figured Mario could be that guy from the outside & judging by how it went through week 5 last year, they chose right.

Think about that defense & what we've seen this year. Through week 5 last year, Mario had 5 sacks, Antonio had 3 or 4, Barwin had 2 or three, Watt had one or two, the front 7 accounted for most of our sacks & we'd occasionally blitz an ILB.

This year, we've got CBs & Safeties blitzing to get pressure on the QB (I like that we are doing it, I don't like that we have to do it). It's Jj Watt or no one getting to the QB.
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Give it up dude, you've been proved wrong. Mario was reported as being negative about a switch to 3-4 DE, Wade was reported as wanting to do that with him. When it came down to it, they were forced to move him to a position that Wade felt he wasn't best at.

To ask for links of established facts and then claim its conjecture when someone goes to the effort of providing the building blocks for you is pretty poor form if you ask me.

And pec0, rep your way, must have been a helluva lot of work to dig all that way back for those quotes.
 
welsh texan said:
Give it up dude, you've been proved wrong. Mario was reported as being negative about a switch to 3-4 DE, Wade was reported as wanting to do that with him. When it came down to it, they were forced to move him to a position that Wade felt he wasn't best at.

To ask for links of established facts and then claim its conjecture when someone goes to the effort of providing the building blocks for you is pretty poor form if you ask me.

And pec0, rep your way, must have been a helluva lot of work to dig all that way back for those quotes.
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The link proved nothing of the sort. It was speculated here, that the Texans wanted Aldon Smith to be the rush end, the WOLB & Mario would play DE. But the 49ers took Smith, leaving us with Jj Watt. It was Mario's versatility that allowed them to make that decision.

If that's how it went.

Providing a link where Mario says, he won't like it, but he'll do it if that's what they ask him to do is not proof that Mario went all prima donna on us.

Like I said, he didn't complain when we put him on the weak side, strong side & inside his rookie year, hand down or up. He didn't complain when he was told he was going to have to drop back in coverage.

Mario's just not the complaining kind.
 
pec0sb0b said:
Yeah, you see Barwin's big ass back in coverage a lot...Phillips likes to put the OLBs in coverage in the flats then rush an ILB and a DB or two. I loved that disguised safety blitz that put Jake Locker on the bench against Tennessee.
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Barwin drops into coverage because he isn't a pass rusher. If Wade had a pure pass rusher, like Demarcus Ware, or Shaun Merriman, he'd never drop.
 
Fiddler said:
Barwin drops into coverage because he isn't a pass rusher. If Wade had a pure pass rusher, like Demarcus Ware, or Shaun Merriman, he'd never drop.
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Got to say this has surprised me about Barwin, when drafted the talk was that he was a tweener prospect who would be a pass rushing specialist in the 4-3, his rookie season he put up good numbers in terms of sacks playing spot duty.

Also, his second season I remember lots of quotes (and no....I'm not going to trawl through and find them) from Kubiak about how big a loss he was to our D, because although not pegged to start, he had a key role in our plans to create pressure. We definitely missed his production and struggled to generate pressure that year.

Perhaps Wade has coached something different into him over the offseason, having realised he can get all the pressure he needs on that side from Watt, IDK.

Just something doesn't add up to me, dude's put up really good pass rushing numbers from various positions over his pro career, is in his contract year, and is playing for a coach who is great at getting pressure from that specific position.

All this makes me extremely wary of putting the guy down, I reckon if you were to sit down with Wade Phillips and ask him how Barwin is playing this season, I think he'd be happy that he's doing exactly whats being asked of him. Now that really is pure conjecture, but I just struggle to beleive that, all factors considered, this guy has chosen now to suddenly throw a Zac Diles on us.
 
welsh texan said:
Got to say this has surprised me about Barwin, when drafted the talk was that he was a tweener prospect who would be a pass rushing specialist in the 4-3, his rookie season he put up good numbers in terms of sacks playing spot duty.

Also, his second season I remember lots of quotes (and no....I'm not going to trawl through and find them) from Kubiak about how big a loss he was to our D, because although not pegged to start, he had a key role in our plans to create pressure. We definitely missed his production and struggled to generate pressure that year.

Perhaps Wade has coached something different into him over the offseason, having realised he can get all the pressure he needs on that side from Watt, IDK.

Just something doesn't add up to me, dude's put up really good pass rushing numbers from various positions over his pro career, is in his contract year, and is playing for a coach who is great at getting pressure from that specific position.

All this makes me extremely wary of putting the guy down, I reckon if you were to sit down with Wade Phillips and ask him how Barwin is playing this season, I think he'd be happy that he's doing exactly whats being asked of him. Now that really is pure conjecture, but I just struggle to beleive that, all factors considered, this guy has chosen now to suddenly throw a Zac Diles on us.
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I think Barwin maybe lost a step since his rookie season. Back then, he was usually playing the RDE, spelling Mario. I don't think he's strong enough to go against a LT all the time. Not that Merci is stronger, but he's quicker.

Barwin's strength would help him against TEs & his speed would look better against the less athletic RT.

As far as sitting down with Wade, he's said plenty of times, that the WOLB in his system is the main guy to get pressure on the QB. He's like the running back to Kubiak's offense. The system is designed to make him successful, but you put a special player there & you get league leading production. Barwin isn't producing league leading results.
 
Fiddler said:
Antonio Smith, isn't he also in a contract year?
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I don't think so although I believe his cap situation makes him very cuttable this off-season...that'd be a tough decision for the FO to make though.

Better watch out the thread police are about. :tiphat:
 
Bob and JJ

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pec0sb0b said:
...Watching the Texans ex-pizza delivery guy destroying quarterbacks using spin and swim moves as a second year player makes me wonder why Williams never seemed to make that next step where experience and ability come together...even so it would have been cool to see him play at OLB the rest of last season. That game against Pittsburg was epic.
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Yes it was. I think that's the best I've ever watched Mario play. Could almost see Big Ben always trying to see where #90 was and it still didn't do him any good.
 
despite the sky falling and a team that's about to go 0-16 en route to firing everyone ... jj watt is still destroying teams. 2 more sacks puts him back in the league lead with an unbelievable 9.5*.
 
Big Lou said:
Mods please ban Redtexans for life.................

Troll......
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Humility...... it builds character.

That was some funny shiz. If we don't want "trolls" to say things like that, our team needs to step it up.
 
DX-TEX said:
Anyone seen Barwin still?
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He almost had a couple of sacks but Flacco evaded him.

If not for the LT commiting a holding, Barwin would have had a sack for sure.

He also had a hand on a pass that caused it to bounce up into the air but our guys weren't close enough to make an INT on it.
 
Watt's impact goes beyond batted passes

Another way to examine what Watt’s presence means is to look at what happens when he’s not out there. The Texans are allowing 3.7 yards per rush on 117 attempts with Watt on the field this season, compared to 4.5 yards per rush on 32 attempts with him off the field. Watt’s presence is enough to turn the Texans’ rush defense statistically from the Cleveland Browns (4.5 yards per rush, 25th in the league) to the Seattle Seahawks (3.7 yards per rush, fifth in the league).

Eight times this season a quarterback has had at least 30 action plays and a Total QBR under 5.0. It’s no accident that three of those eight games came against the Texans, the only defense on the list multiple times. Any discussion of why the unit has been so successful this year begins with Watt, the early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
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