First Year Coaches. The Good, Bad, and Ugly

[Grid]

From MSN:

Here is a look at how the rookie class of 2006 performed. They are classified as “The Good,” “The Bad” and “The Ugly.” The first two are self-explanatory. In the case of “The Ugly,” it may not mean a coach is doing a horrible job, simply that what he produced isn’t pretty to look at. Some among “The Ugly” might someday find themselves among “The Good.” Of course, they could also find themselves on the unemployment line:

THE BAD:

GARY KUBIAK, HOUSTON TEXANS: It’s hard to blame Kubiak completely for the sorry state of these Lone Star losers. No matter how much they deny it, the Texans took Mario Williams, who will go down in NFL history as an ordinary defensive player — and that’s if everything goes well — because they didn’t want to meet the contract demands of Reggie Bush’s representatives. That’s just one example of their flawed decision-making.

But Kubiak has enough talent in the fold that the Texans should be better than they are. Several of the team’s losses have been one-sided and ghastly — a 40-7 pulverizing at New England, a 34-6 whipping at Dallas, to name just two. That’s an example of a team that doesn’t yet know how to compete, or doesn’t believe it can, and that’s a direct reflection on coaching.

The Texans are currently 24th in total defense and 28th in total offense. And quarterback David Carr, while having a decent year, is not much better than he was before Kubiak got there. Carr has thrown as many TDs as INTs (11) and has been sacked 40 times.

Kubiak may not stay around long enough to finish this job, because this job may not be finished for a long, long time.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16384613/


Cant say I agree with all that. The guy who wrote this doesnt strike me as real football saavy either.

[tulexan]

Wow, Mario will be an ordinary defensive player if everything goes well? Did I miss Reggie Bush getting 2000 yards rushing and 30 TDs this year? Because his numbers seem just as ordinary.

[Runner]

I think the article pretty much describes what this season looked like (on the field, not the Mario/Bush regurgitation). It is more accurate than just believing that since Kubiak is here we'll have a dominant running game and Bronco-like success in another year or two. Kubiak needs to prove he has the goods, just like any player does.

Sure the Texans have won five games, but it would have been better if some of the losses had occurred after playing well against a better team. In too many of the losses (and the Raiders win) the Texans looked like they shouldn't be on a pro football field.

If the Texans had performed more like the team that showed up against Indy last week throughout the year I'd feel better about them. As it is, last week was an anomaly, not a true picture of the Texans. Yet.

[OrangeCountyTexansFan]

Originally Posted by tulexan

Wow, Mario will be an ordinary defensive player if everything goes well? Did I miss Reggie Bush getting 2000 yards rushing and 30 TDs this year? Because his numbers seem just as ordinary.

Exactly!

[Texan_Bill]

This article lost me at ......."for the sorry state of these Lone Star losers"

[Runner]

the exciting status of the play-off bound Texans does have a nicer ring to it.

[Hardcore Texan]

Originally Posted by Runner

I think the article pretty much describes what this season looked like (on the field, not the Mario/Bush regurgitation). It is more accurate than just believing that since Kubiak is here we'll have a dominant running game and Bronco-like success in another year or two. Kubiak needs to prove he has the goods, just like any player does.

Sure the Texans have won five games, but it would have been better if some of the losses had occurred after playing well against a better team. In too many of the losses (and the Raiders win) the Texans looked like they shouldn't be on a pro football field.

If the Texans had performed more like the team that showed up against Indy last week throughout the year I'd feel better about them. As it is, last week was an anomaly, not a true picture of the Texans. Yet.

This is true. We looked like a complete, competetive team a few times this year, IIRC both games against the Jags, the game against Indy, and we played a nice complete game against the Giants, even though it was a loss. But we have yet to do it week in and week out or even back to back, and consistency is a sign of a good ball club.

And even though we may have only 5 wins at present, I take it as a positive that we are 3-3 in the division.

[Hervoyel]

Every year that follows any reasonably heavy coaching turnover in the NFL you get a season that plays out like this.

One coach (sometimes a couple of them) have "Cinderella" years. Sometimes they just inherited a team that was badly underperforming for their previous coach and other times they just have one of those fluke seasons where they go from lousy to unbeatable (for a while). Those coaches always seem to get the "Coach of the Year" awards and they are just as likely to be without a job in three years as everyone else. Every once in a while that early success is a sign of a dynasty being born but not often.

Then there are the other coaches with teams that don't improve all that much when they arrive. They're in the majority and everyone knows they aren't in the hot seat just because they're still losing. Usually this means that the team they inherited is just as bad as it looked under the previous regime Sometimes they make improvements that don't work out or they get bit by the injury bug. Not getting better the instant a new coach arrives doesn't mean that the new coach stinks or that he's done a bad job. Sometimes it just means the job was damned big and is going to take a while.

Whether the new coach won 12 games or 2 his first year means little. He's still just as likely to be looking for another job in three years anyway.

[tulexan]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

One coach (sometimes a couple of them) have "Cinderella" years. Sometimes they just inherited a team that was badly underperforming for their previous coach and other times they just have one of those fluke seasons where they go from lousy to unbeatable (for a while). Those coaches always seem to get the "Coach of the Year" awards and they are just as likely to be without a job in three years as everyone else. Every once in a while that early success is a sign of a dynasty being born but not often.

