Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍

Brian Gaine Fired

Number19 said:
This is the New England model that I opined was the direction Cal was implementing. I liked Gaines, but I like this more. It's still a dream, but we may just be putting in place the organizational brain trust that could make the Texans as much a seasonal power house as the Pat's have been. Belichick and Brady are nearing the end of the line. Be nice if we could be the heir apparent.
Click to expand...

This is nothing like the Patriots model.

& if Easterby is going to be the guy with the power they're talking about, the actual GM... Gaine should have been just as fine as Caserio. He's not going to be a traditional GM.

Just like he's Belichick's yes man in NE he'll be Easterby's yes man here.

& I don't see BO'b getting along with two guys between him & Cal.
 
In retrospect, maybe we all should’ve paid a little more attention on April 2.

That was the day that former Patriot culture coach Jack Easterby—who chose to walk away from New England in the aftermath of Robert Kraft’s solicitation charge—was hired by the Texans as their executive vice president of team development, choosing Houston from a host of NFL options he had for 2019. It was also the day, evidently, that the wheels started spinning on what would go down late in the day last Friday.

Now that this is over, and the Texans have fired GM Brian Gaine, Houston is head coach Bill O’Brien’s operation more than it’s ever been. Which is interesting, because that’s exactly what we were all saying when Gaine was hired from Buffalo 17 months ago.

So here’s the takeaway from the Texans stunner: The NFL is a coach’s league.

In New England, Easterby’s title was character coach/team development, and some characterized his role as the team’s “life coach.” He touched a little bit of everything on the football side of the franchise and, just as important, graded it all for Bill Belichick. As one ex-co-worker there described him, “He’s smart as sh--, has really good perspective on a lot of things, and is an incredible resource for the head coach.”

Those who know Easterby swear it’s unfair to see him as O’Brien’s assassin. That’s not who he is as a person, they say. But it’s not hard to see where those on Kirby Drive were adding Easterby’s old job description to his new title, and figuring that everyone could be on notice. Predictably, tension followed.

Just as clear was who was responsible for his hire.

Easterby landed in Houston two months ago because O’Brien wanted him badly—badly enough for the Texans to outbid the Panthers and Dolphins, among others, for his services. As a result, Easterby got the EVP title. Subsequently, Easterby’s hire quietly set into motion an unofficial assessment, top to bottom, of where Houston’s football operation stood.

Again, the NFL is a coach’s league. The four coaches who played in the conference championships in January—Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Sean McVay and Belichick—all carry a big stick in their respective organizations, and it doesn’t stop at the white lines. If you have a good one, and the Texans believe they do, chances are that guy’s voice will resonate. Accordingly, history tells us sustained winners generally empower their coaches.

While the McNair family surprised many by siding with O’Brien in his power struggle with former GM Rick Smith in early 2018, it was never hard to figure the logic. And just as O’Brien won over Smith, 15 months later, O’Brien got Easterby, which would ultimately lead to a second GM being pushed out in a span that encompassed all of 17 games for the franchise.

What’s next? If you follow the above breadcrumbs, Nick Caserio, the Patriots’ VP of player personnel, is next. Or at least, that would be the outcome the Texans would want. We’ll explain.
Click to expand...
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/06/10/h...-caserio-cam-newton-panthers-joe-douglas-jets
 
DocBar said:
That is, by far, the best explanation of this that I've read, seen or heard.
Click to expand...
yeah me also and much better explanation of whom Easterby was and will be for OBrien. Extremely loyal to Belichick and same with OBrien is my read. Player development hopefully has him with evaluations of other team rosters such as Trent Williams. IMO, nothing is off board now.
 
Max said:
A little humorous to me that BOB may very well be building a legit contending franchise down here and many/most of us (including myself) have been griping every step of the way.
Click to expand...
Teflon O'Brien will screw it up by being too prideful to let someone be a true OC. Hopefully Easterby will be evaluating that aspect of the organization with the same scrutiny he gives every other aspect of the organization.
 
