Kubiak officially out, Smith staying?
 

LZ tweeted about 15 minutes ago that the word he is getting is that Kubiak is gone and Smith will be retained. I guess we'll find out shortly.

He got that from an agent.....who knows if its accurate.

Here's the tweet:
@LanceZierlein: The word on the agent grapevine is that Rick Smith will remain as GM and be in charge of hiring a new head coach for the Texans

Clearly rumor mill material at this stage, but I would put LZ at the top of the list of knowledgeable, informed and reliable sources. I doubt he would tweet this unless he thought there was a very good chance that it is correct.

I've always thought that Rick Smith was secure in his job. Of course, I thought that Kubiak was, too. Being wrong about one of those is better than being right I suppose.

I guess even McNair can't overlook the fact that his team is in an endless death spiral.

What has Smith shown to deserve being retained? Almost all of their personnel successes have been on offense, where I assume Kubiak had significant input. I have no confidence in his ability to hire a head coach and I don't see the top candidates wanting to be in a position where Smith's in charge of the roster.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

Mortensen of ESPN said that if Kubiak were to be fired that they may look into Mike Sherman. I certainly hope not because we need a defensive minded head coach. Also, I agree that keeping Rick eliminates our chances of getting a high profile coach.

Bob McNair, other owners approve since it means one less team fighting for a playoff spot.

If Kubiak goes, Smith has got to go too. And Grier too for godsakes.

I'd be curious to see who Sherman would like to run the defense...

I still see the status quo at the top spots, Kubiak stays, Smith stays.
O Staff stay fairly in tact.

D is a complete overhaul.
I see a higher end DC coming in, maybe a M Lewis, J Fox, W Phillips type that could be plugged in with the interim tag if/when it comes crashing down next year, again.....

Not saying I agree, just my hunch.

Mike Sherman is not going to leave the Aggies now that they are beginning to turn around. At least I hope so, not because I'm anti-Aggie, but because I think we need one of the take charge types like Cower or Gruden. The lack of a rah-rah (if you will) type of guy is the reason laid back Kubiak wasn't more of a success. And if it is a take charge type of guy we get, Rick Smith will have to go. Come on McNair, be the answer, not the problem here.

If Rick Smith is choosing the next head coach, can we presume the new choice will not be a high profile WHITE head coach? Keep these names in mind: Tony Dungy and Romeo Crennel.

Rah-Rah is not a must.

Guys win with that style, and guys win without it. Accountability is what Kubiak lacks. Accountability is not a personality trait. Dungy was a calm guy who you never saw yelling on the sidelines, but nobody wanted to disappoint him. That is a character trait, not a personality one. And there are plenty of yellers that don't hold there team accountable (singletary with his nobody knows what to expect rants and mood changes). NFL players are professionals about there job, and they need to be treated with respect, but they crave to be held to a high standard as well. Bellachik has no personality and no rah-rah. He walks around in sweaters with a blank stare. But he calmly demands the best of everyone he works with. That is what matters to me. Not whether a guy can eat glass or take charge. And a take charge guy likely comes with an ego that won't want to win with someone else's offense.

So I am fine with laid back or intense, just so long as they demand excellence from every coach and player in the organization.

While I admire what Rick has tried to do since he has been here, that was only in draft evaluation, not the coaches. I think it would be a mistake to put all of the responcibilities of coaching evaluation too. Mcnair should hire an experienced football administrator to head up the whole organization, not pile it on the GM for the football players.

There's a lot of "dead coach walking" talk going around Houston but I've found nothing "official", certainly not from the Texans.

In one way, Kubiak might find the timing right to get out of town. The talk in Denver is that John Elway is going to join the Broncos inner circle as Director of Football Operations and, possibly, as part owner. He would have power over the GM and will be involved in the search for a new head coach.

Dollars to donuts, Elway would want his old roommate and best buddy Kubiak as either head coach or offensive coordinator and who is going to tell John "no"?

So, my belief is that a coaching gig is likely for Kubiak in Denver if he becomes available. Next year at this time, the head coach job won't be available.

From what I know, nothing. But I have heard whispers that Kubiak has more input on personnel decisions, especially draft decisions, than Smith does. Smith denies this, of course, but if it's true that many or all of the shit picks were Kubiak picks then I am potentially less bothered by Smith's staying.

I would love to see him replaced by a seasoned GM or personnel guru, anyone not named Casserly, but once Smith joined the Competition Committee I assumed that he would outlast this coach and probably future coaches as well.

I think because Rick Smith is not white, you can presume the new HC he hires (if Smith is the one who leads that process), will be white though I dunno about his "profile".

