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Texans add two asst. coaches

By the time a coach reaches the NFL level he should know enough about all the positions to be an assistant.
 
By the time a coach reaches the NFL level he should know enough about all the positions to be an assistant.

You could also say that by the time an NFL coach reaches HC position, he should know enough about all the positions..........on both sides of the ball.:kubepalm:
 
Ryan will be hired as an offensive assistant replacing Bruce Matthews. Butler will be a defensive assistant replacing Robert Saleh. Both will work closely with special teams coordinator Joe Marciano.

hopefully they will help on ST and at least get slaton out of returning kicks
 
Texans went from 30th in rushing to 7th in one year & undrafted RB Arian Foster won the league individual rushing title sending himself along with FB Vonta Leach to the Pro Bowl.

All thanks to Bruce Matthews, who also happened to be here in 2009.
 
All thanks to Bruce Matthews, who also happened to be here in 2009.

best case scenero is immediate impact but I'll take a one year turnaround. Also I thought Wade Smith turned out to be a great free agent pick-up, he flew under the radar without a lot of pub or fanfare, he certainly deserves recognition & Pro-Bowl invite as well.
 
Texans went from 30th in rushing to 7th in one year & undrafted RB Arian Foster won the league individual rushing title sending himself along with FB Vonta Leach to the Pro Bowl.

...and all the credit goes to a offensive assistant? Not the Oline coach, not the new OC who also has had great success coaching Olines, not the great pick up of Wade Smith, or finally getting RBs who fit this system. I think people are severely overblowing what Matthews' impact was here.
 
...and all the credit goes to a offensive assistant? Not the Oline coach, not the new OC who also has had great success coaching Olines, not the great pick up of Wade Smith, or finally getting RBs who fit this system. I think people are severely overblowing what Matthews' impact was here.

Matthews gave the Texans something they where severely lacking, Credibility. From an offensive line viewpoint, given the talent available, for the 1st time EVER in franchise history, Texans got the BL stamp of approval & yes I believe Bruce was an extra big part of that.

One thing for sure is as the Texans rose in rushing productivity Tennessee fell so is that just purely coincidental? discount Matthews impact if you will then come back here next off season & show me what you got :smooch:
 
There's a certain amount of shrewdness to picking a linebacker's coach to be the offensive assistant. Part of being an offensive coach is understanding blitzes; who better to understand blitzes then a LB coach?

I'm not saying its a great pick. I'm just trying to understand it outside of the friends relationship.
 
Matthews gave the Texans something they where severely lacking, Credibility. From an offensive line viewpoint, given the talent available, for the 1st time EVER in franchise history, Texans got the BL stamp of approval & yes I believe Bruce was an extra big part of that.

One thing for sure is as the Texans rose in rushing productivity Tennessee fell so is that just purely coincidental? discount Matthews impact if you will then come back here next off season & show me what you got :smooch:

Still not buying it. As far as the running game goes and offensive line in general...the Texans already had credibility, they brought that over from Denver. Players were already sold on the zone scheme.

If Bruce Matthews wasn't a local legend nobody would care one way or another. He was just a assistant and he wasn't the main cog behind this team's success on the ground. There were MANY people and players that played a big role in that and they're all still here.
 
Still not buying it. As far as the running game goes and offensive line in general...the Texans already had credibility, they brought that over from Denver. Players were already sold on the zone scheme.

If Bruce Matthews wasn't a local legend nobody would care one way or another. He was just a assistant and he wasn't the main cog behind this team's success on the ground. There were MANY people and players that played a big role in that and they're all still here.

Why am I not excited about the asst coach hires.

Phillips-Hired as a PR move to get angry fans off BoB's back for keeping Gary.
Joseph-Bad secondary in San Fran
Herring- LB's are alot of what's wrong with Dallas defense
Ryan- FOG
Butler- No nothing about him. But he's supposed to help Marciano? LOL
 
Why am I not excited about the asst coach hires.

Phillips-Hired as a PR move to get angry fans off BoB's back for keeping Gary.
Joseph-Bad secondary in San Fran
Herring- LB's are alot of what's wrong with Dallas defense
Ryan- FOG
Butler- No nothing about him. But he's supposed to help Marciano? LOL

Here's some detailed background on our new coaches.

Texans Add Four To Coaching StaffDefensive Coaches Now In Place

The Houston Texans have hired Reggie Herring as linebackers coach and Vance Joseph as defensive backs coach, the team announced today. The Texans have also reached agreements with John Butler as a defensive assistant and Jim Ryan as an offensive assistant.

Herring worked with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in Dallas, while Joseph has nine years of experience as a defensive backs coach. Butler and Ryan will both work with special teams coordinator Joe Marciano as well, as both served as special teams coordinators in their previous coaching positions.

Herring will embark on his second tenure with the Texans and Phillips. From 2002-03, Herring served as the Texans linebackers coach and helped former Texans LB Jamie Sharper lead the NFL with 164 tackles in 2003. Prior to his most recent appointment in Houston, Herring served as linebackers coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2008-10 while Phillips was head coach. Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware led the NFL with a combined 46.5 sacks in that time, including the second-most sacks ever by a linebacker in a season and league-best 20.0 in 2008.

In addition to his successes as an NFL coach, Herring spent 25 years in the collegiate ranks, coaching some of the country’s best defenses. Herring spent 2005-07 as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Arkansas and served as the interim head coach for the Razorbacks in the 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Herring’s defense helped the Arkansas win the 2006 Southeastern Conference Western Division and earn two postseason bowls.

Before going to Arkansas, Herring coached Texans DE Mario Williams while serving as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State in 2004, where his defense led the country in total defense and pass efficiency defense and was second in total pass defense. From 1994-2001, Herring coached linebackers at Clemson and added the title of defensive coordinator in 1997.

Herring's first coordinator experience came at TCU from 1992-93. He coached linebackers at Auburn from 1986-91 and began his coaching career in 1981 as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State under head coach Jimmy Johnson. He coached linebackers at OSU from 1982-85.

Joseph spent the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, including the last five as the secondary coach. Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Joseph spent six years coaching in the college ranks. He served as defensive backs coach at Wyoming (2002), Colorado (2002-03) and Bowling Green (2004) before moving on to join Mike Nolan’s staff in San Francisco as the secondary assistant. Joseph began his coaching career at his alma mater, Colorado, serving as a graduate assistant from 1999-2001.

Joseph also brings with him professional playing experience. He made the transition from college quarterback at Colorado from 1990-94, to NFL cornerback. Joseph signed and played with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995 and played for the Indianapolis Colts in 1996, compiling two interceptions over the course of 17 career games.

Butler spent the last four seasons as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Minnesota. Last year, junior linebacker Gary Tinsley received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the conference’s media and two Butler-coached linebackers received all-conference recognition in 2009.

As special teams coordinator, Butler presided over one of the best units in the Big Ten during his tenure in Minneapolis. The Gophers averaged better than 22 yards per kick return in three of his four seasons and held their opponents to less than 20 yards per return in two seasons. Minnesota’s punt coverage unit was one of the best in the country in 2008 and 2009, holding opponents to an average of just 8.1 yards per return in that two-year span.

Butler has coached special teams for the last 10 years, serving as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Harvard from 2003-06 and the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Southwest Texas State from 2001-02. The 1995 graduate of Division III Catholic University broke into the coaching ranks as the secondary coach during his senior year before taking over as the defensive coordinator in 1996.

Ryan played 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos as a linebacker from 1979-88 and played in Super Bowls XXI and XXII. He also spent time playing for current Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips during his playing career. Ryan spent the 2010 season as the special teams coordinator with the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL and also worked with the team’s linebackers.

Ryan began his NFL coaching career began in November, 2004 when he joined the Broncos as a volunteer defensive assistant. He was hired as a full-time defensive assistant in 2005. After two years assisting with the defense, Ryan worked as an offensive assistant in 2006. He returned to the defensive side of the ball as the linebackers coach from 2007-08. He also served as a Texans coaching intern during the spring of 2010.
 
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I must say that if almost feels as if we will have an entire new coaching staff even though we don't...

