Keep Kubiak
by JMay on Dec 6, 2009 5:25 PM CST
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PrintMany people are calling for Kubiak's head, but let's remember where he brought us from:
2005: 30th in offense, 253. yards a game, the year before he was hired.
31st in defense, 364 yards given up a game
2008: 3rd in offense, 383 yards a game.
22nd in defense, 337 yards a game
2009: 8th in offense, 372 yards a game (before today)
17th in defense, 334 yards a game
Now, for those of you who thought we should be a playoff contender last year, you are delusional. The Texans had a long way to go and when they drafted Amobi Okoye, they admitted that. They still needed three years at that point. This is the third year and we could have expected at least a playoff drive this year. We made it to the twelfth week, which isn't good enough, I admit. But the season has had a lot of close, heart wrenching losses. Many people say that's on the coach. But Kubiak didn't fumble on the one. Kubiak didn't miss two kicks that could have sent us into overtime. That's not on the coach. The mistakes we've made and the inconsistency comes with the territory of a young team (the previous said mess ups being veterans not withstanding). In fact, we have the youngest starting line up in the NFL. BY FAR
My biggest point is that building a winning team, when you start with nothing, takes patience. Despite what you might think, the Texans are building something. Progressing. Canning Kubiak would set us back at least three years. Building a new system, getting players that fit that system, etc. A new coach would find out what Kubiak and Texans fans have come to realize: we are a young team without depth (see injuries to mediocre players costing us because we then turn to inferior players, ie Busing). With expectations that come before realism.
Here's my charge and my claim: give Kubiak one more season.
If you don't, we MIGHT make the playoffs next year. But we won't have a winning foundation. And we won't make it the next year. So, one playoff trip in two years and ensuing mediocrity, or perpetual mediocrity might be a better description.
If you do keep Kubiak, I see playoffs in at least 4 out of the next 5 years.
If he doesn't make it next year, can his ass.
JMay
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why is it automatic
that a change means we won’t have a winning foundation?
What if we make a good hire, who drafts well, utilizes our talent, and wins the close games?
Its a long shot to take a group of players, change systems, and make the playoffs in the first year, I admit. But that doesn’t mean we’d be headed in the wrong direction just because of a change at the top.
If that were the case, if we made the change after next season as you propose, we’d be doomed in 2011 and beyond.
Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.
LMAO
Ok Mrs. Kubiak, get the hell off the computer, take your ass into the kitchen and make me a turkey pot pie while I kick your husband’s ass. :)
Rumplestiltskin
by jahunter221 on Dec 6, 2009 6:16 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Completely disagree
It’s easy to say “Look what Kubiak did for us”. we went from a Defensive coordinator who had’nt tried to be a head coach until he started with expansion draft players with no sense of bond. clearly our Offense was going to be poor under him. Then we bring in a great offensive mind after the team had gained some continuity and our offense becomes good. We remind me of the early 2000’s Chiefs teams right now. Huge offense but it never amounted to anything but hope.
My case. We are in a rut where we think we are doing better than we are. Kubiak elevated us but in the grand scheme of the NFL, is a mediocre head coach. His record proves it. His ability to make players play proves it. Will we make the playoffs under Kubiak? With time yes. But not consistently until Manning’s career ends. He is the only reason the Colts continue to win. We need a different coach if we’re going to elevate our players over the level of “Close losses vs. good teams and narrow victories against the rest”
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
Dom was HC at Carolina for 4 years as the inaugural HC for another expansion team
Interestingly he also lasted 4 years there and had reasonable success for 3 of the 4 years. The draft rules then were more favorable for the expansion teams then compared to when the Texans made their 1st draft.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 6, 2009 9:06 PM CST up reply actions
my mistake
like when i was in school, I didn’t do all the homework :*(
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 6, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
Hopefully McNair does his homework this time around
Capers is a good guy and a decent DC. Kubiak is a good guy and a decent OC. We need a HC this time not another coordinator.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 6, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions
wholeheartedly agree
as i think about the Texans coaching situation and the possible moves i wish it would be possible to keep Kubes as a OC but the odds of that are so slim.. especially wish Shanahan probably getting back into the coaching market
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 6, 2009 9:56 PM CST up reply actions
Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore
There are three examples of changes being made, and in 2 of the cases rookie QBs coming in, and those teams turning things around the very next season. Im not saying we should keep Kubes or get rid of him, im just saying changes dont always doom teams to regression.
I just want to know...
why would it automatically be a set back for the Texans to hire a new head coach ?
You are banned from Music City Miracles.
Happy Now Tits?
You are banned from Blogging The Boys.
Without doing any research because I'm too lazy, I suspect the odds are against early success
after a HC change. Obviously that does not automatically make it a mistake to change HC’s. I think Kubiak has run his course here, but it only really matters what Mr. McNair and his advisors think.
