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Kubiak simplifying the defensive plays.

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Wolf6151

All Pro
I saw on the news yesterday that Kubiak is going to be simplifying the defensive plays. He said that many of the players are just having to hard of a time understanding the defensive plays and felt that if he simplified the defensive plays that the players could understand it better and thus run the plays better. Today's practice was supposed to be lots of extra reps. on basic formations and assignments so that everyone would know their positions and responsibilities. :mcnugget: Maybe those Safeties have been lining up as DT's and forgot where their supposed to be thus the reason they're playing so poorly. Now I know that football players aren't generally considered to be very intelligent but how hard is it to understand X and O. The D-line and LB's chase down and kill the man with the ball. Secondary players run with the WR and prevent him from catching the ball. This ain't NASA, it ain't rocket science.
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.



But it is broke, so let's give it a shot. Can't do any worse. *cnocks on wood*
 
The kids will never graduate to the big boy playbook.

I am beginning to wonder if there is a big boy playbook.
 
So, college graduates can't understand a playbook. I could take this and run in several different directions with it, but I'm not. I'm just going to hope we have a defense on Sunday. If not, I'm going to be right back here bitchin' and moanin' some more.
 
Thorn mate, that what beer is for.

Interesting that they're simplifying the playcalling, hopefully it means that they have identified the problem and are taking measures to correct it.

We'll see... :)
 
Shouldn't Bush be the one making the decision and implementing the changes? Is this just "Kubiak simplifying the defense" on his own? I wonder if Bush suggested the simplification?

Either way, here is the coaching staff making adjustments, which I am glad to see. This is Kubiak preparing his team. If we look bad on D this Sunday he had better start sitting players who can't maintain their assignments. You're preparing these guys for Sunday, so it's on them now. No more of this Tracy McGrady "it's on me, it's my fault" BS.
 
Does anyone remember when we "dumbed down" the Offense Playbook for Carr? That worked, didn't it?? Dumbing down a play book does not improve the basics......attack angles, tackling and wrapping which has been a continuous problem. In fact, it does not address "stupid" and "incapable" (coaches and players). This dumbed down scheme is what we have been told, year after year, has been what we have been using in our preseason games.............we were not going to open up and give away the playbook to the opponents..........just wait for the regular season..........you'll see.

Kubiak is an "offense genius." So that's why we're having him taking over the D in lieu of choosing a DC who can teach a scheme for the talent or the lack thereof present. Four years and we're essentially back to square one...........now, we again get to watch our D killed by steady dink and dunk offenses, picking us apart in soft coverage, soft pressure, soft play and, best of all.........same results. Hail to Kubiak, our next DC to create nothing from nothing.

Sorry, but that's my frustrated feelings about this whole mess.
 
lousy tv reporting IMO. they were going over basic formations so everyone understands their responsibilities...they're not dumbing down the playbook.

Houston sports reporters suck.
 
Wasn't it advertised that one of the main things Bush was going to do as DC was simplify the defense before the regular season started?
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Smith do this the end of last season in order to allow them to be more aggressive and not think so much?This seems like a theme.
 
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So they're doing some walk-throughs or something?

"OK, you guys up front on the line: When the ball is snapped, you have two jobs. Job 1 is to plug gaps and find the running back on a running play, maybe even get into the backfield for a tackle-for-loss. Job 2 is to get into the backfield on pass plays and hit the Quarterback."

"Hey Linebackers, you guys come over here. You own the middle. If you blitz, your job is to hit the Quarterback. On run plays, you have to wrap your guy up. You have to be mean to them."

"Now it's the secondary's turn. You fine gentlemen have an even simpler job. Stay with your man, make a play on the ball, and turn your head back upfield every now and then to locate the ball in the air. If you have the unpleasant task of trying to stop a ball carrier as he's breaking through our line and the linebackers' area, please remember all those years of football basics you learned while growing up and playing football."

"To everyone here: Tackling is not hard. You learned it in junior high, got better at it in high school, and you should have been really good at it in college. At least the film we have on you shows that you were. Maybe. Then again, we've got to factor Bobby into this equation. So....ya' know. Anyways, you guys have been great to allow us 5 minutes of time to review what your roles are as defensive football players in the NFL. Remember that on the way out, in the candy dish, you can only choose a lollipop or a Lightning McQueen sticker. Bob McNair's accountant is reporting that some of you guys are taking one each."
This is getting more pathetic by the day.
 
