“We’ll review everything at the end of the year, and will we make some changes? I’m sure we will make some — we’ll see some things that need to be improved. But we’re very, very close to having the kind of team I think that we can all be proud of, and we just have to keep working hard and push it over the top. I think we’re close.”
The quote from Texans owner Bob McNair on the team website may not sound like much, but think about who is saying it. McNair is notoriously tight-lipped about changes, often going the other way and trying to make it sound like everything is going great. The other element is the timing. I can’t remember McNair ever saying something like this DURING the season. I could be wrong.
Really though, I know this is barely worthy of an entry because no matter what McNair says – there are going to be changes one way or another. Frank Bush is gone. The big question, of course, revolves around Gary Kubiak. I am already convinced that McNair is NOT going to fire Kubiak, but after that quote – my already strong conviction is just strengthened further. Kubiak is coming back, people. If you’re going to cancel your season tickets – cancel them. If you’re going to burn your jerseys – strike a match. Get ready, because it’s coming. When he says “we are very very close to the kind of team we can be,” that speaks very loudly to me.
McNair’s mind should already be made up on Kubiak
I don’t mean that in a “he needs to fire the guy” way. I mean it in that, well, he’s been here before. Several times before. The playoffs are out of reach. The Texans have already done the “finish strong” thing a couple of times (at least record-wise), but it hasn’t carried to the next season. There isn’t anything that could or should happen in the next three games that could or should change Bob McNair’s mind about Gary Kubiak’s future. He’s either a goner, or he’s a lock to stay (he’s a lock to stay). If McNair has it in his head to keep Kubiak if and only if he wins out, then I weep for us all as Houston Texans fans. Not because I’m saying it’s the wrong decision, but because – that’s just not the best way to make this huge decision. If that’s the process, the process is flawed, nay, BROKEN.
We’ve been down this road before, and really – I fully EXPECT the Texans to win out. The Titans are terrible and in turmoil, and the Texans play better on the road. The Broncos have an abysmal defense, and are a franchise in turmoil. Finally, the Jaguars will come to town and the Texans will play spoiler to them, a team they had no business losing to the first time around. It’s just the way of the Texans. We are headed for 8-8 again, but when is McNair going to see enough of that, as we already have? Not this year.
Dec 16, 2010 at 16:34:30
While it doesn’t even strike within the realm of possibility in every Texans fan’s mind, I am already mentally preparing myself for the possibility that Frank Bush is NOT gone. You have to divorce yourself from all the reality displayed on the field and think only about the decision makers involved here and their personalities. How you can’t fire Frank Bush is beyond me, but this is Gary Kubiak we’re talking about here. If Gary Kubiak comes back (an almost certainty), I can’t convince myself he’ll fire his good buddy, Frank Bush. I’m sure we all remember how long Kubiak stuck with the last shitty DC. If the atmosphere created by McNair is “I’m sure we’ll make some (changes)”, that doesn’t sound like overwhelming pressure to completely revamp the defense with a new coordinator and a new system that is likely very foreign to Gary Kubiak. Seriously, I don’t think McNair has the balls to order Kubiak to hire a new DC, much less one that Kubiak doesn’t know personally. Maybe all they’ll do is change the secondary coach, draft a few more defensive players and spout some drivel about how the players just need another year in the system and the players just need to execute better. What a debacle that would be! But McNair thinks the Texans are “very, very close” while I think they are “very, very far away” on defense, game preparation, play calling and time management. That quote is just sad to read.
Dec 16, 2010 at 17:15:03
First, McNair should not hire or fire ANY coach. That’s the GM’s job. Do we want McNair to become like Crypt Keeper Al or Jerah? God help us.
Second, the offense is the only thing about this team that’s at all good (and it’s very good) and it’s Kubiak’s baby.
I actually don’t have a big problem with keeping Kubiak this year, all things considered.
What I think should happen is McNair should fire Smith and hire a proven GM who will, hopefully, trash everything about the defense and start over while working with Kubiak to make offensive personnel and scheme adjustments as needed. I think that’s the quickest road to the playoffs for the Texans. All we need is a halfway decent defense and this team will start winning.
This strategy works for a possible year of labor turmoil because a proven GM can help weather that storm and the only good thing about our team (the offense) maintains the status quo. Conversely, you can’t really make the defense any worse so the labor disruption won’t matter there.
That’s my hope, anyway. Whether it happens or not is anybody’s guess.
Dec 17, 2010 at 14:19:44
McNair HAS to make the hiring of the next DC w/o interferrence from Kubiak, who we all know will be returning as HC next season. McNair can’t let Koobs hire another one of his crew.
Dec 17, 2010 at 17:15:13
Carson, I agree – the problem is I don’t know where McNair’s football acumen is. I’m actually kind of intrigued by what Scotty said about firing the GM but keeping Kubiak. Of course, that won’t happen – we’re destined to just fire Bush and retain Kubiak/Smith but I can’t say I’m not curious.
Dec 17, 2010 at 18:46:53
Kubiak is the problem right along with his DC. They need to just fire them and hire Bill Cowher. He is the right fit for this team and will greatly improve the defense. We need that hard nosed HC to bring that swagger to a weak defense but a great offense!!!!!!HIRE COWHER PLEASE TEXANS AND MR> McNAIR
Dec 18, 2010 at 20:00:16
Consider this gentlemen: (and feel free to contradict me)
First of all, McNair should be smart enough to know that Cowher in 2011, were he to pull it off, is THE best business move for the fate of this team.
Now, that aside, it’s clear that McNair likes Kooby.
How do these obvious truths intersect? The Denver Broncos.
In most cases, being fired as a head coach leads to some semblance of demotion (e.g. Romeo Crennel moving to KC’s DC or Rod Marinelli’s 0-16 year equating in a job as Chicago’s D-Line coach), But Kooby has a unique situation opening in Denver. Let’s all not kid ourselves: if Elway gets to influence the choice of new coach, Kooby is his first choice.
So, there is a scenario on the table where McNair can eat his cake and have it too. He can present the most enticing package to ticketholders (Cowher) with a clear conscience, as Kooby can go start over in Denver.
Just a thought.
Options for 2011:
1. Cowher as HC
2. Kubiak as HC
a. Marvin Lewis as DC
b. Gregg Williams as DC
3. God help us all.
Dec 18, 2010 at 20:46:50
Why would Gregg Williams leave the Saints to take the same job with the Texans?
Cowher is not coming here. It’s just not going to happen, and without Dick LeBeau plus him wanting final say over personnel – I wouldn’t want him anyway.
Finally, how do you know (and why do you assume) that Elway’s first choice for the Broncos HC is Kubiak? Wouldn’t it make more sense that his first choice would be Mike Shanahan? Sure, he’s under contract but that doesn’t mean anything in the current NFL. Just because they are pals, I think it’s a huge leap to just assume that Kubiak is Elway’s guy – especially since he’s seen Kubiak operate as a HC for 5 years now with nothing to show for it other than taking a terrible team and making it mediocre.
Dec 19, 2010 at 11:37:04
Chris,
I’ve heard rumblings that Elway would want Kooby. Similiar rumblings have traced Cowher here, but that is what it is.
As far as Cowher without lebeau, I think whomever he wants as coordinators will come (except lebeau) but that’s just another example that Cowher is able to evaluate coaching talent, which is a big hole in kooby’s game.
As for Shanny, he’s only considered a good coach because he stumbled upon Elway. I’ll give him credit for finding alex Gibbs so he could invent zone blocking, but Shanny has proven since Elway retired that he’s just another idiot.