It took the Astros 44 years to get to the Series, the Oilers-Texans are due to get to the big dance...Go Texans!!!!!
by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 6, 2009 9:11 PM CST up reply actions
if the odds were actually found
they would need to be looked at in comparison that specific team’s previous success. A team that is 1-15 and fires its coach probably has worse odds of succeeding than a team that is 8-8 and fires its coach.
To all Houston sports fans, Houston is the 4th biggest city in America, there will be traffic on the way to your respective sports game. Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late.
a team thats 1-15 probably will have more success record wise tho! Kinda hard to work the other way there
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 6, 2009 9:58 PM CST up reply actions
well yes, that was just an example "success" depends on the team
To all Houston sports fans, Houston is the 4th biggest city in America, there will be traffic on the way to your respective sports game. Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late.
by TexasHoosier on Dec 6, 2009 10:48 PM CST up reply actions
Teams that are 8-8
Usually don’t fire their coach. Marty got fired for having great teams but being unable to win in the playoffs, and every so often coaches get fired for this very same reason, owners and fans frustrated that their team hasn’t gotten over the “hump” yet.
The way I see it, there are really very few great coaches in the NFL, if you have an average coach who has the youngest team in the league that’s 3 years invested into his system, it’s hard to go anywhere but laterally or worse with a new headcoach initially unless he’s one of the few great ones. Unless looking forward you can see no hope for progress, I think you’d be better off to keep Kubiak. We already have a pretty good team, I don’t think we need to hit the reset button, we just need to improve on what we have.
Why is it hitting the reset button if we fire Kubiak?
When the Chargers fired Marty they didnt hit reset. While they had a better team then than we have now, we dont have to have a fire sale with a new coach. We have a good base of talented players but we dont have a winning attitude and that can be attributed to the coach IMO. We have a top 10-15 QB, a top 5 WR, a young developing OL, 2 top 10 LBs, and other young talent surrounding that base. A new coach does not have to come in a get rid of everybody like many people think.
The problem with Kubiak is that we have been saying “next year will be the year” for two years now. Last year we blamed Ike for our early season struggles, this year we have been blaming injuries for our recent struggles. The point, is that every team goes through struggles every year and good coaches make their players play through it. The Texans are 1-5 in division, and 2-4 at home. 2-4 AT HOME!!! 1-5 IN THE DIVISION!!! That is not a good base to develop a winning team, and if a coach cant get his team to respond at home and against the division, its a bad sign.
But i have one question for you, if the Texans go 1-3 or 0-4 the rest of the way will you still be a Kubiak supporter?
To all Houston sports fans, Houston is the 4th biggest city in America, there will be traffic on the way to your respective sports game. Come Early, Be Loud, Stay Late.
It's Time
Three years in a row of 8&8 or worse. It’s time for a change.
if we dont win all three ...
Kubiak can kiss his ass goodbye.
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 6, 2009 9:59 PM CST up reply actions
How the hell are we going to beat Miami?
And are we throwing games for draft picks now? This has turned into a shit-show. 1-5 in the division… Pathetic.
yea I didn't see getting swept by the Jags this year. that was a shock to me
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 7, 2009 8:25 AM CST up reply actions
I appreciate what Kubes has done for the Texans
But I personally get the feeling that this is his ceiling as our coach.
good summary of my thoughts lol
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 6, 2009 9:59 PM CST up reply actions
True
The team has attained some stats that say they should be a decent team. The missing ingredient? The ability of the coach to manage the team when it counts to win games. I like Gary Kubiak. He is a good man. He is a good teacher. He is a good football mind. But, he lacks that quality that you need in a head coach to get the team over the hump. He lacks the quality to manage the team under pressure. As a matter of fact, he is awful on this last and most crucial point. Because he is such a good man, I wish him well. But, it is time for a change.
I am not a John Gruden fan. Yes, he won a Super Bowl, but he did it with a team that Tony Dungy built into a defensive monster. Then Gruden proceeded to dismantle that Bucs team over successive years to the point that the team he left behind was in total shambles. I can’t say the same about his Raiders experience, because, they simply are the Raiders.
If Bob McNair can entice Bill Cowher to come out of retirement to coach the Texans, I know they would be getting a coach who would be committed to making this team a winner and he knows how to win games. My feeling on the Texans is they are good enough to make the playoffs and Cowher is the kind of coach that will not consistently coach his team out of victories.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
The Texans are like a new house.
Kubiak is good coach…
He can build a good foundation (football team, working with players)
He can build a strong foundation that can last generations (several seasons)
He knows what is necessary for a good long lasting foundation.
He doesnt know how to finish the house,
All he’s gots in front of him is a foundation with a lot of potential to be something monumental.
