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If Schaub could stay healthy they would've been a 10-6 11-5 team and in the playoffs.
Draft and sign offensive lineman, and corners for the love of god.
Listening on the radio today, I guess all the defensive coaches are getting blown out.
Going 8-8 after starting 0-4 is pretty good. Not the 9-7 season I expected but they made strides this season. They are learning how to close out games. If only Sage wouldn't have pissed away the two games against the Colts. er.
If Schaub could stay healthy they would've been a 10-6 11-5 team and in the playoffs.
Draft and sign offensive lineman, and corners for the love of god.
Listening on the radio today, I guess all the defensive coaches are getting blown out.
I think the line will improve significantly next season after 1 full season under Gibbs. I don't think they need any kind of major overhaul there. The secondary needs a huge kick in the ass. The LBs will be better if they are all healthy. Zack Diles and Adibi injuries hurt them but they are a solid group. I'm proud of what they did this season and look forward to see how they improve in the offseason.
Well not just in blocking schemes but the line needs talent. Its needed talent for a while now and they haven't totally 100% addressed it, and iirc this draft is pretty deep at offensive line, so if I were Texan management, the first two picks would go to the BIGGESt needs, FIRST o line, second secondary. No doubt in my mind the first round pick should go offensive line.
So is the bet a push or does TSA win on the technicality of the AFC West being so god awful that 8-8 wins the division?
IIRC it was a bet for who had the better record, not better season, so is probably a push
It was for better record, not who advances further. It's a push.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Texans fired defensive coordinator Richard Smith and two other coaches Tuesday after Houston fielded one of the league's worst defensive units despite three first-round picks on the line.
The firings of Smith, secondary coach Jon Hoke and defensive line coach Jethro Franklin came after Houston finished 8-8 for the second straight year.
Houston's offense finished the year ranked third in the NFL, but the defense was 22nd, allowing more than 336 yards per game. Only five teams allowed more points per game than the Texans' 24.6. Houston's defense improved late in the season but didn't live up to expectations for a unit featuring 2006 top pick Mario Williams.
The other first-rounders on Houston's defense are lineman Amobi Okoye and Travis Johnson.
Smith came to Houston in 2006 after working one year as Miami's defensive coordinator. Before that, he served two seasons as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach for Detroit.
Hoke had been the Texans' secondary coach since the team's inception in 2002. Houston's pass defense ranked 17th and generated only 12 interceptions in 2008.
Franklin finished his second season with Houston. The Texans' 25 sacks ranked 27th in the league, though Williams was named to his first Pro Bowl.
"Obviously, it didn't meet expectations. In this business though, you can't be too surprised when something like this happens," Franklin told the Houston Chronicle.
Houston coach Gary Kubiak told reporters Monday that he planned to meet with team owner Bob McNair and begin evaluating all coaches.
"It's part of our job, part of our business," he said. "There's tough decisions to make, and like I said, I've got to get through this period and do a good job on my evaluations and do what's best for our football team as we move forward."
Kubiak said Monday he expected assistant defensive backs coach Ray Rhodes to return next season. He also hoped to retain assistant head coach Alex Gibbs, who mostly worked with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
The Texans won five of their last six games, allowing only 18 points per game in that span. They held Tennessee to 281 total yards in a 13-12 win Dec. 14 and allowed only 294 yards against Chicago in the season finale, knocking the Bears out of playoff contention.
Houston's defense ranked 24th in 2007, but this year's sack total was down from 31 in 2007. The Texans ranked 23rd against the run (122.6 yards per game) after ranking 19th (114.1 yards) in the category last season. Kubiak said Monday that he had to look at the defense across the entire season, not just during the late surge.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hopefully they get a good D coordinator that knows how to blitz more than 6 times per game. Rick Smith was just terrible.
mangini and crennel are available.
Those are all 3-4 coordinators. I think Frank Bush will get promoted from his assistant spot. I'm hoping they can keep Gibb on as O-Line coach.
