Kubiak's stubbornness with the running game

[dskillz]

Originally Posted by Vinny

is it just me or am I the only one who has noticed that we pass more than we run?

Not just you, we passed more than we ran yesterday, but seems our QBs pass it to the wrong team. So maybe we are better off running the ball.

This entire team is not ready to play. Whether it be passing, running, special teams, or defense, this team is not ready to play, period. That falls right on the coaching staff. Kubiak wasn't ready 5 years ago to be coach, I am wondering if he is ready now. The fact that he continues to start Faggins puzzles me. Does he not have the balls to make tough decisions? Is he too nice? Scared to hurt people's feelings?

[Texan_Bill]

Down 35-3 causes teams to throw more than they run.... But still, I couldn't beleive we were running the ball with ~2:00+ minutes in the 3rd. Not only were we still trying to run the ball, but HEY OFFENSE, can we move with a little sense of urgency?? Guys walking back to the huddle, snapping the ball with 2 or 3 seconds left on the play clock...WTF?!?!

I was a big Kubiak fan, but right now this team is poorly coached. It shows not only in execution, but preparedness, effort and focus....


My rant for the day.....

[PapaL]

FYI:

Great coaching can't overcome sub-par crappy players.
Two offseasons can't purge a whole team of sub-par crappy players.
Sub-par crappy players can't overcome questionable game planning.

For those of you who think the team is not prepared - Do you honestly think they sit around eating donuts and drinking coffee all day? When you don't have to tools to complete you get embarrased. So many GMs, HCs, and draft gurus on this board - just amazing.

[Texan_Bill]

Bryan Pittman has been a long snapper for a five NFL seasons... Matt Turk is 6'-5" tall and couldn't reach that snap... That is a lack of focus.. Focus = preparedness. Preparedness = Coaching....

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Bryan Pittman has been a long snapper for a five NFL seasons... Matt Turk is 6'-5" tall and couldn't reach that snap... That is a lack of focus.. Focus = preparedness. Preparedness = Coaching....

What the heck are you talking about? A player mistake on a long snap has nothing to do with coaching. Coaches can only tell players how they should react in certain situation; Players are the one's responsible for their actions.

By your theory it's the coaches fault a player fumbles, throws an INT, kicks the ball out of bounds?

[Texan_Bill]

Huge difference between a running back getting stripped of the ball and a brain fart.... A brain fart is not being focused on the game at hand.

If you dont like that simple enough example of lack of focus and intensity, how about the blown coverage on Antonio Gates?? (not once, but twice)

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Huge difference between a running back getting stripped of the ball and a brain fart.... A brain fart is not being focused on the game at hand.

If you dont like that simple enough example of lack of focus and intensity, how about the blown coverage on Antonio Gates?? (not once, but twice)

Not a single person here knows what the coverage was - with that said I'm 100% certain it was not leave their all pro TE wide open and running around. Whose fault is it that he was uncovered? The sub par crappy defender who was suppose to be covering but failed in doing his job.

A snap gone bad is a brain fart not the coaches lack of preparing the professional long snap to do what he is paid to do - snap the dang ball.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by PapaL

Not a single person here knows what the coverage was - with that said I'm 100% certain it was not leave their all pro TE wide open and running around. Whose fault is it that he was uncovered? The sub par crappy defender who was suppose to be covering but failed in doing his job.

A snap gone bad is a brain fart not the coaches lack of preparing the professional long snap to do what he is paid to do - snap the dang ball.

I know what that coverage was.... NON-EXISTENT...

"Whose fault is it that he was uncovered? The sub par crappy defender who was suppose to be covering but failed in doing his job." -or- a coaching staff that did not have their defense prepared to play... If a player is defeated because of lack of talent, thats on the player - but if a player is nowhere close to where he's supposed to be (missed assignment) - that's on coaching. Thats on Richard Smith.

Last.... It is ultimately up to the coaches to make sure the players are focused on theirs assignments. A special teams play that goes awry (as a snap 14 feet over a huge punter's head) is focus. It is up to Marciano to make sure that his players are focused. They weren't. Maybe there's too much high-fiving and grab-ass going on.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by PapaL

Not a single person here knows what the coverage was - with that said I'm 100% certain it was not leave their all pro TE wide open and running around. Whose fault is it that he was uncovered? The sub par crappy defender who was suppose to be covering but failed in doing his job.

A snap gone bad is a brain fart not the coaches lack of preparing the professional long snap to do what he is paid to do - snap the dang ball.

It was a zone coverage. The Safety wasn't anywhere near his coverage zone. Pickings daisies towards the far sideline from what it looked like.

Our safeties suck, our OLBs suck, our Oline sucks, our RBs suck, our Coordinators suck and our overpaid Dline sucks.

