Wade Phillips is the new DC

[Warren]

Originally Posted by WMH

That is a GREAT question, and aside from Brady, I have never been able to put my finger on it......The guy just has some karma, deal with the devil, or something..... Sometimes, I think he makes moves just show people how damn smart/good he is. REALLY pisses me off.......

Back to Wade, he has some successful experience, been around the block a time or twelve, so I guess he is a good option, but it sure seems like he is the only option. Aside from a "reported" (IE - Texans brass to McClain - Psst - tell everyone I called Marvin) check in with Lewis, it seems like this is/will be a done deal for an search even gets going.

It looks like it's officially Wade. I agree that he's not a bad hire, but the process left me very unimpressed. It didn't exactly appear to be a painstaking search in which every possible option was investigated.

I've been wondering about the Marvin Lewis thing -- did his contract expire immediately at the end of Bengals' season? Because if it expires later, like at the end of the NFL League Year (February 28), the Texans committed tampering unless they had the Bengals' permission to talk to him.

On Belichick, I think he was better in Cleveland than he gets credit for -- he took over a team that was 3-13 and went 6-10, 7-9, 7-9, 11-5, then collapsed to 5-11 (losing 7 of their last 8) amid the circus that became of their 1995 season when Art Modell announced the move to Baltimore. Making unpopular moves like getting rid of hometown icon Bernie Kosar and being generally horrible with the media didn't help his reputation. I also think in the five years between head coaching jobs he must've taken an honest look at his time with the Browns and learned from his mistakes.

[nunusguy]

Coach Gary Kubiak said he's excited to switch to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Kubiak hired Phillips on Wednesday to replace Frank Bush, who was one of four defensive coaches fired on Monday.

"Wade feels confident about running a 3-4, and I'm excited about that," Kubiak said. "Wade said he feels good about the talent we have and how he'll use the players. He said (defensive end) Mario (Williams) has to be one of our most successful players and that it's up to him to put Mario in position to do that.

"Wade talked about some things he did with Bruce Smith in Buffalo compared to what he'll do with Mario, and I like what I hear."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/7367380.html
**
They are definitely going 3-4 under Phillips. Fantastic !

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

"Wade talked about some things he did with Bruce Smith in Buffalo compared to what he'll do with Mario, and I like what I hear."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/7367380.html
**
They are definitely going 3-4 under Phillips. Fantastic !

This is from the chron.com

Phillips' defenses
Just once in Wade Phillips’ long NFL tenure has he failed to improve a defense after taking over as either the head coach or defensive coordinator. Ironically, the only time it didn’t happen was when he joined defensive mastermind Buddy Ryan’s staff in Philadelphia. Also, that was also the only time Phillips coached a 4-3 alignment instead of his trademark 3-4.

Team Year Record Def. rank Def. set
PA YA
Cowboys 2006 9-7* 20 13 3-4
Cowboys** 2007 13-3* 13 9 3-4

Chargers 2003 4-12 31 27 4-3
Chargers 2004 12-4* 11 18 3-4

Falcons 2001 7-9 24 30 4-3
Falcons 2002 9-6-1* 8 19 3-4

Bills 1994 7-9 22 17 3-4
Bills 1995 10-6* 12 13 3-4

Broncos 1988 8-8 20 22 3-4
Broncos 1989 11-5* 1 3 3-4

Eagles 1985 7-9 10 10 4-3
Eagles 1986 5-10-1 12 17 4-3

Saints 1980 1-15 28 28 4-3
Saints 1981 4-12 24 11 3-4
* - made playoffs
** - Phillips was head coach

I like the fact that he thinks he can help Mario become a bigger force, and I agree, if Mario will buy into Wade's defense.

[cland]

Originally Posted by Warren

...On Belichick, I think he was better in Cleveland than he gets credit for -- he took over a team that was 3-13 and went 6-10, 7-9, 7-9, 11-5, then collapsed to 5-11 (losing 7 of their last 8) amid the circus that became of their 1995 season when Art Modell announced the move to Baltimore. Making unpopular moves like getting rid of hometown icon Bernie Kosar and being generally horrible with the media didn't help his reputation. I also think in the five years between head coaching jobs he must've taken an honest look at his time with the Browns and learned from his mistakes.

Not to be a Kubiak apologist... but if I could recraft the quote:

he took over a team that was 2-14 and went 6-10, 8-8, 8-8, 9-7, then collapsed to 6-10...

...prior to becoming the widely considered best coach in the NFL. Not saying this will happen with Mr. K, but the truth is that nobody knows.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by cland

Not to be a Kubiak apologist... but if I could recraft the quote: ...prior to becoming the widely considered best coach in the NFL. Not saying this will happen with Mr. K, but the truth is that nobody knows.

There's a couple key differences, though:

1. In Year 3, the Browns made the playoffs and won a playoff game. The Texans didn't make the playoffs.
2. In Year 4, the Browns were hit with the fallout from the in-season announcement of the franchise's move to Baltimore. The Texans didn't have to deal with any distraction even close to that scale.

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by Warren

There's a couple key differences, though:

1. In Year 3, the Browns made the playoffs and won a playoff game. The Texans didn't make the playoffs.
2. In Year 4, the Browns were hit with the fallout from the in-season announcement of the franchise's move to Baltimore. The Texans didn't have to deal with any distraction even close to that scale.

ok, just to be correct, above is off by a year, use year 4,5 not 3,4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Belichick

year 1 6-10 (same)
year 2 7-9 vs 8-8
and 3 7-9 vs 8-8
year 4 11-5 vs 9-7 and to playoffs
year 5 5-11 vs 6-10
whatever, just being correct maybe
so if scoring overall 36-44 vs 37-43,
so Kubes one game better on 5 years on his first coaching assignment, likely would be more happy since had the 11-5 and one playoff appearance

[Nconroe]

main thing, would like to welcome Wade Phillips as a coach to Houston, look forward to him and players helping Texans and Houston have a great defense next year and many years to come.

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

ok, just to be correct, above is off by a year, use year 4,5 not 3,4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Belichick

year 1 6-10 (same)
year 2 7-9 vs 8-8
and 3 7-9 vs 8-8
year 4 11-5 vs 9-7 and to playoffs
year 5 5-11 vs 6-10
whatever, just being correct maybe
so if scoring overall 36-44 vs 37-43,
so Kubes one game better on 5 years on his first coaching assignment, likely would be more happy since had the 11-5 and one playoff appearance

And Bellichick turned out pretty good, we gotta hope Kubiac does similar soon, hopefully hiring Wade will help get us there.

[Arky]

I was looking at Del Rio's stats the other day:

2003 JAC 5 - 11
2004 JAC 9 - 7
2005 JAC 12 - 4, playoffs 0-1
2006 JAC 8 - 8
2007 JAC 11 - 5, playoffs 1-1
2008 JAC 5 - 11
2009 JAC 7 - 9
2010 JAC 8 - 8

Totals = 65 - 63

He's got stats similar to Kubes (average/below average) except for the obvious spikes where he went to the playoffs - twice in 8 years. According to the latest, he needs another spike really quick or he will be gone after 2011. I'd say Kubes needs a spike pretty dang quick, himself.

Fisher, Kubes, Del Rio..... the AFC South hangs on to their coaches...

[painekiller]

I'm with Nconroe, welcome back Wade. Glad to see you finally made it back home.

On a side note, has anyone caught what Wade is doing later this month? Coaching the East-West Shrine Game. He will have hands on, in the meeting room, and on the field time with roughly 50 of the 2nd tier prospects in this years draft.

That is invaluable when it come to draft time.

I know the top guys go to the Senior Bowl, but Wade will have time with our scouts and be able to have a first hand look at the talent.

Nice gig.

Here is the current list of players for the game, doesn't look complete nor divided up by teams just yet. (bolded players I have interest in seeing play in this game)

Name Pos. College
Mario Butler DC Ga. Institute of Technology
Adam Grant OT University of Arizona
Akeem Dent IB University of Georgia
Alex Linnenkohl OC Oregon State University
Allen Pierre DE University of Nebraska
Andrew Jackson OG Fresno State
Anthony Parker WO University of Calgary
Anthony Sherman FB University of Connecticut
Armon Binns WO University of Cincinnati
Ben Jacobs IB Fresno State
Brandon Bair DT University of Oregon
Brian Lainhart FS Kent State
Brian Rolle OB Ohio State University
Bruce Miller IB University of Central Florida
Bryant Browning OG Ohio State University
Caleb Schlauderaff OG University of Utah
Cecil Shorts WO University of Mt. Union
Charles Gantt TE Michigan State
Chris Carter OB Fresno State
Chrs Conte FS University of Calfornia
Da'rel Scott OH University of Maryland
Darrin Walls DC University of Notre Dame
David Arkin OG Missouri State
David Carter DT UCLA
David Sims SS Iowa State
Delone Carter OH Syracuse University
Demarcus Van Dyke DC University of Miami-FL
Dontay Moch OB University of Nevada
Doug Hogue OB Syracuse University
Eric Gordon SS Michigan State
Evan Royster OH Penn State University
Graig Cooper OH/PR/KR University of Miami-FL
Gregory Lloyd IB University of Connecticut
Greg Smith TE/HB/LS University of Texas-Austin
Ian William NT/DT University of Notre Dame


Name Pos. College
Jah Reid OT/OG University of Central Florida
Jeron Johnson SS Boise State
Jerrod Johnson QB Texas A & M
Johnathan Nelson SS University of Oklahoma
Joshua McNary OB Army
Justin Rogers DC University of Richmond
Justin Taplin-Ross FS University of Utah
Karl Klug DE University of Iowa
Kyle Adams TE Purdue University
Kyle Hix QT University of Texas-Austin
Lawrence Wilson IB University of Connecticut
Lester Jean WO Florida Atlantic University
Martin Parker DT University of Richmond
Marvin Austin DT University of North Carolina
Matthew O'Donnell OT Queen's University
Michael Mohamed IB University of California
Nate Williams SS University of Washington
Orie Lemon IB Oklahoma State University
Patrick Devlin QB University of Delaware
Ricky Dobbs QB U.S. Naval Academy
Ryan Bartholomew OC Syracuse University
Ryan Whalen WO Stanford University
Ryan Winterswyk DE Boise State Univerity
Scott Lutrus IB University of Connecticut
Scott Tolzien QB University of Wisconsin
Shiloh Keo SS University of Idaho
Terrance Turner WO Indiana University
Terrell McClain DT University of South Florida
Terrence Toliver WO Louisiana State University
Tyrod Taylor QB Virginia Tech
Vai Taua OH University of Nevada
William Rackley OG/C Lehigh University
Winston Venable OB Boise State University
Zachary Hurd OG University of Connecticut
Zachary Williams OG Washington State