Thank God. At least one Texas team recognizes where its real deficiencies are and tries to correct them.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/
MARINELLI MEETS WITH TEXANS
Posted by Mike Tunison on January 8, 2009, 1:38 p.m.
The latest leg of the Rod Marinelli post-epic fail tour is in Houston, where the former Lions head coach is interviewing for either a job as the Texans’ defensive coordinator or defensive line coach. The Texans are looking for replacements for Richard Smith and Jethro Franklin, who were both fired after the the regular season ended.
Marinelli, who has never served as a defensive coordinator in the league, but was a highly regarded line coach for 10 years in Tampa, has already interviewed with the Bears and the Seahawks about coaching jobs.
He doesn't have D-coordinator experience so I'm a little weary about that but he did an amazing job with the Bucs D-line back in the day as the D-line coach. I wouldn't mind having him on the staff.
Regardless of his 0-16 run with the Lions, he had those talentless bas s playing with heart.
Looks like it was for the D-line coaching position. That would be great. I bet he would do really help Okoye and Mario's development. Maybe he would coach up Okam to be the run stuffer in the middle they need.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/clu...FL&majteam=HOU
http://www.carolinagrowl.com/Read.aspx?Story=997
CHARLOTTE -- Has four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers played his final down for the Carolina Panthers?
I'm beginning to think he has.
Peppers' comments on Sunday as he left Bank of America Stadium for perhaps the final time left me wondering if he and his agent Carl Carey aren't trying to work out the NFL version of a sign-and-trade deal with the Panthers similar to what happened with Jared Allen last year.
That’d basically mean the Panthers would put the franchise tag on Peppers and then allow him and his agent to broker a trade with another team. While the Panthers would lose Peppers, leaving them with a huge hole at defensive end, they’d at least get some draft picks – presumably high and presumably more than one – in return as compensation.
You don't have to look back too for some precedence in this type of matter. Before the 2008 season, the Kansas City couldn't reach a long term deal with Allen, the NFL sack leader in 2007, put the franchise tag on him and then traded him to Minnesota for a first-round pick and two third-round picks.
For the Panthers that would be better than a whole-lot-of-nothing, which is what they’d get if they simply let Peppers walk as an unrestricted free agent.
To be clear, this is just speculation (since both sides aren't talking), but that would essentially be a win-win situation for both sides if Peppers truly doesn’t want to return to the Panthers, which his purposely vague comments the last two days have led everyone to believe. While the Panthers love Peppers, I’m not sure that love is reciprocal.
When asked if, ideally, he’d like to be back in Carolina next season, Peppers replied, “Ideally I want to be in the best situation possible for myself and this organization.
“I'm thankful for everything they’ve done for me and I don't want to leave them crippled or in a bad situation and I don't want to do that to myself either. So whatever works our best for both sides is what I'm comfortable with."
Crippled, huh? Works out for both sides, huh?
And how could Peppers not leave the Panthers crippled and have things work out for both sides?
A trade, of course.
Again, it's just speculation, but the Panthers would get picks and Peppers would get a new team and a new big fat contract.
Attempts to reach Panthers general manager Marty Hurney to discuss the matter were unsuccessful, but he doesn’t talk about contract negotiations as a form of policy.
Keep in mind the Panthers don't have a first-round pick entering this year's April's NFL draft. They gave that up to Philadelphia to get tackle Jeff Otah. You’d have to believe the Panthers would accept nothing less than a first-round draft pick in exchange for Peppers.
Of course, the Panthers would have the option to accept or decline any trade offer Carey brings to the table, and it’s unlikely if this were to come to fruition that he’d go anywhere in the NFC South. Peppers seems to like the Houston area, so the Texans are certainly an option. Imagine Peppers playing opposite former North Carolina State star Mario Williams?
