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Mario Williams # 1 ?

The Dude Abides

The Dude Abides

Veteran
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3782968.html


North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the top defensive player in the draft, is coming to Houston today to visit with the Texans.
The Texans insisted Sunday they are serious about taking Williams, who is rated as a better prospect than Julius Peppers, the defensive end taken second by Carolina in 2002. The Texans are ready to start contract negotiations. Under NFL rules, they can negotiate with any players they're considering drafting with the top pick April 29. They can negotiate with Williams, Reggie Bush and Vince Young and sign one before the draft.
Although left defensive end Anthony Weaver was their top priority in free agency, and Antwan Peek should be ideal for right end in the 4-3, the Texans insist that bringing in Williams isn't a ploy to help them sign Bush, who's expected to be the top pick.
The Texans have agreed to contract terms with veteran safety Michael Stone, who played at New England last season.
Stone gives the Texans a veteran safety to replace Marcus Coleman. He'll compete with C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl for playing time.
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They are covering all their bases as they should.
 
I for one am glad that they are bringing him in. I hope they will think long and hard about drafting him too. Even at the #1 spot.

I was thinking about this today, do we have even one defender that another team sees on the depth chart and they go "oh no" about??

Some might say Robison but do other teams think that or do we just cling to him because he is the closest thing we have to a decent defensive presence.
 
I don't think anyone is "afraid" of D-Rob because all they have to do is not throw to his side of the field if he starts to dominate, but that's not his fault. It's not like he's Sanders in his prime though. We can't just let him go 1:1 on any receiver, no matter what the route is, and let the safety help somebody else, allowing an extra LB to blitz, etc. I would hate to see the Texans spend that prized #1 pick on anyone but Bush (or if we were looking at QBs). I guess it could turn out to be worth it, but where was all the Williams, Hawk, Fergason for #1 talk all year long? I think it started with people looking at alternatives just out of curiosity and now people are taking the idea too seriously. Now, a Trade Down would make me real happy and, although I'd like to see a LT out of it, I could live with this guy.

PS-It's good that they're looking at him though. That never hurts.
 
It sure takes a while for our crack media team to notice anything that doesn't involve Bush and Young.

Even if they are already sold on Bush, they should still look at other players in case they get that godfather trade deal. This is a good move.
 
This is why I told all the fellow Bush campers not to think it was a foregone conclusion that Bush would be a Texan. I do think we will regret not taking Bush:twocents:
 
HJam72 said:
I don't think anyone is "afraid" of D-Rob because all they have to do is not throw to his side of the field if he starts to dominate, but that's not his fault. It's not like he's Sanders in his prime though. We can't just let him go 1:1 on any receiver, no matter what the route is, and let the safety help somebody else, allowing an extra LB to blitz, etc. I would hate to see the Texans spend that prized #1 pick on anyone but Bush (or if we were looking at QBs). I guess it could turn out to be worth it, but where was all the Williams, Hawk, Fergason for #1 talk all year long? I think it started with people looking at alternatives just out of curiosity and now people are taking the idea too seriously. Now, a Trade Down would make me real happy and, although I'd like to see a LT out of it, I could live with this guy.

PS-It's good that they're looking at him though. That never hurts.
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The talk has been there all year long, it has just been drowned out by the bush/young debate. I, for example, have supported D'brick/Mario at #1 before and still do.
 
John McClain is on 610 right now & he claims this is all "posturing" by the Texans front office & that they will take Bush. Take that for what it's worth:twocents:
 
The Chron indicates the Texans are not only working out Mario Williams but are talking contract with his agent....

Will anyone be happy if this guy really becomes the # 1 pick?
 
dunta23 said:
i would be happy with mario, but happier with bush, talent like bush rarely comes around
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Bush is clearly the BPA in this Draft, or last years Draft, or probably the 2004
Draft also, etc. But there is still a possibility for a godfather offer, therefor
we need a back-up plan for the BPA on the Board if picking at 4 or 5 or whatever. Therefor good idea to look at other top picks just in case.
 
Texans | Team to have pre-draft visit with M. Williams
Mon, 10 Apr 2006 06:22:41 -0700

John McClain, of the Houston Chronicle, reports the Houston Texans will conduct a pre-draft visit with North Carolina State DE Mario Williams Monday, April 10. The Texans insisted Sunday, April 9, they are serious about taking Williams. Under NFL rules, they can negotiate with any players they're considering drafting with the top pick April 29. They can negotiate with Williams, USC RB Reggie Bush and Texas QB Vince Young and sign one before the NFL Draft.
 
TexansFanatic said:
The Chron indicates the Texans are not only working out Mario Williams but are talking contract with his agent....

Will anyone be happy if this guy really becomes the # 1 pick?
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With the #1 pick? absolutely not.
 
I am not surprised, but there are many on this board that will be. Good to see we are seriously considering the BPA for our need not necessarily the draft.

We cannot go wrong with Reggie Bush or Williams.
 
