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Have we really looked deep enough at Wade Phillips?

El Tejano

El Tejano

Hall of Fame
I understand alot of people aren't happy with an addition of Wade Phillips as DC and want Gary Kubiak fired. I too agree that it will not make up for the lack of ability to score within two minutes etc....

However after looking at Wade Phillips history as a DC and not a head coach, I'm having some second thoughts and am wondering if this actually IS the best move for the Texans right now. Maybe if we can see the improvements on defense like the improvements he's made with other teams, we will not have to score in the last few minutes of every half.

Here are how his defenses have ranked in points allowed while he was the DC.

Saints 81-85
81- 24th
82- 8th
83- 12th
84- 19th
85- 22nd

Philly 86-88 (where he ran a 4-3)
85 - Prior to him being there Philly was ranked 10th
86- 12th
87-25th
88- 14th

Denver 89-92
1988 Denver ranked 20th in points allowed prior to his arrival
89- 1st
90- 23rd
91 - 3rd
92-19th

Buffalo 95-97
1994 Buffalo ranked 22nd in points allowed prior to his arrival
1995- 12th
1996 - 6th
1997 - 23rd

Atlanta 02-03
2001 Atlanta ranked 24th in points allowed prior to his arrival
02- 8th
03- 30th

San Diego 2004-2006

2003 SD ranked 31st in points allowed prior to his arrival
2004- 11th
2005- 13th
2006- 7th

Some info about him in Dallas and what he did with their D:

Prior to the 2009 season, Phillips also took over as defensive coordinator, replacing the fired Brian Stewart. Phillips called defensive plays for the final 10 games of the 2008 season after Stewart was stripped of the responsibilities.[4]. On January 9, 2010, Phillips's Cowboys defeated the Eagles in the wild card round, ending the club's 12 year playoff win drought (6 games total, Phillips was only coach for one of those losses) and earning Phillips his first playoff win.
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The Good I See
Seems like he can get bad defenses and turn them into a team strength right away. Took defenses that were ranked in top 20-30 in points allowed and immediately put them in the top 15 three out of the 5 places he's been a DC.

The Bad I See

Anywhere he's coached for four years, there has been a roller coaster of good and bad seasons. For every two years of great defenses, he give you two years of bad defenses.

Also, pretty much every place he's DC'ed at, he's replaced every head coach. Everytime he replaced the head coach it seems as if the organization was lulled into believing the team responded to him real well but all the reasons for him being fired were because he lost control of the locker room.
I could just see the same thing happening in Houston and with our owner. Kubiak screws up and then our owner doesn't look for a better coach, he just hires Phillips and then things really go down the drain.
 
His body of work according to those stats looks terrible. He has zero consistency, which just so happens to be the EXACT opposite of what this team desperately needs. I don't think this is a very good idea.
 
His body of work is good, so I don't know why people are so against him. But he isn't coming to Houston with Kubiak as the HC.
 
GuerillaBlack said:
His body of work is good, so I don't know why people are so against him. But he isn't coming to Houston with Kubiak as the HC.
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I think you're underestimating the power of family ties and low expectations.

Wade is probably looking for one more gig, and this is close to home for him, with very supportive and familiar management... and a defense that literally *could not* be any worse than it already is. Wade could fart on Kareem Jackson and make him better than he is now.

This would be the only job I could see him taking before he decides to hang em up.
 
GuerillaBlack said:
His body of work is good, so I don't know why people are so against him. But he isn't coming to Houston with Kubiak as the HC.
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He consistently takes terrible defenses and puts them in the top 10-15 defenses in the league in points allowed. Remember that's not overall ranking. I took points allowed because I believe with our offense we could beat alot more teams if we kept the other team from scoring 24-30 points a game.
 
GuerillaBlack said:
His body of work is good, so I don't know why people are so against him. But he isn't coming to Houston.
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How do you see his body of work being good? He left the Saints with the 22nd ranked D, Philly with the 14th, Denver with the 19th, Buffalo with the 23rd, Atlanta with the 30th and SD with the 7th.

It is possible that he can come in and get us an above average defense, but it appears more likely that we would remain in the lower half.
 
GuerillaBlack said:
His sister called SportsRadio 610 yesterday. Said Wade has "better opportunities than Houston" and she's not sure he would take the job if offered.
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I seriously, seriously doubt that one of his family members would call in to a radio show to talk about his job status publicly.
 
His body of work, as illustrated by the above stats, looks terribly average. You would expect a lauded DC that has been doing it for 15+ years to be well above average. His last 5 years as a DC his average rank in points allowed was 13.8. That's just barely better than average.

I don't see any possible spin that will make this look like a good move, let alone the right move. His defensive stats just aren't that impressive at all. And I thought the same thing when I saw them ranked by yards allowed as well as points allowed.
 
If Wade falls through, there is always Mangini.

I am probably one of the few that like the guy (as a DC anyways, not a HC)
 
That inconsistency of his D's bugs me. We definitely don't need a rollercoaster defense. If my crappy math is somewhat correct, in 20 seasons as a DC his teams average out to 14th ranked defenses. That of course, if he was consistent. That's just average, but still far better than what we have. Would still like to look at other candidates before them just going with another guy who has ties to the city.

