Mario Williams for Asante Samuel?

[JW295]

Seems like a trade that could benefit both teams. But who do you think it will benefit more? Philly or Houston? (http://thexlog.com/201108250801/xtra-point-football/nfl/trading-mario-williams-for-asante-samuel-would-it-make-sense/)

[Nconroe]

Just my idea, this is a bad , dumb trade for Houston .

You saw two preseason games and you are panicking?

Mario is likely to help Texans defense a lot in front seven this year, he's healthy, good coach, experienced, will play DE or OLB wherever makes sense.

Texans and every teams needs good pass rushers and Mario is in top five in the league and maybe better this year.

Asante Samuel - The worst tackling CB in the league over last three years. 30 years old so getting up there as a CB.

[NBT]

Well said. Give the youngsters just acquired by trade, FA, and the Draft time to assert themselves. Mario should stay.

[barrett]

No way. I would consider any good deal for Mario, but that is a terrible one. Even the article is written from the perspective "philly will get anyone they need to win." Well i don't like playing stooge in a stupid trade to further philly's superbowl hopes.

Now if they offered Rodgers-Cromartie and the 2nd they got from Arizona I would consider it. But samuel is old and overpaid.

[WMH]

This is dumb.

Smithiak is on the hot seat, and they are going to trade thier only proven pash rusher? HIGHly doubtful.

As stated above, 3 quarters of 2 preseason games is not enough to make a judgement for anyone that isn't a blogger or arm chair QB.

May work, may end up @ DE before the year is up, but the notion that the current regime that is fighting for their jobs will trade Mario before or during this season is nothing short of ridiculous.

But hey, your driving yourself quite a few site hits, so congrats. I've been suckered yet again.

[HPF Bob]

If Ed Wade ran the Texans, he'd trade Mario to Philly for some 4s and 5s (okay, that was too easy). :o

Seriously, if Mario can't handle the OLB position in the 3-4 (and remember, kids, I had my doubts) then you move him to 3-4 DE and take what you can get.

But, if someone were to offer Rogers-Cromartie, a 2nd in 2012 and as little as a third in 2013, I'd give it serious thought. That sure beats what we would get in compensation if he goes free agent because he's miscast in a 3-4.

Plus, the more I am seeing of Reid and Watt, the more I want them on the field.

[Nconroe]

If Ed Wade ran the Texans, he'd trade Mario to But, if someone were to offer Rogers-Cromartie, a 2nd in 2012 and as little as a third in 2013, I'd give it serious thought. That sure beats what we would get in compensation if he goes free agent because he's miscast in a 3-4.



Yeah, somewhere around game 15 I would see how things are going, but not yet. I almost can't imagine this sequence occurring.

[barrett]

34 DE is a different animal than the 43 DE so it is not a given that Mario just goes back to DE if this doesn't work. For proof of the difference look at how disruptive Antonio Smith was in Arizona's 34 and then how mediocre he was here, and how much better he has looked this preseason back in a 34. And Watt looks great there. I think I would honestly rather have an uncomfortable OLB Mario at 50% of what he can be as a 43 DE, than move either of those guys. Not to mention we ran our whole draft on the idea mario was playing OLB. My guess is that a trade is not a possibility, Mario will play 16 games at OLB, will not have the impact of past seasons (and it is not his fault), and he is gone for whatever we can get for him after a franchise tag next fall.

[chuck]

34 DE is a different animal than the 43 DE so it is not a given that Mario just goes back to DE if this doesn't work. For proof of the difference look at how disruptive Antonio Smith was in Arizona's 34 and then how mediocre he was here, and how much better he has looked this preseason back in a 34. And Watt looks great there. I think I would honestly rather have an uncomfortable OLB Mario at 50% of what he can be as a 43 DE, than move either of those guys. Not to mention we ran our whole draft on the idea mario was playing OLB. My guess is that a trade is not a possibility, Mario will play 16 games at OLB, will not have the impact of past seasons (and it is not his fault), and he is gone for whatever we can get for him after a franchise tag next fall.