This is great news, I'm so excited.

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HoustonFrog said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Smith do this the end of last season in order to allow them to be more aggressive and not think so much?This seems like a theme.
Click to expand...

Another excuse..........another "don't give up on us, don't stop spending your money, we have something 'new' up our sleeves" carrot. Maybe we ought to replace the carrot where it really belongs.........and that's certainly not "up their sleeves.":barman:
 
HoustonFrog said:
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Smith do this the end of last season in order to allow them to be more aggressive and not think so much?This seems like a theme.
Click to expand...

Smith didn't do it then, Kubiak did. The report was Kubiak and Bush didn't alter any of the schemes or take away play calling from Smith but they removed some of his calls as options.
 
infantrycak said:
Smith didn't do it then, Kubiak did. The report was Kubiak and Bush didn't alter any of the schemes or take away play calling from Smith but they removed some of his calls as options.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up. I remember something but wasn't sure if he simplified or they took away his calls, etc.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Does anyone remember when we "dumbed down" the Offense Playbook for Carr? That worked, didn't it?? Dumbing down a play book does not improve the basics......attack angles, tackling and wrapping which has been a continuous problem. In fact, it does not address "stupid" and "incapable" (coaches and players). This dumbed down scheme is what we have been told, year after year, has been what we have been using in our preseason games.............we were not going to open up and give away the playbook to the opponents..........just wait for the regular season..........you'll see.

Kubiak is an "offense genius." So that's why we're having him taking over the D in lieu of choosing a DC who can teach a scheme for the talent or the lack thereof present. Four years and we're essentially back to square one...........now, we again get to watch our D killed by steady dink and dunk offenses, picking us apart in soft coverage, soft pressure, soft play and, best of all.........same results. Hail to Kubiak, our next DC to create nothing from nothing.

Sorry, but that's my frustrated feelings about this whole mess.
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This is exactly what I thought of when I heard the news. It is interesting that we did the same but reverse with a defensive HC and now this with an offensive HC. At least when they dumbed down the playbook on offense I think it was after they had fired the OC and were using the OL coach as the replacement.

I can't emphasize enough how important it must be to get someone strong to offset your weakness. I don't know that Bush is weak in this area. Surely he isn't with all of the experience he brings, but the fact is that he's a friend and other candidates didn't appear to be interviewed. Plus, he was there as an assistant DC or whatever and should have some responsibility for the previously failed defense.
 
I feel like we are in the Bill Murray movie Groundhog day. This is the wash, rinse, repeat action that coaches go through before getting canned.
 
Vinny said:
I feel like we are in the Bill Murray movie Groundhog day. This is the wash, rinse, repeat action that coaches go through before getting canned.
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I think it is a philosophy issue. Kubes believes linebackers are more important in stopping the run than defensive tackles. He thinks a late round draft pick will provide you a very good power back. He and Smith believe you can sign free agents who were average and pay them well and that player will in turn resolve your issues. The philosophy says running backs with good history of production when healthy may pay off big if they can avoid the injury bug. A safety at 5' 10" 215lbs can play well enough at free safety or strong safety and can be drafted day two. He believes a light Oline can get you down the field and still get you a running TD in Red Zone. The philosophy also says the owner and fans will put up with the results for quite a while.
 
Let's simplify. Just pretend you're playing "smear the queer". Don't know that one? Okay, how about "kill the man with the ball".
 
Hey guys get in here and listen.


Remember when that guy stumped your girlfriend, well he is on the other team and he has the ball. that will be all.
 
HoustonFrog said:
Thanks for clearing that up. I remember something but wasn't sure if he simplified or they took away his calls, etc.
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Someone who was a waiter, where Bush was eating one evening in the off-season, came here and said that he waited on Bush. The guy said that he had a momoent to ask him about the late-season turn-around on defense and that Bush told him that Bush and Kubiak "handcuffed" Richard Smith and limited the playbook.

I took that to mean that we stopped doing read-and-react, and began using more blitzes and aggressive get-through-the-gap style of play.

