Kubiak Impresses Players

[Runner]

As I was saying in this thread http://www.houstontexans.com/fan_zon...ad.php?t=19856:

Originally Posted by Runner

There are some excited players in Houston tonight. The new regime is here getting the team moving in the right direction. It's going to be an exciting ride this year. Let's enjoy it.

Kubiak has made an immediate, positive impression on the team.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/ne...php?PRKey=2453

[Malloy]

Originally Posted by Runner

As I was saying in this thread http://www.houstontexans.com/fan_zon...ad.php?t=19856:





Kubiak has made an immediate, positive impression on the team.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/ne...php?PRKey=2453

Yup, that's good news. Change is not always for the better, but in this case I'll say that it is. At least season-wise, we can't do MUCH worse

[powerfuldragon]

fi we win 6+ games this season, i'll be chanting his name.

[Texans_Chick]

This is the quote out of all of them that stuck out at me:

A few players were asked if they noticed any differences on their first official day of the off-season program under the new coaching staff. Right away, cornerback Dunta Robinson mentioned the absence of certain motivational material. Many of the inspirational quotes that once dotted the locker room and weight room walls are in the process of being replaced.

“I think it’s too soon (to say), but things have changed,” Robinson said. “Not as many signs on the walls. It’s just different. Meetings won’t be as long as they were. A lot of things have changed, and that comes with bringing a new guy in. Nobody is going to be the same as the guy before.”

I know this, in the big scheme of things is not that big a deal, but hurray for the staff to take away the cheesy signs in the players rooms, weight room and locker room. Those are just a reminder of their losing seasons and the old way of doing things. And I am guessing, those sorts of signs kinda mock you when you are trying really hard and lose anyways.

Shorter meetings are a good thing too. Though I liked Capers, and am very interested in the Texans, I have to say that sometimes when I would hear him speak, I would tune out too. Day after day of that might wear thin.

They need more doin' and less talkin'.

I wonder if they are gonna do something about the player's cafeteria, and the art in there. In the past, for each game they won in a particular season, framed, large pictures from that game are hung on the wall. I guess that is OK if you are doing well, but not so OK if you are doing badly.

I was in the cafeteria last year in the second half of the season, and there were all these pictures of just the Browns game. Every single wall was Browns game pictures--nothing else. And at least from my point of view, it wasn't terribly inspirational, it was just kinda depressing.

The open door policy stuff was nice too. I had the sense last year that a lot of communication between the main coaches and players was done through intermediaries, or kinda beating around the bush.

Anyway, it was a nice article to read first thing in the morning.

[HJam72]

How weird would it be for the Browns to see that.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

This is the quote out of all of them that stuck out at me:


I know this, in the big scheme of things is not that big a deal, but hurray for the staff to take away the cheesy signs in the players rooms, weight room and locker room. Those are just a reminder of their losing seasons and the old way of doing things. And I am guessing, those sorts of signs kinda mock you when you are trying really hard and lose anyways.

In addition to all those signs, we've all heard Capers talk and he speaks in cliché too. I imagine the players are going to enjoy having discussions/speeches with more meat and less platitudes.

Since teams take on the personality of their coach, I expect to see a lot more fire, determination, and aggressiveness this year than the quiet, conservative, and passivity of years past.

[chuckm]

I don't know what to make of this but it has the feel of a good thing .... if I read something like the article below, questionable source granted, I'm not sure I'd feel as good ...


www.profootballtalk.com

LIONS FEAR A REVOLT



We're told that management of the Detroit Lions is bracing themselves for a backlash once new coach Rod Marinelli begins to apply his military mindset to a locker room containing more than a few guys who might not be inclined to respond to such tactics.



