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Sporting News 2011 NFL awards: Wade Phillips, Coordinator of the Year
PUBLISHED Friday, Jan 27, 2012 at 2:02 pm EST
After Wade Phillips joined the Texans, their defense finally became legit, and for that, he is our 2011 coordinator of the year. He received 15 votes to 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangios six and Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Paganos four. Pagano was named head coach of the Colts this week.
Defense, or lack of it, had been the main thing keeping Houston from becoming a playoff team. In 2010, the Texans gave up at least 30 points in half of their games. They allowed an average of 26.7 points per game, 29th in the NFL. They needed an emergency makeover. They hired Phillips, a former Cowboys head coach who found a nice landing spot farther south in Texas.
Switching the Texans to a 3-4 alignment, Phillips helped turn them into a physical, versatile unit that showed opposing offenses more looks than Lady Gaga. Phillips extensive experience in the NFL brought a calming influence to a young defense, and the Texans won the AFC South and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Hes got everything under control all the time, and when the game gets crazy and its a big play in the game, somebodys got to make a callthats what players are looking for, Texans coach Gary Kubiak says. Theyre looking for somebody that has confidence, thats going to put them in the right position to be successful, and Wades done that for many, many years.
Houston finished second in the league in total defense, trailing only the Steelers. In 2010, they finished 30th. General manager Rick Smith upgraded the defensive talent, plucking cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning in free agency, and drafting outside linebacker Brooks Reed and defensive end J.J. Watt. However, Phillips was the cook who blended the ingredients.
The Texans were happy when Phillips declined to be interviewed for the Buccaneers head coaching position. Thanks largely to his presence, defense is no longer a problem for Houston.
Previous winner
Sporting News voters selected the Falcons' Mike Mularkey as the 2010 Coordinator of the Year. Mularkey was recently named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
About the awards
Sporting News polled 632 NFL players, coaches and executives for our awards. Everyone voted for offensive and defensive player of the year, rookie of the year and comeback player of the year. Only the 32 coaches and executives from that group voted for coach of the year, coordinator of the year and executive of the year. Thirty coaches and executives voted on the All-Pro team.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...-awards-wade-phillips-coordinator-of-the-year
PUBLISHED Friday, Jan 27, 2012 at 2:02 pm EST
After Wade Phillips joined the Texans, their defense finally became legit, and for that, he is our 2011 coordinator of the year. He received 15 votes to 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangios six and Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Paganos four. Pagano was named head coach of the Colts this week.
Defense, or lack of it, had been the main thing keeping Houston from becoming a playoff team. In 2010, the Texans gave up at least 30 points in half of their games. They allowed an average of 26.7 points per game, 29th in the NFL. They needed an emergency makeover. They hired Phillips, a former Cowboys head coach who found a nice landing spot farther south in Texas.
Switching the Texans to a 3-4 alignment, Phillips helped turn them into a physical, versatile unit that showed opposing offenses more looks than Lady Gaga. Phillips extensive experience in the NFL brought a calming influence to a young defense, and the Texans won the AFC South and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Hes got everything under control all the time, and when the game gets crazy and its a big play in the game, somebodys got to make a callthats what players are looking for, Texans coach Gary Kubiak says. Theyre looking for somebody that has confidence, thats going to put them in the right position to be successful, and Wades done that for many, many years.
Houston finished second in the league in total defense, trailing only the Steelers. In 2010, they finished 30th. General manager Rick Smith upgraded the defensive talent, plucking cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning in free agency, and drafting outside linebacker Brooks Reed and defensive end J.J. Watt. However, Phillips was the cook who blended the ingredients.
The Texans were happy when Phillips declined to be interviewed for the Buccaneers head coaching position. Thanks largely to his presence, defense is no longer a problem for Houston.
Previous winner
Sporting News voters selected the Falcons' Mike Mularkey as the 2010 Coordinator of the Year. Mularkey was recently named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
About the awards
Sporting News polled 632 NFL players, coaches and executives for our awards. Everyone voted for offensive and defensive player of the year, rookie of the year and comeback player of the year. Only the 32 coaches and executives from that group voted for coach of the year, coordinator of the year and executive of the year. Thirty coaches and executives voted on the All-Pro team.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...-awards-wade-phillips-coordinator-of-the-year