I think you're exactly right on all of this. I doubt the team would get fair value in a trade right now. These new guys are supposed to be defensive gurus so let's give them a year to let them figure out how to use Mario most effectively and let's give Mario a year to try to make it happen and see where we are after the year's over. I'd rather have an uncomfortable Mario playing outside than have him gum up the DL rotation that appears to be taking shape very nicely.

[nunusguy]

Not to mention we ran our whole draft on the idea mario was playing OLB.
Big assumption and the sort of thing that people like us who are not privy to the internal plans/strategy within the Texans organizations can only guess about. My own personal theory is that all the pre-draft rumors about the Texans using their top pick on Mizzou pass-rusher Aldon Smith were for real,
leaving one to further speculate what the Texans planned to do with Mario in that scenario ? The obvious conclusion to draw was that he would remain a downlineman, but knowing he might react unfavorably to such a plan for him to be a 3-4 DE, perhaps they had preliminary discussions with a couple of teams about trading him when the lockout was concluded and a new CBA was in place ?

[WMH]

Big assumption and the sort of thing that people like us who are not privy to the internal plans/strategy within the Texans organizations can only guess about. My own personal theory is that all the pre-draft rumors about the Texans using their top pick on Mizzou pass-rusher Aldon Smith were for real,
leaving one to further speculate what the Texans planned to do with Mario in that scenario ? The obvious conclusion to draw was that he would remain a downlineman, but knowing he might react unfavorably to such a plan for him to be a 3-4 DE, perhaps they had preliminary discussions with a couple of teams about trading him when the lockout was concluded and a new CBA was in place ?

You might be right, but recall that Phillips said Mario would be an OLB way before the draft. While Smith was likely their #1 option, when he wasn't available they moved to Watt, and had an OLB pegged for the 2nd (Reed fell in their laps, but other options were there too). You can't have too many quality LB's in a 3-4, so I think they were just covering bases. I could be wrong of course, but I'm thinking Mario @ OLB has been in the plans since February.

[popanot]

Keep in mind Barwin was coming off an injury and is still a relative unknown since hasn't really played much. They could have been targeting Smith as a replacement or as insurance to Barwin.

[nunusguy]

You might be right, but recall that Phillips said Mario would be an OLB way before the draft. While Smith was likely their #1 option, when he wasn't available they moved to Watt, and had an OLB pegged for the 2nd (Reed fell in their laps, but other options were there too). You can't have too many quality LB's in a 3-4, so I think they were just covering bases. I could be wrong of course, but I'm thinking Mario @ OLB has been in the plans since February.
Did not know that Wade made that statement pre-Draft ? If that's true, then I'm definitely all wet about my theory.

[nunusguy]

Keep in mind Barwin was coming off an injury and is still a relative unknown since hasn't really played much. They could have been targeting Smith as a replacement or as insurance to Barwin.
True on both counts.
Yea, we are really totally lacking experience at OLB which is such an integral part of the 3-4. Mario, Barwin, and all the rookies including Brooks are all coming from a background as 4-3 DEs if I'm not mistaken ?

[barrett]

Big assumption and the sort of thing that people like us who are not privy to the internal plans/strategy within the Texans organizations can only guess about. My own personal theory is that all the pre-draft rumors about the Texans using their top pick on Mizzou pass-rusher Aldon Smith were for real,
leaving one to further speculate what the Texans planned to do with Mario in that scenario ? The obvious conclusion to draw was that he would remain a downlineman, but knowing he might react unfavorably to such a plan for him to be a 3-4 DE, perhaps they had preliminary discussions with a couple of teams about trading him when the lockout was concluded and a new CBA was in place ?

