As Suspected, No One's Getting Canned Until After The Season

by Tim on Nov 13, 2008 8:42 AM CST in News Comment 20 comments

No real surprise that (1) Bob McNair's frustrated and (2) no staff evaluations (read: firings) are going to take place until the season is complete. I've said repeatedly that I'm not a member of the "Fire Kubes!" mob; he's an offensive-minded coach who has made the offense infinitely better since he arrived. Bias aside, the Houston offense would be damn near unstoppable if its QBs could hang onto the ball and/or avoid throwing into double coverage. Consequently, I think Kubes should return for a fourth year unless the players begin tuning him out. At this point, it appears the players are still firmly in Kubes' corner, so I believe McNair should bring Kubes back next year. Kubiak still has plenty of room for improvement in areas that we've documented at length, but I think he's done enough to warrant one more year to work through those issues.

Unless, of course, Kubes insists on bringing Richard Smith back. Should that happen, Kubes becomes a big part of the largest problem on this squad, and McNair would have no choice but to call any bluff along the lines of "If he goes, I go." Judging from some of the things both Kubes and the players have said, however, I don't see that happening. I think Kubes understands that Smith has to go, and he's not going to take a bullet for a defensive coordinator whose decisions and use of personnel surpassed indefensible months ago.

Anyone have any thoughts on the matter? I can't imagine anyone believes Richard Smith should be brought back in 2009. If you're a fervent anti-Kubes guy or gal, let us know why in the Comments below. And feel free to tell us who you want to see as the new defensive coordinator of your Houston Texans next year.

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Wade Phillips?

I suspect that he’ll be fired soon, and I doubt that he’ll be getting another head coaching position anywhere in the NFL, so maybe he’d be willing to accept becoming a DC again. And he’s very good as a defensive coordinator.

Of course, he would bring a completely different philosophy to the defense, so it would require adjustment, but I think he could improve the Texans’ defense relatively quickly.

by Only_A_Lad on Nov 13, 2008 9:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Only Holdup To Wade Phillips

Is, as you noted, that it’d require a switch back to the 3-4, which the Texans have spent the better part of three years transitioning away from. That simply might not be feasible and/or preferable, though there’s no doubt that Wade Phillips is a helluva defensive coordinator.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Nov 13, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mario?

And the truth about transitioning back to a 3-4 is that we’ve got Mario Williams. We spent the #1 overall pick on him and he’s been a beast. Does he fit into a 3-4? Well, I think he could do well in a hybrid scheme where he gets to put his hand down in a 4 man front, as well as stand up and blitz. But you’d be sending him after the quarterback probably 90% of the time. I think we could pull off a hybrid scheme with just one offseason of moves. But I still think I’d prefer to see a 4-3.

by Leein3D on Nov 13, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there anything bad about sending Mario after the QB 90% of the time?

That kinda seems like what we want him to do. I always hated how Smith seemed to think he should put Mario in pass coverage.

Honestly, I don’t know how well a transition to 3-4 would do. I figure that GM Rick Smith, Kubiak, and whomever they interview for the job can evaluate that. But it seems to me that, more than anything else, the Texans need a guy (like Wade Phillips) who is a known defensive guru. Not only will that mean less risk (compared to hiring a relative unknown), it will send a message to the fans.

by Only_A_Lad on Nov 13, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would say no...

but Phillips’ 3-4 is really a 4-3 when you start looking at how he uses Ware. Mario could fill that role, I think.

That said, fuck Wade Phillips.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Nov 13, 2008 9:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just like in the other thread about Wade Phillips

On top of the 3-4 thing – the guy is a cuddly soft old teddy bear. I’ve got nothing against him, but I don’t think he’s a good fit. We already have nice-guy coaches. We got an ass-kicker on the offense – Alex Gibbs, and our running game has improved what – 30 yards per game?

Time for an ass-kicker on the defensive side. Who that is, I have no idea unfortunately.

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 13, 2008 1:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LB Corps

How do you think DeMeco, Adibi, Diles and the rest of the linebackers would fit into a 3-4? I honestly don’t know much about the scheme differences aside from the obvious.

Some teams play games on Sunday...ours goes to War. Go Texans!!!

by JMPeffer on Nov 13, 2008 10:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not bad

Truthfully, DeMeco could play any linebacker position in either scheme. I think ideally it’d be DeMeco and Diles in the middle, with Adibi and Mario on the outside—Mario being the blitzer on basically every play. Although with DeMeco being bigger than Adibi, and more athletic than Diles, you might see DeMeco play outside with Diles and Adibi in the middle. It wouldn’t be the best scenario, but I think they’d do well. On the line, Okam could be our nose tackle with Okoye as an end (where I think he belongs anyway, as a 3-4 end not a 4-3 DT), then rotate guys like Bulman, TJ, Weaver as the other 3-4 end.

by Leein3D on Nov 14, 2008 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Richard Smith will be back...