If the Panthers don’t like the offer they can simply keep Peppers as their franchise player and swallow the $17 million cap figure next year.
Peppers said if he does get the franchise tag – which would have to come between Feb. 5 and Feb. 19 -- he wouldn’t take a hard-line stance and holdout.
"That's not how you do business," Peppers said.
As for the franchise tag, Peppers said, "The team has the authority to do that. That's the rules… It's not my decision. If they want to do that they have that within their power."
Peppers is coming off a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2009 after moving to right defensive end and had five forced fumbles. But he was non-existent in Carolina’s 33-13 playoff loss to Arizona.
The Panthers have been trying to lock up Peppers long term for more than 18 months now, but to no avail. They've offered him a contract, but he's balked at signing.
All of that makes you wonder, if it's not about money, as Peppers says, then what is it about? And is Peppers happy about returning to Carolina? And if he is, then why won't he come out and say he wants to be back?
On Sunday morning, Peppers talked about his future in vague terms.
"I want to win a Super Bowl," Peppers said. "That is the ultimate goal in this game. That is why we play. I want to be on a great team and be around great guys in a great organization. It's not about money. It's not about any of that kind of stuff. It's about being happy."
There is validity to this article but an interesting idea none the less.
I was thinking that the other day, even though he is old he had a great season I say they go for it.
He's not that old. He's 29. Some DE's play up until their late 30s.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6208713.html
Texans hire Frank Bush as defensive coordinator
By JOHN MCCLAIN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
The Texans hired their senior defensive assistant, Frank Bush, as defensive coordinator today.
Bush's promotion wasn't a surprise. He was the leading candidate and the only one interviewed for the defensive coordinator position that became available when Richard Smith was fired after the season.
The Texans asked for permission to interview Washington assistant Jerry Gray, but the Redskins denied him the opportunity last week. Under league rules, teams can deny permission for any assistant under contract unless the interview is for a head-coaching position.
Don't be surprised if David Gibbs, who coached Kansas City's defensive backs for the last three years, is the new secondary coach. Gibbs, the son of assistant head coach/offense Alex Gibbs, interviewed for the job Monday. Gibbs coached Denver's defensive backs for four years. He also was defensive coordinator at Minnesota and Auburn as well as an assistant at Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas.
When Gary Kubiak was hired as head coach in 2006, Bush was his first choice to become the defensive coordinator, but Arizona wouldn't let him out of his contract. Kubiak promoted Smith, who had been hired to coach linebackers. In 2007, Ken Whisenhunt was hired to coach the Cardinals, and he allowed Bush to leave for the Texans. Bush has been in the NFL for 24 years as a player, scout and assistant coach. He was drafted by the Oilers in 1985 to play outside linebacker. He was a starter as a rookie, and when a congenital spinal defect forced him to retire, he moved into the scouting department. Bush spent 10 years with the Oilers before moving to Denver, where he coached linebackers, defensive backs and special teams. He was assistant head coach\linebackers when the Texans hired him from Arizona.
Commentary: Former colleagues glad for Bush
Promotion by Texans good call, say other coaches
By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was working on his game plan for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against Philadelphia when he found out Frank Bush had been named the Texans’ defensive coordinator.
Jacksonville defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was at home with his family in Virginia when he learned Bush had been promoted from senior defensive assistant.
Bush was linebackers coach and assistant head coach during his three seasons (2004-06) with the Cardinals. He worked closely with Pendergast, who has been their defensive coordinator the last five years.
“I think it’s a great hire, and I’m so happy for Frank,” said Pendergast, who has done an outstanding job with a Cardinals defense that has helped them come within one step of the Super Bowl for the first time. “I’m so happy he’s finally getting this well-deserved opportunity.
“I think Frank will be an excellent coordinator. He’s very organized. He has a great feel for the game. He knows what buttons to push to motivate his players.”
In developing a philosophy that has been influenced by a lot of great defensive coaches, Bush said one of the many things he learned from Pendergast was how to think outside the box.