Max said:
A little humorous to me that BOB may very well be building a legit contending franchise down here and many/most of us (including myself) have been griping every step of the way.
Click to expand...
True but that will not change for me. I evaluate and criticise myself lifelong and will do so with sports. My focus if Caserio brought on board is rest of trade period & how Easterby "evaluated" Devlin. Probably remain unknown on latter.
 
DocBar said:
Teflon O'Brien will screw it up by being too prideful to let someone be a true OC. Hopefully Easterby will be evaluating that aspect of the organization with the same scrutiny he gives every other aspect of the organization.
Click to expand...
Yes but I think as the OC grows in the job, OBrien may trust and allow him more authority.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max
badboy said:
yeah me also and much better explanation of whom Easterby was and will be for OBrien. Extremely loyal to Belichick and same with OBrien is my read. Player development hopefully has him with evaluations of other team rosters such as Trent Williams. IMO, nothing is off board now.
Click to expand...
I sincerely hope Easterby is more loyal to Cal, and the team, than Teflon O'Brien. OB is too headstrong about his "system" on offense and is a horrible play caller. If Gaine can be ran out of town due to not being good enough in FA/draft, why can't OB be ran out of town for not being good at what he's supposed to be good at.
 
For those questioning why interview Caserio last if he was their intended target all along, don't forget about the Rooney Rule. Even if it is just a dog and pony show, you gotta show that you complied.
 
DocBar said:
I sincerely hope Easterby is more loyal to Cal, and the team, than Teflon O'Brien. OB is too headstrong about his "system" on offense and is a horrible play caller. If Gaine can be ran out of town due to not being good enough in FA/draft, why can't OB be ran out of town for not being good at what he's supposed to be good at.
Click to expand...
Don't see E being more loyal to owner as OB got him here and can get him fired. IMO E was more loyal to Belichic than Kraft.
 
DocBar said:
I sincerely hope Easterby is more loyal to Cal, and the team, than Teflon O'Brien. OB is too headstrong about his "system" on offense and is a horrible play caller. If Gaine can be ran out of town due to not being good enough in FA/draft, why can't OB be ran out of town for not being good at what he's supposed to be good at.
Click to expand...

Loyalty towards OB will give him some margin for error, I am sure, but in the end, I would lay odds that Easterby's primary loyalty will be toward his own reputation and career.
 
badboy said:
Yes but I think as the OC grows in the job, OBrien may trust and allow him more authority.
Click to expand...
What's given you that optimism? OB appears to be a good old-fashioned control freak. I think he leaves RAC to his own devices because of his reputation/record as a DC and BB probably gave OB a call and told him to let RAC do his own thing.
One of the things I like the most about BB is that he seems to instinctively know how much to meddle with any aspect of his team, players and coaches. When a coach is growing into a DC position, BB doesn't give him the title of DC but lets him do the duties of a DC. When that coach is ready for the added pressure of the title of DC, BB gives him the title. Teflon O'Brien does the opposite. Gives the coach all of the pressure that comes with the title but not the authority that comes with it. If OB wants to be BB, let Tim Kelly game plan and call plays without the title of OC. Approve game plans, help him along the way and take responsibility for bad calls/game plans until he can game plan properly for a "multiple" offense and adapt his game plan for the flow of the game. I think what it boils down to is trust and results. BB has the resume and results that he can afford to take his time with coaches until he trusts them. The coaches see the results and trust BB to do what's best for the team.
 
DocBar said:
Teflon O'Brien will screw it up by being too prideful to let someone be a true OC. Hopefully Easterby will be evaluating that aspect of the organization with the same scrutiny he gives every other aspect of the organization.
Click to expand...


badboy said:
True but that will not change for me. I evaluate and criticise myself lifelong and will do so with sports.
Click to expand...