We will be picking top 10 again.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

It was a zone coverage. The Safety wasn't anywhere near his coverage zone. Pickings daisies towards the far sideline from what it looked like.

Our safeties suck, our OLBs suck, our Oline sucks, our RBs suck, our Coordinators suck and our overpaid Dline sucks.

We will be picking top 10 again.

you forgot that our Head Coach sucks too...its his fault that we have all these dimestore coordinators and assistants on our staff and its ultimately the head coaches fault if a team falls behind 14+ points each game.

someone on this thread said it best when they said, and I am paraphrasing, 'kubiak wasn't ready to be a head coach 5 years ago and I am not sure he is ready even now'

McNair needs to stop being skimpy on head coaches and make Cowher the highest paid HC in NFL history...just GET IT DONE. Cowher would give us proven HC experience and the ability to win with the players he is given. He managed a program that was constantly losing players and you know he would do wonders with our drafting. I also think he would be willing to work with a guy like Rick Smith who has done a pretty good job to date. Green hasn't worked out but we knew injuries were a possibility. it was a gamble that hasnt paid off and looks less likely to do so as the season progresses.

I tried to give Kubiak some time but its obvious he just gets outcoached on a weekly basis. not necessarily always him, but his coaches and himself get outcoached weekly....journeyman QBs become Unitas and losing teams look like contenders when we face us...that is Coaching. this isn't college football where recruiting matters or stuff like that. Coaching is the MOST important thing in the NFL. When you try and nickle and dime it, you get burned. Kubiak wasn't the best guy for the job when he was hired, he was just one that was willing to work with DC and had the sentimental hometown link. This isn't a popularity contest. He isn't running for mayor. Bottom line. Can he coach and does he have lots of friends who can coach that will come work for him? Cowher trumps Kubiak in that department.

oh and when you look in the camera and say that Mario is playing fine and that you are happy with his work, then you are also a bad head coach. You have to be willing to bench a guy or at least rip him a new one where you may not hear it in the media but you would hear about it in the media after the smoke clears. Mario. Greenwood. Weaver. Everyone. All MIA.

I'll do the right thing as a fan and stick by Schaub as he is just a rookie as a starter and QB is the toughest position to play especially when you have little to no running game post-McKinney and lost your #1 guy. Its not an excuse for his mental mistakes but you can't really judge him yet. richard smith was our 5th choice as DC to begin with and its obvious why that was the case...the guy just sucks. he needs to go....there is talent. it has to be used and if its not playing up to its ability, it must be benched and give hungry guys a chance and let the 'stars' get hungry.

OT - but Dunta should be in the Pro Bowl with how well he is playing this year. Yeah you could argue he cost us the game last week but that would be a bit harsh. He has shown so much heart and skill. We need to get him some freaking help back there. I absolutely love the guy and his heart.

it's obvious we may need a more fiery and demonstrative coach because with our lack of veteran leadership and winning attitude we will never get anywhere. The fact that Smith still has a job is just puzzling. We have NEVER gotten a pash rush against anyone. We have been relatively injury free on our DL as well. No excuses, other teams get a pass rush even if they have to send the kitchen sink at them, but we get no pass rush and we have sense of urgency on either side of the ball.

KUBIAK MUST GO

Best Case Scenario: A&M fires Fran and lures Kubiak from Texans. Texans then hire Cowher, he brings Dick LeBeau out of Pittsurgh, and we sign Alan Faneca, one of his former players. And don't give me this 3-4 or 4-3 garbage. We have players that can play both ways and some would say that Mario (which is where practically all of our $$ is at) may be a good fit as a 3-4 DE. Lord knows he is a crappy 4-3 DE.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

It was a zone coverage. The Safety wasn't anywhere near his coverage zone. Pickings daisies towards the far sideline from what it looked like.

Our safeties suck, our OLBs suck, our Oline sucks, our RBs suck, our Coordinators suck and our overpaid Dline sucks.

We will be picking top 10 again.

he getting looked off by Rivers as the Chargers did something totally nuts (sarcasm)...they sent two guys deep. With one safety deep it's just physically impossible to cover both sides of the field. It was just more crap scheme.

[PapaL]

It's amazing how we go from rosey colored shades to Stevie Wonder shades. No point in trying to help people see the light.

The Saftey enjoying the skyline when he should be covering someone is not a coaching issue - it's a player issue.

I am by no means letting the coaching staff off the hook - lay blame where it should be, across the board.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by PapaL

It's amazing how we go from rosey colored shades to Stevie Wonder shades. No point in trying to help people see the light.

The Saftey enjoying the skyline when he should be covering someone is not a coaching issue - it's a player issue.