I'd say keep an eye on what goes down right after Sunday's game. If there's no word by Monday night, then things might get interesting. If McNair dismisses Kubiak, I think he'll do it with some class and integrity and maybe not as fast as a disgruntled fanbase wishes.... Maybe I'm wrong.... I think if Kubes had been able to win a couple of these last few games, he may have been able to salvage his job but the team is too banged up and there aren't any horses left in the stable and that's partly his doing, too... A year that started off with much promise and sky-high expectations turned into a disaster...

Perhaps they really will go through the whole SOP of "evaluation" that they do with staff every January or perhaps they announce something to that effect. (Note, no comments from McNair lately. I woudn't talk either if I had tried to say something a little positive about the team and the entire fan base had thrown it back in my face.)

As far as Rick Smith goes, isn't he on the NFL competition committee? My understanding is that McNair thinks highly of him and I really don't see him going anywhere...

Replacements that I would love...

Schottenheimer

Gruden

Dungy



Miss Jerry Jones made an astute observation recently. She said "No head coach has ever gone to another team and won a SB." Something to think about.

Who am I kidding? I just want consecutive double digit winning seasons!!!!!

I heard that. Very interesting and it gives some pause to hiring a big name coach.

But how many coaches have won a superbowl total? Maybe 25. How many went on to coach in other places? About a dozen maybe.

And how many coaches total in the superbowl era? Hundreds? A Thousand? I really have no idea.

But the point is the sample size of superbowl coaches who move on is tiny and you really can't draw any conclusions from it.

Well, Schottenheimer has never been to a Super Bowl, much less won one. He has John Elway and Tom Brady to thank for that.

Elway and Brady, both white. It must be a conspiracy. Of course, they're both quarterbacks.

May I remind you, Chuck, that Smith didn't hire Kubiak. Smith came later, even though they both came from the Broncos. He has no track record for hiring head coaches so it's all speculation at this time. It's just that the overall track record of minority GMs is that they hire fellow minorities as their head coaches/managers. It's not always the case (Ozzie Newsome, for one) but it is a trend - one that I think means we should not dismiss minority HCs in the speculation.

FWIW, if the Vikes are dumb enough not to keep Leslie Frazier, I'd be thrilled to give him a shot here. I think he has potential to be the next Jeff Fisher (if we can't get Fisher).

But if Smith is staying, that will make it harder to reel in the big names circulating in the media because most of them want a lot of control and a sitting GM is not likely to give it.

Sure, please remind me. You know, I am simply a casual fan with no real recollection of or interest in the team's history, so, please, yes, remind me that Smith came after Kubiak.

That makes your claim that minority GMs hire minority head coaches all the more absurd. Reese? His HC is Coughlin. WHITE. Newsome? His HC is Harbaugh. WHITE.

I mean, seriously. WTF planet are you on? Why do you think that Smith would be more inclined to hire an AA head coach than any other? Your world view is pathetic. Seriously. I actually feel sorry for you knowing that you think that the BLACK folk are out to steal your tax dollars and that the GM of your second favorite football team (third favorite?) is going to hire a BLACK head coach simply because he himself is BLACK.

Really, Bob. I don't mean to be patronizing; I say this to you as a friend. This is 2011, not 1961. Race has faded as an issue. It is still an issue, sure, thanks largely to attitudes such as yours. But please, let that shit go and let's move on to relevant matters. We're witnessing and even participating in the decline of an empire and rather than confront that you want to resurrect George Wallace. It's crazy. It really is.

Kenny Williams? Guillen. Not BLACK, but close enough for you I guess. BROWN. And he speaks SPANISH.

OK. I'll give you that one.

while i would prefer that mcnair fire everyone and start over, if they get rid of kubiak and keep smith, that will at least show me he really wants to win. i don't know whether smith is any good or not. given kubiak basically hired him i don't know how much power he actually had. if smith does hire the new hc, then i at least hope it is someone he has never worked with, even if it is a coordinator.

My preferences:

1. Blow it up -- fire both. Both have had ample opportunity and neither has gotten the job done. Bring in a consultant with experience in building a winning franchise to advise how those organizations are structured and provide significant input on a short list of GM and head coach candidates. Ron Wolf would be at the top of my list for this role; Dan Reeves wouldn't be on it. With his input, hire a GM who will have authority to hire the head coach, subject to veto by McNair.

or

2. Bring in the consultant and with his input hire a GM, who would have authority to fire or retain Kubiak and/or Smith, although if retained Smith would have a reduced role. If Kubiak is retained the new guy would "help" him hire a new defensive coordinator. If not, the new GM would hire the head coach subject to veto by McNair.