It's really difficult to evaluate a head coach with all the variables that affect a team's performance and I try to remember that this is only his 6th season as an NFL head coach. That's a long time nowadays to be an NFL head coach, but it's not a long time when it comes to learning from your past mistakes and improving. I think most of us would agree that we're better at our job 6 years into it than when we started. No doubt that BOB has deserved his share of criticism and he still may fail as a head coach if he doesn't continue to improve IMO. But if things shape up the way that they seem to be shaping up, BOB and Cal look like they may be doing some things right as well and those things could very well make this team into the franchise that we all want to see.
 
dalemurphy said:
Loyalty towards OB will give him some margin for error, I am sure, but in the end, I would lay odds that Easterby's primary loyalty will be toward his own reputation and career.
Click to expand...
I will happily settle for just being honest and fair in his evaluations of the entire organization. Hold everyone to the same standards, from the janitor to the CEO. That's what I've done during my career and reputation is just about all you have to go on in my line of work. It's a small community and word travels fast.
 
badboy said:
Yes what he did was often good but what he didn't do at least what I think he didn't do +an improvement over him may have led to his downfall. I really liked the little 2015 Nissan Sentra I leased when I retired and what it did was good enough that when the $202 month lease ended I paid it off to keep. In less than a year, a better option in a new 2018 Nissan Altima with several better options + a $289 month purchase encouraged me to make a move. Not necessarily the smartest move economically or budget wise but a move I wanted and thought would be better for me and my needs & wants.
Click to expand...

I am not fully defending Gaine nor arguing that I am confident he should not have been replaced... However, I am pointing out that he did not mismanage the team. He was the opposite of careless and with the right leadership in place, the Texans are set up to have a lot of success. And, some of that success will be directly a result of Gaine's stewardship the last 1.5 years.
 
DocBar said:
What's given you that optimism? OB appears to be a good old-fashioned control freak. I think he leaves RAC to his own devices because of his reputation/record as a DC and BB probably gave OB a call and told him to let RAC do his own thing.
One of the things I like the most about BB is that he seems to instinctively know how much to meddle with any aspect of his team, players and coaches. When a coach is growing into a DC position, BB doesn't give him the title of DC but lets him do the duties of a DC. When that coach is ready for the added pressure of the title of DC, BB gives him the title. Teflon O'Brien does the opposite. Gives the coach all of the pressure that comes with the title but not the authority that comes with it. If OB wants to be BB, let Tim Kelly game plan and call plays without the title of OC. Approve game plans, help him along the way and take responsibility for bad calls/game plans until he can game plan properly for a "multiple" offense and adapt his game plan for the flow of the game. I think what it boils down to is trust and results. BB has the resume and results that he can afford to take his time with coaches until he trusts them. The coaches see the results and trust BB to do what's best for the team.
Click to expand...
OBrien is a control freak but imo he was burned with last true OC before Kelly so .. as I said Kelly will be like a running back whose coach is afraid he will fumble. If he does well and mainly doesn't drop the ball, he will be an integral part of coaching staff; it will not happen quickly.
 
Max said:
It's really difficult to evaluate a head coach with all the variables that affect a team's performance and I try to remember that this is only his 6th season as an NFL head coach. That's a long time nowadays to be an NFL head coach, but it's not a long time when it comes to learning from your past mistakes and improving. I think most of us would agree that we're better at our job 6 years into it than when we started. No doubt that BOB has deserved his share of criticism and he still may fail as a head coach if he doesn't continue to improve IMO. But if things shape up the way that they seem to be shaping up, BOB and Cal look like they may be doing some things right as well and those things could very well make this team into the franchise that we all want to see.
Click to expand...
I think a better than Gaine option was available and not so clearly a better than OBrien head coach was not. That could change. I hope it doesn't have to.
 
dalemurphy said:
I am not fully defending Gaine nor arguing that I am confident he should not have been replaced... However, I am pointing out that he did not mismanage the team. He was the opposite of careless and with the right leadership in place, the Texans are set up to have a lot of success. And, some of that success will be directly a result of Gaine's stewardship the last 1.5 years.
Click to expand...
100% agree with this. I firmly agree with Gaine that teams are built with the draft and plug holes here and there in FA, while not breaking the bank. We are in alignment, Gaine and I.
 
badboy said:
I think a better than Gaine option was available and not so clearly a better than OBrien head coach was not. That could change. I hope it doesn't have to.
Click to expand...
Banned1976 just posted that the Pats blocked the Caserio interview. Who knows what's going on. For now, forget everything I just said -- back to griping.
 