In other words, don’t be afraid to experiment and take chances.
Playing safe can be dangerous.
Not afraid of new things
“When Frank was here, we weren’t afraid to try different things — different schemes and personnel groupings,” Pendergast said. “We didn’t want to play it safe.
“Frank helped me a lot. He’s creative. He’s got good ideas, and he knows how to implement them in a way the players understand.”
When Williams followed coach Jack Pardee from the University of Houston to the Oilers in 1990, Bush already had been a player and scout with the Oilers for five years. When Bush left the personnel department to coach linebackers, he worked with Williams under defensive coordinators Jim Eddy, Buddy Ryan and Jeff Fisher.
“Frank and I go way back,” said Williams, who has interviewed for defensive coordinator jobs with New Orleans and Green Bay since the season ended. “I watched him go from scouting to coaching, and I’ve seen him rise through the ranks.
“I’m fired up for him. I know he’s going to do a great job with that defense.”
Williams has been a defensive coordinator with the ans, Redskins and Jaguars and a head coach with the Bills.
With Jacksonville last season, he saw the Texans twice and watched a lot of tape to prepare for them.
“They’ve got a good thing going there, and I think it was a good move for them to promote him,” Williams said. “Frank knows the players, and they know him. He knows their strengths and weaknesses.
“A new coach coming in would have to learn everything that Frank already knows. That’s definitely an advantage for them.”
Pressure in his blood
Williams is known as one of the most aggressive defensive coaches in the league.
Everything he does is built around pressuring the quarterback.
“I’m excited about the style Frank’s going to play because we both come from a pressure background,” Williams said. “Frank played that way as an outside linebacker (under Jerry Glanville). Then he coached that way as an assistant with the Oilers.”
After spending 10 years with the Oilers, Denver coach Mike Shanahan hired Bush to coach linebackers.
In his nine years with the Broncos, Bush won two Super Bowl rings.
“Frank understands every defensive position as well as special teams,” Williams said. “He’s played and coached in a variety of styles. He’s learned from a lot of outstanding defensive coaches.
“Now it’s Frank’s baby, and he’s going to do great. Let me tell you something: There are a lot of coaches around the NFL that are real happy that he’s getting this opportunity.”
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/St...?story_id=5099
The Texans named senior defensive assistant Frank Bushas the team’s defensive coordinator on Tuesday, two weeks after Richard Smith was dismissed from the team.
Bush, 46, is entering his 23rd season in the NFL as a player, scout and coach. He spent the previous two seasons working primarily with the Texans' defensive line, including Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams
"There's a sense of continuity," Bush said of his familiarity with the Texans' personnel. "We know these guys. We kind of know which buttons to push. We know what makes them tick. That part will give us a better chance of motivating these guys and getting them to go play.
"I’m excited; I’m extremely excited. It’s a great opportunity."
This is the first stint as a defensive coordinator for Bush, who has coached every position group on the defensive side of the ball during his career. Citing defensive minds such as Buddy Ryan, Greg Robinson and Jerry Glanville as coaches who have influenced his preferred style of play, Bush said he plans to bring a new iden y to the Texans' defense.
"I just want guys that are attacking, that are aggressive, that play with a lot of passion, a lot of emotion and fly around to the football," he said. "By doing that, we can create turnovers and we can do some other things that can help our offense get the ball back."
Houston has ranked 24th or worse in takeaways in four consecutive seasons.
"We’re going to simplify so our guys can play faster," Bush said. "The faster that we play, the more times that we get big hits. The more big hits we get, the more times that ball will come out, and that's what we're going to try to do. We want guys to attack and be violent and create turnovers that way."
Bush was a college scout with the Oilers from 1987-92 before coaching the Oilers' linebackers from 1992-94. In nine seasons with the Broncos from 1995-2003, he served as Denver's linebackers coach, secondary coach and special teams coordinator. Bush was the assistant head coach/linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals from 2004-05.