See Jim Mora Jr.

[old football fan]

Guess this guy never heard of Reggie White. His first year everybody thought he was a total bust. Also we have 3 OL starters on IR and I think 6 DL. I believe Rick Smith did an awesome job of replacing the DL and I an excited about the up coming offseason. I truly believe that Kubiak and Smith will make this team much better with FA and Draft picks. Happy New Year!!

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by old football fan

Guess this guy never heard of Reggie White.

The OL coach for the Buffalo Bills was on the radio yesterday. He compared Mario to Bruce Smith and made the point that power rushers naturally take a couple years to develop and hit their stride generally in their 3rd year. He pointed out teams were already game planning for Mario.

[OzzO]

Good find Grid (seriously). Apparently those sports guys at MSN really know their stuff... maybe taking some info from BSPN.

It’s hard to blame Kubiak and we can't blame C&C completely for the sorry state of these Lone Star losers. No matter how much they deny it, and we're pretty observant herethe Texans took Mario Williams, who will go down in NFL history as an ordinary defensive player — and that’s if everything goes well because sports gurus at MSN can predict the future after 1 season — because they didn’t want to meet the contract demands of Reggie Bush’s representatives. who were requesting quite a bit for a decoy That’s just one example of their flawed decision-making. and couldn't find another, but it sounds good

But Kubiak has enough talent in the fold that the Texans should be better than they are even with some of the talent on IR - but besides the point. Several of the team’s losses have been one-sided and ghastly — a 40-7 pulverizing at New England, a 34-6 whipping at Dallas, but don't mention the beating of Jags 27-7, or beating them twice, or beating Indy for the first time to name just two again, because this reporter couldn't find others. That’s an example of a team that doesn’t yet know how to compete, or doesn’t believe it can, and that’s a direct reflection on coaching.since obviously MSN sports team can turn 4 years of cr** leadership around in 1 year, we're good like that.

blah, blah, blah, fluff from BSPN, blah, blah....

Kubiak may not stay around long enough to finish this job.as neither may this "reporter" with the in depth knowledge provided, because this job may not be finished for a long, long time.

So there.

[TexanSam]

Because the job won't be finished in a long, long time? In a league where a team can go from being 4-12 to 12-4 in one season (Chargers a few years back). Where a team that started 0-5 and now has a shot (albeit slim) at the playoffs (Titans). What about the Ravens, who finished with a record of 6-10 last year and this year are one of the top teams in the NFL. This writer is a joke.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by Runner

.

Sure the Texans have won five games, but it would have been better if some of the losses had occurred after playing well against a better team. In too many of the losses (and the Raiders win) the Texans looked like they shouldn't be on a pro football field.

I hear you but keep in mind Kubes argument the whole time has been, not just one player is going to turn around the franchise into a winner and that in order to become better our defense needed to get better quickly. The above game and even the one in Jville , and even losses against Tenn, Buffalo, NYG all prove that based on Kubes above mentioned philosophy this team has made strides. I know some people think of Indy game as a fluke but there have been previous games against Indy in Houston where we let them get away.

What he did fail to mention though was that both sides of the ball went through a whole new scheme make over in which we had to spend our offseason converting LBs to DE and DEs to DTs, Figuring out if a project OT could make it here.

Or he failed to show that after the horrible 0-3 start The Texans have a chance at finishing the rest of the season 6-7, also have a chance of have a franchise best 4-4 home record.

Sure other coaches on new teams look better but most of those teams were like only 2 years removed from the playoffs - Like NY Jets, like the Rams, etc...

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by old football fan

Guess this guy never heard of Reggie White. His first year everybody thought he was a total bust.

It's amazing how much stuff is posted that isn't even close to reality. Reggie White was drafted and played with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL and he had 24 sacks in his first two years. White was the NFL rookie of the year despite not playing the full season due to the USFL folding.

White, who spent two seasons in the ill-fated United States Football League, made a memorable debut in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 of the 1985 season. He collected 2.5 sacks, and deflected a pass that was intercepted and returned for touchdown. Despite the fact he played in only 13 games that season, White tied for the team lead with 13 sacks and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. The following season, White picked up 18 more sacks to earn his first of an astounding 13 straight Pro Bowl trips.

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/me...?player_id=257

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Reggie White was drafted and played with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL and he had 24 sacks in his first two years. White was the NFL rookie of the year despite not playing the full season due to the USFL folding.

When you put it that way it doesn't support the argument though.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by Runner

When you put it that way it doesn't support the argument though.

Support what argument? He said people thought Reggie White was a bust as a rookie in the NFL.....clearly nobody with any brains thought he was a bust as the Rookie of the year.

[prostock101]

This guy is an *****. Did he mention all the injuries this team has had? Guess that would take some effort in order to write a real story....

[gg no re]

Why are people getting their news from MSN?

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Support what argument? He said people thought Reggie White was a bust as a rookie in the NFL.....clearly nobody with any brains thought he was a bust as the Rookie of the year.

That Mario had a better year than White. I forgot my sarcasm smilie.