dalemurphy said:
I am not fully defending Gaine nor arguing that I am confident he should not have been replaced... However, I am pointing out that he did not mismanage the team. He was the opposite of careless and with the right leadership in place, the Texans are set up to have a lot of success. And, some of that success will be directly a result of Gaine's stewardship the last 1.5 years.
Click to expand...
Thanks for discussion but I think he did mismanage team with the draft. Yes he did make some good moves but the draft is an extremely important part of GMs responsibility.
 
badboy said:
I think a better than Gaine option was available and not so clearly a better than OBrien head coach was not. That could change. I hope it doesn't have to.
Click to expand...
Then don't give him the title and let him operate in the background until he is ready. IMO, this makes Kelly just another scapegoat for a crummy offensive "system" that OB doesn't know how to run effectively.
 
DocBar said:
Then he's not much more than a yes man for OB.
Click to expand...
Yes but I am hoping Caserio brings better roster for Easterby to "develop" and OBrien seeing himself as more in control with said better roster makes better decisions. All a hope but I'm more opti than pessimistic.
 
@jasonrmcintyre: Early word is Texans VP Jack Easterby is telling people around the NFL the Patriots are trying to block Nick Caserio AGAIN. (As @AlbertBreer said, blocked in ‘18.)

As always, things are fluid, but right now Easterby is not happy with his old club
 
DocBar said:
100% agree with this. I firmly agree with Gaine that teams are built with the draft and plug holes here and there in FA, while not breaking the bank. We are in alignment, Gaine and I.
Click to expand...
But I and quite possibly McNair and OBrien think Gaine did not do as well as he could have in building with draft and plugging holes. If correct, Caserio may even better in alignment.
 
badboy said:
Yes but I am hoping Caserio brings better roster for Easterby to "develop" and OBrien seeing himself as more in control with said better roster makes better decisions. All a hope but I'm more opti than pessimistic.
Click to expand...

What experience does easterby have developing rosters?
 
DocBar said:
Then don't give him the title and let him operate in the background until he is ready. IMO, this makes Kelly just another scapegoat for a crummy offensive "system" that OB doesn't know how to run effectively.
Click to expand...
The pressure was on for someone else to be OC and led to Kelly as I've posted elsewhere some time ago. OBrien said "ok I'll name one but I'm calling plays until satisfied he can do it".
 
Max said:
It's really difficult to evaluate a head coach with all the variables that affect a team's performance and I try to remember that this is only his 6th season as an NFL head coach. That's a long time nowadays to be an NFL head coach, but it's not a long time when it comes to learning from your past mistakes and improving. I think most of us would agree that we're better at our job 6 years into it than when we started. No doubt that BOB has deserved his share of criticism and he still may fail as a head coach if he doesn't continue to improve IMO. But if things shape up the way that they seem to be shaping up, BOB and Cal look like they may be doing some things right as well and those things could very well make this team into the franchise that we all want to see.
Click to expand...
How are things shaping up so rosy? What have OB and Cal done, besides shitcan Gaine, to make the Texans better in 2019?
 
badboy said:
Yes but I am hoping Caserio brings better roster for Easterby to "develop" and OBrien seeing himself as more in control with said better roster makes better decisions. All a hope but I'm more opti than pessimistic.
Click to expand...
Jesus. You're the anti-SteelBlueTexan. OB is a chronic "victim", meaning that nothing is ever his fault. If he had better players (stupid GM...that he happened to pick once...), if he had a better GM ( Stupid owner picked the wrong one and kept the old one around too long), if he had a better coaching staff (that he hand picks every single freaking year) the Texans would be the new and improved New England Patriots.
 
DocBar said:
How are things shaping up so rosy? What have OB and Cal done, besides shitcan Gaine, to make the Texans better in 2019?
Click to expand...
I said if things shape up the way they seem to be shaping up -- meaning what seemed to be going on w/ Caserio which by most accounts would be an upgrade to Gaine. Wasn't referring to anything we have done so far this year.
 
If this Easterby, Caserio, and O'Brien trinitarian monarchy does happen, the Texans have a good chance to have an extended run of success. I don't know the cast of characters well enough to base my assessment on their skills. However, the origin of almost all elite NFL organizations occur when a small group of driven and relatively young friends/colleagues were able to ascend together and direct a struggling franchise-

1. Dallas Cowboys of the early 90s
2. San Fran of the early 80s
3. New England of the early 2000s
** and others like Shanahan's Broncos, Holmgren's Packers, etc...

These situations certainly don't always pan out, but I have always believed that there is a window of collaboration, innovation, and relative youth that is key to transform organizations. Perhaps we are witnessing the beginning of something like that here... I think it will be easy to identify, because if it is the case, then this collaboration should immediately impact O'Brien as a head coach. We should see much better game management and in game play-calling this season, either as a result of a reshuffling of the staff and responsibilities or because O'Brien is able to receive critiques from these men meaningfully differently than he could from others... and respond with positive changes.
 
badboy said:
But I and quite possibly McNair and OBrien think Gaine did not do as well as he could have in building with draft and plugging holes. If correct, Caserio may even better in alignment.
Click to expand...
We won't know the answer to the draft question for at least 2 years. What happens if Gaine nailed the 2019 draft like he did the 2018 draft? There's not a single soul in the world that knows how the 2019 draft will end up being judged. It usually takes 3 years to find that out. Cal may very well have just Cleveland Browns(ed) the Texans by firing the next BB of GMs. Don't have a clue if that's true, but I liked Gaine's strategy and vision. I like 2019's daft class.
 
DocBar said:
Jesus. You're the anti-SteelBlueTexan. OB is a chronic "victim", meaning that nothing is ever his fault. If he had better players (stupid GM...that he happened to pick once...), if he had a better GM ( Stupid owner picked the wrong one and kept the old one around too long), if he had a better coaching staff (that he hand picks every single freaking year) the Texans would be the new and improved New England Patriots.
Click to expand...
DocBar clear your head and remember my history of critiquing OBrien and wanting him gone. Nowhere have I said HC is a victim and I've railed historically against his stupid moves, play calling and how he has used L. Miller. I stand by my words that Gaine could have done much better in draft. Yes Gaine was picked by OBrien as I picked my first wife. Both were gone 17 months later.
 
dalemurphy said:
If this Easterby, Caserio, and O'Brien trinitarian monarchy does happen, the Texans have a good chance to have an extended run of success. I don't know the cast of characters well enough to base my assessment on their skills. However, the origin of almost all elite NFL organizations occur when a small group of driven and relatively young friends/colleagues were able to ascend together and direct a struggling franchise-

1. Dallas Cowboys of the early 90s
2. San Fran of the early 80s
3. New England of the early 2000s
** and others like Shanahan's Broncos, Holmgren's Packers, etc...

These situations certainly don't always pan out, but I have always believed that there is a window of collaboration, innovation, and relative youth that is key to transform organizations. Perhaps we are witnessing the beginning of something like that here... I think it will be easy to identify, because if it is the case, then this collaboration should immediately impact O'Brien as a head coach. We should see much better game management and in game play-calling this season, either as a result of a reshuffling of the staff and responsibilities or because O'Brien is able to receive critiques from these men meaningfully differently than he could from others... and respond with positive changes.
Click to expand...
I'll venture to say that we've just witnessed the end of any hopes of that happening. Bill O'Brien has not shown an inkling of the personality type that will take critiques of any kind, constructive or otherwise. If Easterby is more loyal to OB tha Cal and the Texans, we'll get more of the same 8-8, middling BS football we've been getting. Caserio will be nothing but a figurehead.
I see nothing to be excited about for the 2019 Texans on June 10, 2019. Maybe that will change between now and September. If it does, I bet it will be because of a Gaine draft pick or a FA signing he didn't make.
 
TheKDog said:
Yeah I read it. He's a character coach and chaplain. Don't see what major experience he has as a coach
Click to expand...
Easterby, Caserio and Belichick worked well in NE. We could have two of three here. Watson might not be Brady but is a good move to get Patriot results. I don't see OBrien being fired this season so I am optimistic that more moves can improve OBrien as a coach.

I like Dalemurphy's post # 735.
 