Whether it was the plan before or after Aldon Smith got drafted I have no idea. I do know Mario asked/demanded OLB well before the draft because DE in the 34 is not known as a playmaking role. Wade tagged him an OLB after that. Then they drafted accordingly. They sure didn't take Watt to make him the 3rd DE. And if they had preliminary discussions about trading him (was that allowed in the lockout?), then it still means the plan was no Mario at DE.

The point of my earlier post was to say Mario is not going back to DE now and it is naive to think he could adjust to that new position with no training camp after he couldn't adjust to this new position with a training camp. Mario Williams is our OLB. Smith and Watt are our DEs. I seriously cannot see any way that changes.

[nunusguy]

Whether it was the plan before or after Aldon Smith got drafted I have no idea. I do know Mario asked/demanded OLB well before the draft because DE in the 34 is not known as a playmaking role. Wade tagged him an OLB after that. Then they drafted accordingly. They sure didn't take Watt to make him the 3rd DE. And if they had preliminary discussions about trading him (was that allowed in the lockout?), then it still means the plan was no Mario at DE.

The point of my earlier post was to say Mario is not going back to DE now and it is naive to think he could adjust to that new position with no training camp after he couldn't adjust to this new position with a training camp. Mario Williams is our OLB. Smith and Watt are our DEs. I seriously cannot see any way that changes.
Everything you say may be true, but I wonder what happens if Wade decides that the Texans would have a more effective defense with Barwin & Reed as the starting OLBs and a frontline of Mario & Antonio at DE with JJ at nose ? Since some of us already have reached that conclusion, maybe Phillips has to but that certainly dosen't make it any easier for him & Kubiak to explain and convince Mario about that ? In other words would the big guy take one for the team ?
But I defintely disagree with you about there being a big difference between the 4-3 & 3-4 DE positions, because they are both based upon one-gap schemes as opposed to the traditional 2-gap, containment type of DE most people (including Mario) associate with the 3-4.
And I would hope the Texans just kinda winked at that no-contact-or-discussion-with-other-teams rule supposedly was in place during the Lockout like say the Eagles almost certainly did when it came to discussions about trading QB Kolb ?

[barrett]

Everything you say may be true, but I wonder what happens if Wade decides that the Texans would have a more effective defense with Barwin & Reed as the starting OLBs and a frontline of Mario & Antonio at DE with JJ at nose ? Since some of us already have reached that conclusion, maybe Phillips has to but that certainly dosen't make it any easier for him & Kubiak to explain and convince Mario about that ? In other words would the big guy take one for the team ?
But I defintely disagree with you about there being a big difference between the 4-3 & 3-4 DE positions, because they are both based upon one-gap schemes as opposed to the traditional 2-gap, containment type of DE most people (including Mario) associate with the 3-4.
And I would hope the Texans just kinda winked at that no-contact-or-discussion-with-other-teams rule supposedly was in place during the Lockout like say the Eagles almost certainly did when it came to discussions about trading QB Kolb ?

You really think that there is no difference between 34 DE and 43 DE? No matter the 34 scheme it is different. Ours may be a one gap scheme with more penetration than most 34s, but it is still a whole different position. 34 DE is as close to 43 DT as it is to DE.

And no way do I move a guy who is playing great (Watt), in order to put a guy who is struggling in another new postition. I rotate and play all of the guys I have in the exact way I have been and I hope mario gets more comfortable as he goes.

[nunusguy]

You really think that there is no difference between 34 DE and 43 DE? No matter the 34 scheme it is different. Ours may be a one gap scheme with more penetration than most 34s, but it is still a whole different position. 34 DE is as close to 43 DT as it is to DE.



There's a difference between 3-4 DE & 4-3 DE, but it's not that dramatic when both are one-gap assignment-positions. Certainly not like going from DE with hand on the ground to OLB, which is a giant adjustment.


