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AJ:The book on Wade Phillips

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
With all the scuttlebutt Texans fans have been hearing about Wade Phillips over the past few days, it's probably a good idea to re-visit his bio and history as a defensive coordinator.

Phillips is a fairly known commodity but since he has such a long coaching resume (coached for eight NFL teams) it's worth going back to see what you might have forgotten about Bum's son as defensive coordinator (DC).

Wade's first gig as a DC was at New Orleans from 1981-85. He had followed Bum over there after Bud Adams unceremoniously fired Bum 30 years ago today after a playoff loss to the Chargers. Wade was Bum's defensive line coach during the Love Ya Blue era in Houston and was caught in the crossfire.

Old Oilers fans remember exactly where they were when Bum was fired. I was a young man of 22, filling up my 1978 Z28 Camaro at a gas station along the feeder near Almeda Mall - on my way to a job at Victoria Machine Works in Victoria, TX. It was very cold outside. That day changed my attitude toward Bud Adams forever.

During Wade's five years as DC in New Orleans, the Saints had top-five defenses (yards allowed) three times, but the Saints did not have a winning season during that period. Wade was running his Dad's 3-4 which was pretty stout during the late 70's.

After exiting New Orleans, Wade landed in Philadelphia in 1986 as the Eagles DC under Buddy Ryan. He spent three seasons coordinating Ryan's 46 defense in Philly, earning one playoff appearance in 1988. Phillips was replaced as Eagles DC by Jeff Fisher in 1989.
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Given Phillips' record, it's clear that he's had proven success as a DC which is something the Texans have lacked since the team was introduced. He's a 3-4 guy by pedigree but has experience running hybrid schemes which might be necessary if he's hired by the Texans given their defensive personnel.

The move, if it's made by the Texans, isn't the worst thing that could happen but it certainly has a temporary, band-aid feel to it.
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http://www.examiner.com/houston-texans-in-houston/the-book-on-wade-phillips
 
So why would he take this job? I don't think the book is closed on his head coaching career in the NFL, why would he take a demotion to go defensive coordinate for a sinking ship like us? This Wade Phillips rumor has never made any sense to me.
 
m5kwatts said:
So why would he take this job? I don't think the book is closed on his head coaching career in the NFL, why would he take a demotion to go defensive coordinate for a sinking ship like us? This Wade Phillips rumor has never made any sense to me.
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He is done as a head coach. Even Dom Capers didn't get this many bites at head coaching positions. Time for Wade to follow Dom into the world of failed coaches who are excellent coordinators.

And news from 2040 today:

Old Texans fans remember exactly where they were when Kubiak wasn't fired. I was a old fart, waiting to be called back for my colonscopy. It was very humid outside. That day changed my attitude toward Bottom Line Bob (BLB) McNair forever.
 
Fred said:
He is done as a head coach. Even Dom Capers didn't get this many bites at head coaching positions. Time for Wade to follow Dom into the world of failed coaches who are excellent coordinators.

And news from 2040 today:

Old Texans fans remember exactly where they were when Kubiak wasn't fired. I was a old fart, waiting to be called back for my colonscopy. It was very humid outside. That day changed my attitude toward Bottom Line Bob (BLB) McNair forever.
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If Chan Gailey could get a head coaching job, then Wade Phillips, with playoffs and multiple 10+ win seasons under his belt at his last stop, could get a head coaching job.
 
m5kwatts said:
So why would he take this job? I don't think the book is closed on his head coaching career in the NFL, why would he take a demotion to go defensive coordinate for a sinking ship like us? This Wade Phillips rumor has never made any sense to me.
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Maybe he is tired of the HC gig and wants to focus on what he's good at. I'll answer your question with my own question. Why would any HC want to come to Houston? Why would Cowher want to come here? The answer is we've got a terrific Offense and players in place. The Defense just needs some resurrecting and we'd be an awesome team.

