Kubiak officially out, Smith staying?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by chuck

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.

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.

[coloradodude]

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.

[Joshua]

Well, I'm now convinced that Kubiak is staying after hearing that Bum and Pastorini were at practice yesterday and voiced their support for him. If you think it is just coincidence that those guys showed up at practice yesterday and had a microphone shoved in front of them, you're crazy. The Texans (and more importantly, McNair) tightly controls all access. This was clearly the first orchestrated PR step by McNair before he announces Gary is returning.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Well, I'm now convinced that Kubiak is staying after hearing that Bum and Pastorini were at practice yesterday and voiced their support for him. If you think it is just coincidence that those guys showed up at practice yesterday and had a microphone shoved in front of them, you're crazy. The Texans (and more importantly, McNair) tightly controls all access. This was clearly the first orchestrated PR step by McNair before he announces Gary is returning.

The guy is not a billionaire for nothing....he knows how to work a customer, and the masses. I told my wife when we saw it last night, this was a total PR sham to appeal to the "good ole days"......

Whatever Bob. I will still buy your stupid tickets, your $8 dollar beer, and your crappy $20 T-shirts...... Just freaking win.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by WMH

The guy is not a billionaire for nothing....he knows how to work a customer, and the masses. I told my wife when we saw it last night, this was a total PR sham to appeal to the "good ole days"......

Whatever Bob. I will still buy your stupid tickets, your $8 dollar beer, and your crappy $20 T-shirts...... Just freaking win.

Yeah, but I don't have to like being condescended to and clearly McNair thinks we're too stupid to recognize when someone is blowing smoke up our ass.

I've been a season ticketholder since day 1. By my calculation, I've missed about 5 home games in the franchise's existence. Not only that, I've been eating 1 ticket most weeks for the past 2 years because I added a 3rd seat so I would have one for my son when he gets older. Now, I'm really torn over whether to renew. While I had never really believed some people's complaints that McNair didn't care about winning (I thought he just didn't know what he was doing or had hired the wrong guys, neither of which is uncommon for owners), I now truly think there may be something to this. If winning is priority no. 1, I don't see how you can arrive at McNair's decision (assuming he keeps Kubiak). I've pretty much come to the conclusion that McNair would like to win, but running the business his way, having employees (i.e. coaches and players) that meet his off-the-field criteria, all the while making a tidy profit is more important. Winning would just be gravy.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Joshua

While I had never really believed some people's complaints that McNair didn't care about winning (I thought he just didn't know what he was doing or had hired the wrong guys, neither of which is uncommon for owners), I now truly think there may be something to this. If winning is priority no. 1, I don't see how you can arrive at McNair's decision (assuming he keeps Kubiak). I've pretty much come to the conclusion that McNair would like to win, but running the business his way, having employees (i.e. coaches and players) that meet his off-the-field criteria, all the while making a tidy profit is more important. Winning would just be gravy.

I am in complete agreement with everything you say here. Excellent post.

[cadams]

i just threw up a little in my mouth. completely sick over this whole situation.

and here's the problem, if you do keep you tickets next year it will basically be just to preserve your tickets for future use. if kubiak is back they will not be a playoff team next year. i don't care who the dc is. the offense will sputter if the defense keeps them in games because kubiack won't have to go off of his gameplan to get back into the game.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by coloradodude

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.

I see the 3-4 lineup this way with the current guys, of course free agency and the draft will change some of this.

Mario DE, Damione Lewis NT Smith DE

Cushing & Barwin at OLB, and Ryans & Sharpton at MLB

We will need to draft some NT types and add some more OLB talent but in the type 3-4 Wade Phillips runs guys like Marion and Antonio seem to fit the the DE position perfectly.

[NBT]

IF Wade is hired as the DC (HC in waiting?), there is nothing that says he cannot run a 4-3D for awhile. He can then have time to get the 3-4 personnel he wants.

[Fonz the Boss]

No way... If Wade comes in I don't want him to be experimenting with a 4-3. I want him to stick to what he does best and that is to establish a competent 3-4 D. That is the main reason why I wouldn't mind having him here if Kubiak is not fired.

[Nconroe]

I was just listening to 610 at 8 PM on Sean Berjani and Barry Warner show and Dan Pastorini came on and basically shot down everything you guys are imagining on his and Bum's visit.

Dan said he was out Quail hunting at a friend's Ranch Monday, or maybe it was Bum's ranch. So, in the evening he mentioned he'd like to go to a Texans practice sometime, no one with Texans had contacted him. And then Bum chimed in he had business in Houston anyways this week and hadn't been to a practice for a while, so they just showed up on the sidelines in the morning.

Said hi to Kubiak before practice, watched from the sideline. Dan said he had been on both winning and loosing teams, so he was glad and surprised to see Texans practicing hard just like a winning team should.

