Why I believe Kubiak is the problem

[gtexan02]

From an ESPN blog:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/pos...-super-mistake

For the bulk of the night, Schaub was engineering the offense without the benefit of Kubiak in his ear as the headset was down. Schaub pieced together what he could hear with signals and his own thinking.

Houston’s touchdown drives covered 80, 99 and 95 yards and one of its two field goal drives covered 70.

And one play we know Kubiak called:

Schaub and Texans coach Kubiak said the play that ended the game was one they’d run earlier, that got them a solid gain to Kevin Walter. But the coverage was different this time, and Schaub said he tried to get it out to give Jones a chance to make a play.

Ever notice how much better Schaub plays when they are in a hurry up, but not 2 minute drill?

Why is this important?

When Schaub is in a hurry up I believe he has a lot more control over the playcall then the standard offense.

In the 2 minute drill, he's basically running scripted plays from Kubiak.

He just seems more at ease when he gets to direct the offense

[HoustonFrog]

Gary Kubiak is like a scam artist or a Vegas illusionist but what the audience doesn't understand is that he is these things by accident. Yeah he almost pulls the rabbit out of the hat and he can make you think "they really play hard and had a great comeback." But the reality of it is, they had to make a comeback because they came out flat in the biggest game of the year and because they were unprepared and uninspired. They looked like they had quit and the Ravens decided to give them mouth to mouth. The illusion is that the team is so close but the reality is that they are so poorly coached that they haven't learned from mistakes for the last 4 years and always have to have a streak to make bad seasons and bad teams look mediocre. Teams take it to the Texans and they might come back swinging but only because a guy like Schaub or AJ decides not to quit. These games reveal the illusion...a pass batted right to a player and not having a WR back there, timeouts and challenges wasted when timeouts are needed late, throwing from your own endzone over and over despite the fact they you have time to run the ball. It always comes back to Kubiak. Don't look at the shiny object he is waving in your face...the comeback...look at the slight of hand and head scratching motions that happen before the trick.

[GP]

I was pointing this out last night. You're hitting the nail on the head.

Kubiak has admitted that schaub calls the shots in 2-minute drills.

Therefore, you see what happens when he's being TOLD what to do, and you see what happens when the QB himself gets to do what he knows he should do.

Huge difference.

The players have grown beyond their coach. And that's the real problem. When Kubiak got here, they couldn't understand basic concepts. He helped this team get back on its feet after the utter mess left by Capers and a roster full of players who were not good enough to make a UFL team.

Now? He's reached his ceiling and it's becoming apparent. Without Kubiak and Frank Bush, and thrown Dennison into that bunch as well. and by inserting three other guys into this team (as coaches) this season ends differently.

Anyone who doubts this is, IMO, being as cute as Kubiak and Bush.

I am so deflated this morning. Because I know that the players, playing on their own, saved an impotent head coach. They overcame their coaching, overcame bad weekday gameplanning and practicing, and overcame poor in-game management, only to lose a game and save their coach's job.

This isn't the army. You don't salute the rank, not the man. This is a business and loyalties to coaches should be because it's been earned. And loyalty from the coaches to the players likewise.

Watching that crap last night just made me all the more angry at Kubiak, but my most vicious hatred will be reserved for McNair if he can't nut-up and clean house with the coaches. Is even Marciano suffering from Kubiak's incompetency? Has Kubiak shoved Slaton down Marciano's throat and we now see McMannis getting a shot (perhaps due to Kubiak finally relenting to Marciano's urging to get Slaton out of there, finally?!?!?!).

Yeah, we did awesome last night. Way to go.

[V Man]

Originally Posted by GP

I was pointing this out last night. You're hitting the nail on the head.

Kubiak has admitted that schaub calls the shots in 2-minute drills.

Therefore, you see what happens when he's being TOLD what to do, and you see what happens when the QB himself gets to do what he knows he should do.

Huge difference.

The players have grown beyond their coach. And that's the real problem. When Kubiak got here, they couldn't understand basic concepts. He helped this team get back on its feet after the utter mess left by Capers and a roster full of players who were not good enough to make a UFL team.

Now? He's reached his ceiling and it's becoming apparent. Without Kubiak and Frank Bush, and thrown Dennison into that bunch as well. and by inserting three other guys into this team (as coaches) this season ends differently.

Anyone who doubts this is, IMO, being as cute as Kubiak and Bush.

I am so deflated this morning. Because I know that the players, playing on their own, saved an impotent head coach. They overcame their coaching, overcame bad weekday gameplanning and practicing, and overcame poor in-game management, only to lose a game and save their coach's job.

This isn't the army. You don't salute the rank, not the man. This is a business and loyalties to coaches should be because it's been earned. And loyalty from the coaches to the players likewise.

Watching that crap last night just made me all the more angry at Kubiak, but my most vicious hatred will be reserved for McNair if he can't nut-up and clean house with the coaches. Is even Marciano suffering from Kubiak's incompetency? Has Kubiak shoved Slaton down Marciano's throat and we now see McMannis getting a shot (perhaps due to Kubiak finally relenting to Marciano's urging to get Slaton out of there, finally?!?!?!).

