Huh? You Can't Be Serious, Right?

by Tim on Dec 28, 2007 12:42 AM CST in News

As I bask in the afterglow of another ten (10) win season for my alma mater, I stumbled across this headline:

Ex-UCLA coach on Texans' offensive coordinator list

Zuh? Did I miss something? Karl Dorrell? The same dude who was repeatedly (and justifiably, I think) lambasted by damn near (and I would have no objection to removing the "damn near," lest my undying loyalty to The Forty Acres) the best blog on SB Nation?

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! Unfortunately, I can make no claim as to the origin of the piano key necktie. But I can say this: Your Houston Texans would be nuts to make Karl Dorrell their offensive coordinator.

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Comments

I'd rather hire

Brian Billick as OC.

by Scott on Dec 28, 2007 8:55 AM CST reply actions

Re: Billick

Hasn't the Ravens owner said Billick will be back in Baltimore next season?

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

by Tim on Dec 28, 2007 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks

for ruining my Friday morning. Jerk.

Speaking of soon-to-be-fired head coaches, Scott, Marvin Lewis as our DC would make all the girls wet.

by MDC on Dec 28, 2007 9:19 AM CST reply actions

That

Would rule.

Houston Texans: Playoffs 2008!

by 5stringJeff on Dec 28, 2007 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

Let's Think This Through

Right now, according to the Chron, there are two names on the list: Karl Dorrell and Kyle Shanahan. Both have coached under Kubes already: Dorrell was the WR coach in Denver when Kubiak was the OC, and of course, Shanahan is our current QB coach.

However, Kubiak's style of running the game is that the offensive plays go through him. So he doesn't need a giant at OC. What he needs is a complimentary OC - someone who knows how he thinks and can compliment his style with smart play calling and persuasive arguments when they think Kubiak is headed in the wrong direction.

Enter Karl Dorrell. He knows Kubiak already, and now he's got some head coaching experience, so he knows what Kubes is going through on game day. That's the kind of person who can best compliment Kubiak at OC. I think it's a pretty good choice.

Houston Texans: Playoffs 2008!

by 5stringJeff on Dec 28, 2007 11:27 AM CST reply actions

Nice

I give you credit for going against the grain and providing rationale for the 'for' argument.

I'm not a college football honk, much less a PAC-10 guy, so I don't know shit about the guy. So thanks for another point of view.

Now if you really want to throw a name out there, I hear Mike Martz might be available.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Dec 28, 2007 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Re: Let's Think This Through

As might be expected when one is tired and drunk, I did a terrible job explaining why I'm not a Dorrell guy. I don't want to be one of those morons who call into the sports talk station and simply spouts off opinions without any basis for them, so here are the prime reasons why I'm not in favor of hiring Karl Dorrell for OC:

His NFL coaching experience is limited to three (3) years.
He hasn't coached in the NFL since 2003.
He's never been an offensive coordinator in the NFL.
He's never coached any position in the NFL except wide receivers, which may well be the position with which the Texans need the least help and/or are at which they are in the best position.

I'm not necessarily saying Kyle Shanahan is the answer, but I think he's a better fit for the team (and for Kubes; I agree with your assessment that the OC needs only be complimentary with Kubes calling the ultimate shots) than Dorrell.

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

by Tim on Dec 28, 2007 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

Re: Let's Think This Through

Tim, thanks for the expanded explanation. I don't really have a dog in this fight; no preference, just observing the facts.

That said, I'll play devil's advocate and mention this: on point 1, Kyle Shanahan only has 4 years coaching experience; and on point 3, I'd actually think Kubiak would be a good head coach to have your first OC experience under, given his coaching history and current coaching style. (Also, Kyle has never been an OC.)

Again, I don't have any strong preferences. Just providing a different POV. For all we know, the list is 15 names long.

Houston Texans: Playoffs 2008!

by 5stringJeff on Dec 29, 2007 9:40 AM CST up reply actions

Re: LTTT

Agreed--elevating Kyle Shanahan to OC gives me equal pause for the reasons you mentioned. Really, the arguments for K. Shanahan being elevated to OC revolve around (1) continuity and (2) familiarity with the franchise and system.

And I tend to think you're right--Kubes isn't going to hitch his wagon to just Dorrell and Shanahan The Younger. There are undoubtedly other candidates that he'll interview.

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

by Tim on Dec 29, 2007 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

Re Martz

I grew up outside of St. Louis, and between the Oilers' departure and the Texans' birth, I was a Rams fan, primarily. Martz has a lot to like, but he's too hard-headed, and so in love with the pass that he fails to use the running game with any effectiveness, unless he has a Marshall Faulk-caliber talent at RB. Which we clearly don't. His offenses don't protect the QB, and we don't need any more of that.

As different as Kubiak and Sherman's offenses are, the difference between Kubes and Martz is another order of magnitude. As much as I respect everything you bring to this blog, SOLIS, I have to say I can't be onboard with Martz as Texans' OC.

by knave64 on Dec 28, 2007 2:37 PM CST reply actions

Re: Martz

Having dabbled in giving a crap about the Rams a little myself, I have to say I agree with knave. The Vermeil-era Martz, before he decided that he was god's gift to indoor QBs, maybe, but this current version has WAY too much ego to exist under a young headcoach.

Oh...btw...Mike Jones' tackle is my favorite Titans moment EVAR!!!!

by MDC on Dec 29, 2007 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

Martz man love

I'm not necessarily on-board with Martz either, but his name invariably gets thrown in the mix whenever there is an opening at O.C.. I put his name out there tongue in cheek.

But you have to admit, it would be interesting to see the greatest show on turf revisited with the pieces we already have in place.

But in all honestly, I'd like to see us establish a smash mouth identity (similar to Jville). Think back to the K.C. game where we ran it down their throat for ten minutes straight. Like that.

Shakin 'em off one win at a time... In Schaub we trust.

by SOLIS on Dec 30, 2007 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

I'll make

my comment and then hang up to listen. A great OC candidate, Bill Callahan. Look back at those Oakland offenses whan he was there.

by JBNJ on Dec 28, 2007 5:15 PM CST reply actions

Plus

Callahan is apparently an egomaniac and jerk...witness the comments he made while at Nebraska about how great he was doing and that Tom Osborne was, well, a crotchety old #%^*.

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

by Tim on Dec 29, 2007 10:22 AM CST up reply actions

Bang

I don't want to be the guy who shoots down every suggestion. Really. But Bill Callahan had his success coaching under Jon Gruden, then running Gruden's offense without any tweaking whatsoever after Chucky moved to Tampa Bay.

Now, if what we want is a guy to come in and run Kubiak's system without alteration, I don't see why Callahan would need to be that guy. Surely Kyle could do that with less of a seam.

by knave64 on Dec 28, 2007 11:37 PM CST reply actions