In short: Richard, you're still calling the plays...but you can only do A, B, or C. Throw out D-Z.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Dumbing down a play book does not improve the basics......attack angles, tackling and wrapping which has been a continuous problem.
Click to expand...
Amen brother!

I admit it, I that I have a phylisophical problem with what appears to be our current defences. I hate small DL that can't stop the run and don't require a double team. One of my favorite things to do on Tuesday night is to watch the DVR of Sunday's game in slow motion. Its painfully obvious that our DL is getting blown off the the line of scrimmage almost every time. This is causing all kinds of problems in other areas of play ~ LB, SS ect...

I believe in big DT to plug up the middle and get a strong push on the pocket to collapse it from the middle. (See Vikings) My preference is to see Okam (338#) and Robinson (320#) on the line together. I'm not sure about Cody (310#). I've only seen the Okam/Robinson combination a few time and it was mostly in the preseason but it worked.
 
I hope that simplifying the defensive plays means teaching re-introducing Rudimentary Tackling 101 to the unit.
 
I got to thinking about it and our defense looks like they need to "tone down" the reversal of the React-then-Read switcheroo from last year.

Seriously - When you see to much over-pursuit going on (which we obviously have), isn't it indicative of trying to get TOO instinctual and not taking the time to read / stay in your lane?

I honestly see the agressive nature of the new Defense on the edge of "getting it", but we look like we lack the inability to pursue it further due to poor DB play. We can't press & jam at the line like we should in coordination w/ everything else because we lack Safeties worthy of the title.
 
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We have a team of 53 professional football players and we need to spend our week doing assignment walkthroughs?

Kubiak better know what he is doing or I have 0 doubt that he will be fired after a playoff-less season.
 
Super Mario said:
We have a team of 53 professional football players and we need to spend our week doing assignment walkthroughs?

Kubiak better know what he is doing or I have 0 doubt that he will be fired after a playoff-less season.
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This is the kind of stuff you do in mini-camp...not a good sign.
 
False Start said:
We used to play BRUTAL games of "smear the queer." There was a lot of blood, and fights.
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Vinny said:
and unlike when someone runs "24 blast" against our d, someone gets tackled.
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That's for dang sure. I was the youngest of 4 brothers playing with them and their friends. That's a tough way to learn toughness. It was a knock down drag out to say the least. One of my brothers tore a couple ligaments in a knee in one of our games.
 
Vinny said:
This is the kind of stuff you do in mini-camp...not a good sign.
Click to expand...

"indecision" regarding personnel and scheme was the hallmark of the mini camps, "no solid decision" was the hallmark of OTA, "questionable decision" was the hallmark of the preseason, and "dumb decision" has been the hallmark of the regular season thus far.

If I can paraphrase something I once heard, "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." I guess then, we can at least savor the fact that the Texans have shown themselves to be one of the hardest workers in the NFL. :mcnugget:
 
I think its a good thing and neccesary. When coaches have struggles, its best to simplify instead of adding. Let me add my .02.

I'll use the colts as a reference point. The colts play basically a cover 2. Lately they have played more man, but its still mostly cover 2 with 4 man rush. Their scheme is so simple, they just seem to plug and play and all the guys play fast. look at the secondary and the lb corps with only a few 1st rd picks. Guys get hurt, they get replaced. They loose people via fa, they replace them with a rookie and they're up to speed. They have a simple scheme and they execute it. Of course we have sen them have problems getting off the field, but how many blown coverages have you seen? How many long runs do you see? Thats what the texans should do especially to a team like oakland. If they want to pressure, that cool, just prssure and replace.

Against oakland, i would love to see them rump and run with a inside technique to make russell throw the ball on the sideline, keep 2 safties on the hash, and bracket miller. If the rb stays in, snatch blitz, but thats the lb key away from miller. If the rb set, rush. Other than that, just 4 man rush and 2 deep behind.

Keep it simple is a way to make the defense play fast and makes everyone responsible. No more guys running free because the cb released him thinking the safety was going to pick him up. Man to man with inside leverage, bracket the te.
 
Not really sure if this is an admittance of inferiority or anything...

But I'd rather Kubes lose his job, after trying everything he thought he could do, rather than watching things fail at the hands of his coordinators, regardless of the fact he put them there.
 
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