So if a guy who has had historical success as a DC, the Defense is his bread and butter, why NOT go to Houston? Add the Texans to his resume of a Defense that should be fairly easy to improve? We're last in the league in yards and like 27th in ppg. A Defensive 'guru' asked to just focus on Defense rather than run the whole show could be pretty appealling if that guy just had a poor HC year and got fired. He's said he still wants to coach and will probably be perfectly happy taking a DC role instead of HC. I think it makes great sense for him. GREAT opportunity.
 
The only thing hiring Wade Phillips does is tell me who will get the "Interim Head Coach" job next year when Gary's kids belly flop into the kiddie pool one more time.
 
Hervoyel said:
The only thing hiring Wade Phillips does is tell me who will get the "Interim Head Coach" job next year when Gary's kids belly flop into the kiddie pool one more time.
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Meanwhile Cowher and Gruden will have gotten a years head start in turning their teams around while we hit the reset button.
 
Pantherstang84 said:
Meanwhile Cowher and Gruden will have gotten a years head start in turning their teams around while we hit the reset button.
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Exactamundo!
quiz-jackson.jpg
 
I'd LOVE to see him run the 46 here. But that would actually require decent defensive backs, which we're still lacking. FML.
 
we need safeties

McCrea was probably and arguably the best safety that the Texans have ever had
 
Fred said:
He is done as a head coach.
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Why is he done as a head coach? He was 33-15 in Dallas with 2 playoff appearances in 3 years prior to this season. He was 29-19 in Buffalo with 2 playoff appearances in 3 seasons. The last time the Bills have been in the playoffs with only one winning record since Wade left in 2000. He's had a top 10 defense in 6 of the 9 seasons he's been the head coach. How you think he's done based on that doesn't make much sense.

I also don't know why he'd take a demotion to DC here but I wouldn't have a problem with it.
 
What I'd want to know if he signs on with the Texans as their DC is he gonna have a big say-so in who we draft on the defensive side of the ball ?
 
IDEXAN said:
What I'd want to know if he signs on with the Texans as their DC is he gonna have a big say-so in who we draft on the defensive side of the ball ?
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I've been asking myself the same question.

If this is going to work, then they need to let Wade "shop for the groceries." That goes for FA's too.
 
Mr. White said:
I've been asking myself the same question.

If this is going to work, then they need to let Wade "shop for the groceries." That goes for FA's too.
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I think he will be given total control over the Defense, scheme and personnel. The organization doesn't have much choice, as they have shown they have no clue when it comes to the defensive side of the football.:rake:
 
DerekLee1 said:
I'd LOVE to see him run the 46 here. But that would actually require decent defensive backs, which we're still lacking. FML.
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Pollard should be used as the 46..... Then we need to move an athlete back to free safety... Quinn.... Allen...... maybe even McCain..
 
TexansFanatic said:
He'll be 64 years old in June and was fired after a 1-7 start with a team that had expected to make a Super Bowl run.

He's had his last HC job.
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cowboys fans are always delusional. they think they're a super bowl worthy team EVERY year. fact is, Romo is just not that good, regardless of what his stats show. their defense is old and their offensive line is porous. Wade had less to work with there than the Texans have.
 
TexansFanatic said:
He'll be 64 years old in June and was fired after a 1-7 start with a team that had expected to make a Super Bowl run.

He's had his last HC job.
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Well, that lends to another question, "Why would he want to coach at all next year?"

If I'm 64 and just made the bank roll he probably got from Jerry Jones, I think I'd kick back and relax. Possibly move down to Goliad to be close to the family and enjoy my dad's last years.
 
Hagar said:
Possibly move down to Goliad to be close to the family and enjoy my dad's last years.
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His dad probably would get no greater joy than having his son coach in Houston, again. It's a feel good story. I just don't know if the results will feel good.
 
Hagar said:
Well, that lends to another question, "Why would he want to coach at all next year?"

