Mario Williams - #1 pick of 2006 NFL Draft?

[TexasTerror]

All the folks on Houston sports radio are beginning to say that NC State's Mario Williams is going to be the #1 pick for the Texans. Earlier this week, the Texans said it'd be Williams or USC's Reggie Bush with Texas' Vince Young not even on the screen.

Apparently, the thought process comes down to Williams being able to play 60 snaps while Bush may have 20 touches. They're saying signability is also an issue and that finding a star defensive end is tough to come by compared to a pretty good RB.

Not sure what to make of this. I think they are using this as leverage to get Bush to come to terms with the Texans before the draft (similar to David Carr in 2002).

So, the question is, do you need a first-round pick RB/superstar RB to win the Super Bowl? I don't think you do. Do you?

If the Texans pick Mario Williams first, there's going to be a huge debacle in Houston. Lots of people were not happy with Vince Young not being drafted, but they'll even be more pissed if it's Williams over Bush...

From ESPN.com, here's Len P telling it as it is..

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2425818

[ASU Kep]

I still think it'll be Bush, although I think the Texans very well might be better off with Williams. It'll take a brass set not to draft Vince. It'll take a freakin' titanium set not to draft Reggie. I don't know the figures, but fan support might be something to take into account for an organization thats trying to get on it's feet like the Texans.

[TexasTerror]

I still think it'll be Bush, although I think the Texans very well might be better off with Williams. It'll take a brass set not to draft Vince. It'll take a freakin' titanium set not to draft Reggie. I don't know the figures, but fan support might be something to take into account for an organization thats trying to get on it's feet like the Texans.

The Texans have lacked pass-rush since they've been in the league. They are switching their defense up from the 3-4 to the 4-3 and defensive end is definitely a big need now. If they were to get Williams, the last two first-round picks were defensive linemen (Travis Johnson last year).

I think the Texans feel they have all the offensive pieces in place outside of a consistent offensive line. Domanick Davis is a managable back who can definitely catch out of the backfield. They also gave him a nice contract extension, so there's a lot of money already back at the RB position.

If the Texans want Mario Williams, I hope they trade down. I'd rather pick Williams fourth with the Jets' pick while picking up that NYJ's other first-rounder (29th pick) to get Eric Winston, an offensive lineman, another huge need. We'd still have that 33rd pick (1st in 2nd round) that is essentially like having a first-round pick...

[ASU Kep]

Check out ESPN, they say it's a done deal. Mario Williams is this years #1 draft choice.

[dbackjon]

Yup - signed, sealed and delivered.


Reggie Bush cost himself a ton of cash......

[TexasTerror]

The Houston Chronicle has it on their main page...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3828229.html

Charley Casserly is fixing to come on 610 KILT-AM in Houston. I hope to have some stuff from there to post...

[TexasTerror]

Texans' GM Charley Casserly on 610 KILT-AM in Houston...

Casserly says money was not an issue and that they signed the player they wanted...

Casserly says in the last 24 hours, he told Mario that he was the guy and if they reached a deal, it would confirm it...

Said the decision was made in the last 24 hours...

Said Reggie Bush will be an explosive player, but the defensive impact of the Texans needed to be improved saying that it's hard to find defensive end. Said there was a greater need at DE because Texans move to 4-3 from 3-4 defense...

Cassserly said if Bush wasn't in this draft, Williams would be #1 so it came down to offense vs defense, so defense won out, as both players were #1s...

Williams is a "heck of a football player" and the Texans are going to take the best players available, so nothing is certain about the Texans taking a RB in future rounds...

Says Domanick Davis, current Texans RB is ideal for the running game that will be implemented under new coach Gary Kubiak...

Says Williams' attitude is like that of Texans WR Andre Johnson, which is one of the highest compliments he can give...

Casserly reiterated that it's his pick and that the Texans fans should be supportive of the player and take their anger out on him...

Williams compares to Julius Peppers in college says Casserly...

Comparisons being made to 2002 draft when David Carr was rated #1 offensively and Juliuis Peppers was #1 defensively...