And no way do I move a guy who is playing great (Watt), in order to put a guy who is struggling in another new postition. I rotate and play all of the guys I have in the exact way I have been and I hope mario gets more comfortable as he goes.
Yes perhaps Mario is struggling at OLB, but we need to get our best players on the field and he's a Pro-Bowl DE while it appears our best edge-rushers from the OLB positions are Barwin & Reed, while the move of Watt to NT is intriguing and this gets all of our best frontend playmakers on the field at once.

[painekiller]

Yes perhaps Mario is struggling at OLB, but we need to get our best players on the field and he's a Pro-Bowl DE while it appears our best edge-rushers from the OLB positions are Barwin & Reed, while the move of Watt to NT is intriguing and this gets all of our best frontend playmakers on the field at once.

I get that concept, get the playmakers on the field and tell them to make plays. Watts makes plays where ever he is, well at least that is what he did at Wisconsin. So the premise is not far fetched.

[barrett]

There's a difference between 3-4 DE & 4-3 DE, but it's not that dramatic when both are one-gap assignment-positions. Certainly not like going from DE with hand on the ground to OLB, which is a giant adjustment.


Yes perhaps Mario is struggling at OLB, but we need to get our best players on the field and he's a Pro-Bowl DE while it appears our best edge-rushers from the OLB positions are Barwin & Reed, while the move of Watt to NT is intriguing and this gets all of our best frontend playmakers on the field at once.

It is a big difference. Why do you think the DL in a 34 is sometimes referred to as LT, NG, RT. They are as much like a DT in a 50 front as they are like a DE. They line up inside and face different types of blockers. They play in traffic and get cut way more. The physical toll is greater. Athleticism is not as valuable and hand fighting is more valuable. None of this has to do with one gap vs 2 gap, it is about playing inside vs outside. It is a big adjustment and a guy who has never done it cannot be reasonably expected to make the switch with a week of preseason practice and no game time.

As for the playmakers on the field, you are operating on the theory that 7 guys play in front 7. That is not the case. Guys rotate on all downs, and on 3rd down, Mario is likely to be lined up with a hand on the ground like a 43 DE anyways. Watt and Smith are as likely to be lined up inside in a 4 man front or an unbalanced 3 man front with a standing LB/DE.

On first and second down we do not need to get smaller and get more playmakers on the field. We need to keep doing what we are doing and hope Mario gets more and more comfortable.

[nunusguy]

What may be surprising to some fans, if they didn't watch closely, is that Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed were the outside linebackers on seven snaps in the first half. A foreshadowing, possibly? http://www.examiner.com/houston-texans-in-houston/on-mario-and-stat-sheets?CID=examiner_alerts_article
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It would seem that Texans observer/writer Alan Burge is himself also already ahead of the curve on what the composition of the Texans' 3-4 lineup will be ?

[Joshua]

What may be surprising to some fans, if they didn't watch closely, is that Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed were the outside linebackers on seven snaps in the first half. A foreshadowing, possibly? http://www.examiner.com/houston-texans-in-houston/on-mario-and-stat-sheets?CID=examiner_alerts_article
*************
It would seem that Texans observer/writer Alan Burge is himself also already ahead of the curve on what the composition of the Texans' 3-4 lineup will be ?

Pretty good read. I guess I'm still taking a wait-and-see approach on Mario, although I do find all this "he's learning a new position" talk somewhat misplaced. Isn't Barwin learning a new position (for the second time in about 3 years) and coming off a major injury? Isn't Reed being asked to make essentially the same transition as Mario (as well as a being a rookie)?

The article raises an interesting issue about Reed and Barwin and this bears watching as the season progresses. While it's still early, it's not inconceivable that the 2 best OLBs on this team will be Barwin and Reed. However, I would be shocked if Mario was demoted, even if these 2 were outplaying him. This will put Kubiak and Wade in a tough situation if Mario is not outplaying one of them. If it plays out this way, it will be very interesting to see how the coaching staff handles it. And I don't see him moving back to DE, as Antonio Smith and Watt are both playing great right now. No way he takes one of their spots either.