If I'm 64 and just made the bank roll he probably got from Jerry Jones, I think I'd kick back and relax. Possibly move down to Goliad to be close to the family and enjoy my dad's last years.
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On my way to Houston, the week after Wade was fired, the guys on 610 asked him if he thought Wade would coach again. Bum said, "absolutely" he said Wade loves football. He doesn't play golf, or fish, or hunt, or any of those things when he is off..... football is his life.


He also went on to say that just because he's been fired before, doesn't mean he's a bad coach, it just means the franchise decided to go in a different direction. He said he had been fired, & never thought for a second, that he wasn't a good coach.
 
IDEXAN said:
What I'd want to know if he signs on with the Texans as their DC is he gonna have a big say-so in who we draft on the defensive side of the ball ?
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You mean Gary Kubiak is going to let Wade Phillips do whatever Wade wants to do, which includes not only shopping for the groceries but also deciding when and how to use the ingredients on game day?

LOL.

If Kubiak remains, he needs to be pretty much neutered when it comes to defense. In fact, don't even make Wade have to report to Kubiak. Don't even make the defense have to be at the facility when the offense is at the facility. If Kubiak gets to stay, after this miserable train wreck he's assembled, then Wade Phillips should be allowed to be HEAD COACH of the DEFENSE and never even be allowed close enough to smell the fumes coming of Gary's hair wax.

To me, it has appeared that Kubiak has had almost total control of the whole team, like a head coach should, but he hasn't really shown himself to be capable of managing his defense. So he can go screw, IMO. Let him worry about his precious Come From Behind offense and give Wade complete and utter control of the defense.

Smith & McNair, if they are going to keep this clown named Gary Kubiak, should also step into the draft and make sure Wade picks up a heavy dose of whatever Wade wants, in order to build some sort of hybrid 4-3/3-4. Hell, tell Gary to go grab a Whataburger on draft day for all I care. He can phone in his 2 or 3 TE picks he wants to make. Since they'll all be injured in 2011 anyways, it won't matter who we get at TE.

No wonder Bum wants McNair to keep Kubiak. Step 2 is to get Wade as DC, and Step 3 is to have Wade as interim head coach when they axe Kubiak. Next stop: Head Coach of the Texans.

Yay.
 
GP said:
If Kubiak remains, he needs to be pretty much neutered when it comes to defense. In fact, don't even make Wade have to report to Kubiak. Don't even make the defense have to be at the facility when the offense is at the facility. If Kubiak gets to stay, after this miserable train wreck he's assembled, then Wade Phillips should be allowed to be HEAD COACH of the DEFENSE and never even be allowed close enough to smell the fumes coming of Gary's hair wax.
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Sounds a lot lkie what the Cowgirls did. How did that work for them?

We only need 1 Head Coach. Problem is - it is not Kubiak.
 
As much as I want kubes gone it might make sense givin the CBA stuff to keep him for one more year and go get wade and see what he can do... we got some talent on D a few free agent pickups (FS DT CB) and we could have a passable D next year which is all we need with our O....
 
Wade Phillips would have made sense as DC when Kubaik was hired (I don't remember if he was available). Now, it is a coaching Hail Mary.
 
Wade Phillips is a very good DC. However, he's probably the last candidate on the open market that the Texans should be looking at. He's another softy which is exactly what a franchise who already has a softy doesn't need. If this was a team led by Bill Cowher, Rex Ryan, Todd Haley, or some other strong hearted HC that holds players accountable and keeps the players on their toes than Wade Phillips would be a great hire. But for a team that is led by Gary Kubiak that already lacks focus, consistency, and accountability, there couldn't be a worse hire out there than Wade Phillips who is the kind of coach that is liable to let the exact same thing happen. This defense needs a hard nose coach that will get after the players and have them playing with a backbone and a sence on intensity. Wade is the worst guy I could think of, but considering who the owner is of this franchise and what he likes and what he goes for and what many of the fans in this city like which is the classy nice guy who smiles and is sweet to the players and the fans well Wade is the perfect guy for them.
 
I'm fine with Wade as DC....I just don't want him being the interim coach if the **** hits the fan and Kubiak gets fired mid-season.
 
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