His morning on local sports radio, the primary Texans discussion was that of team owner Bob McNair. In a recent interview with every Texan fans favorite Houston Chronicle sports writer, Bob said some things about the teams current roster that have received mixed reactions from fans, to say the least.
First he talked about how much he liked DeMeco Ryans. Also Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. What owner wouldn’t like those guys? He also said he loved what Antonio Smith and fan favorite Bernard Pollard have brought to the defense. But, apparently, he loves Brian Cushing like a first born son.
“There’s not anybody on that field more intense than Brian, and the players know that,” McNair said. “When he’s off the field, he’s sort of mild-mannered and very nice. He steps on that field, and he’s a different person. He’s a tiger. Even when he comes off the field sometimes, other players will try to joke with him, and he’s about to ready to attack them. He cares that much about it. He pays the price. He works hard. That’s the kind of intensity I think is good. Pollard brings that kind of intensity, too. You have to have it on defense. Defense is emotional. I’m hoping it’ll rub off on Mario. If Mario could develop that kind of intensity with his athletic ability, oh my goodness.”
He also said kind of the same thing about Amobi Okoke, but everyone knows where I stand on him. But the end of the quote, that part about Mario, is what has some fans in an uproar. But it got me to thinking. It’s not like he said Mario was crap, right? I mean, almost all of us are happy with Mario, but believe that he still hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. Or am I alone in this belief?
The casual NFL fan will look at Mario Williams stats from last year and see “only” nine sacks last season. Then, maybe, they’ll notice that his numbers did drop off in every category. But, what the stat sheet doesn’t tell you is things like how Mario was completely dominant against the run in 2009. He also was supposedly playing through injury all year. But, fans demand results. Which is fine by me. I’m simply saying you should do your homework before looking at a guys stats for the year and saying he was a disappointment because he didn’t register 15+ sacks.
I have no problems with challenging a player to be better. And if you have to do that through the media to get it done, fine by me. A lot of fans and critics, including myself, have accused Bob McNair of not caring enough about winning. At least not as much as about how much profits line his already deep pockets. But I’m good with this move. In all truth, I don’t think the point of his interview was to motivate Mario. I think it was simply to praise Brian Cushing, who will be under serious scrutiny for the rest of his NFL career because of his four game suspension for violating the NFL’s steroid abuse policy. Knowing that the owner is behind him should be a boost to Cushing’s confidence.
That’s all this interview was, in my opinion. But the people who are still dead set on the 2006 Draft and if Houston made the right pick (for god sakes, yes they did. Let it go all ready…) or not, any Mario criticisms are met with some kind of reaction from fans. Be it positive or negative.
So, like I said, I’m fine with what Bob McNair said. If he thinks Mario still has room to improve his game, well then he and I are in total agreement there. It doesn’t mean he thinks Mario is a bust. The guy is a multiple pro bowler who has totaled 35 sacks in the last three seasons while being double teamed and having virtually no pass rush help on the line with him. The guy is far from a disappointment. This team has way larger glaring issues that should be met with those critiques.
But, hey…at least we’re talking about football again in Houston. And that’s always a good thing.
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Tags: Amobi Okoye, Andre Johnson, Antonio Smith, Bernard Pollard, Bob McNair, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, Matt Schaub