Chuck,

I have to respectfully disagree with you on one point.

Racism is alive and well in the good ol US of A. While it's not sheeky sheeky, the media and governmental laws force regular folk to act like racism is non-existent. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You should get to know several black guys that date white chicks and find out their real motivation. You will be shocked. They don't date Mexican (Spanish) chicks on a large scale like the targeted white women despite the serious natural beauty of a Latino woman. (and please don't try the 'white women have lower morals angle' because that would be a form of racism even though you may be white yourself despite Hank Hill's dead on observation)

The anger runs deep.

As I've said elsewhere I'd really like to establish exactly what his role has been. I don't think we know how much if any influence he had on draft day. I'm not trying to excuse him for his missteps, just trying to gather information.

CD: While there are certainly individuals and institutions that deliberately or unwittingly continue to make race a divisive issue in our society it seems clear to me that our society is evolving, slowly, into a society where race is less and less relevant. As to the "real motivation" behind black guys dating white girls, well, I'm all ears.

The one where we don't flee the country and only occasionally return to cheer a team with the most porous defense this side of the U.S. Border Patrol.

But I didn't mean to turn this thread into yet another argument on race. We'll see if Smith brings in more than the Rooney Rule token for HC candidates. Right now, it's just too early to draw a conclusion.

The latest Twitter rumor is that Kubiak stays, and Wade Phillips comes in as DC.....Doesn't mention about Smith.

@JasonLaCanfora: Speaking to coaches and executives today, hearing rumblings of Wade Phillips possibly landing as coordinator in HOU w/ Kubiak as head coach

@JasonLaCanfora: Many, myself included, figured the Texans collapse, including an on-field fight, would lead to a taskmaster taking over as head coach...

@JasonLaCanfora: But from what I've heard this morning, that might not be the end result there.

IE, who the hell knows what Bob is gonna do......including Bob.
SCARY!

Enough is enough... time for Janice to step in and call the shots on Kirby.

I know several black guys. Grew up with them, attended college with them. Even work with many as both colleagues and court mates. And yes, about half the black men (and women) I know date white people. Their real motivation springs not from anger, but from their loins and hearts. From the ones I know, this post is bull**** and an example of the virulent, pc, under the radar racism prevalent in society.

I certainly hope Smith brings in more than token candidates. Just bring in the qualified, whatever color they may be. Dungy ain't the only good not white coach out there.

This is interesting:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5966936

Bum Phillips weighing in on the situation:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/7357738.html

FWIW, I can live with Kubiak/Wade. But Kubiak/"some guy still learning the job" won't do.

You can make fun of me for "flee(ing) the country" if you want to, but I assure you I will always have the last laugh on that deal. And don't worry, dude, a couple more years of a shit economy around here and no brown person in his or her right mind will want to sneak in. You can sit around and enjoy a feeble, decaying economy with nothing but fellow citizens with whom to commiserate.

How anyone cannot see that Kubiak's offense is also a serious problem I just don't know. There is just no possible justification for keeping him as the head coach. If McNair does keep him I will be utterly dumbfounded. And correct in my thinking - I guess there's always a silver lining.

So welcome to the good 'Ol U.S of A., even if it is only online Chuck. Here's one justification for Kubiak - he is a good OC! Problem is he is not a motivator. You would think with the salaries these jocks make, they wouldn't need "ol MO", but just like most people, they do.

If Bob (haven't a clue) McNair was smart, he would leave Kubiak as OC, hire a hell-fire DC, and kind of let the situation simmer a while longer. After all isn't that what he has been doing?

I'm actually in Houston right now, which reminds me - I'm up for a tailgate before this final game Sunday. The 3:15 start is a rare blessing and I intend to make full use of it. I've floated this before and have been met with deafening silence but I thought I'd try again. I'm in the Blue Lot.

Yeah, I think this is a strong indicator what is likely to happen, but who knows.

If it turns out to be Kubiak HC and Wade the new DC, I'm ok with it.

Wade has a pretty good track record as DC, although mostly using 3-4 alignment.

I'll be in SA on Sunday.

I see your point and maybe I'm assuming too much. My understanding is that Kubiak has to signs off on the Texans' moves (which would mean that Smith would likely be the one initiating those moves), but unless Kubiak nixed some moves that would've been significant I think Smith has to be held responsible (along with Kubiak). I have a hard time believing that Kubiak and Smith disagreed all that much, though.

Welcome back 3-4 defense!

I wonder what the guys who wear Mario's jersey every night for pajamas are gonna say now!

Will he be a DE still or...oh no...a LB?

Probably a DE and hopefully Wade will teach him how to play against the run. Yeah I said governor...he sucks against the run.