DocBar said:
We won't know the answer to the draft question for at least 2 years. What happens if Gaine nailed the 2019 draft like he did the 2018 draft? There's not a single soul in the world that knows how the 2019 draft will end up being judged. It usually takes 3 years to find that out. Cal may very well have just Cleveland Browns(ed) the Texans by firing the next BB of GMs. Don't have a clue if that's true, but I liked Gaine's strategy and vision. I like 2019's daft class.
Click to expand...

If it takes 3 years to judge a draft, how can you say he nailed the 2018 draft after 1 year?
 
badboy said:
Easterby, Caserio and Belichick worked well in NE. We could have two of three here. Watson might not be Brady but is a good move to get Patriot results. I don't see OBrien being fired this season so I am optimistic that more moves can improve OBrien as a coach.

I like Dalemurphy's post # 735.
Click to expand...

I like caserio and obviously belichick. But we only have easterby who has minimal football experience.
 
badboy said:
DocBar clear your head and remember my history of critiquing OBrien and wanting him gone. Nowhere have I said HC is a victim and I've railed historically against his stupid moves, play calling and how he has used L. Miller. I stand by my words that Gaine could have done much better in draft. Yes Gaine was picked by OBrien as I picked my first wife. Both were gone 17 months later.
Click to expand...
Similar stories regarding 1st wives. You don't know that Gaine could've done better in the draft. You think he could've done better. Not a single soul will be able to answer that question for a few years, so don't play that card. It's a lame one to play. Howard, Scharping and Davenport could be all-pros for the next 10+ years. Or they could all end up like Tony Mandarich.
 
If this guy is so awesome why would NE let him bounce.

If this guy is so awesome will he have to nerve to bounce OB

I'm sorry I really am, but NE is all about Bill and Brady. They do what they do.
 
DocBar said:
We won't know the answer to the draft question for at least 2 years. What happens if Gaine nailed the 2019 draft like he did the 2018 draft? There's not a single soul in the world that knows how the 2019 draft will end up being judged. It usually takes 3 years to find that out. Cal may very well have just Cleveland Browns(ed) the Texans by firing the next BB of GMs. Don't have a clue if that's true, but I liked Gaine's strategy and vision. I like 2019's daft class.
Click to expand...
We might not know results of draft for two years but the entire purpose of this discussion to is to state our opinions. I think most would agree Howard was not best choice at #23. He might work out but just as likely may not. The 2018 draft? First selection Justin Reid was sitting there round three, would have taken a dummy to not pick him. I'm glad we got him but a no brainer. Rankin considered by some to be a late round first and by many a top 15 second round, again was there round three; same no brainer. Jordan Akins a 26 YOA rookie with 17 receptions? Sheesh. Only round four Keke Coutee showed Gaines acumin.
 
Max said:
I said if things shape up the way they seem to be shaping up -- meaning what seemed to be going on w/ Caserio which by most accounts would be an upgrade to Gaine. Wasn't referring to anything we have done so far this year.
Click to expand...
Things are shaping up like the Texans are a hot mess, organizationally. You can hire all of the Patriot related people you want to. Unless you're hiring Bill Belichick, you're pissing in the wind.
 
TheKDog said:
I like caserio and obviously belichick. But we only have easterby who has minimal football experience.
Click to expand...
Yes but the trio is what I'm looking at. GM Caserio will select players with input from HC, Easterby will mentor and develop non-football wise and OBrien will coach. I am not saying it will make OBrien a much better HC just hoping it will.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JB
badboy said:
We might not know results of draft for two years but the entire purpose of this discussion to is to state our opinions. I think most would agree Howard was not best choice at #23. He might work out but just as likely may not. The 2018 draft? First selection Justin Reid was sitting there round three, would have taken a dummy to not pick him. I'm glad we got him but a no brainer. Rankin considered by some to be a late round first and by many a top 15 second round, again was there round three; same no brainer. Jordan Akins a 26 YOA rookie with 17 receptions? Sheesh. Only round four Keke Coutee showed Gaines acumin.
Click to expand...
I disagree. I think Gaine was drafting for measurables and stayed true to that in both '18 and '19. Draft round grades are published by talking heads and no one outside of an actual NFL war room has a clue how any particular player was rated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top