1st half observations (saints game)
 

The whole offense was obviously fantastic.

I was very concerned about James Casey but not anymore. They were far smarter about using him than I thought. I figured casey at FB meant we would have casey trying to be leach. But by splitting him out early and throwing 2 passes to him right away, they made the saints account for him. Then the rest of the game, anytime they motioned him out, a LB went with him and that is the best blocking job a man can do. Especially with a guy like Foster who thrives on space. And he has yet to miss a block when they do leave him in. I am a believer now.

The defense got pressure which was nice. We still can't cover. But that's better than not covering and not pressuring.

We have an extremely tall front 7 and someone has obviously coached them up about getting there hands up. Good to see.

Cushing looked bad early. Not bad later in the half. Adibi looked bad against the run. Unless Ryans and Cushing really play well our pass defense will be about 100 yards a game improved from last season because nobody will have to pass against us.

Mario looked much more comfortable, but had little impact. I think he made a mistake in asking for the switch. Watt and Smith are making plenty of plays out of this style 34. Everybody is getting up the field, even the DL. Mario would probably have been more of an impact player at DE. As it is, he looks a little unnecessary out there to me. Not bad, but not Mario williams good. I would deal him right now if some 43 team would make a great offer.

Glover Quinn looked very good at FS. Had plenty of pop and filled the alley well. I am not as worried about his tackling/size after tonight.

And ben tate looked really good. Not sure what we will do with him, but he looks like a real RB. It should make Foster's contract negotiations go easier on us if nothing else.

And Foster is just as patient and smooth as last year. Amazing for a guy with his size/speed.

Mario at OLB is a need to succeed for the Texans. He's too good a player to waste.

Tate at RB if it wasn't a fluke will be awesome. Foster, Ward, Tate, and Slaton give the Texans a complete stable. Offense is very deep and should stay so for a couple of years with few draft picks. The offense may need a offensive linemen or two, but that is it.

IMO, they should try Mario at DE and Watt at NT. I know that's not what they drafted Watt for, but I think he'd be OK there with his motor and strength, and probably wouldn't be insulted by the move since he's a rookie and with the type of personality he has. It's the lessor of the two 'out of postition' evils/moves, IMO. It also allows you to put Reed/Braman/Adibi/Nading at OLB and provides even more depth at NT. While Mario hasn't looked awful at OLB, he doesn't look fluid and I don't think he ever will. He just doesn't have the body type, speed and active moves a 3-4 OLB needs.

As for trading him, it's a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation. Mario has high value right now to a 4-3 team. The problem is, what if the wheels fall off again on the Texans this year? Will this coaching staff (i.e., Phillips and his 3-4) even be around? With that in mind, I'd be a little reluctant to deal him and certainly reluctant to deal him for a run stuffing NT. What would the Texans be looking for as compensation? I'd want at least a high #1 for him, but I think it's a fairly limited market for a pick in the high Round 1 range. A (late) number#1 and Assante Samuels, perhaps?
Or how about Maclin and Samuels? :p We need a PR/KR too, you know... :) I know, no way...

As for trading Mario, one other thought... what if he doesn't want to come back to Houston? He can walk away as a free agent while the Texans get nada (though I suppose the Texans might get a compensatory pick depending on other factors). But, if this is a runaway train in the making, then yeah I definitely think the Texans should listen for offers.

A high pick - plus the added 2012 cap room by not carrying a newly signed Mario - could fuel long-term success if Mario is not destined for 3-4 greatness as a Texan.

They wont get a first round pick for Mario. Osi Umenyiora was a force last year with the sack fumbles and no one wanted to give up a first rd pick for him. Mario was good last year but not Osi good.

Couldn't they F-Tag him and then trade him?

Don't we still have the option to franchise Mario in the event that he won't willingly resign and wants to go directly into free agency after this season where we'd perhaps get nothing but a compensatory pick for him, or under the new CBA has that franchise option now been eliminated ?

Yep, the tag is still around. I think you can only use it on a player once or twice...don't recall, but I know its still around.

Might be blind faith thru battle red kool-aid glasses, but I can't see Mario getting out of here without some sort of compensation, even if its a tag and trade.

I'm not cashing him in just yet. If he's still where he is now by week 3 or 4, I might be singing a different tune, but there's only so much you should take away from 3 quarters of 2 preseason games. Phillips has been doing this a LONG time, if he thinks it will work, then I'll buy it until I see differently in a REAL game or three.

Yes they could. If they F-tag him and can't trade him though, his salary is guaranteed, so hopefully the Texans would be ok paying him when he (in this scenario) is not part of their plans.

so are you saying that if a team franchise tags a player they can't then work a long term deal out with him before the season?

seems to me if they tagged him, and anotehr team wanted to trade for him they could, and would then work out a long term deal.


did the rule change with the new cba?

No change I am aware of. Just saying above that the team could tag Mario to extend the amount of time the team has available to make a trade. They could also work out a long term deal as well. Would like to think that if they wanted Mario long term, they would try their best to work that out before having to tag him.

I agree with this, way to early, and I hope Mario has a great year and stays a Texan for a long time.

Overall, the defense has gotten 11 sacks and allowed fairly few points to what is considered high powered offenses. I guess if Mario had 1 or 2 of those 11 sacks we would be feeling better right now.

I guess defense teamwork on run prevention and secondary still was weak at start of last game but seemed to get better as game progressed.

The offense had a quick start, why was that, due to two short passes to Hback Casey?