Yeah, we did awesome last night. Way to go.

I agree

[Thorn]

It should be real obvious by now that Kubiak isn't going to get this team over the hump. Anyone who can't see that is either blind or is named McNair.

[Hervoyel]

I don't think there's a Texans fan out there who doesn't appreciate what Kubiak has accomplished here. I think that most of us now understand that he's reached his ceiling though and that to take the next steps we need someone who can make better decisions and who is a better motivator. I appreciate what he's done but it's time to move on.

I truly believe that our offense (meaning the system we run) is up to the task at hand. I think that we get cute at the wrong times and that we tend to get one dimensional all on our own (much like last night when we chose to fling the ball around down by our own end zone because we were in "Throw the ball all over the place mode". That's usually followed by a Gary Kubiak press conference where he says "I should have run the ball more. I should have got Arian involved" and he knows he does this crap. This is the kind of coaching we need to leave behind. It's a perfect illustration of why Gary isn't head coach material. It isn't that his system is bad or that his players aren't any good. Yes they make mistakes but so do players on every team. It's the decisions he makes and the way he gets locked into patterns that kill us. It's his inability to motivate his football team that handicaps us from the opening kickoff.

People are worried about a new coach bringing in his own system but I truly believe that a better coach could come in, keep Dennison in place, and get better results simpy by having players ready to play from the start of the game and by making better decisions (up to and including giving Schaub more freedom) during games.

A defensive minded coach would have most of his work cut out for him on that side of the ball but our offense is ready to play. The problems aren't in the players or the system. They're in the process and the leadership.

[Pantherstang84]

Originally Posted by GP

I was pointing this out last night. You're hitting the nail on the head.

Kubiak has admitted that schaub calls the shots in 2-minute drills.

Therefore, you see what happens when he's being TOLD what to do, and you see what happens when the QB himself gets to do what he knows he should do.

Huge difference.

The players have grown beyond their coach. And that's the real problem. When Kubiak got here, they couldn't understand basic concepts. He helped this team get back on its feet after the utter mess left by Capers and a roster full of players who were not good enough to make a UFL team.

Now? He's reached his ceiling and it's becoming apparent. Without Kubiak and Frank Bush, and thrown Dennison into that bunch as well. and by inserting three other guys into this team (as coaches) this season ends differently.

Anyone who doubts this is, IMO, being as cute as Kubiak and Bush.

I am so deflated this morning. Because I know that the players, playing on their own, saved an impotent head coach. They overcame their coaching, overcame bad weekday gameplanning and practicing, and overcame poor in-game management, only to lose a game and save their coach's job.

This isn't the army. You don't salute the rank, not the man. This is a business and loyalties to coaches should be because it's been earned. And loyalty from the coaches to the players likewise.

Watching that crap last night just made me all the more angry at Kubiak, but my most vicious hatred will be reserved for McNair if he can't nut-up and clean house with the coaches. Is even Marciano suffering from Kubiak's incompetency? Has Kubiak shoved Slaton down Marciano's throat and we now see McMannis getting a shot (perhaps due to Kubiak finally relenting to Marciano's urging to get Slaton out of there, finally?!?!?!).

Yeah, we did awesome last night. Way to go.

After a good nights sleep on some egg nog with rum, I have a slightly different perspective on this.

I got the sense last night the players were trying to save their own season. They put forth the effort for themselves not their coaches. They were taking it upon themselves. That's why you saw the whole team go into beast mode in the 4th qtr.

Now that they have been eliminated from the playoff picture, it will be interesting to see how the last three games play out. I'm thinking they will pack it in. They have nothing to play for anymore but their own pride. Hopefully they woke up this morning realizing THEY (players collectively not individually) are not the problem and take appropriate action.

[GP]

By the way, I might write long posts...

But I try very hard to fully explain why I think the way I think about things.

I am not just dropping a one-line zinger on people. I do that maybe 5% of the time, just for fun. The other 95% of the time, I am trying to explain my observations and my theories on what is happening with our team.

This shouldn't be rocket science. The game of football is simple, if people will allow it to be what it is. Vince Lombardi and Bill Cowher are cut from the same cloth: They understand that football is simple, unless you make it difficult.

Does anybody here think that Kubiak has simplified things, or has he complicated things?

This is an easy answer. But let's see how "cute" some people can get with it. Let's see how we can complicate it. This is where my long-time pal Thunderkyss comes in and illuminates things for me.

[Scooter]

i remember this thread ... david carr had a great half a game when calling his own plays.

[Double Barrel]

Think of it this way, guys: THREE WEEKS from today (or most likely yesterday) we will KNOW the intentions of Bob McNair regarding the future of this franchise. He will either tell us that Gary has done a bang up job and then give a bunch of lame excuses why the players have failed him - or - he will let Gary ride off into the sunset and begin the arduous task of interviewing potential head coaches and starting the process of rebuilding a team over again.

[Mr. White]

Ever wonder why Kubiak is so focused on the Denny's menu? Because he's calling plays from it. Anyone else on the staff is OC in name only.

