Saturday, November 11, 2006
Is Mario Williams Worthy of His #1 Pick?
When Paul Tagliabue called out Mario Williams' name while the Houston Texans were on the clock with the first pick in the 2006 NFL draft, I didn't believe it. When the Wolfpack defensive end shook the Commish's hand and held up a Texans jersey, I was still stunned. But now, midway through the NFL season I am a little bit less bewildered, but more intrigued by the Texans' first overall selection.
On an overachieiving 6-2 New Orleans Saints team, Reggie Bush has played far below expectations. In a league in which running backs are the most likely to achieve immediate success on the field, Bush is still waiting for his first 100 yard game and first rushing touchdown. Bush has shown off his versatility, averaging just under 6 receptions per game to go along with his 17 punt returns this year, including one for his only career TD. But at just 2.6 yard per carry I expected more from Bush and I think others did too.
Meanwhile, Mario Williams is quietly having a promising rookie campaign down in Houston, Texas. Although he struggled at first, Williams now has 4.5 sacks on the season and one in each of his last three games.
So, we are at the midseason point in the National Football League and you are the Texans GM...you have a mulligan in your pocket. You can go back in time and re-draft, this time taking Reggie Bush. Do you tee it up again and this time take the Trojan RB, or do you stick with Mario?
8 Comments:
I'd still take Reggie. He's not having great success running, but I think that's more about his mindset (always going for the big play). I think he'll be fine as a runner, and as he's already shown he's a great weapon as a receiver and returner.
Obviously the pick isn't quite as bad as I originally thought, but I'd still go with Reggie #1.
i'd trade down, get d'brickshaw and another 1st/2nd round lineman.
or am i wrong to assume that the texans still haven't addressed their most glaring need, a decent O line?!?
I would have taken Marques Colston. How did that dude last till the seventh round?
Bush just got his first rushing TD of the year, but the lock for the rookie of the year is Colston. 3 picks away from receiving the title Mr. Irrelevant, he has 7 touchdowns and 869 receiving yards. What a stud.
T Dawg... so you'd have the EXACT same draft strategy as the Jets, save the trading down?
Or would you use your mulligan to take hometown boy Vince Young? Like Reggie, he hasn't been brilliant so far, but few QBs are when they're that raw.
I'm a Vince Young fan... but I still say you take Reggie Bush (if we're talking about players and not marketing).
FYI - Elvis Dumervil has 6 sacks in 4 games. Not that he's necessarily better... but the NFL draft is more oabout being a freak than an investment these days.
I admit, I was a little puzzled at the choice made by the Texans given the fact that all signs seemed to pointing to Bush. But, given what we had at the time, it was a sound choice. We had Domanick Davis, who was a solid running back. How were we to know at the time that he was going down with a season ending injury? If I had the pick over again I would seriously have considered looking for an offensive line player - either through the draft or danling it as trade bait for a veteran O-Line.
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