With Wade and others likely being the main shot callers on guys drafted for defense this team will likely have a much different feel going forward...Pretty much stating the obvious but seeing CND's post really set that in...
 
And what impact was Bruce Matthews having?
A positive one?
If Bruce Matthews wasn't a local legend nobody would care one way or another. He was just a assistant and he wasn't the main cog behind this team's success on the ground.
Bruce Matthews is a "local" legend. I guess you mean local in the sense of people who can watch American Football....Trust me if Mike Singletary were the LBer coach, if Ronnie Lott were the DB coach, if Faulk was the RB coach....people would be upset if they left. Just so happens that he is also a "legend" around here because this is were his "legend" was written. So forgive the people that would like to see a little of the success the hometown has had stick around.
 
WILL BUTLER FILL SPECIAL TEAMS JOB?
February 23, 2011

Craig Fitzgerald was hired as South Carolina's strength and conditioning coach in January of 2008 largely on the recommendation of former special teams coach Ray Rychleski, who worked closely with Fitzgerald at Maryland.

Now it looks like Fitzgerald has paid it forward.

FootballScoop.com reported Tuesday that USC would interview former University of Minnesota assistant coach John Butler - who joined the Houston Texans staff on Feb. 11th as a "defensive assistant" - for the vacant special teams coordinator position.

The spot on the USC staff opened up when Shane Beamer left Feb. 2 to join Virginia Tech as running backs coach.

Gamecock Central confirmed Tuesday night the interview took place earlier in the day in Columbia.

Steve Spurrier is supposed to interview other candidates over the next week or so.

What is Butler's connection to Fitzgerald? He was the linebackers and special teams coach at Harvard from 2003-2006. Fitzgerald was the strength and conditioning coach for the Crimson during Butler's final two seasons (2005-2006) at the Cambridge, Mass. based school.

Fitzgerald reportedly recommended Butler to USC head coach Steve Spurrier.

Butler, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., was hired by Minnesota in 2007 shortly after Tim Brewster was named head coach of the Golden Gophers. However, Brewster was fired midway through last season after Minnesota lost four straight home games and new UM head coach Jerry Kill didn't retain him as typically happens during a tenure change.

Butler has coached special teams for a decade.

The 37-year old Butler served as linebackers and special teams coach for the Gophers. His bio on the Minnesota webs site lauds the fact Minnesota had one of the top kickoff return units in the country in 2007 and 2008. The Gophers were third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally, averaging 23.25 yards per return in 2007. They improved to No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 15 nationally in 2008, averaging 24.04 yards.


Chris Gillespie

S&C coach Craig Fitzgerald recommeded John Butler to USC head coach Steve Spurrier.
In addition, Minnesota's punt coverage unit ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 32 in the nation in 2009, allowing just 6.55 yards per return. UM's kickoff coverage unit ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 13 in the nation in 2008, allowing just 18.54 yards per return.

Butler didn't appear concerned about the head coach participating in special teams' strategy in an interview posted on Minnesota's web site soon after being hired by the Gophers.

"If you ever look at teams that play great special teams, one of the major factors is how involved is the head football coach," Butler said. "I think it's critical. We have to make sure we do a great job with than one-third. Statistically, about 22 to 23 percent of the snaps in a football game are special teams. You have to win those plays to win the game."

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's salary database for state employees, Butler earned $110,000 in 2007, his first season on the Minnesota coaching staff.

Butler's profile on the Minnesota site adds that while coaching at Harvard, Butler's special teams units "annually ranked among the best in the Ivy League, scoring seven total special teams touchdowns during his tenure, including a 2004 season in which the Crimson registered five special teams touchdowns."

Before his coaching stint at Harvard, Butler coached safeties and special teams at Southwest Texas State from 2001-2002. He spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons at Midwestern State University, where he was the defensive coordinator and coached the team's linebackers and safeties.

After graduating from Catholic University in 1995, Butler began his coaching career as CU's defensive coordinator in 1996. He was a graduate assistant at Texas in 1996-1997 under both John Mackovic and Mack Brown.
 
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