They may think they need Bush, but, if he couldn't really bust free against Texas in the Rose Bowl — he did have one big play, but he tried to lateral and turned it over — how's he going to do it against bigger and faster defenses behind a bad offensive line? And what happens if he blows out a knee?

What Houston needs — what every team needs — is somebody who can control the line of scrimmage on defense, somebody who strikes terror into the hearts of opposing quarterbacks, somebody like White, the person Williams is most often compared to, who can dominate the opposing offense.

You can't win if you can't stop the other guys. But if you can stop them, even with a challenged offense, you have a chance.

For illustrations, think back to the Lions during Barry Sanders' days — exciting as all get out to watch, but basically a failure as a team. Then think about last year's Bears — an offensive game plan that consisted of three-play sequences, nearly every one of which was succeeded by a punt, but they through one round of the playoffs on the strength of their defense. Then think about the Super Bowl champion Ravens. Again, they had no offense to speak of, but they won because they had one of the greatest defenses ever to take the field.

New England won its first two Super Bowls without a premier running back. The Giants won their second title with a superannuated O.J. Anderson, who had lost so much speed he couldn't outrun the Lincoln Tunnel, grinding out three and four yards at a time. Much as everyone loves Jerome Bettis, he wasn't exactly O.J. Simpson for the Steelers last year, either.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

I've already said that Bush is one of the only running backs I've ever seen worthy of the first pick. That doesn't mean he's the right pick for Houston, though, not when the Texans can have anybody they want. Bush is the best back in the draft and one of the best that's ever come into the league.

But Mario Williams is the best player.

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