I'm pretty happy with Mario's play, he needs to develop as a top level pass rusher but he seems to play very well against the run and he seems to be the most atletic DE every time he steps on the field. He is so young and he has the first pick attached to his name so I'm really not sure when folks will come around to Mario being a good player with potential to be great.
Mario carries the burden of being the first pick in that draft. He will take heat until he starts truly impacting games more.
i think we need to get more creative with our defensive schemes overall, not just with mario. problem is we dont have the personnel. if we could sign terrell suggs in the offseason, now then we'd be in a good position to switch guys to 3-4 or 4-3. its a dream though.
To be fair, two points: * He only carries that burden in the minds of those who see it that way (I don't, Kubiak doesn't, etc.) If folks think the Texans should, that's one thing (and yes, I see where they're coming from). But I don't, and Kubiak is on record saying he doesn't (iirc). * He wouldn't carry that burden if he were traded or somehow landed on another team
He NEEDS to carry that burden. The Texans have spent huge money on him with that pick. They used that pick on him instead of using it on every other player in the draft. With that comes great reward...but also a lot of scrutiny. That's the way it is. My hope is that burden pushes him to become the kind of player you would expect your team to draft with the #1 pick.
And that other player would have been Vince Young had we not extended David Carr's contract due to Kubiak's evaluation. But that is done.
...on talk radio, Internet bulletin boards, at the water cooler, and in the armchairs. But not on the practice field at Reliant Park, if the Texans' brass is to be believed. And not as far as I'm concerned, either. I mean, I see where you're coming from and I don't fault you for it, but I just don't see it that way myself.
You honestly believe the organization that's paying him that money doesn't expect more out of him based on what they're paying him and where they picked him?? How can you not have higher expectations for someone in that position? There's nothing wrong with expecting more. If he ends up being a fairly average to good DE, then it was a wasted pick in my mind. Because you could have picked up a fairly average to good DE in the 3rd round...and gotten a lot more for your money. At some point this franchise has to bring in playmakers.
Yes. Because they said so. Call me gullible. And in the mind of many. But not in mine. Again, I see where you're coming from. I just don't feel that way. The pick is done. In my mind they are two separate issues: Mario's play is one, and the Texans' drafting is another. I will not evaluate Mario based on something that was utterly beyond his control.
That's fair. But in a salary cap sport...or any sport where there's only so much money to go around...you have to get more out of the guys you're paying more. Presumably they're paid more for a reason. And my blame really wouldn't be for Mario in being taken first. It would be for the Texans in taking them there...when they could have had similar talent much further down in the draft. We keep saying, "man this team has so many holes." That's what happens when you keep drafting this way. Having said that...my earnest hope is that Mario gets a lot better and starts becoming a real force on the line. I just haven't seen that yet.
I'm not exactly sure removing him from the line and trying him at another position is a complete positive from the organization/brass. I still have hopes for Mario, but I'm not sure what statement this is making from the Texans.
Sounds to me like the Texans and just "trying" to find a fit for this guy to justify the #1 overall pick and the millions wasted on him. You don't take a guy #1 and then experiment and try to find a position for him on the field. This is equilavent to taking JaMarcus Russle and putting him at strong safety once you figure out that he can't throw.
He got paid like a number 1 pick. how is this even an argument? he was the #1 pick. you can't change that. i agree, but the past is the past. if russell is a better safety then quarterback, why wouldn't you do that? I just don't see how, at this point in the season, you can make the switch, though. maybe something to mess with in the offseason, or later in the season when they have less to play for...
Reggie Bush was a slot receiver last year. That didnt stop people from saying he 's a better pick than Mario.
Mario's problem seems to be motivation to me. The guy performs in streaks, something he did towards the end of college as well. Also does it seem to you guys like we call that one blitz play, where the outside lineman blitz outward, a lot? never works though.
I'm personally wary of converting DE into LBs. The LBs have to think and react more and quicker than any other players on defense, while the ends think/react relatively little if at all. It's crucial difference, and requires a lot of time and experience to make the switch. If it happens, I hope it only happens in obvious situations. I don't know if they think he can defend the flat as opposed to just blitzing on passing downs. Off-hand, it doesn't sound like a sharp idea. Though I'd love to see any upgrade in our limited-range OLB spots. Evan
Ya...while Mario is an athletic freak, playing LB is way different that rushing the QB every down. He definitely has the ability to play LB, but I honestly don't know if he has the smarts/reaction to be good at it. I don't want to overreact, but this is the first signs of Kubiak giving up on Mario. When you start talking about position change, you're talking about the player's inability to produce at his original position. Very disappointing considering how much we've invested on this guy. One thing is for sure, if Mario can play OLB well, our LB core would be nasty.