This isn't saying I agree with keeping Kubiak, just trying to look at the situation we are sure to be stuck with.

*edit* just saw wagonhed's post. Looks like my math worked out. yay me.
 
After coming off such a horrific season and heading into one where failure will lead to the kind of revolt unseen in this town's history, why would you bring in a DC who is going to need to change so much of the personnel to fit his style of play when the odds of having much, if any, of an off-season are minimal?

How can anyone realistically expect a massive upgrade of our team under these circumstances?
 
GuerillaBlack said:
His sister called SportsRadio 610 yesterday. Said Wade has "better opportunities than Houston" and she's not sure he would take the job if offered.
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She also said she had no inside information and that it was just a hunch. I think she mistakenly believes he will get another opportunity as a HC this season. Can't fault her seeing as she is his sister.
 
DonnyMost said:
I seriously, seriously doubt that one of his family members would call in to a radio show to talk about his job status publicly.
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It happened. There's a link to the interview in one of the other threads.

There was also a PFT article and McNair's own comments yesterday made it sound like he might not even be a candidate now.

I don't think the Wade Phillips rumor came from nowhere. It seems pretty likely to me that there were some talks, but both sides started backing off yesterday.
 
Jackie Chiles said:
She also said she had no inside information and that it was just a hunch. I think she mistakenly believes he will get another opportunity as a HC this season. Can't fault her seeing as she is his sister.
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This is true as well. She kinda has to say that. I, for one, hope she is right so McNair can wake the hell up.

McNair: "Hey Wade, what about you coming back home to Houston to coach this defense?"

Wade: "Thanks for the offer, but no."

McNair: "Why not? The offense is in place and Kubiak is a good coach."

Wade: "Well, you said it, Kubiak. Not sure I want to be here with his job on the line. Plus, people my start confusing me and John McClain."

McNair proceeds to give Kubiak another extension...
 
Wade's defenses have always been about blitzing the **** out of people.

Either they get there and the team leads the NFL in sacks, or they don't and the pass defense gets burned.

For his 3-4 to work, Von Miller becomes a "must-draft" player for the Texans.
 
The1ApplePie said:
Wade's defenses have always been about blitzing the **** out of people.

Either they get there and the team leads the NFL in sacks, or they don't and the pass defense gets burned.

For his 3-4 to work, Von Miller becomes a "must-draft" player for the Texans.
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Sign me up on the Von train. Choo Choo!
 
Wade has ties to Houston and the Oilers. He's somewhat of a "name". These things spell marketability. What else is there to know?
 
El Tejano said:
What makes you think he isn't coming to Houston?
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Because the Buffalo Bills were "stuck" with Chan Gailey last year.

I believe it will be the same this year, Cowher is particular about where he wants to go. If the job he wants doesn't open up, or he doesn't get the total control that he wants, he'll probably stay out another year.

Somebody is going to be desperate, & there's enough "Jerry Jones meddling" rumors for another franchise to give Wade a chance.
 
I think a lot of people are really too caught up on the idea of Kubiak and Co. being burned at the stake to see that the addition of Phillips could be a good move. I'm too cynical to ever say "turning point" in association with a Houston sports team again - but how many times did we say this season that "if we only had an average defense we would be a winning team". The moral of the story is to give the guy a chance...because it's the best that Uncle Bob is going to give us.

:kubepalm:
 
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This is how sad this franchise is. After thinking about potential DC candidates, I find myself praying that we get Wade Phillips. Now I, like many of you, think we need a personality opposite that of Gary Kubiak, someone who will make this D mean. But the only big-name guy I see this organization getting is Wade Phillips.

Basically, I'm just hoping we get Wade because I am downright scared of what Denver guy Kubes might pull out of his hat.
 
burro said:
I'm too cynical to ever say "turning point" in association with a Houston sports team again - but how many times did we say this season that "if we only had an average defense we would be a winning team".
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Two years ago, we were saying if we only had a running game.

The year before that, if only total offense meant points......

Next year will be something else.
 
looks like wade's sister didn't know what she was talking about.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7364384.html

Wade Phillips is interested in becoming the Texans’ new defensive coordinator.
After he fired defensive coordinator Frank Bush on Monday, coach Gary Kubiak said Phillips was a candidate to replace Bush. Kubiak said he planned to interview Phillips.
Owner Bob McNair also praised Phillips.
“Yes, I am interested,” Phillips said Monday night. “I know the owner and coach. I like them, and they’re guys I’d like to work for.”
Kubiak plans to interview Phillips.
“I will be talking to people (candidates) as soon as I can,” Kubiak said. “I’ve known Wade a long time. I’ve competed against him. I have a lot of respect for him. I think it’s safe to say that Wade will be a candidate.”
McNair also is a fan of Phillips.
“I think Wade’s a terrific coach,” McNair said. “We’ll have to sit down and visit with him.”
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