Simmply a contract ploy. If they were going to go after Williams they would be better off to trade the pick and try to get Williams also. Bush's agent is asking for more thenthe Texans think he should. They thought that by bringing in Youn it would put pressure on Bush to lower his demands. Since that did not work they are tryiong to gain leverage through Williams. It's how business is done.
 
SteelBlueToro said:
If they draft Williams it will be if they trade down.
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I don't think you can sign him then trade down.

I would love, love, love, Mario Williams. Hate to see Bush let go but Defense wins championships.
 
Just due dillegence IMO. They have to have a plan for a player to pick if someone does come along and offers a trade down that they should take. It also helps with the Reggie negotiations as it provides options that are truly a real option to do with the #1 if needed.
 
The Texans aren't going to negotiate a contract with someone they plan to trade down for. They can only negotiate from a #1 pick standpoint at this time. It could be that Bush is asking way too much and the Texans don't realisticly think they can afford him and still be able to fill needs over the coming years. Or it could be what others are saying that Mario is a ploy to drive Bush's price down. If we do draft Bush then Domanick should be traded because the one/two punch is going to be Bush/Cook.

I will be happy with Bush/Williams/Young at #1 but anything other than Bush at #1 is not bpa.
 
Just a ploy by the Texans. Possibly to scare Reggie into taking less money or scaring teams that are interested in Williams into making a monster trade to try to get him.
 
I for one hope the FO has the balls to take Mario Williams. Sure, the papers and a bunch of the pundits will all ***** about it for a little while as the "unglamorous pick," but bottom line I think he is a dominant, "once-in-a-lifetime" defensive prospect that would force opposing coaches and O-lines to gameplan around the guy. Considering his measurables all top Julius Peppers', I think we would be foolish to not give him serious consideration, and I will go so far as to say I think we should draft him, though I still understand and endorse the appeal of Bush.
 
I am all for drafting for Needs. But passing on Reggie Bush to draft a needs player to me has Sam Bowie/Portland Trailblazers written all over it...:twocents:
 
Frak The Jags said:
This is why I told all the fellow Bush campers not to think it was a foregone conclusion that Bush would be a Texan. I do think we will regret not taking Bush:twocents:
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I agree. I would have to hate faceing this guy two times a yr. and possibly in the playoffs. He would definitley be a thorn in the Texans side. In all honesty, i would rather face VY than Bush.
 
Frak The Jags said:
I am all for drafting for Needs. But passing on Reggie Bush to draft a needs player to me has Sam Bowie/Portland Trailblazers written all over it...:twocents:
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Hakeem Olajuwan

Im for Bush or Williams.. I think they both have the potential to be game changers at the pro level.
 
I'd before either Bush or Williams, Bush @ the first spot with Williams the likely target if we traded down.

The Saints have changed all this, and now I'd be ok with e either Willimas or Bush at teh #1 spot.

I think the depth at OL is pushing Ferguson down the board.
 
Frak The Jags said:
I am all for drafting for Needs. But passing on Reggie Bush to draft a needs player to me has Sam Bowie/Portland Trailblazers written all over it...:twocents:
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Okay ... I understand. Bush fan. But let's please:

(a) Quit pretending that we somehow know Bush is assured of Michael Jordan status type success in the NFL. I like the guy as much as anyone else, and in drafting him we assume he will have a long and prosperous career ahead of him. But you are going just a little far here in ascribing that level of guarantee to his success.

(b) Many would say that Mario Williams -- though the less glamorous choice -- is equally a once-in-a-generation type defensive prospect. We are talking a stronger, faster, Julius Peppers here, whom many scouting departments in the country are very, very high on. Yes, his name is not Vince Young and it's not Reggie Bush, but do not think for a moment that just because you haven't read about him ten times a day for the last four months that he is not a serious baller. He is.

Okay, got that out.
 
Grid said:
Hakeem Olajuwan

Im for Bush or Williams.. I think they both have the potential to be game changers at the pro level.
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2 Championships vs. 6 Championships. Which would you choose?
 
Mario is a monster, he would be the game changer on defense. He would cause fear in the offenses just like bush would in the defenses. Either one and we would be good. Would you rather have Babin or Peek on the right side or a Julius Peppers clone?
 
Here are Julius Pepper's stats for last year, compared to averages:

tackles:50 (49.5)
sacks: 10.5 (10)
Forced fumbles: 2 (3.5)
Ints: 0 (0.75)

Is he good? Definitely. Is he a gamechanger on every play? Probably not. I think we can find our "Julius Pepper's" clone somewhere else, personally. I don't think 10 sacks should be all that impossible to achieve for a DE in a 4-3 scheme, and none of his other stats (tackles, forced fumbles, ints, etc) are that impressive. There were 16 players last year who had 10 or more sacks. Maybe he commands a lot of double teams and what not, but even so, Carolina ranked 7th in total defensive sacks compared to our 14th (not that huge of a jump, and only a difference of 8 take downs).

