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To add to my earlier thought - what Day One (first 3 rounds, really) secondary players have the Texans drafted since Kubiak got here? Molden in the 3rd round and Jackson this year. No safeties.
As for DT, the Ok0ye pick hurts, and the Earl Mitchell pick didn't do anything to remedy that pick.
I agree with that but also this team has invested a lot along the front 7 and we still can't get to the QB and seem to have to sneak the safeties up to try to get pressure
I am out of ideas ...
People can act like Mario Williams is such a maniac all they want, but Mario is exactly what he was described as when we drafted him as a "sometimes" type of player. He has monsterish games at times, but then hardly does a thing in other games when this team desperately needs a pass rush. That's exactly how he was described coming out of college as a guy that takes plays off, and he hasn't been any different as a pro. He's still a very good DE, but he's vastly overrated. I'd be interested to see what teams would offer for him on the open market.
People can act like Mario Williams is such a maniac all they want, but Mario is exactly what he was described as when we drafted him as a "sometimes" type of player. He has monsterish games at times, but then hardly does a thing in other games when this team desperately needs a pass rush. That's exactly how he was described coming out of college as a guy that takes plays off, and he hasn't been any different as a pro. He's still a very good DE, but he's vastly overrated. I'd be interested to see what teams would offer for him on the open market.
ding ding ding..mario has no heart and doesnt have that motor that goes hard all of the time..today he has done what, made one tackle....brutal
No this defense BITES! If it SUCKED someone might enjoy them.
People can act like Mario Williams is such a maniac all they want, but Mario is exactly what he was described as when we drafted him as a "sometimes" type of player. He has monsterish games at times, but then hardly does a thing in other games when this team desperately needs a pass rush. That's exactly how he was described coming out of college as a guy that takes plays off, and he hasn't been any different as a pro. He's still a very good DE, but he's vastly overrated. I'd be interested to see what teams would offer for him on the open market.
People can act like Mario Williams is such a maniac all they want, but Mario is exactly what he was described as when we drafted him as a "sometimes" type of player. He has monsterish games at times, but then hardly does a thing in other games when this team desperately needs a pass rush. That's exactly how he was described coming out of college as a guy that takes plays off, and he hasn't been any different as a pro. He's still a very good DE, but he's vastly overrated. I'd be interested to see what teams would offer for him on the open market.
I don't feel like the D is hurting badly for talent, maybe for experience. My main problem is the lack of creativity I see in our scheme. We let the offense dictate the game and just hope that A) Mario or Smith reaches the QB or B) the offense screws up somehow.
Y'all need to invest in a DVR and go back and watch Mario on every play. The guy plays his heart out and the only help he has is Antonio Smith on the other side. Two edge rushers can't do much. You need interior pressure. Add in the perpetual holding that never gets called, and Mario is screwed.
Seriously, if you had to address the problems on D in order of severity, every guy on this defense is a problem before Mario.
This post makes about as much sense as the thread talking about how we need to replace Pollard.
I have an idea, let's replace Schaub and Andre too.
:wadepalm:
Are you serious? Mario takes plays off and is very inconsistent. You guys can't keep acting like it's the players around him on the line that make him inconsistent. It's not. He doesn't play with a non stop motor every play. He never has, and that's exactly why he was criticized for that in college. His last season in college he padded his stats off of like 3 monster games and the rest even his own coaches said he took plays off. The guy is a freak physically, but he doesn't have an attitude to dominate on every play. He never has, and this far into his career, I'm done thinking his attitude will change from that. He is what he is. He's a good DE that plays great at times, but also disappears quite frequently when he's needed.
Are you serious? Mario takes plays off and is very inconsistent. You guys can't keep acting like it's the players around him on the line that make him inconsistent. It's not. He doesn't play with a non stop motor every play. He never has, and that's exactly why he was criticized for that in college. His last season in college he padded his stats off of like 3 monster games and the rest even his own coaches said he took plays off. The guy is a freak physically, but he doesn't have an attitude to dominate on every play. He never has, and this far into his career, I'm done thinking his attitude will change from that. He is what he is. He's a good DE that plays great at times, but also disappears quite frequently when he's needed.
That's exactly what I think of when you guys continually act like Mario's the best DE in this league. He's the Randy Moss of DE's. He's either a monster or he's a ghost.
So that's four good players, one or two mediocre players, and a bunch of really bad players.
Tex what are you thinking? You need to put down the crack pipe and get your head on straight. These negative posts of yours about Mario Williams are comical. I think you should take the rest of the day off.
Really? You expect people to waste their time trying to defend Mario Williams's place on our defense because you think he sucks?
Lol. Get real.
Mario does take plays off. That's just a fact. He doesn't suck but he's not what I'd consider value at the first overall pick in the draft. Sadly I don't think that player existed in 2006 so Mario was the pick that made sense and he has played well for us. I agree that he's overrated and not a defensive leader, just a talented follower who needs more help.
With nothing happening in the middle I can't get on to our our ends about taking plays off though. Antonio Smith has been an impact player opposite Mario but there's not one iota of push in the middle. Until we get a real a)DT and b)FS we are going to continue to be a **** defense and struggle to escape from the "black-hole like pull" of a .500 record.
When they're the only ones creating any pressure at all I don't blame the ends for taking plays off. In my opinion they've almost earned the right.
The offense is kind of coming back around but without a defense we aren't going to be able to handle many of the teams we face over the second half of the season.
The way I see it they have one pro bowl DE who's top 3 for his position with a debate for tops, and a very good supporting DE opposite of him. You have two decent starting DT's in Cody and Okoye. So you have one great, one good, and two decent guys starting up front. Then you have a guy with great potential now on IR in Barwin and another who's obviously got the tools and just needs the development in Mitchell. We've got some solid starters with some developing potential behind them on the front four.
Then at LB you have two pro-bowl LB's who are both top 5 at their respective positions in Demeco and Cushing. Obviously Demeco's now out of the picture. Then at WLB you have an over-achieving 7th rounder who's developed into a solid player. He's not going to the pro-bowl anytime soon but he does his job. Then behind those 3 you have Adibi, who's got great athleticism and can step in to start if you need him to. Hasn't developed how the Texans had hoped but he's a solid back-up. Bentley is another solid back-up who impresses when he's had the opportunity to start. Lastly Sharpton is a player the coaches seemed to like (and I did as well from what I saw in the pre-season), who could develop into a solid role player. So there's two more pro-bowlers, a solid WLB and good, albeit injured, depth.
Then our secondary, which is the weakest part of our D from a talent stand point. Glover Quin is a decent starter in only his second year. He doesn't have the size or speed to be a shut down corner, IMO, but he's great in run support and he's a heady player. He makes the most of his ability, and I wouldn't have a problem with him being our #2 down the road. Kareem Jackson's had an up and down start to his career and I agree he ideally shouldn't have been thrust into a starter's role this soon, but he's a first rounder who was projected to be taken in the top 2 rounds of the draft. He needs more time to develop before I go one way or another with him. Then you have Pollard, who's got the persona of a team captain and can be a game changer. He puts the fear in opposing QB's who want to run, and WR's who want to go across the middle. He showed last year he can make game changing plays in the passing game as well. He's not great in coverage, but if you scheme to his strong suits he can be a great player. Lastly you have FS. Wilson is past his prime, and is a suboptimal starter. Nolan is young, but he's got decent football speed and has a nose for the ball. I'd like to see how he turns out with some more experience. So our secondary is missing a true #1 corner, a developed FS, and some additional depth here would be nice. Quin works for me as a starting #2 and Kareem has the tools but needs the time.
So all in all I see 3 pro-bowlers, and good players in Pollard and Smith - 5/11 good to great starters. Not to mention some young guys with obvious talent in Kareem Jackson, Earl Mitchell, and Glover Quin. There's enough talent right there to avoid being 'hurting badly for talent, period.' And as far as being 'really bad players,' I think context here is key. You've been a Texans fan long enough to remember some of our 'really bad players,' and there's an obvious distinction.
This defense is pathetic, and when you surround suck with more suck, you get what we have here in Houston - the NFL's worst defense, and one that's on pace to be the worst in the history of the league.
Mario does take plays off. That's just a fact. He doesn't suck but he's not what I'd consider value at the first overall pick in the draft. Sadly I don't think that player existed in 2006 so Mario was the pick that made sense and he has played well for us. I agree that he's overrated and not a defensive leader, just a talented follower who needs more help.
With nothing happening in the middle I can't get on to our our ends about taking plays off though. Antonio Smith has been an impact player opposite Mario but there's not one iota of push in the middle. Until we get a real a)DT and b)FS we are going to continue to be a **** defense and struggle to escape from the "black-hole like pull" of a .500 record.
When they're the only ones creating any pressure at all I don't blame the ends for taking plays off. In my opinion they've almost earned the right.
The offense is kind of coming back around but without a defense we aren't going to be able to handle many of the teams we face over the second half of the season.
Y'all need to invest in a DVR and go back and watch Mario on every play. The guy plays his heart out and the only help he has is Antonio Smith on the other side. Two edge rushers can't do much. You need interior pressure. Add in the perpetual holding that never gets called, and Mario is screwed.
Seriously, if you had to address the problems on D in order of severity, every guy on this defense is a problem before Mario.
Mario not only takes plays off, he takes a series off, sometimes a quarter or whole half off. He is talented when he's on, but like I said he's not consistant about that. And Antonio Smith is our best Dlineman. He's a smart pickup and I think Frank Bush gets credit for that FA pickup since he had him over in Arizona. The rest of the Dline ? Not too much talent there.
How important was Barwin ? I hope were missing him more than we realize,
I hope he was that important to the pass-rush ?
But here's my question: why would the Texans use their second round pick on a back when we still need help so badly on the Dline ? OK they got Michell, but we're gonna have to use multiple high picks in future Drafts if we are ever gonna get talent into this Dline. That's all their is to it.
He takes plays off. He has since college. You guys are acting like I said he sucks. I said that he's a good DE. He is, but he's not "great." He does not bring constant pressure. He does in some games, and in others it's hard to even notice his existence on the field. People will always act like he's this dominant force of the league because he's a Texan and because he was a #1 draft pick. If he didn't have that going for him, not one person in here would act like he's as good as people act like he is. You're entitled to your opinion and you may disagree, but I'm tired of seeing him not have a strong impact in certain games. I don't need to always see huge sack numbers, but I want to see constant pressure when we have this kind of secondary. The coaching staff thought our D line was strong enough to help this secondary out and it's failed at that.
He takes plays off. He has since college. You guys are acting like I said he sucks. I said that he's a good DE. He is, but he's not "great." He does not bring constant pressure. He does in some games, and in others it's hard to even notice his existence on the field. People will always act like he's this dominant force of the league because he's a Texan and because he was a #1 draft pick. If he didn't have that going for him, not one person in here would act like he's as good as people act like he is. You're entitled to your opinion and you may disagree, but I'm tired of seeing him not have a strong impact in certain games. I don't need to always see huge sack numbers, but I want to see constant pressure when we have this kind of secondary. The coaching staff thought our D line was strong enough to help this secondary out and it's failed at that.