Alex Gibbs Re-Signs with Texans

[Keith]

Expected, but worth noting since there was some concern, much of it apparently alleviated once lil' Gibbs was hired to coach up the DBs.

Other news about the coaching staff from the Chronicle:

The Texans re-signed assistant head coach/offense Alex Gibbs today and elevated four other assistants, including Ray Rhodes.

In other moves to revamp the defensive staff, Rhodes was elevated from assistant defensive backs coach who primarily worked with the safeties to senior defensive assistant.

Three others who were on the staff have been promoted: Matt LaFleur (offensive assistant), Perry Carter (defensive assistant) and Robert Saleh (assistant linebackers).

[RunninRaven]

Does that mean that Rhodes is technically lil Gibbs' superior? I can't keep up with all these weird assistant coach titles.

[Keith]

Yes, and I imagine that's the point of the move, to respect Rhodes' 28-years of experience coaching in the league. I speculated last year (in this thread and in this article) that the weird org chart relationship between Rhodes and Jon Hoke might have led to some awkwardness at best and some amount of friction and dysfunction at worst.

It would also seem to free up Rhodes to exert some influence beyond the DBs with DC Frank Bush, though I think that's still his bread and butter.

[nero THE zero]

I'd like to know what an offensive and defensive assistant's job description is.

Also good news on the Gibbs front. Our linemen can use a couple more years of Gibbs tutelage to get the system ingrained.

[HPF Bob]

Just remember - there's a salary cap on player's salaries but not coaches. McNair can sign and pay whatever he wants for coaches.

[Arky]

Good to see Alex Gibbs back for another year.

The Texans essentially blew up the OL from '07 and rebuilt with a new scheme and coach (Gibbs). Only Pitts and Winston were back in '08. Many of us felt the running game was going take a while to get going this year and that proved to be the case - even Myers and Brisiel who were early season whipping boys came on (or at least held their ground) towards the end of the year.

I don't see Kubes making that much of a drastic change in other areas (for example, the defense) next year. Maybe some new faces scattered in via the draft and whatnot but I think he may realize that he has set the bar with the last two seasons of 8-8. Anything less and people will start screaming for his head. Doing better than 8-8 will silence the masses and buy him some time. I think he's going to have to have a few winning seasons before people will give him a break on the inevitable "down" season....