The Super Mario Experiment Revisited

by Tim on May 29, 2008 1:31 PM CDT in News Comment 11 comments

As the 2007 season progressed, we saw Mario Williams begin to transform into one of those guys who give opposing coaches night terrors. Sure, his physical gifts always demanded he be accounted for on every play, but last season saw Super Mario emerge as one of the top rushing ends in the NFL. Consequently, we also began to see teams attempt to come up with creative ways to contain him. And as your Houston Texans begin to prepare for the 2008 season on the practice field, it's clear that they're going to adjust their schemes to ensure that opposing offensive coordinators have one more thing to think about:

Next season, the team plans to use Williams in more sophisticated pass rush scenarios to help keep him from being double teamed. The defensive end will play on both sides of the line and could move inside in certain situations.

As diehard fans will recall, the coaching staff moved Super Mario around the line quite a bit throughout the first half of the 2006 season, attempting to find the highest and best use for their newest toy, before finally letting him settle in at RDE. Back then, the constant shuffling seemed to unnerve and confuse the rookie; it might have been too much for him to process in conjunction with having to adjust to the speed of the professional game. Accordingly, that plan was scrapped, and Mario was told to do what he does best: Beat the offense off the edge. Now, coming off a season that saw him arrive as the player that the team hoped he would be when he was brought to town in April of 2006, it appears that Smithiak is going to give it another go.

While the first reaction to this news might be to question why the team should fix something that ain't broken, imagine what a smarter, more confident Mario Williams could to on the inside or, more importantly, at LDE in certain situations. Teams would have to key on Mario even more than they already do. Entire game plans and drives could be affected by the uneasy understanding that the team's most dominating pass rusher could line up anywhere on a given play. Despite Mario's earlier frustrations with moving around, isn't it worth taking another shot at it now?

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To answer your last sentence:

Yes.

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go TexanHornStros!

by Shake on May 29, 2008 2:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

All for it...

To a point. I’d imagine that if it starts hindering him again, they’ll ease back off of it.

So, I'm bangin this chick, right...

by beefy on May 29, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t get to watch every Texans’ game since I am a diaspora Texan these days, but I’ve been under the impression that he lined up in different spots on the line quite a bit last season. In the Denver game he got sacks from both ends. In fact, I have the impression that he’s more comfortable at LDE, so I assumed that Weaver or Chaun Thompson (in passing situations) would be lining up at RDE this year. Am I off base here?

by tehGrindCrusher on May 29, 2008 4:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They did and they didn't

They did move him from LDE to RDE but they didn’t put him in the middle – or not that I recall. That first year, he was all over the line, and like Tim said, it only served to frustrate the rookie. If he can start beating centers and guards off the snap from an interior position, he can really disrupt an offenses flow.

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by SOLIS on May 29, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

Remember, it was from the LDE spot that he ate Jay Cutler’s soul.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on May 30, 2008 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mario

Playing him at DT in nickel situations might just work. Mario is a stud. I’ve said that from the beginning. He, Ryans, and Okoye are three of the best young defensive players in the entire NFL.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on May 29, 2008 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to the Neighborhood, BBS

I appreciate that you can appreciate greatness that doesn’t have a horseshoe on its helmet when you see it. We’re coming for you this year!

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on May 29, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expect you to come for the Colts

The Texans have a good, young team. You will recall I always defended Mario, and I often got roasted by Colts fans for doing so. I said Reggie Bush and Vince Young were busts, and Mario was a potentially great DE. At the time (2006), I had writers in our own network calling me an idiot. Some even openly questioned why SB Nation had me blogging, because only a clueless dumb ass would question the “greatness” of Vince Young and Reggie Bush. It was not fun.

Now, per usual, I’m smart and they’re retards. Never question genius. Go Colts! ;)

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on May 30, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Mario

You’re absolutely right; you have always been a vocal Mario backer. Now if you will just admit the error of your ways when it comes to The Schaub, we’ll get you fitted for some Texans gear posthaste.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on May 30, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it possible...

to make him full time quarterback as well? He’s just. that. good.

by ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBuck on May 30, 2008 12:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice analysis Tim

Although Mario clearly has the talent to line up anywhere on the defensive front and make an impact, unless another edge rusher emerges from the pack I think we are best served by letting Mario bounce back and forth between RDE & LDE. I like our rotation at DT a little better than at the ends, heck even Tim Bulman is getting rave reviews from Kubiak. This should help motivate TJ to step it up a little. If Anthony Weaver returns to his pre-free agent mega contract form, then we will be improved on the outside, and maybe Mario could play some on the inside. Either way Mario is poised for greatness this year. Let’s hope the defense can stay healthy, and Houston can once again become a place that opponents do not look farward to.

GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 1, 2008 7:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs