Official Search for a New Defensive Coordinator Thread - Bush Hired!

[Joshua]

Anybody else growing slightly concerned that the regular season has been over for almost 2 weeks and we still haven't heard of any coordinators even being scheduled to interview here. I mean, Williams and Gray (and every other coach that was on a team that didn't make the playoffs) were free to interview almost 2 weeks ago. I was certainly hoping we would be a little more proactive in our search. For instance, Profootballtalk is reporting that Nolan is close to getting the Packers' D coordinator job.

The Texans should have had a short list of candidates and if any of them were on staffs that did not make the playoffs, they should have been moving on evaluating them. Now, maybe they are doing this and it's just not being reported but I find it hard to believe that someone in Houston or in the city where the coach is currently on staff wouldn't have leaked this.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Anybody else growing slightly concerned that the regular season has been over for almost 2 weeks and we still haven't heard of any coordinators even being scheduled to interview here.

No, I'm not concerned at all. Maybe they're waiting for McDermott or someone currently on staff with a playoff team. They may not be interested in Williams or Gray, and if that's the case, why bring them in?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by popanot

No, I'm not concerned at all. Maybe they're waiting for McDermott or someone currently on staff with a playoff team.

If that's the case, then I'll be more than happy. Just because nobody has seen a potential coach at the airport, that doesn't mean that Rick Smith and Kubiak haven't made any phone calls to let potential candidates know that they are interested in their services.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Roy P

If that's the case, then I'll be more than happy. Just because nobody has seen a potential coach at the airport, that doesn't mean that Rick Smith and Kubiak haven't made any phone calls to let potential candidates know that they are interested in their services.

I don't disagree with this and I hope you're right, but in my opinion, serious candidates are generally brought in. Also, if Painekiller's information is correct, Kubiak wasn't even going to assemble a list of potential candidates until after his vacation. Hard to call people when you're coach is on vacation and hasn't provided a list of possibilities yet.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Anybody else growing slightly concerned that the regular season has been over for almost 2 weeks and we still haven't heard of any coordinators even being scheduled to interview here. I mean, Williams and Gray (and every other coach that was on a team that didn't make the playoffs) were free to interview almost 2 weeks ago. I was certainly hoping we would be a little more proactive in our search. For instance, Profootballtalk is reporting that Nolan is close to getting the Packers' D coordinator job.

The Texans should have had a short list of candidates and if any of them were on staffs that did not make the playoffs, they should have been moving on evaluating them. Now, maybe they are doing this and it's just not being reported but I find it hard to believe that someone in Houston or in the city where the coach is currently on staff wouldn't have leaked this.

I'm not concerned about it. The Texans are pretty good about keeping things under wraps. I do have a feeling that Bush is getting the job. That is based on absolutely nothing....although McClain's piece about the search sounded a little like an attempt to soften the blow when Bush is hired. The chronicles never disguised a public relations piece for the Texans as actual jounralism have they? Seriously, I just have a gut feeling that it's going to be Bush.

McDermott and Gray would be my top choices, but I'm fine with Bush and would actually prefer him to some of the other names being tossed around.

[painekiller]

Not at all, KubiaK said he was taking a week off and then compiling the list of canidates. Now if we still do not have a DC by the Pro Bowl, then panic.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Not at all, KubiaK said he was taking a week off and then compiling the list of canidates. Now if we still do not have a DC by the Pro Bowl, then panic.

Well, this sort of bothers me too. It's not like Smith's firing came out of the blue or was based on anything he did in the last month of the season. Hell, a lot of people thought he may have saved his job during the last 6 weeks. Kubiak had to know by midseason that a change was likely. If so, why is he waiting until after a week's vacation to start compiling a list of replacements? What if after this week off and he starts putting together this list he discovers that Mike Nolan would be a good fit? Well, it's too late because Nolan was hired by the Packers while he was on vacation. And if you have staff to fill and want to get your pick of the litter, why are you vacationing now?

Now, I see I'm clearly in the minority on this and most don't have a problem with it. Also, I agree with those who think the coaching search is probably just a smokescreen before hiring Bush. However, if they are serious about looking outside the organization, you're telling me there isn't a single coach on any team that either didn't make the playoffs or lost in the first round that is worth at least bringing in and taking a look at? I find that hard to believe as well as showing a lack of due diligence. Maybe they prefer someone currently still in the playoffs. That's great and they should interview them when they can but that shouldn't stop them from pursuing other avenues at the same time. Clearly, other teams are already on the move to fill their vacancies. The Texans aren't and I don't see any way this could be viewed as a positive. Best case scenario is that it ultimately doesn't impact who we hire. But when the only outcomes are either negative or neutral, that's not good business.

As for keeping it under wraps, I just don't believe this is likely at all. Not only would the Texans have to keep it quiet but so would the coach being interviewed (and his family and friends) and the team he is currently with. Throw on top of this the notion that no one saw him at the facility, airport, restaurant around town, etc. I just can't believe that candidates have come to town to interview and literally no one knew about it.

[Joshua]

To further my point, this article indicates that the Bears may be close to signing Marinelli as their defensive line coach -

http://www.freep.com/article/2009010...46/1048/sports

Now, Lovie Smith and Marinelli are friends and maybe the Texans would not have had a shot, but Marinelli is considered one of the best D line coaches in the business. Do you really think it is to the Texans' advantage to have their head coach on vacation, then come back and compile a list of candidates (which presumably will take some time as well), and then start the interview process? All the while, teams like the Bears are on the move and wooing potential candidates like Marinelli? How is it good for the Texans if Marinelli is hired by another team before Kubiak even sits down to decide whether he is a good fit?