[kardplayer]

Lets not forget that the Texans already have Jerome Mathis.

So basically, they already have a good RB (Davis) and a Pro Bowl returner (Mathis) - why would they have drafted Bush?

[TexasTerror]

Lets not forget that the Texans already have Jerome Mathis.

So basically, they already have a good RB (Davis) and a Pro Bowl returner (Mathis) - why would they have drafted Bush?

Mathis has to get himself adjusted. There was a column a few weeks ago that said Mathis wasn't the smartest guy in the world and has made quite a few bad decisions off-the-field. Hopefully, he gets his act together because anytime he touches the ball, he could end up in the endzone...

He's the #4 WR on the depth chart behind Johnson, Moulds and Walter...

[dbackjon]

Texan fan meltdown...

http://www.texanstalk.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1146270608/0

[AppGuy04]

Yeah Mario! Go Wolfpack!

[TexasTerror]

John McClain, the Houston NFL Beat Writer posted an audio report on http://www.chron.com

He says that this is a "shocker" that they bypassed Young and Bush. Said it is sending shockwaves through the first round.

Says the Texans are getting an incredible athlete, the Texans have him equally defensively to Bush offensively and that the Texans convinced Williams on Wednesday night that he was not being used for leverage, which helped seal the deal.

Didn't say anything we didn't know...

[TexasTerror]

Williams on being the #1 pick:

"I always felt like I had an opportunity to be number one," Williams said here Thursday. "Maybe it just clicked in for some other people. It wasn't a surprise to me. I always set my goals high."

A remark from Herm Edwards on taking a good rush guy...

"The rush guys, they don't make very many of them, the real good ones," Kansas City Chiefs Coach Herman Edwards said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in late February. "If you find one, you probably need to get him."

Williams on defensive ends in the draft...

"You're going to have two or three good running backs every year," Williams said. "You had that last year with Cadillac [Williams] and Ronnie Brown. You'll have it next year. As far as a good defensive end, you don't have that every year. When is the last time you had a true defensive end coming out in the draft? I guess it was Julius Peppers four years ago. Plus, a running back has to rely on his blocking. As a defensive end, I can just go out and do my thing, rush the quarterback, and not depend so much on everyone else."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/27/AR2006042702069.html

[Reed Rothchild]

I would have thought Houston would have at least traded down if they weren't going to take Bush.

[TexasTerror]

I would have thought Houston would have at least traded down if they weren't going to take Bush.

They said they were getting no offers, because they very well might have had they were given a chance...

[ASU Kep]

Yeah Mario! Go Wolfpack!

I certainly hope you won't be thinkin' that come September 2nd. :nono: :mad:

[CoastalFan2005]

I, for one, am pissed. This more than likely means that Reggie Bush will now be going to the Saints, who my Panthers have to play twice every year. Drew Brees & Reggie Bush...I didn't expect to have to worry about what the Saints were doing for at least three more years, LoL. :doh:

[TexasTerror]

I, for one, am pissed. This more than likely means that Reggie Bush will now be going to the Saints, who my Panthers have to play twice every year. Drew Brees & Reggie Bush...I didn't expect to have to worry about what the Saints were doing for at least three more years, LoL. :doh:

You really think the Saints are going to keep that pick? I think they're going to trade down and manage to piss of their fanbase in NOLA just like the Texans seem to have done (though I'm somewhat indifferent on the Texans decision as Texans fan)...

[GeauxLions94]

You really think the Saints are going to keep that pick? I think they're going to trade down and manage to piss of their fanbase in NOLA just like the Texans seem to have done (though I'm somewhat indifferent on the Texans decision as Texans fan)...

If they do that (which will cause much more worse of a storm than Katrina), then the moving trucks should be at Saints camp by noon on Saturday.

Please Saints, you can't POSSIBLY screw this one up. :eyebrow:

[catamount man]

This is the best decision the Texans could've made. Davis is a good running back, but this team needs defense and a beast like Williams fits the mold. I'll be checking the tickers all weekend for WCU and App.State players. I honestly feel Jason Hunter from ASU will go in about the 6th and 7th round, and one of our kids will go in the 6th or 7th as well, either Kevin McAlmont or Wendell Singletary. Congrats to Mario and the Texans!