Time to hand over the Denny's menu and start worrying about the big picture. Actually, it was that time about 2 or 3 years ago.

We get it. You know how to call an offense even if you don't want to run the ball.

The Kubiak formula has gone as far as it can.

[Showtime100]

I've been up for a while now and still can't shake the disappointment of knowing Kubiak didn't lose his job while I slept.

[TexCanada]

Think about how Cowher feels after watching a game like that. He can clearly see a group of players that are ready to win, but are being held back. There is a quarterback who is ready to be a leader of a really good offense, and a defense that needs some guidance and an extra player or two. There is a loyal owner, a great fan base and a great stadium. I can't imagine any coach not being excited to land a job like this. Go get him Bob.

[Texan4Ever]

Might be an obvious question, but if Kubiak is the main play caller, then what the hell is our OC doing?

My hope is that there will be a change at the HC position and I would also like to see a new DC as well because the reason we are at the bottom of the league is because of our defense which plays lights out a few plays and then goes flat.

[TexCanada]

Originally Posted by Mr. White

Ever wonder why Kubiak is so focused on the Denny's menu? Because he's calling plays from it. Anyone else on the staff is OC in name only.

Time to hand over the Denny's menu and start worrying about the big picture. Actually, it was that time about 2 or 3 years ago.

We get it. You know how to call an offense even if you don't want to run the ball.

The Kubiak formula has gone as far as it can.

One thing that caught my eye during the game last night was the meeting Kubiak had on the sidelines when the O was struggling. I thought it was interesting that I had never seen him do that with the D before, despite them struggling the entire year. Its possible that he has had a similar sideline meeting with the D and I just haven't seen it though.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by TexCanada

One thing that caught my eye during the game last night was the meeting Kubiak had on the sidelines when the O was struggling. I thought it was interesting that I had never seen him do that with the D before, despite them struggling the entire year. Its possible that he has had a similar sideline meeting with the D and I just haven't seen it though.

I doubt it...

Kubiak is an offensive minded head coach so when the offense does bad he probably feels a little more embarrassed.

I'm pretty sure that's why he wanted Frank on the field. So he could take charge of his unit. No homo.

[Hardcore Texan]

Tons of time on the clock, you're back up in your end of the field and you are calling 5 step drop pass plays that has your QB on the goal line against the Ravens D in overtime.

And you got the league's leading rusher in your arsenal. I don't understand it.
Bad coaching......period.

I have been saying it for WEEKS now, we would lose to Philly and Baltimore and then win out to go 8-8. Just so it makes it that much harder for McNair to cut bait. Happy, happy joy joy.

Gary has to go!

[Mr. White]

Originally Posted by TexCanada

One thing that caught my eye during the game last night was the meeting Kubiak had on the sidelines when the O was struggling. I thought it was interesting that I had never seen him do that with the D before, despite them struggling the entire year. Its possible that he has had a similar sideline meeting with the D and I just haven't seen it though.

He was meeting with players before the D took the field in OT. I'd have to ask one of the film guys around here if it was the defense or the whole team.

He was definitely trying to get them fired up like a HC is supposed to do. I just don't think he does it enough.

You hear it all the time, but the players take on the personality of the coach. In this case, it makes sense. I just don't see him engaged in the game all that much.

[TexCanada]

Originally Posted by Mr. White

He was meeting with players before the D took the field in OT. I'd have to ask one of the film guys around here if it was the defense or the whole team.

He was definitely trying to get them fired up like a HC is supposed to do. I just don't think he does it enough.

You hear it all the time, but the players take on the personality of the coach. In this case, it makes sense. I just don't see him engaged in the game all that much.

The meeting I was talking about was in the 2nd quarter I believe. It was just the O cause the D was on the field.

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by Hardcore Texan

Tons of time on the clock, you're back up in your end of the field and you are calling 5 step drop pass plays that has your QB on the goal line against the Ravens D in overtime.

And you got the league's leading rusher in your arsenal. I don't understand it.
Bad coaching......period.

I have been saying it for WEEKS now, we would lose to Philly and Baltimore and then win out to go 8-8. Just so it makes it that much harder for McNair to cut bait. Happy, happy joy joy.

Gary has to go!

couldnt agree more. same as it has been all season (and career), kubiak's flaw is that he's a quarterback calling plays for a run-first scheme. likewise i think schaub is checking to more pass plays than necessary - which again falls on kubiak. when things get interesting, we get pass happy (or downright "cute") ... forcing a passing offense in a painfully obvious run setting (as with the colts second game). the man creates absolute works of art with the route and blocking designs (when myers isnt whiffing), but as with everything wrong with the texans, kubiak isnt just the "end all" ... he's "all". we need an offensive coordinator that isnt "yessir mister kubiak" calling plays.

foster was averaging 5.1ypc against the ravens' run defense, we'd dominated runs out of 3-1 formations against nickel, and i cant remember ray lewis ever being blown up like leach was doing. combine these things, as well as the ravens' obvious fatigue, and our field position ... the call to end the game on 10 foster runs and a 30 yard field goal couldnt have been more obvious.