Alonso Highsmith on 1560

[HoustonFrog]

I was talking to Cak in another thread and wanted to know who else heard him today? I loved what he had to say. I think having a guy who has seen alot around the league holds alot of water.

He randomly called in to tell John and Justice what he think makes a great coach and thus a top team. He went through guys like Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Parcells, etc. He said when they entered a room guys stopped what they were doing and waited for them to talk. They had some fear in them. Their main goal was to be one of the 11 guys that got to play. When the teams had that attitude and the fear they knew the guy next to them was ready for battle and games. He said he learned the difference his last year in Tampa where they were 2-14 under Sam Wyche. He said guys just kept doing what they were doing when he walked in. They got used to the status quo. He said all of the top guys he played for or saw weren't exactly liked and that he gets suspicious when he hears players like a coach. There is no such thing as a players coach. It was very eye opening. He says the Packers coach now commands alot of respect and he doesn't get blustery or act tough, guys just know who the boss is.

I haven't found the podcast up but hopefully they will post it. To me it was an indictment on the way the Texans were doing things. Didn't know what anyone else read into his call.

 

[houstonspartan]

Frog,

Read "Boys will be boys" by Jeff Pearlman. It's about the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys 90s dynasty.

It detailed the operations of the team, and showed how Jimmy Johnson functioned.

The Jimmy Johnson stuff will blow you away. I was stunned. The man is a GENIUS. We see Jimmy smiling and laughing a lot, but the truth is, he is one of the most calculating, no-holds-barrred human beings on the planet.

 

[steelbtexan]

Frog,

Read "Boys will be boys" by Jeff Pearlman. It's about the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys 90s dynasty.

It detailed the operations of the team, and showed how Jimmy Johnson functioned.

The Jimmy Johnson stuff will blow you away. I was stunned. The man is a GENIUS. We see Jimmy smiling and laughing a lot, but the truth is, he is one of the most calculating, no-holds-barrred human beings on the planet.

And a 2 time Super Bowl winner.

This along with Jimmy's talent evaluation and the fact that he would get a guy out of a crack house on saturday night if the player would help him win a game on Sunday afternoon. In addition Jimmy was a master motivator.

These are things the Texans have never had since their inception. But they're going to have to get if they want to become a winning franchise.

Who thinks Smith is the guy to instill this attitude into this franchise?

 

[Runner]

And a 2 time Super Bowl winner.

This along with Jimmy's talent evaluation and the fact that he would get a guy out of a crack house on saturday night if the player would help him win a game on Sunday afternoon. In addition Jimmy was a master motivator.

These are things the Texans have never had since their inception. But they're going to have to get if they want to become a winning franchise.

Who thinks Smith is the guy to instill this attitude into this franchise?

When Kubiak came here he was a great motivator. The players thought he would take them far. However, the same motivational techniques stale when results aren't forthcoming.

 

[infantrycak]

However, the same motivational techniques stale when results aren't forthcoming.

Yeah, must be rough watching game film of 8 drops in a first half and then being asked why we got a slow start. This is on everybody. Winston and Dreeson both sounded weepy in the last few days about Kubiak and yet folks are slinging around motivation. Maybe they are just good actors.

 

[steelbtexan]

Yeah, must be rough watching game film of 8 drops in a first half and then being asked why we got a slow start. This is on everybody. Winston and Dreeson both sounded weepy in the last few days about Kubiak and yet folks are slinging around motivation. Maybe they are just good actors.

He had them motivated?

So was it lack of talent or coaching that caused this team to only show up for 2 qtrs almost every game for the last 3 yrs?

I ddn't hear them but they may have been weeping because a tough HC may be coming in and the party that was the Kubiak regime will be over.

 

[houstonspartan]

And a 2 time Super Bowl winner.

This along with Jimmy's talent evaluation and the fact that he would get a guy out of a crack house on saturday night if the player would help him win a game on Sunday afternoon. In addition Jimmy was a master motivator.

Read the book. It's a trip. Basically - similar to Frog's original posting - Jimmy Johnson had these guys damn near brainwashed into thinking that the ONLY important thing in the world is playing in a Dallas Cowboy game. They were psychologically trained to believe that they were nothing if they weren't Cowboys.

He often randomly cut players to send a message. Yes, sometimes he was harsh, but it's the NFL. It's a harsh business.

Just as an FYI, I believe Jimmy was a psyh major in college.

When I see Jimmy on tv now I'm in awe and I listen to every single thing the man says.

 

[Runner]

Yeah, must be rough watching game film of 8 drops in a first half and then being asked why we got a slow start. This is on everybody. Winston and Dreeson both sounded weepy in the last few days about Kubiak and yet folks are slinging around motivation. Maybe they are just good actors.

The "results not forthcoming" I referred to were years three and four. This year has been a breakdown in play by the players as well as the coaches.

Last year may have been the breaking point, when they got nine wins in what looked like a 10-11 win schedule.

 

[steelbtexan]

Read the book. It's a trip. Basically - similar to Frog's original posting - Jimmy Johnson had these guys damn near brainwashed into thinking that the ONLY important thing in the world is playing in a Dallas Cowboy game. They were psychologically trained to believe that they were nothing if they weren't Cowboys.

He often randomly cut players to send a message. Yes, sometimes he was harsh, but it's the NFL. It's a harsh business.

Just as an FYI, I believe Jimmy was a psyh major in college.

When I see Jimmy on tv now I'm in awe and I listen to every single thing the man says.

I read the book too. It was great.


Jimmy was a psych major in college

We're alike I listen intently to everything Jimmy says.