And we all see it, and cheer for it.
He tries to put up some frames and some dry wall, but the man dont know nothing about hammering, so it falls to pieces in the end, and things end up half done (the 8-8 seasons)
At this point, if you were the homeowner (mcnair) you’d would want to bring someone else into finish the house.
by Ivan A on Dec 7, 2009 2:16 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
elegantly put good sir
Looking forward to not having an 8-8 year!
by BattleRedHusker on Dec 7, 2009 8:26 AM CST up reply actions
Kubiak is a great offensive mind
But after the HB pass, I can’t have him coaching this team.
- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter
great OC
and I’d love to keep him w/ a new HC, but the dynamic wouldn’t work.
So Cowher has said he wants to go to a team with a solid QB situation. If not Cowher, what are the chances the new coach wants a new QB and the Texans don’t pick up the $10mil roster bonus due Schaub?
Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.
Rick Smith
I think a lot of our 2010 record will be based on how the transition is handled. If Rick Smith survives (likely, imo), we probably keep Schaub, and its up to the new HC to work with our strengths.
If the new coach is a big name that wants more control, and RS is just a puppet, or removed from his position, I think Schaub may be in trouble, with the $10 mil price tag, and he is not the new HC’s guy.
This may be less of an issue since Schaub has shown this year he can be a top 5 QB. But the roster bonus throws a wrench in things. So I think the power given to the new HC may determine our short term success.
I think a QB change in 2010 will lead to at least two rebuilding seasons. This is one of the reasons I want a defensive genius to be hired as HC. He can hire an offensive dude who will be hired on the basis of utilizing our current talent on that side of the ball, so we can continue to draft defensively.
Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.
Absolutely agree.
I don’t need to beat the dead horses that are my main arguments for this, as they’ve been repeated on countless other posts here, but I wholeheartedly agree.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
That was meant for JMay and this Fanpost...
To be clear.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
Kubiak has failed in two and possibly three of the things he needed to do to show progress.
1. Winning record in the division? FAIL
2. Playoff spot? FAIL
3. Winning record at large? TBD but at this point an uphill fight if this team keeps quitting.
At this point 7-9 is looking more and more like the final, and with Schaub potentially out for a while pending the MRI results….it could be 5-11.
"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."
The ROSENFAIL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKAKE-uq-8&feature=related
Progress, as defined by TexansForever....
Never gets old, does it?
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
I'm open to suggestions.
How would you define it?
If winning isn’t the measuring stick for progress in your world, what is?
Feeling good?
"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."
The ROSENFAIL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKAKE-uq-8&feature=related
by TexansForever on Dec 7, 2009 5:00 PM CST up reply actions
Yes I know.
"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."
The ROSENFAIL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKAKE-uq-8&feature=related
by TexansForever on Dec 7, 2009 6:31 PM CST up reply actions
How about...
1. Get a more talented roster overall?
2. Maintain an already good offense, and if possible, improve the redzone turnovers?
3. Get the overall defense ranked somewhere under 28th?
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
you know manning gets to move his offense around when the coach call a bad call… dont you think schaub should have the same opportunity.
Its kinda hard to go out there when you know the play isnt gonna work.. but shit you follow orders.
Huh?
Because our offense is in so many shitty plays, right?
I’m being facetious because our offense is pretty decent.
Can you just not figure out what you want to complain about, Ivan?
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
Not really...
I’m just frustrated… the last 4 games have been harsh.. we all know that.
I defended k.brown when he missed that one kick against the colts… then he missed the following two in houston… its hard to defend. We had the lead at the half against the colts, and well shit we stepped off the gas. We werent attacking like in the first half. Then the last game… Schaub gets hurt and comes back which was awesome. Mad respect for the guy. Our D had some good stops.(unforuntely not so much in the 4th)But We still lose by 5.
I liked Kubiak, i used to think "hey it aint the mans fault if KB misses a field goal or if theres a fumble by the RB (they’ve all had issues havent they)
But lately i’ve been thinkin if the man was a better coach, our kicker would only kick the fieldgoals after a TD, the opposing offense wouldnt be on the field as much.
Mostly what brought this on was the HB pass…
they say theres a thin line between being a fool and a genius.
if brown had thrown it right, itd be kubes the genius.
but lately i’m just tired of the ifs
Now i just want a good game on sunday.
Fisher?
Anyone listening to the news coming out of BESF land? Before ya’ll rip me, think about this, Fisher would take care of all the little issues causing the Texans to unravel at crucial moments, i.e. false start on 4th and 2. However, will he keep an OC that wants to air it out is the question?
Even duct tape can't fix stupid
In a heartbeat.