[gunn]

Originally Posted by Joshua

To further my point, this article indicates that the Bears may be close to signing Marinelli as their defensive line coach -

http://www.freep.com/article/2009010...46/1048/sports

Now, Lovie Smith and Marinelli are friends and maybe the Texans would not have had a shot, but Marinelli is considered one of the best D line coaches in the business. Do you really think it is to the Texans' advantage to have their head coach on vacation, then come back and compile a list of candidates (which presumably will take some time as well), and then start the interview process? All the while, teams like the Bears are on the move and wooing potential candidates like Marinelli? How is it good for the Texans if Marinelli is hired by another team before Kubiak even sits down to decide whether he is a good fit?

In all likelyhood they have no interest in running a Tampa 2 system.... If that is the case, why would you even consider a coach that would bring in and instill that type of defense.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by gunn

In all likelyhood they have no interest in running a Tampa 2 system.... If that is the case, why would you even consider a coach that would bring in and instill that type of defense.

Because he is being hired as the D line coach, not the D coordinator so he wouldn't be the one deciding what defense to run. Since he is considered by many to be the best D line coach in football and we have 2 underperforming 1st rounders on our D line, tell me why we shouldn't at least be considering him for our vacancy at D line coach.

And maybe I'm going about it wrong by bringing up specific candidates. Forget Marinelli (or Gray or Williams) or any other specific candidate. I want someone to tell me why it is beneficial for the Texans to have their coach taking a week off while other teams are interviewing candidates before he even sits down to determine who his candidates are. It's that simple. If you can't tell me why it's good, rather than why it may not ultimately hurt us, I just don't think that's good enough.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Kubiak had to know by midseason that a change was likely. If so, why is he waiting until after a week's vacation to start compiling a list of replacements?

I think this a case of reading to much into a soundbite. I'm sure Kubiak has had a list for a while, and I would bet that there has been at least some contact made...even if only through back channels. The Texans could have easily contacted 10 different guys and not brought them into town for interviews. I'm sure McNair has access to private jets. The chronicle is not known for it's tough investigative style...they just repeat what the PR guy tells them. My point is just because we haven't heard anything doesn't mean anything.

Just because another team hires someone who's name might have appeared in the blog-o-sphere as a potential candidate doesn't mean that the Texans were ever interested....or that the coach told the team that he wasn't interested. I'm sure that if we hired someone today, there would be a contigentcy fans complaining that we didn't take our time and that we should have waited to interview candidates from teams in the playoffs. All we can do is wait and see...

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by papabear

I think this a case of reading to much into a soundbite.

I'm sure that if we hired someone today, there would be a contigentcy fans complaining that we didn't take our time and that we should have waited to interview candidates from teams in the playoffs...

Very true.

I kind of took Kubiak's soundbite to mean, don't bother me for another couple of weeks until I'm ready to tell you what I've decided.

Interviews and lists of candidates are distracting. If early word gets out as to who might be the top choice and that falls through, then the guy you end up with feels like he was not REALLY the one you wanted.

This is analogous to not telling the girl you took to the prom that the first 3 you asked turned you down.

Kubiak may be wanting to take a good hard look at what he has on defense and how he might want to see it used in the future. Perhaps we ought to be thankful that he's doing his homework before jumping into interviews. He may figure that a Tampa-2 or a 3-4 Defensive Coordinator might be a step in the wrong direction.

He might not to want to mix and match parts either. While Marinelli is being hired as a DLine coach, it's for Chicago, and they run the Tampa-2. If, Kubiak wanted to run a more attacking defense like the Eagles or Giants, then Marinelli's coaching would be the wrong techniques. Imagine bringing in Alex Gibbs to be the OL coach and tell him you wanted to run a mauling man blocking scheme. That would be a waste and not putting your coaches and players in a position to succeed. Also, he may be willing to allow the new Defensive Coordinator to pick his own asssistant coaches (at least replace the fired ones).

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Also, he may be willing to allow the new Defensive Coordinator to pick his own asssistant coaches (at least replace the fired ones).

I was doing some investigating on who we might consider. The Eagles' Jim Johnson is my guru, so I'm hoping for Sean McDermott. He might be able to bring along Otis Smith to be the Secondary coach. Perhaps Mike Caldwell could come along too. Their Special Teams Coordinator, Rory Segrest worked with Pete Jenkins at Auburn as a DL coach.

McD - http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/te...sp?coach_id=10
Otis Smith - http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/te...sp?coach_id=22
Caldwell - http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/te...sp?coach_id=25
Segrest - http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/te...asp?coach_id=4

Another option for the DLine coach... I might have to pilfer from the Panthers.

Sam Mills III is the Defensive Quality Control coach and works with DL coach Sal Sunseri. The Defensive Coordinator, Mike Trgovac, was the DL coach in Philly in 1998, when McDermott started with the Eagles.

http://www.panthers.com/Team/CoachBio.aspx?id=1936

http://www.panthers.com/Team/CoachBio.aspx?id=2130

[popanot]

I wouldn't have a huge problem with Bush, I guess. However, I'd be a bit disappointed and really feel this team needs to bring in some fresh blood. Most of my disappointment or displeasure with it would come from the fact that if you're going to go with a guy that was already on staff (let alone one you had already flagged to be the DC), then why the hell didn't you make the move at the beginning of the season or when things were really bad? It's not like the Texans defense was anything special last year, and in fact they sucked and most media/fans were already on Richard Smith's ass for it. If you have that much confidence in the guy (Bush) to give him the job now, well then the move should have been made before the season. I say bring in a fresh, new approach.