Mario as a OLB in a 3-4 playing the Ware role? I just don't see it. He's a 290 lbs DE that's sole move is a bull rush. Ware is 260 lbs with great quickness and multiple pass rush moves.
I agree, that's the one part I disagree with. I actually think he projects just fine as a 3-4 end (though it would only be about 50% of the time, as the blog articulates).
1. I get that the bigger Lastro fans don't agree at all with my opinions of McLane and get super touchy when I bash him. But to me, he's the guy that dumped the man that made everything happen (Hunsicker) for poor reasons, the guy that dropped Kent and didn't replace him with a desperately needed bat (average, not power)...a move that hung a once n a lifetime rotation out to dry and cost us that WS. I saw a guy that set the budget strictly based on season ticket purchases. A guy that brought in Pupura. A guy that was more concerned with bringing in guys that would sell tickets than building a real team, draining the farm system in the process. You don't have to agree with me at all. I get that their budget has been high, but I believe that he and McNair have both been more concerned with running their teams from a revenue standpoint than a dedicated winning standpoint. Again, you don't have to agree with me one bit. 2. I didn't compare McLane to Sterling. I didn't even say that McNair was Sterling. What I stated was he's heading in that direction. And I want him to show me that he's not going to keep going that direction. What I mean by Sterling is a guy that has been happy to dance around 0.500 forever and is making a big profit every year in the process. He's openly admitted that's his aim. His Clippers are mediocrity in its purest form, a pure business run sports franchise.
Drayton McLane was a GREAT owner but Uncle "D", the guy who took over McLane's brain after 2004, is the guy you are describing.
Thanks for posting this, I found it very informative. I'm not good at the individual differences in the various schemes of head coaches. Sounds like it really is a hybrid scheme that our personnel could transition into far easier than a pure 3-4, especially in the front 7. What I'm not thrilled about is: * His scheme puts a lot of pressure on the secondary to keep a tight seal on their men - the last possible thing we'd want to ask our group to do. * the single gap shooting premise. That really makes any defense vulnerable, especially when facing an OC with half a brain. I get why his defenses rack up nice sack numbers but rarely are top-5 steel curtains. High risk, high reward philosophy. I come away even less happy about the hire. Seems like an easier transition, will help us avoid a big personnel turnover, but may not be a good fix to our biggest issue - struggles in coverage.
As a longtime Cowboy fan and a former Texans fan (not going through another year with Kubiak, I will wait till he is fired) I feel really sorry for you guys. Wade is not what you need. Like Kubiak, nice guy, but ineffective. Personnel changes on the defensive side may help, but if the team improves, it will be despite coaching. I am truly sad about the whole situation, I still love the team, but I can't endure any more pain at this time, need a break.
Does anybody know anything about these coaches that Phillips wants to bring in? The Cowboys have always had a good linebacking core, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the coach had anything to do with that. And ANYBODY has to be better than David Gibbs as secondary coach, right?? RIGHT???
Herring was with the Texans in 02-03 as LB Coach. Outside of that and his current stay in Dallas, mostly a college DC/LB coach. Other than that, don't know much on him. Don't know anything on Brett Maxie
I think out of all the storylines this offseason, Mario Williams' future is the most interesting. Contract is coming up shortly, going to a new scheme and the so-called urgency this up-coming season all go into the discussion. Moving him for high draft picks make sense because it allows Wade to get "his" players but if they are going to try and win RIGHT now then does it make sense to trade one of, if not, the best defensive players on the team?
It won't happen or even be a consideration, but if I were running things, I'd want to go Cuban-style and hire a very full flight of position coaches. The defense, LBs aside, has been awful at developing players. I don't want a secondary coach...I want a secondary coach, a CB position coach and a S position coach. Hell, toss in a FS mentor and SS mentor on top of that. We're talking about no more than a million in total to maximize the value of ~$50M in player salaries per year. With so many young DBs, you have to do this. I'd go so far as to say that Okoye's failure as a lot to do with him coming out so young and not getting the instruction needed. As far as Mario, I'm also in the camp that would go ahead and move him now. I highly doubt they would given his star status/box office appeal. But easier to get value today for him rather than see him struggle in the new scheme first.
Trading talent for magic beans makes me very nervous. Especially with the very real possibility of Kubiak/Wade getting the boot after this year or the next. If I'm McNair I extend Mario this offseason, and if worse comes to worse, I trade him. Otherwise, if Wade can't figure out how to make Mario effective, then he sucks worse than we thought.
Official Transcript of the Wade Phillips Meeting with Bob McNair and Gary Kubiak Order of response left to right. wade: "yup" bob: "yup" gary:"yup" Rick smith: looks around wondering what he's doing at this meeting since it has nothing to do with his job description (according to bob). "yup?" <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ldbaoYmf8rs/TKV4oYL-hRI/AAAAAAAAAs0/9eOKWOWjvcU/s1600/king_of_the_hill_alley.jpg">
Fearless Texans Prediction: Wade gets hired. Mario gets traded because they don't think he's a good fit in the 3-4. McNair finally fires Kubiak after another disappointing season and cleans house, including Wade Phillips. New coach comes in with a new DC and they go back to a 4-3. Mario finishes a hall of fame career somewhere else.