GO CATAMOUNTS!!!

[AppGuy04]

I certainly hope you won't be thinkin' that come September 2nd. :nono: :mad:

You know I'll be torn that game, probably pull for App b/c they will be the underdog

[AppGuy04]

I, for one, am pissed. This more than likely means that Reggie Bush will now be going to the Saints, who my Panthers have to play twice every year. Drew Brees & Reggie Bush...I didn't expect to have to worry about what the Saints were doing for at least three more years, LoL. :doh:

Saints don't need a RB, they need to trade down

[TexasTerror]

From NFL Network pre-draft coverage...

Texans owner Bob McNair compares this the Colts signing Dwight Freeney over Edgerrin James...

Said the Texans have a good offense (which I think with the changes, it will) and needed some more help on defense...

Said he has a responsibility to produce a winning team and that the Texans did not have a pass rush, so they will not win enough games if they can't stop the other team...

Said needs were greater on defense than it was on offense and that it was not a money issue. Said they offered the same money to each Bush and Williams...

[Reed Rothchild]

So what do Houston fans think of Casserly now? I didn't think he did much Washington and now maybe he's headed down the same road in Houston?

[TexasTerror]

So what do Houston fans think of Casserly now? I didn't think he did much Washington and now maybe he's headed down the same road in Houston?

I don't think it matters. Casserly is probably going to get a front office position in the NFL, the position Art Shell has left. Casserly is well-respected in the league and there's no question about it...

And why blame Casserly? He did not have the final say. That final say came down to Gary Kubiak. Kubiak obviously felt comfortable with the offense to the point that he wanted the Texans to pick who the coaches/scout rated equally, if not above Bush as a defensive player.

The offense has many weapons and will come around. Time to see if the defense, which has been in the bottom five, six of the pass-rush the last few years can move on up.

[blackfordpu]

I don't think it matters. Casserly is probably going to get a front office position in the NFL, the position Art Shell has left. Casserly is well-respected in the league and there's no question about it...

And why blame Casserly? He did not have the final say. That final say came down to Gary Kubiak. Kubiak obviously felt comfortable with the offense to the point that he wanted the Texans to pick who the coaches/scout rated equally, if not above Bush as a defensive player.

The offense has many weapons and will come around. Time to see if the defense, which has been in the bottom five, six of the pass-rush the last few years can move on up.

That isn't how it happened according to Casserly. Last night on Sports Radio 610 he was on a tyraid saying that he had the final say. He also didn't do to well in responding to all of the angry calls from Texan fans. The city is pissed off at this pick and I would not be suprised if they lose a few thousand ticket holders.

[TexasTerror]

That isn't how it happened according to Casserly. Last night on Sports Radio 610 he was on a tyraid saying that he had the final say. He also didn't do to well in responding to all of the angry calls from Texan fans. The city is pissed off at this pick and I would not be suprised if they lose a few thousand ticket holders.

Casserly can say he has the final say all he wants. McNair and Kubiak definitely had some say in this, especially since Casserly is on the way out. Casserly is just trying to take some of the hostility away from Mario Williams by saying he's the guy that pulled the trigger.

SportsRadio610 didn't have Casserly taking phone calls last night. He did take calls during his Friday AM show, but they were all about Vince Young so Lance Zierlein, the host went crazy on the fans saying they were wasting time by going back to VY each time. Now, that was nice!

Why should the Texans have over $80M invested in QBs between VY and David Carr? No reason at all. Tired of those T-Sips!

[TexasTerror]

Everyone is asking me, why draft Mario Williams over Reggie Bush?

Because you have invested a great deal of money in Domanick Davis already and your pass-rush has been so ineffective since your first year in the league...

It's easy to find a running back that can get the job done, is it now? How many combined titles did Gale Sayers, Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders win? None. That's right. Teams don't need a player like Reggie Bush to win. Seen the teams that have won lately? All acquired in later rounds or in FA.