Although the hiring of Marinelli won praise in some circles since he's the kind of take-the-bull-by-the-bouncy-things leader that the team needs, there's only so much of the roster that can be turned over in a single offseason. So when guys like receiver Mike Williams (who showed up, we hear, for offseason workouts overweight) or receiver Charles Rogers (who continues to be a lazy turd, we're told) start to piss and moan about Marinelli's manner, other guys might be influenced by their complaints.



The other problem is that, if Marinelli and the Lions take liberties with any of the offseason workout rules, one of the guys who haven't bought in to Marinelli's approach could blow the whistle to the NFLPA, which is exactly what happened during Tom Coughlin's first season with the Giants and Denny Green's first year with the Cardinals.



So maybe, in the end, the decision to boot quarterback Joey Harrington sooner rather than later was an effort to win over the players, many of whom had decided that Harrington should go. Indeed, the move could win over just enough guys to keep the ones who might be inclined to rebel in check.

[jerek]

Originally Posted by Runner

In addition to all those signs, we've all heard Capers talk and he speaks in cliché too. I imagine the players are going to enjoy having discussions/speeches with more meat and less platitudes.

Since teams take on the personality of their coach, I expect to see a lot more fire, determination, and aggressiveness this year than the quiet, conservative, passivity of years past.

We can only hope.

Have I mentioned it's a long way to September? I am going to go crazy.

[footballguy69]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

This is the quote out of all of them that stuck out at me:




I know this, in the big scheme of things is not that big a deal, but hurray for the staff to take away the cheesy signs in the players rooms, weight room and locker room. Those are just a reminder of their losing seasons and the old way of doing things. And I am guessing, those sorts of signs kinda mock you when you are trying really hard and lose anyways.

Shorter meetings are a good thing too. Though I liked Capers, and am very interested in the Texans, I have to say that sometimes when I would hear him speak, I would tune out too. Day after day of that might wear thin.

They need more doin' and less talkin'.

I wonder if they are gonna do something about the player's cafeteria, and the art in there. In the past, for each game they won in a particular season, framed, large pictures from that game are hung on the wall. I guess that is OK if you are doing well, but not so OK if you are doing badly.

I was in the cafeteria last year in the second half of the season, and there were all these pictures of just the Browns game. Every single wall was Browns game pictures--nothing else. And at least from my point of view, it wasn't terribly inspirational, it was just kinda depressing.

The open door policy stuff was nice too. I had the sense last year that a lot of communication between the main coaches and players was done through intermediaries, or kinda beating around the bush.

Anyway, it was a nice article to read first thing in the morning.

Chick, I agree. Dom was a class guy, but I always felt he was so monotone and always had the same answers which seemed to be scripted at times on all the talk shows. I have heard nothing to the contrary that Kubiak is a stand-up guy and does not have a huge ego. This is refreshing!

:brickwall Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!

[Runner]

Originally Posted by jerek

We can only hope.

Have I mentioned it's a long way to September? I am going to go crazy.

Training camp can be fun. It's less smoke and mirrors for discussion than free agency and the draft.

[Vinny]

Way back when this thing first started up I saw Dom Capers gather the players to shout, “Texans Pride! - on 3"…that was so embarrassing - so forced, so contrived. You could tell it was forced. I'm glad to see that Kubiak knows how to identify with the players. All that over-management and corporate structure Capers installed would probably be great for the marketing team but it saps the life out of a football team. Capers was out of touch in the same manner Jack Pardee was out of touch with his players when he coached the Oilers. Kubiak seems much more in-touch with the players.

[Kaiser Toro]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Way back when this thing first started up I saw Dom Capers gather the players to shout, “Texans Pride! - on 3"…that was so embarrassing - so forced, so contrived. You could tell it was forced. I'm glad to see that Kubiak knows how to identify with the players. All that over-management and corporate structure Capers installed would probably be great for the marketing team but it saps the life out of a football team. Capers was out of touch in the same manner Jack Pardee was out of touch with his players when he coached the Oilers. Kubiak seems much more in-touch with the players.