A fifth-round draft pick of the Oilers as a linebacker in 1985, Bush was named to the NFL all-rookie team but suffered a career-ending injury one year later.
Texans head coach Gary Kubiak
Bush was the only candidate interviewed for the defensive coordinator position.
"Studying the guys that were out there, trying to go through things with (owner) Bob (McNair) and with (general manager) Rick (Smith), all my homework kept coming back to Frank," Kubiak said. "I just think that we've got something started here. We don't want to venture away from our 4-3 scheme and what we're doing.
"I love Frank's ideas and iden y and what he sees us being as a defensive football team. I know he's a great teacher and a great motivator and a fit right away with the coaches here. I think we're heading in the right direction, and Frank keeps us heading in that direction."
I like that quote from Bush. I hated the way Smith would call games. No blitzing what so ever. I really hope they improve the defense. They have the talent up front and hopefully if they can get to the QB a little more it will make the secondary look less ty.
Jacque ing Reeves
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6220659.html
Texans hire Bills' Kollar to coach defensive line
19-year coaching vet was second to meet with team about position
The Texans have hired Long-time NFL defensive line coach Bill Kollar to replace Jethro Franklin, who was fired after the season.
Kollar, 56, has been Buffalo's defensive line coach the last three years. He also has coached the defensive line at St. Louis (2001-05) and Atlanta (1990-00). Kollar coached in Super Bowls with the Falcons (1998) and Rams (2001).
During his 19 seasons as a defensive line coach, Kollar has worked for head coaches Jerry Glanville, June Jones, Dan Reeves, Mike Martz and Jauron.
In 19 consecutive seasons as the line coach with the Falcons, Rams and Bills, Kollar has worked for defenses that averaged 37½ sacks. The Texans had 25 sacks last season, and they've averaged 28 in Gary Kubiak's three seasons as coach.
Kollar was a first-round draft choice by Cincinnati in 1974. He played defensive tackle for eight years with the Bengals and Tampa Bay before retiring and entering the coaching profession with the Buccaneers.
Kollar was the second defensive line coach interviewed by the Texans, who were looking to replace Jethro Franklin, who has been hired by USC. The first was Rod Marinelli, who was hired by Chicago.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/...DBs-coach.html
Gibbs is in as Texans DB coach
David Gibbs is the Texans' new secondary coach. He has a deal and things will be finalized by next week.
It's no big surprise as coach Gary Kubiak basically indicated at the recent press conference announcing Frank Bush's promotion to defensive coordinator that Gibbs had an offer.
Now he jumps from Kansas City to Houston, where he replaces Jon Hoke. He's likely to get some new personnel to work with through the draft and free agency.
Cornerback Dunta Robinson is a free agent and the team's top in-house priority. Several other defensive backs are set to become unrestricted free agents on Feb. 27.
The Texans will look to upgrade at safety and corner as well as for defensive line help for Mario Williams.
Gibbs' dad, Alex, coordinates the Texans run game as assistant head coach/offense. It's easy to make cracks about keeping it in the family, but I am told the younger Gibbs is a respected coach who understands how to make the back end of a defense work. He's got seven years of NFL experience with Denver and Kansas City.
However, the Texans still have openings for defensive line coach, strength coach and head trainer, and it would be good if the hires are not related to anyone on the staff and have no connection to the former lives of Kubiak and GM Rick Smith as part of the Denver Broncos.
The only candidate to interview for the D-line job so far that we know of is Rod Marinelli, the recently fired coach of the Detroit Lions. He's since been hired in Chicago as assistant head coach/defensive line.
It looks like the defensive coaching spots are set. I like Bush as the coordinator but don't know enough about Gibbs or Kollar. Hopefully they can be good enough to make the defense above average. I think the more aggressive style Bush wants to bring in will be nice.
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