I am by no means letting the coaching staff off the hook - lay blame where it should be, across the board.

sorry, but it's impossible for the deep S to cover two players at once. We had 8 in the box all day and drew up some of the worst coverage schemes against an elite player like Gates as I've ever seen. They totally sold out to take away LT but they forgot they aren't built like us....only one threat.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by Vinny

sorry, but it's impossible for the deep S to cover two players at once. We had 8 in the box all day and drew up some of the worst coverage schemes against an elite player like Gates as I've ever seen. They totally sold out to take away LT but they forgot they aren't built like us....only one threat.

Exactly, Brown was essentially a 4th LB the whole day and they must have thought that the object of the game was to hold LT under 100 yards and NOT to win a football game. Hutchins is not a good safety but there isnt a safety in the league that would enjoy success playing by himself in the deep secondary.

[dickieb]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

Richard Smith must go. We could go hire Bruce Matthews as an OL Coach and bring in the best DC that money can buy.

I don't know about Bruce Matthews as a coach but... How about getting him out of retirement as a player? He would sure be better than anything we have on the OL now, I don't care how old he is.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by PapaL

I am by no means letting the coaching staff off the hook - lay blame where it should be, across the board.

That I will agree with...

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by dickieb

I don't know about Bruce Matthews as a coach but... How about getting him out of retirement as a player? He would sure be better than anything we have on the OL now, I don't care how old he is.

your probably right. he still looked pretty fit when he accepted the yellow HOF jacket in September. :laugh:

I do think he would be a good candidate though because his best friend is the OL Coach of the Titans (former Oiler great Mike Munchak) and he has probably learned a lot playing under, playing with, and coaching under Munchak. Matthews retired a Titan but he made the HOF playing as a Houston Oiler. He would at least demand 100% effort and preparation based on the respect that he has from everyone. He would also have a lot of experience in the Division and what teams tendencies are in relation to blitzes and team packages...including the Titans. Call me nostalgic, I guess.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by PapaL

It's amazing how we go from rosey colored shades to Stevie Wonder shades. No point in trying to help people see the light.

The Saftey enjoying the skyline when he should be covering someone is not a coaching issue - it's a player issue.

I am by no means letting the coaching staff off the hook - lay blame where it should be, across the board.

Papa, i totally agree with where you are coming from but I just feel that Kubiak has had a window to show progress and he hasn't to this point. do we re-sign him? make him lame duck next year?

At the end of the day, you can't just fire your players due to salary cap implications. what you can do is bring coaches in to get more out of your current players and improve the environments and schemes they run.

Let me put it this way, if the Texans go 6-10, I think Kubiak should be gone. If they get to 7-9 or .500, you give him a one year extension so he isnt a lame duck coach in 2008 but he has to hire a new Defensive Coordinator. If they somehow manage a winning record, he can do what he wants as he will have already started to show improvement over the course of the remaining 2007 season.

Cowher is out there. Reid may be out there. Schotty is out there. Gruden may be out there. All guys would be major improvements when you look at the potential assistants and coordinators they would bring with them. We just need a coach who can inspire the team and have them ready to play at kickoff. Kubiak has failed miserably in that elementary job for any head coach...and he has failed in that job consistently over the course of his brief coaching career.

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Second Honeymoon

Papa, i totally agree with where you are coming from but I just feel that Kubiak has had a window to show progress and he hasn't to this point. do we re-sign him? make him lame duck next year?

At the end of the day, you can't just fire your players due to salary cap implications. what you can do is bring coaches in to get more out of your current players and improve the environments and schemes they run.

Let me put it this way, if the Texans go 6-10, I think Kubiak should be gone. If they get to 7-9 or .500, you give him a one year extension so he isnt a lame duck coach in 2008 but he has to hire a new Defensive Coordinator. If they somehow manage a winning record, he can do what he wants as he will have already started to show improvement over the course of the remaining 2007 season.

Cowher is out there. Reid may be out there. Schotty is out there. Gruden may be out there. All guys would be major improvements when you look at the potential assistants and coordinators they would bring with them. We just need a coach who can inspire the team and have them ready to play at kickoff. Kubiak has failed miserably in that elementary job for any head coach...and he has failed in that job consistently over the course of his brief coaching career.

In all honesty I don't see Gary Kubiak going any where this year nor next year. I'm not sure how long of a contract he signed in Jan '06 but he will be here for 5 years and probably one extention year afterwards. All the coaches you listed have their own knocks as well. (Cowher - 10 years to win his SB, Reid is burned out , Schotty - well no comment needed there, and Gruden singlehandedly ruined a good TB team.)

In other words; it's easy to be the arm chair QB and/or Coach - much harder when it's your name on the line. We can't expect miracles after 2 years. Should our DC be gone? I would say yes. But we shouldn't burn the whole barn down because we a rusty door and vermin problem. /2 Cents