Dan also said he thought Schaub is an excellent QB, its tough as Schaub has been hit hard a lot and seems to always get up and keep playing, maybe insinuating OL should do a better job.

Then McNair did invite them to lunch, but they never once brought up or discussed the subject of Wade Phillips as a future DC by anyone.

Those topics came up latter when the press did interview them. They just answered questions, they did not make a speech.

Dan said Kubiak had been a ball boy for him earlier, they were good friends, and he felt he was real good friends with Wade and Bum and Bob McNair. They were all good people and he supported them fully.

One of the surprising comments, he said Bum told him if he was coaching a 3-4 he would take a look at Amobi as a LB.

I think Dan came on with Barry to refute comments like you guys are making above, without saying so. Well, that is how I recall and interpret the conversation.

Before that interview, Amobi Okeye was interviewed around 7:30 PM. He was saying the negativity by fans really didn't help them,but understood, he is hoping everyone comes out and supports them for this upcoming game.

He said he thought biggest problem in losses was seemed like on the big plays someone had missed the call and was out of position. And just bad luck on a few plays such as against Jags or a few other examples. Amobi sounded like he had a cold. Said he hoped to get a chance to continue improving and contribute next year, whatever the system is. Of course he supported his coaches and knew the losses were tough for everyone.

Happy New Years to everyone,

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I was just listening to 610 at 8 PM on Sean Berjani and Barry Warner show and Dan Pastorini came on and basically shot down everything you guys are imagining on his and Bum's visit.

Dan said he was out Quail hunting at a friend's Ranch Monday, or maybe it was Bum's ranch. So, in the evening he mentioned he'd like to go to a Texans practice sometime, no one with Texans had contacted him. And then Bum chimed in he had business in Houston anyways this week and hadn't been to a practice for a while, so they just showed up on the sidelines in the morning.

Said hi to Kubiak before practice, watched from the sideline. Dan said he had been on both winning and loosing teams, so he was glad and surprised to see Texans practicing hard just like a winning team should.

Dan also said he thought Schaub is an excellent QB, its tough as Schaub has been hit hard a lot and seems to always get up and keep playing, maybe insinuating OL should do a better job.

Then McNair did invite them to lunch, but they never once brought up or discussed the subject of Wade Phillips as a future DC by anyone.

Those topics came up latter when the press did interview them. They just answered questions, they did not make a speech.

Dan said Kubiak had been a ball boy for him earlier, they were good friends, and he felt he was real good friends with Wade and Bum and Bob McNair. They were all good people and he supported them fully.

One of the surprising comments, he said Bum told him if he was coaching a 3-4 he would take a look at Amobi as a LB.

I think Dan came on with Barry to refute comments like you guys are making above, without saying so. Well, that is how I recall and interpret the conversation.

Before that interview, Amobi Okeye was interviewed around 7:30 PM. He was saying the negativity by fans really didn't help them,but understood, he is hoping everyone comes out and supports them for this upcoming game.

He said he thought biggest problem in losses was seemed like on the big plays someone had missed the call and was out of position. And just bad luck on a few plays such as against Jags or a few other examples. Amobi sounded like he had a cold. Said he hoped to get a chance to continue improving and contribute next year, whatever the system is. Of course he supported his coaches and knew the losses were tough for everyone.

Happy New Years to everyone,

No offense but did you really expect him to come on and admit it was all part of a PR campaign?

Doesn't this all just seem a little too convenient? I'm honestly asking, when was the last time you can remember Pastorini or Bum at a Texans practice? I certainly can't remember when but they both just happened to turn up and then they conveniently support Kubiak at the height of controversy over whether he should be fired. And next Pastorini happens to turn up on a radio show a day later to again proclaim, "Honest, it was all an impromptu trip to practice, we were just sitting around shooting the bull and then we realized, 'Heck, we haven't been to a Texans practice in a while, let's saddle up and ride!' and nobody from the Texans put me up to it, I promise. And Bum most certainly didn't do it to try and help his son land a job." Sorry, but if he was willing to come to practice and pretend he just showed up, I'm pretty sure he would be willing to go on the radio a day later and keep up the charade.

And last time I checked, it's pretty tough to just wander onto the sidelines of practice no matter who you are. Somebody has to approve this sort of thing. And exactly how did they end up at lunch with McNair? And how did lunch culminate with a press conference where they were answering questions?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I was just listening to 610 .........

Ya, I heard these interviews too .... Bum said he would use Amobi as a "standup linebacker". Kinda weird, but Pastorini said (paraphrase) "if Bum says he could be a linebacker, I don't doubt it"....

I've heard all the "theories" and one aspect that doesn't jive is that McClain wasn't even there. McClain was at/going to the Baylor game.... I mean, if you're going to "leak" something, why not make sure Little John is there?