You would've done a great job public relations-wise and gotten a player that would've made people excited, but what wins championships? Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said championship teams are built around dominance at quarterback and in the offensive and defensive lines.

Gary Kubiak believes Carr can take him to the Super Bowl. If he didn't feel that way, the Texans wouldn't of given him the extension. The Texans have bolstered their OL through the draft and free agency this year and have done the same on their defensive line, notably with the signing of Anthony Weaver and drafting Mario Williams. You see that big 350 pounder from Pitt?

This pick was perhaps not the ideal pick for the fans, but if Williams is anything the part of Reggie White or Bruce Smith, it will bring the Texans closer to winning the Super Bowl. I could care less who is on this team. I just want to win and the way the Texans have played defense, it doesn't seem like we even had a chance to win.

I'm a diehard Texan fan. I love this team like none else. You better believe I'll stand by the Texans through the ups and downs. As much as I wanted Reggie Bush to be drafted, I want even more to win a Super Bowl. I have faith in Gary Kubiak. He has a system and coaches in place that I feel can win.

Everyone can call me stupid just like the Texans, Charley Casserly or whomever you want to give a hard time, but hey, your all Monday Morning Armchair Quarterbacks anyway! Everyone is a critic! Sit back on that sofa, criticize anything and everything win or lose. That's how it always is and always will be. Trust me, I've heard enough sports radio and read the message boards to know that win or lose, it'll be like that.

All I ask is that you just let me sit back, wearing my Texans watch, waving my Texans 'Reliant Energy Power Towels', singing that crazy ole Clay Walker Texans song and cheering for the team that I look forward to watching every Sunday.

[blackfordpu]

Everyone is asking me, why draft Mario Williams over Reggie Bush?

Because you have invested a great deal of money in Domanick Davis already and your pass-rush has been so ineffective since your first year in the league...

It's easy to find a running back that can get the job done, is it now? How many combined titles did Gale Sayers, Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders win? None. That's right. Teams don't need a player like Reggie Bush to win. Seen the teams that have won lately? All acquired in later rounds or in FA.

You would've done a great job public relations-wise and gotten a player that would've made people excited, but what wins championships? Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson said championship teams are built around dominance at quarterback and in the offensive and defensive lines.

Gary Kubiak believes Carr can take him to the Super Bowl. If he didn't feel that way, the Texans wouldn't of given him the extension. The Texans have bolstered their OL through the draft and free agency this year and have done the same on their defensive line, notably with the signing of Anthony Weaver and drafting Mario Williams. You see that big 350 pounder from Pitt?

This pick was perhaps not the ideal pick for the fans, but if Williams is anything the part of Reggie White or Bruce Smith, it will bring the Texans closer to winning the Super Bowl. I could care less who is on this team. I just want to win and the way the Texans have played defense, it doesn't seem like we even had a chance to win.

I'm a diehard Texan fan. I love this team like none else. You better believe I'll stand by the Texans through the ups and downs. As much as I wanted Reggie Bush to be drafted, I want even more to win a Super Bowl. I have faith in Gary Kubiak. He has a system and coaches in place that I feel can win.

Everyone can call me stupid just like the Texans, Charley Casserly or whomever you want to give a hard time, but hey, your all Monday Morning Armchair Quarterbacks anyway! Everyone is a critic! Sit back on that sofa, criticize anything and everything win or lose. That's how it always is and always will be. Trust me, I've heard enough sports radio and read the message boards to know that win or lose, it'll be like that.

All I ask is that you just let me sit back, wearing my Texans watch, waving my Texans 'Reliant Energy Power Towels', singing that crazy ole Clay Walker Texans song and cheering for the team that I look forward to watching every Sunday.

I have no problem with keeping Carr. I believe he is a diamond in the rough, just needs some time in the pocket and a little QB love from Kubiak.

I also don't really have a problem with picking Williams, I see the need. Davis is a great RB and has had some great seasons recently, he had 1300 yards in 13 games a couple years ago.

Unfortunatly, the entire fan base is not as level headed as you and I. The Texans are going to take a big hit in the PR and ticket sales department because of this (my thoughts). IF they start winning it will bring the fans back.