I love Fisher. Not only would we play good smashmouth defensive football, which I like, but the besf’s would suffer for releasing him.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
Nice post, JMay
And I completely agree. I just don’t think this team has the overall talent level some think. And how devastating has the complete collpase of our running game been this year?
The talent is there sans the secondary...
New Orleans’ secondary is riddled with injuries yet they keep winning games. Indy has rookies starting in their secondary and they continue to win. The Pats have completely rebuilt their secondary and they keep chalking up W’s.
Houston has a premier QB, arguably the best WR in the game, good TEs, a suspect running game, and a good enough front seven to play with anyone; but they can’t win. The Texans have the talent to play with anyone in this league and they’ve showed it for three quarters here, two quarters there, and so on and so on.
Not showing up to play 60 minutes falls on the coaching. Sure, Kubiak doesn’t kick field goals, he doesn’t get stuffed on 4th and goal from the 1 foot line, he doesn’t fumble the ball whilst punching in for the tying score; however, if he is responsible for this team putting together for four quarters. That is why the Texans have lost so many gut-wrenching games this season. It’s not because of the failures at the end; it’s because of the body of work that put them in that position. I do admit; however, that they were in a position to win all of those games had the final plays been successful.
And I don’t want to hear this crap about a regime change setting back the franchise for three more seasons. Tom Couglin needed one bad season before turning it around in New York. John Harbaugh inherited what was thought to be a bad Ravens team before leading them to the playoffs. Jon Gruden led a journeymen QB and a terrible Raiders team to a 12-4 season in just his 3rd year with the Raiders. Then, the dude hopped right over to the Bucs and won a Super Bowl in his first season with them. Mike Holmgren took Seattle to their first playoff game in his first season with them in 1999. Glanville took the Falcons to the playoffs in his second season as head coach after they suffered a nine year drought.
What I’m saying is good head coaches know how to turn things around within a reasonable time frame. Kubiak is in his 4th season now and looks like he’ll be donning the Golden Sombrero when it comes to playoff appearances. That is unacceptable.
Only six teams have yet to produce a winning season (2009 included) since Kubiak took the head coaching job. You know how many of those six teams still have the same head coach in that time frame?
Zero.
"There's two kinds of coaches, them that's fired and them that's gonna be fired." ~ Bum Phillips
by H-town Fanatic on Dec 8, 2009 2:45 AM CST up reply actions
The talent ISN'T there
Kubiak has made his share of mistakes, sure, but while we have some talent (mostly from 2006 draft, pre-Smith), our front office hasn’t taken advantage of the last three drafts. That is our biggest downfall. Everyone is caught up in what Kubiak has or hasn’t done, but we should have much better talent at this point. I may be in the minority here, but we should fire Rick Smith. When I look at the drafts and the free agents we’ve signed in the last 3 years, I quickly forget about that halfback pass:
2007
Amobi Okoye
Jacoby Jones
Fred Bennett
Brandon Harrison
Brandon Frye
Kasey Studdard
Zac Diles
2008
Duane Brown
Antwaun Molden
Steve Slaton
Xavier Adibi
Frank Okam
Dominique Barber
Alex Brink
2009
Brian Cushing
Connor Barwin
Antoine Caldwell
Glover Quin
Anthony Hill
James Casey
Brice McCain
Troy Nolan
7 starters and 2 standouts (if you still count Slaton)? I’m on the fence regarding whether firing Kubiak would help the team, but I’m damn sure we should have a lot more from the last 3 draft classes. Fire Smith and upgrade our front office.
by bv on Dec 8, 2009 8:38 AM CST up reply actions
And how are the Ravens now?
The same knock on them before Harbaugh showed up is rearing it’s ugly head again. They never solved the problems, they just covered it up with an improved offense which is failing them right now because nobody steps up.
As for the Saints secondary and Indy’s secondary, it’s still not a fair comparison when you look at our defense as a whole. Im not gonna talk about the saints too much because im not familiar with their defense but I can tell you that indy has two pro-bowl caliber DE’s on the line along with two above average tackles that can eat up space and collapse the pocket. They also have experienced LB in Gary Bracket, Philip Wheeler and arguably Clint Sessions. We do have our own pro-bowl caliber DE in Mario Williams and Antonio Smith isn’t too far behind. but we have a young DT in Amobi and whoever we decide to put next to him zgonina/robinson/cody. We have a god in MLB by the name of DeMeco but other than that we have a promising rookie in Brian Cushing (who is performing well-above expectations, but he still makes mistakes) and nobody at WLB because we all know that Zac Diles gets replaced with a NB most of the time anyways.
Comparing the talent level, we aren’t even close.
And getting paid like it, thank goodness.
Bethea can’t hold a candle to Cunta’s bank account.
or his dickbaggery, it seems.
Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.
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