I don't know, I like Williams, but unless he's better than Peppers, I don't think we need to spend our #1 overall pick on the guy. 2 DL players in 2 years 1st rounds in a row? And when you already rank 14th in sacks the previous season? Seems wasteful
 
gtexan02 said:
Here are Julius Pepper's stats for last year, compared to averages:

tackles:50 (49.5)
sacks: 10.5 (10)
Forced fumbles: 2 (3.5)
Ints: 0 (0.75)

Is he good? Definitely. Is he a gamechanger on every play? Probably not. I think we can find our "Julius Pepper's" clone somewhere else, personally. I don't think 10 sacks should be all that impossible to achieve for a DE in a 4-3 scheme, and none of his other stats (tackles, forced fumbles, ints, etc) are that impressive. There were 16 players last year who had 10 or more sacks. Maybe he commands a lot of double teams and what not, but even so, Carolina ranked 7th in total defensive sacks compared to our 14th (not that huge of a jump, and only a difference of 8 take downs).

I don't know, I like Williams, but unless he's better than Peppers, I don't think we need to spend our #1 overall pick on the guy. 2 DL players in 2 years 1st rounds in a row? And when you already rank 14th in sacks the previous season? Seems wasteful
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Travis Johnson was exceedingly a wasted pick, you'll get no argument on me from that. Past that, Williams measurables are all better than Peppers. He is an absolute freak of nature and the very best athlete in this entire draft. I don't have the #'s with me (on my home PC) but I will get them for you later tonight.

From a pure needs standpoint, the argument is probably a little better for Bush, though again we have done a lot to address the O this offseason while doing less to address the D and specifically the D-line. IMO adding either Bush or Williams isn't overkill, since both are phenomenal prospects.
 
Frak The Jags said:
& the $12 million we just gave Weaver is for him to sit the bench? I see us taking Ferguson before Williams.:twocents:
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? Of course not. We play 2 DEs. Which means Robaire either plays DT or takes a seat.
 
Frak The Jags said:
& the $12 million we just gave Weaver is for him to sit the bench? I see us taking Ferguson before Williams.:twocents:
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There are 2 DE positions. If the Texans drafted Williams, he and Weaver would fill them.
 
jerek said:
Okay ... I understand. Bush fan. But let's please:

(a) Quit pretending that we somehow know Bush is assured of Michael Jordan status type success in the NFL. I like the guy as much as anyone else, and in drafting him we assume he will have a long and prosperous career ahead of him. But you are going just a little far here in ascribing that level of guarantee to his success.

(b) Many would say that Mario Williams -- though the less glamorous choice -- is equally a once-in-a-generation type defensive prospect. We are talking a stronger, faster, Julius Peppers here, whom many scouting departments in the country are very, very high on. Yes, his name is not Vince Young and it's not Reggie Bush, but do not think for a moment that just because you haven't read about him ten times a day for the last four months that he is not a serious baller. He is.

Okay, got that out.
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I think the real big thing about Reggie is his work eithic whether its in the game, training, film etc...he is a HARD WORKER....Mario Williams is a great player, no doubt about it....BUT....some people have doubted his motor and intensity on every play of the game...I read somewhere that the past 2 years he hasnt even been the best rated D-Lineman on his team...That went to Lawson...Mario has the ability to be a force and dominate...he just has to to do it on every down...
 
Correct me if im wrong, but i remember, in a 610 interview, Casserly saying there was no way we'd get Mario.:hmmm: This sounds like a ploy to get Reggie to sweat a little bit, contract-wise. I wouldn't take this too serious.
 
AtheGreat said:
Correct me if im wrong, but i remember, in a 610 interview, Casserly saying there was no way we'd get Mario.:hmmm: This sounds like a ploy to get Reggie to sweat a little bit, contract-wise. I wouldn't take this too serious.
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I, for one, Hope you are correct:ok:
 
There's a thread concerning this issue in the Draft forum.

It's just the Texans doing their due diligence. No way we take Williams with the #1 pick.
 
Ibar_Harry said:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3782968.html

May be we won't take Bush or Young. Actually it might get rid of the Bush vs Young thing for the Texans. We are weakest at Defense at this point in time and could make a lot of sense. Probably a whole lot cheaper to, but I'm guessing on that.
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Traditionally, DEs are paid very similarly to RB by draft order, as it is one of the most in-demand "skill positions." I.e. Bush vs Williams taken at the #1 will have very similar salaries, though I am hearing Bush's agent intends to play hardball and get the team for every last penny.
 
jerek said:
Traditionally, DEs are paid very similarly to RB by draft order, as it is one of the most in-demand "skill positions." I.e. Bush vs Williams taken at the #1 will have very similar salaries, though I am hearing Bush's agent intends to play hardball and get the team for every last penny.
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I agree with your by draft order statement. In the NFL, DE's are actually considerably more highly paid than RB's as demonstrated by the franchise tag numbers--$8.3 mil for DE's and $6 mil for RB's. Of all the positions under consideration, RB, DE and QB--if one were to get a discount vs. the draft position (which IMO will not happen) it would be RB.
 
Yawn. Other than making KT wet his pants, this is about as meaningful as teats on a boar. Bush was, is, and will be the pick at #1.
 
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