There are alot of Texans fans that dont want a HC like Jimmy. You realize they want a good guy as HC. Not a guy that's willing to win at all costs. Like convincing their team that there's nothing else that exists but the Texans winning a SB.

Jimmy was all in. The texans need a guy like this. Not a HC that has sleep apnea surgery during the Combine. That's a sign to me that winning isn't everything to said HC.

 

[IDEXAN]

I just don't buy that theory that the strong silent type that commands respect, even fear is a necessity for being a successful NFL HC.
For example Dick Vermiel, a SB winner with the Rams who also has had lots of succes with the Chiefs, practically makes new GOP SoH Boehner seem stoic. And behind the scenes the most succesful coach of the modern NFL era, Bill Belichick, is reportedly close and even affectionate with his players.

 

[HoustonFrog]

Sorry about the grammar in the original post. Corrected. I was past bedtime last night cleaning up since the kids stayed up way too late playing. Typing wasn't a strong point

 

[BetaV1]

There is no such thing as a players coach.

 

[Mr. White]

One of Highsmith's main points in the interview is that the team takes it's cues from the HC.

The HC in this case is way too focused on the technical aspects of the offensive game plan. Then we wonder why he can't get the team to play 4 full quarters, can't throw a good challenge flag, and can't manage the clock. To sum it up, he's a glorified OC.

I'd be OK with Kubiak sticking around another year if it meant he would start delegating. That means handing the Denny's menu over to the guy that actually holds the OC title.

 

[Texan_Bill]

Exactly who I thought of when Highsmith said there was no such thing as a players coach!!

 

[HoustonFrog]

Really?You think when he walked into a room guys didn't stop and listen? Those were Highsmith's words, not mine. He meant the respect factor. There are no successful coaches that are people's best friends all the time and who don't separate being cut and making the team better.

BTW, Walsh mentored my best friend Tom Williams. Coached him at Stanford. My friend worked under him as an asst at Stanford. He got a SB ring under him on the practice squad with the 49ers. He is now the head coach at Yale. Everything Highsmith said, Tom says. Walsh was his confidante over time but the respect factor of player/coach never left and the fear factor of playing for your job and wanting to impress him never left.

Everything Highsmith said is what the Texans lack.

I'd be OK with Kubiak sticking around another year if it meant he would start delegating. That means handing the Denny's menu over to the guy that actually holds the OC title.

To me if you did this then you still lack the killer instict being discussed in this thread. That doesn't change. Guys don't change their stripes.

 

[infantrycak]

Really?You think when he walked into a room guys didn't stop and listen?

The problem with his comments and your jumping on board is neither of you have any information the team does not do exactly that for Kubiak. Y'all are assuming based on results and "players coach."

 

[GP]

He had them motivated?

So was it lack of talent or coaching that caused this team to only show up for 2 qtrs almost every game for the last 3 yrs?

I ddn't hear them but they may have been weeping because a tough HC may be coming in and the party that was the Kubiak regime will be over.

Exactly.

This is the same as when you've had a substitute teacher for a full week, and the hard-ass REAL teacher is coming back on Monday. Sunday night just got a little suckier because you know it's "back to reality" on Monday morning.

Boo-hoo, boo-hoo, a few guys are weepy. I bet there are some guys who are ecstatic about it. Let's even this out and be sure to calculate that not every player is going to miss Gary Kubiak. The guys who only want to win and nothing else are the ones who want the real deal here.

What a crock.

 

[Playoffs]

...He randomly called in to tell John and Justice what he think makes a great coach and thus a top team. He went through guys like Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Parcells, etc. He said when they entered a room guys stopped what they were doing and waited for them to talk. They had some fear in them. Their main goal was to be one of the 11 guys that got to play. When the teams had that attitude and the fear they knew the guy next to them was ready for battle and games. He said he learned the difference his last year in Tampa where they were 2-14 under Sam Wyche. He said guys just kept doing what they were doing when he walked in. They got used to the status quo. He said all of the top guys he played for or saw weren't exactly liked and that he gets suspicious when he hears players like a coach. There is no such thing as a players coach. It was very eye opening. He says the Packers coach now commands alot of respect and he doesn't get blustery or act tough, guys just know who the boss is...

Great stuff, thx for posting.

People who say pro-athletes shouldn't need to be motivated/led just don't get it.

 

[HoustonFrog]

The problem with his comments and your jumping on board is neither of you have any information the team does not do exactly that for Kubiak. Y'all are assuming based on results and "players coach."

I'll put it this way Cak. He works for the Packers. He has been in the league. I'm pretty sure he hears things about teams. He probably even talks to players in various locker rooms. He made it a point to call in and discuss this because the segment earlier they talked about Kubiak. I just don't think you'd look at his comments and why he called in and think this how the Texans function. Nothing about what he says matches their actions or accoutability.

 

[Hervoyel]

Yeah, must be rough watching game film of 8 drops in a first half and then being asked why we got a slow start. This is on everybody. Winston and Dreeson both sounded weepy in the last few days about Kubiak and yet folks are slinging around motivation. Maybe they are just good actors.

I no longer listen to a word they say. I watch the games they play instead.

 

[steelbtexan]

I no longer listen to a word they say. I watch the games they play instead.

By these standards the Smithiak regime is a total failure.

People can point to everything in the world as improvement. They can deflect arguing points all they want but they cant get around the fact that Dex stated 5-7, 4 yrs and counting.

Dont let the wordsmiths lead you away from this point.

 

[HoustonFrog]

Here is the podcast. Listen for yourself

http://thegame.podbean.com/2010/12/29/alanzo-highsmith-12-28-10/