I hear everyone saying who they want as a Def. Coordinator, everywhere I go… I just don’t see it happening… Kubiak already said that he has just as much if not MORE control of the defense than Smith… I personally think Kubiak is the reason the defense is bad. He’s just not a defensive-minded coach.
I think Richard Smith is just doing what Kubiak tells him to do, to keep his job.
Rick Smith, being the GM, is not going to tell Kubiak to stop controlling the defense, and neither will McNair.
The only change I see coming is 2-3 years later when we clean house AGAIN.
Oh well… At least we HAVE a team, eh?

by NormZinNJ on Nov 13, 2008 1:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

McNair has said publicly

That they will always look at upgrading the coaches. It’s not up to Kubiak. It’s up to McNair. He’s clearly had enough, but – not so much that he wants to pull the trigger now, which I don’t get.

I’ve yet to see one single coherent or sensible explanation of why they shouldn’t can him right now.

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 13, 2008 1:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because letting Smith hang around gets us a better draft pick.

Seriously, though: there’s very little benefit to firing him now. It just creates further chaos in an organization that is just trying to make it through the season at this point. Why fire him now when you can fire him in January? You will (probably) have the same selection of replacement candidates, if not more.

by Only_A_Lad on Nov 13, 2008 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

See, I disagree with that

What chaos? You’ve already got chaos when you have Dunta likely echoing the sentiments of a lot of the defense by defending Kubiak vehemently, then when asked about Smith he says “It is what it is.”

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 13, 2008 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

I don’t have any delusions about the defense getting better under Frank Bush, but I don’t see a problem with Frank Bush getting a second half “audition” for the job. Honestly, that isn’t fair to Bush because the season is already lost, the players are already beat down, and they know they aren’t going anywhere… but the point is you KNOW what you’re going to get with Smith. With Bush, it’s at least a situation where he has the possibility to be better.

Mainly though – the organization needs to send a signal to the fans that they realize things are bad and they’re not going to stand for it.

by HoustonDiehards on Nov 13, 2008 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Kubiak is scheming the defense and running interference for Richard Smith then we have a real problem

I thought he had more sense than that. The offense has improved dramatically under his regime. Maybe if he focused his efforts entirely on that side of the ball he could reduce our rate of turnovers. Leave the defense to a DC who knows defense. If he cannot do that, then show him the door.

I like Kubes. He seems like a genuinely nice person. If he cannot delegate the defensive play calling, however, he is not the coach to take us to the top.

by oiler-texan diehard on Nov 13, 2008 9:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously?

Do you really believe this is the case, or just a hypothetical? It makes absolutely no sense. The title of your post started with “IF Kubiak is…” then you take the tone of actually believing it’s fact. C’mon diehard.

Finally... Games that matter!! (fuck vince young)

by beefy on Nov 14, 2008 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dunno if it is true, but in this thread NormZinNJ stated

Kubiak already said that he has just as much if not MORE control of the defense than Smith
I started with an IF because I never heard Kubiak say that, and was trying to make the point that he has no business running both sides of the ball on game day. That’s all I was tring to say. Kubiak must know he is hanging on by a thread, and that giving someone else control of the defensive play calling as well as not insisting on having the final say on all personnel decisions would be 2 steps towards keeping his job. He is not in the league with Belichick, Holmgren, Parcells, et al who have earned autonomy with an excellent track record.

Peace out & GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Nov 15, 2008 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am a diehard Longhorn fan as well, but it is obvious what Will Muschamp did at UT this year

Don’t know if his rabid style will work at the next level, but he is truly a genius at the college game. LSU and Auburn were the previous beneficiaries of his defensive leadership. It’s obvious that if he does not go to the NFL, he will get an offer to be a head coach in college; maybe soon. Already there are openings at Tennessee, Clemson & Washington. I would much rather see him come to the Texans, than move to another college. Memo to Rick Smith – Call Will Muschamp to see if he is interested.

by oiler-texan diehard on Nov 13, 2008 9:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm neutral

WRT UT, but I would love to see McNair take a gamble on Muschamp.

Also don’t mind the idea of giving Frank Bush a half season audition.

I have a lot of respect for McNair, but this not firing people until the end of the season thing is just insane.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Nov 14, 2008 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree - the D is underpreforming, so why not see what changing coordinators will do

Give Bush a chance. Who knows, maybe he has what it takes. I think we all are sure that Richard Smith is not the guy. The Chron’s Jerome Solomon, says that there is not enough talent, and that Smith is not the problem. I disagree. I feel we have at least as much defensive talent this year if not more, and that the disappointing results point directly to the coaching. We need a change.

McNair – please don’t wait until the season is over.

by oiler-texan diehard on Nov 15, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Solomon is just wrong

I like that he takes a contrarian viewpoint sometimes, but he overstates the degree to which the offensive miscues and bad coaching decisions have affected us in order to make his point. According to FO, we have something like the 31st ranked defense in the league. But there is no way we have less defensive talent than 30 other teams out there.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Nov 15, 2008 10:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs