a big OLB - Mario Williams

[adbutcher]

I don't think Mario Williams will play 3-4 OLB...he's too big, too thick...great 4-3 DE, but not athletic enough.

I would expect him to line up at 3-4 DE most of the time and pass rush from his usual spot in the nickel, with his hand on the ground.

Indeed. I see a future of wheel routes, flares, swing passes and over loads to his side. The offensive coordinators will make him cover similar to what OCs did to Ellis when he was here.

 

[Shinywalrus]

Worth keeping in context, though, that coverage responsibilities are still likely to be quite limited. Houston's 43 actually required Mario to go into coverage more than most 43 ends - I actually think he was pretty close to the top in terms of drops into coverage at that position.

Mario probably dropped 20-30 snaps. I think Ware was somewhere in the 60-70 range.

We're not talking a huge number here over the course of the season.

The transition to OLB will be more about technique and initial leverage and angles. It's a real difference. He'll get it quickly and be dominant.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Has there ever been s OLB that big ever?

 

[adbutcher]

Has there ever been s OLB that big ever?

They will spread him out or motion extra WRs to his side and force him to cover. He won't be playing outside long.

 

[Wolfpack]

Thats Mr. Fixit at work.

Square peg...meet round hole.

 

[adbutcher]

Thats Mr. Fixit at work.

Square peg...meet round hole.

I think Wade is blowing smoke. Unless the texan's other LBs and Secondary are excellent in coverage, which we know they are not, Wade will be begging to get exploited.

 

[DawnOfANewD]

Wonder why people stupidly think he'll be playing OLB every single snap. It'll be situational. More like 80% hand on the ground at DE in a Smith-Watt-Williams rotation and Reed-Barwin starting at OLB.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Yea I don't see how weight is a concern if your OLB is a athletic freak, fast and long. Mario will be fine in that role.

 

[realtick]

Doesnt surprise me one bit; I've been predicting that this was the direction the position was going to go. I do think he'll still play with his hand down on some situations, but will likely be stood up on obvious passing downs. BTW, its already been stated, but Mario Williams is an athletic freak. He's got more athletic ability than some 34 OLBs in the league.

 

[Chuck 54]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...llips-planning-to-move-williams-to-linebacker

Yes, I'd already read the story, but this is my opinion...he won't cut it there...too big, too tall, too slow out of a 2-pt stance.

They are going to try him there, but he'll end up at Bruce Smith's old spot, hand on the ground, DE...usual 3-4 DE spot on some downs, same as 4-3 DE in the nickel.

I don't believe a guy that big and tall can get it done at OLB...even when you say you'll rush him every play, offenses will find ways to take advantage of his limitations as a stand up player.

It's one thing to be athletic from having your hand on the ground outside the OT, but you stand up a guy who's 6'7", you're asking for trouble...he won't be quick enough from that position, imo...we'll see.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Doesnt surprise me one bit; I've been predicting that this was the direction the position was going to go. I do think he'll still play with his hand down on some situations, but will likely be stood up on obvious passing downs. BTW, its already been stated, but Mario Williams is an athletic freak. He's got more athletic ability than some 34 OLBs in the league.

I agree. People are looking at weight and height. They obviously haven't seen Mario Williams play. He's a big guy but athletic and fast.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Mario's an athletic freak. I think he can do it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

He's an athletic freak by 4-3 strongside defense end standards. He's not that amazingly explosive or fast by 3-4 OLB standards.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

It really surprises me to see people saying anything about Mario Williams being big and thick and being a liability in coverage.

I haven't seen the guy play a ton, but when I have, he looks like quite a terrific athlete. I'm sure he'll drop some weight, but I could see him at 275 moving around just fine at OLB. He's no Greg Ellis.

 

[xwalker]

Mario Williams Combine:
6'7", 295 lbs
4.7 fourty
4.37 shuttle

Anthony Spencer Combine:
6'3", 261 lbs
4.7 fourty
4.43 shuttle

 

[nalam]

Mario Williams is 290 like Julius Peppers is 290, as in all he's going to need to do is drop down to about 280 and he'll be as ripped as most other guys at the position are at 255.

All thats good for pass rush , but can he cover anybody ?

 

[realtick]

Cowboy fans love to talk about D. Ware is so different from other passrushers because he's a complete LB that goes into coverage. I think it's a bit overstated. Ware drops into coverage, but when is the last tome you've seen him chasing down a TE or RB stride for stride other than the Seahawks preseason game in '05?

 

[Shinywalrus]

Cowboy fans love to talk about D. Ware is so different from other passrushers because he's a complete LB that goes into coverage. I think it's a bit overstated. Ware drops into coverage, but when is the last tome you've seen him chasing down a TE or RB stride for stride other than the Seahawks preseason game in '05?

It's true, and it's becoming more true. Ware went into coverage around 10% of the time in '08, but that number has fallen every year.

 

[Dough Boy]

but when is the last tome you've seen him chasing down a TE or RB stride for stride other than the Seahawks preseason game in '05?

Maybe not the last, but more recent than the Preseason game in '05.

This guy is unbelievable. When it comes to timing the snap count, beating the tackle, not to mention making some of the game's best, like Seattle's Walter Jones, look like rookies and getting the quarterback to the ground, Ware is in a class of very few.
But the scary part is that it doesn't stop there.
Just look at the last two games for all the proof needed. Against San Francisco, here's Ware running stride for stride with 49ers tailback Frank Gore on what the offense figured to be a mismatch. We've got a Pro Bowl-caliber back streaking down the field against an outside linebacker, basically a defensive end. But when it comes to pure athleticism, Ware has Gore beat, and most running backs, too.
Ware stayed with him the entire play and knocked the ball out at the last second.
Covers the pass? Check.
And against the run? That might even be the best part of his game.
His teammates think so.
"I think he's just as good or better against the run than he is as a pass rusher," veteran linebacker Zach Thomas said. "And he's leading the league in sacks. That just tells you. Usually you don't have a guy that can play both the run and the pass. Usually if they're a great pass rusher teams try to run right at them because they're kind of light. But with DeMarcus it's not that way." http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=FA2C78AD-A965-1CCC-F4212363D8F71147

 

[adbutcher]

Yes, I'd already read the story, but this is my opinion...he won't cut it there...too big, too tall, too slow out of a 2-pt stance.

They are going to try him there, but he'll end up at Bruce Smith's old spot, hand on the ground, DE...usual 3-4 DE spot on some downs, same as 4-3 DE in the nickel.

I don't believe a guy that big and tall can get it done at OLB...even when you say you'll rush him every play, offenses will find ways to take advantage of his limitations as a stand up player.

It's one thing to be athletic from having your hand on the ground outside the OT, but you stand up a guy who's 6'7", you're asking for trouble...he won't be quick enough from that position, imo...we'll see.

:madden: