Ahman Green vs. Rick Smith

[Keith]

Ahman Green called KGOW (1560 AM) host Sean Pendergast on Thursday to say that Texans general manager Rick Smith asked him in 2007, when he saw limited action because of a hamstring injury after signing a four-year, $23 million contract, if he was faking the injury.

“I kind of took a step back,” he said. “It was kind of a ‘wow.’ It was probably the biggest eye-opening thing I’ve ever experienced in my professional career. … When he said that, it took everything in my power not to do something that I would have regretted.”

Green, who said he was not faking the injury, said Smith’s attitude toward him “left a bad taste in my mouth, and it was a strange experience from there on” with the Texans. He also said that before he came to Houston, other players warned him to be “leery” of Smith. “See the curve ball coming at you. Be ready for that,” he said he was told. The Texans had no comment.…

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/barron/7614612.html#ixzz1PYoZH81O

...anecdotes like these are not helping the Texans attract free agents. My patience is wearing thin with this general manager.

[NBT]

I listened to part of that interview. Green came across to me as a whiney pout that didn't think he was given the proper respect due his lofty status. As for GM Smith, I am willing to give him the break and say he was trying to get the personnel that Kubiak said he needed. I want to see how this draft plays out on the field now that Phillips is doing the choosing. You can't really fault the job the offense has been doing, what with a QB with over 4000 yds and 28 TDs last year. A RB with 1600+ yds, and the leading receiver in the league in AJ with over1200+ yads.

[Nconroe]

I guess I'd have to see doctor medical reports and opinion of coaches to know if the GM or the worn out runner were correct on the story. I guess it was a mistake in hindsight to bring Ahman here, age, injury, to much money.

Seems a whiny story to be putting in public, but those are the days of nothing else to talk about.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by NBT

I listened to part of that interview. Green came across to me as a whiney pout that didn't think he was given the proper respect due his lofty status.

He DID come across as whiney. I'm very sorry about your personal issues and so on but stay on the field and produce and keep quiet. (That may be what I love about AJ, by the way, is that he keeps quiet and lets what he does on the field speak for him. And how loudly it speaks...)

But a GM simply does not behave that way, accusing a player of faking an injury. It reminds me of the idiot the Astros have as GM currently (and for not much longer). If you are a PR goon who has somehow talked yourself into a management position you do not verbally confront a player. You make very clear the rules and the consequences for disobedience but you do not challenge a player publicly. Unless you want to get your button-down, plaid, Dockers ass kicked.

And, as Keith says, you do not accuse a player of faking an injury (especially if he's a RB with very little tread on the tires, which makes one ask why the hell that idiot signed him, anyway) unless you want the entire FA marketplace to know what a prick you are.

Think about it. The current regime is completely incompetent in every way. They have proven that abundantly. Assuming there is a season they will fail, again, and presumably the idiot owner will have no choice but to clean house. Which means in all likelihood another two or three years before the team is any good, if they in fact get good under whoever the idiot owner hires. Which will mean that AJ's career is coming to a close. What an absolute waste of a once-in-a-lifetime player.

[Joshua]

Marcus Coleman was on 1560 the next morning and basically said most people around the league think the Texans are a joke and made it very clear that he does not think much of Rick Smith. Said that the only reason Smith got a front office opportunity was because he was basically a mole in the locker room in Denver. Not encouraging.

Since Smith has been here, what contracts has he had to negotiate with good players who actually had some leverage? Off the top of my head, Dunta, Demeco, Owen, and AJ. There were significant issues with all of these negotiations. Dunta blew up. Demeco and Owen eventually signed but it was not easy and it looked like both of them might blow up for a while. All of these things are adding up to a not-so-pretty picture.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Marcus Coleman was on 1560 the next morning and basically said most people around the league think the Texans are a joke and made it very clear that he does not think much of Rick Smith. Said that the only reason Smith got a front office opportunity was because he was basically a mole in the locker room in Denver. Not encouraging.

Thanks for the heads-up about the 1560 podcast, because I went ahead and listened and it was interesting to say the least. Quite a story about Glenn Earl - sure would like to know who cleaned his clock ?
They ended the interview by stating MC was a "Texans Ambassator", and sure enough he's there in the group picture with 15 to 20 other guys on the Texans website and I'm going to keep track to see if he remains on that list after his scathing remarks about Rick Smith ?

[HPF Bob]

Did he ask Dunta or OD if they were faking?

[chuck]

Coleman mentioned something that I've been wondering about. He rhetorically asked who's in charge of the Texans. Smith invariably indicates publicly that he has the last word on personnel moves but I think it's pretty clear that he doesn't. Coleman asks, Who's in charge, Kubiak, Smith, McNair's son?

I've always imagined that Cal Smith has a considerable influence in the way the Texans are run but have never before seen any mention of any kind that he might play a role.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

Which means in all likelihood another two or three years before the team is any good, if they in fact get good under whoever the idiot owner hires.

Meet, Wade Phillips... The new Head Coach and GM of YOUR 2012 Houston Texans!!!

Does anyone seriously believe they'll go any other direction in light of how this franchise has been managed to this point and how they pulled off the recent dog-and-pony show with Bum? The planets are aligned perfectly... We'll miss the playoffs but the defense will improve just enough for McNair to think Wade deserves another shot.

That's my crystal ball moment, folks. Please leave your donations in the fish bowl on your way out...

[NBT]

Wait a minute! I will not donate because I do not subscribe to your view. Kubiak has proven the offense can be good. Phillips, in other coaching stints, has proven he can turn a defense around. we lost several games over the last couple of years because of defensive collapses in the final quarter. The two have coached together before at Denver, I believe, and they got along as far as I can see. So, if you don't like Rick Smith, that is your right, but I just fail to see why this team can't make the playoffs this year.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

The two have coached together before at Denver, I believe, and they got along as far as I can see. So, if you don't like Rick Smith, that is your right, but I just fail to see why this team can't make the playoffs this year.

Just to correct your assertion, Phillips and Kubiak have never coached together before. Kubiak was a ball boy back in the Luv Ya Blue days of the Oilers, and Wade was a defensive coach.

In Denver, Gary was a backup QB and Wade was as DC in 1989, 1990, and 1991. They did not have much interaction during this time. Gary retired from playing and went to A&M as a RB coach, and Wade later became the HC of the Broncos in 1993.

Kubiak has coached against Wade for years, especially when Wade was with the Chargers and Gary was the OC of the Broncos.

This is the 1st time they have coached together on a team.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by NBT

Kubiak has proven the offense can be good.

I don't have time to look up the stats, but as I recall, the offense was pretty much a stinking pile of dung last year in the first quarter (first half in quite a few of their games) when defensive ineptitude shouldn't be much of a factor. Of course, Foster was awesome anytime/anywhere, but the rest of the offense had a subpar year, IMO. I'm not disagreeing with your point overall, because the D was obviously awful and the primary reason this team tanked last year. I just don't think offensive performance is a good justfication for keeping Kubiak around. I think there are a lot of other coaches who could keep this team in the Offensive Top 10 with the talent they have on that side of the ball.

Originally Posted by NBT

So, if you don't like Rick Smith, that is your right, but I just fail to see why this team can't make the playoffs this year.

Don't like Kubiak much now either. I hope they do make the playoffs, but I can certainly see where they could miss out. That is, if I use their history as an indicator.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by popanot

Don't like Kubiak much now either. I hope they do make the playoffs, but I can certainly see where they could miss out. That is, if I use their history as an indicator.

I'm getting that way myself, not there completely yet, but if this team is not an elite team by midseason, he should be gone at the end of the year.

My choice would be to keep Dennison running the offense, and let Wade run the defense, but then what coach would want to come in with that set up? Maybe a Gruden? or Cowher?

[Nconroe]

Yeah , the first quarter offense was a real problem last year. Hope the players and coaches can figure that out for this upcoming year. I'm sure they are studying that a lot this off-season. They did seem to fix the run game and red zone offense last year.

I thought other than secondary last year, and maybe a few players shouldn't of tried as Ahman Green, the player evaluation had been pretty good overall past five years, compared to much of the league.

[dadmg]

Originally Posted by popanot

Of course, Foster was awesome anytime/anywhere, but the rest of the offense had a subpar year, IMO.

Even with the lingering injuries to Angry Dre and the slow recovery of Owen Daniels, the passing offense had very little, if any drop-off. Here's the Texans offense the last four years in several ranking systems.

Football Outsiders DVOA
2010 26.1% (2nd) Passing: 34.4% (4th) Rushing: 22.3% (3rd)
2009 13.2% (11th) Passing: 38.2% (8th) Rushing: -11.2% (31st)
2008 11.0% (14th) Passing: 28.2% (11th) Rushing: 4.7% (16th)
2007 2.0% (21st) Passing: 15.0% (14th) Rushing: -1.2% (16th)

Points
2010 390 (9th)
2009 388 (10th)
2008 366 (17th)
2007 379 (12th)

YPA
2010 7.6 (5th)
2009 8.1 (6th)
2008 8.1 (2nd)
2007 7.4 (7th)

YPC
2010 4.8 (3rd)
2009 3.5 (31st)
2008 4.3 (13th)
2007 3.8 (24th)

Most teams would kill for their offense to have an "off-year" like we had last year. The problem is that when teams got to face our pass defense they looked just as good

[popanot]

Originally Posted by dadmg

Even with the lingering injuries to Angry Dre and the slow recovery of Owen Daniels, the passing offense had very little, if any drop-off. Here's the Texans offense the last four years in several ranking systems.

Football Outsiders DVOA
2010 26.1% (2nd) Passing: 34.4% (4th) Rushing: 22.3% (3rd)
Most teams would kill for their offense to have an "off-year" like we had last year. The problem is that when teams got to face our pass defense they looked just as good

My main contention is the offense sucked in the opening QTRs of games and most of those overall stats came when they were playing catch up. Statistically they were at the top, but I'm not so sure that tells the whole story as to the effectiveness of the offense - especially in the early stages of the game. IMO, throughout the year, they were subpar early in the games when it was close (obviously) and the crappy defensive play wasn't so much a factor. I looked around briefly and I can't seem to find a breakdown, but I wish I could find the NFL 2010 qtr-by-qtr scoring stats. I'd be interested to see where the Texans ranked in the 1rst and 2nd quarters.

[NBT]

OK, so the offense was a slow starter in the first quarter. Is that any reason to be so against Kubiak? I have my difference with Kubiak too, especially wasting so many draft choices on defensive guys that ultimately didn't pan out. But the 4th quarter is when the defense must hunker down and protect a lead, or keep a score close. You don't lose games in the first quarter, or even the first half. You lose games in the 4th quarter. Kubiak's choices for defenders lost those games, and I have already said that he should not have been making the decision on defensive playerst. But given that Phillips can, and has turned around defneses in his tours with other teams, gives me reason to believe that he can do the same thing here. If Phillips can hold in the 4th quarter, we will have won 4 or 5 games more than we did last year. 10-6 looks very doable to me this year. You can hoorah me off the board if I am wrong, but expect no mercy if I am right.

[Joshua]

Popanot,

Had a little time to kill so I went and pulled some numbers because my recollection is about the same as yours. Here's what I found by looking at the game summaries at http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule...houston-texans


Week 1 (Indy) - Texans scored 6 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 2 (Wash) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 3 (Dallas) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 3 in 2nd.

Week 4 (Oak) - Texans scored 14 in 1st and 0 in 2nd.

Week 5 (NYG) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 3 in 2nd.

Week 6 (KC) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 7 (Indy) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 3 in 2nd.

Week 8 (SD) - Texans scored 10 in 1st and 10 in 2nd.

Week 9 (Jack) - Texans scored 3 in 1st and 0 in 2nd.

Week 10 (NYJ) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 11 (Tenn.) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 14 in 2nd.

Week 12 (Philly) - Texans scored 3 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 13 (Balt.) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 7 in 2nd.

Week 14 (Tenn.) - Texans scored 0 in 1st and 3 in 2nd.

Week 15 (Denv.) - Texans scored 7 in 1st and 10 in 2nd.

Week 16 (Jack.) - Texans scored 10 in 1st and 10 in 2nd.

That's 53 points scored in the 1st quarter all season, which works out to 3.31 points per 1st. And there were a whopping 9 games where they didn't score a single point in the 1st.

The second quarter was quite a bit better, with them scoring 98 points, which works out to 6.125 points per 2nd.

What was really surprising is that the defense pitched a 1st quarter shutout in 5 games this year (Indy, Dallas, Tenn., Denv. and Jack) and held the opposing team to 7 or less in 8 other games. That's 13 games where the defense gave up 7 or less in the 1st. Didn't expect to see that.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Week 8 (SD) - Texans scored 10 in 1st and 10 in 2nd.

And this is a game the Texans lost. I still have trouble with that.

A couple of days ago I had another Texans related dream. It was the first game of the upcoming year, and on the first play from scrimmage Kareem Jackson got burned on a 70 or 80 yard touchdown pass. He was nowhere close to the receiver, who streaked across the goal line with no one within twenty yards of him. Where were the safeties? you ask. I don't know. Same as in real life I guess.

And then the typically placid home town crowd rewarded the team with a healthy shower of debris Mexican soccer fan style.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Popanot,

Had a little time to kill so I went and pulled some numbers because my recollection is about the same as yours.

......

That's 53 points scored in the 1st quarter all season, which works out to 3.31 points per 1st. And there were a whopping 9 games where they didn't score a single point in the 1st.

The second quarter was quite a bit better, with them scoring 98 points, which works out to 6.125 points per 2nd.

What was really surprising is that the defense pitched a 1st quarter shutout in 5 games this year (Indy, Dallas, Tenn., Denv. and Jack) and held the opposing team to 7 or less in 8 other games. That's 13 games where the defense gave up 7 or less in the 1st. Didn't expect to see that.

Thanks, Joshua. Anyone who watched the games or saw 2-minute weekly clips of the Texans last year could see who was at fault and that they need to greatly improve the defensive side of the ball, but anyone who says this offense couldn't use a good, solid #2 or an upgrade here or there is being penny-wise and pound-foolish, IMO. Sure, AJ and Daniels are really the #1 and #2 options, but can they rely on their health over a full season now? Couldn't they use another threat out there? JJ's inconsistent and Walters scares no one. Can Dickerson be that #2? Can a young OL beome a stud? I don't know, but again, IMO, they should not neglect those issues.