Agreed, you must have your finger on the pulse of the team. In order for you to stamp your mark on the team you must connect player #53 and the practice squad with the overall vision and goals of the team.

Getting Putzier was huge in my opinion as it shows the returning players that Kubiak's former players buy into his schtick and will follow. That alone helps the Shanny shadow dissipate.

[Ibar_Harry]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Way back when this thing first started up I saw Dom Capers gather the players to shout, “Texans Pride! - on 3"…that was so embarrassing - so forced, so contrived. You could tell it was forced. I'm glad to see that Kubiak knows how to identify with the players. All that over-management and corporate structure Capers installed would probably be great for the marketing team but it saps the life out of a football team. Capers was out of touch in the same manner Jack Pardee was out of touch with his players when he coached the Oilers. Kubiak seems much more in-touch with the players.

Yes, and I remember when they boadcast one of his locker room pep talks and it was straight out of the script of RUDY about no one comes into our house ....... I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Yes, Dom is a great guy, but he is not head coaching material in this day and age at the NFL level.

[Double Barrel]

I think Kubiak has the insight of a former player (on very successful teams) to know that certain things motivate while other things simply do not.

Worn-out saying about motivation and all that jazz might be good for a bunch of high schoolers, but c'mon, these are grown men getting paid big jack. If they aren't already motivated, a bunch of signs won't do much for them. For some reason, it doesn't surprise me that Capers was the kind of coach to rely on this method.

[Lucky]

Dom Capers is a good man. Yes, he spoke in cliches. But he believed in them. I think the Texans were depressed because they were being out played and out coached on Sundays. When that changes, everything a coach says will be golden and leaders will pop up all over the team.

[jerek]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Way back when this thing first started up I saw Dom Capers gather the players to shout, “Texans Pride! - on 3"…that was so embarrassing - so forced, so contrived. You could tell it was forced. I'm glad to see that Kubiak knows how to identify with the players. All that over-management and corporate structure Capers installed would probably be great for the marketing team but it saps the life out of a football team. Capers was out of touch in the same manner Jack Pardee was out of touch with his players when he coached the Oilers. Kubiak seems much more in-touch with the players.

Haha ... missed the Texans Pride schtick, but I can totally see it. That is what I too like about Kubiak - he truly "relates" to the players. As a coach on different levels myself, I can tell you that it can be a big factor, can even make up for being less technically "sound" than other coaches even, in certain circumstances. Uniting your team and causing them to believe fully in each other and your leadership goes a long way toward getting things done.

[aj.]

I can probably go back and find player quotes from a few years ago about how excited they were to be playing in Capers' system with the discipline, professionalism, leadership and organization that he brought forth.

This is a normal cycle. We've seen it many times before and we'll see it many times again.

Ever had a new boss come in? What does everyone do? Same thing at Reliant Park.

Then what happens after you 'get used to' him/her, especially in the context of after a couple of years, your department is either a) recognized for being highly productive vs. b) or not?

There's many parallels between this and a business setting. And there should be, since it's a business.

[Kaiser Toro]

Originally Posted by aj.

I can probably go back and find player quotes from a few years ago about how excited they were to be playing in Capers' system with the discipline, professionalism, leadership and organization that he brought forth.

This is a normal cycle. We've seen it many times before and we'll see it many times again.

Ever had a new boss come in? What does everyone do? Same thing at Reliant Park.

Then what happens after you 'get used to' him/her, especially in the context of after a couple of years, your department is either a) recognized for being highly productive vs. b) or not?

There's many parallels between this and a business setting. And there should be, since it's a business.

Uh-oh. Are you telling us that the team will need to execute?

[aj.]

Nah, just produce a good product.

[Bobo]

Originally Posted by Runner

As I was saying in this thread http://www.houstontexans.com/fan_zon...ad.php?t=19856:





Kubiak has made an immediate, positive impression on the team.

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/ne...php?PRKey=2453

What else do you expect the players to say?