Rod Smith on Kubiak

Good article. Of course McClain threw in his VY support again. But I am excited about Kubiak coming here, if that is the case.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/mcclain/3584479.html

Yeah John has the man-love bad for Vince but other than that one statement I think it was a very good article. He stayed mostly on topic which for John can be a challenge.

I find it quite encouraging that a player is promoting this guy for a coaching position for another team. That speaks volumes about Smith's character, at least to me. It will be interesting to see what Kubiak could do with some studs when he took a nobody (not calling Smith a nobody, but when his career started, you know what I mean) and turned him into the a future hall-of-famer.

Hervoyel said:

Yeah John has the man-love bad for Vince but other than that one statement I think it was a very good article. He stayed mostly on topic which for John can be a challenge.

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It's becoming laughable these days. I'm almost having a hard time taking McClain seriously now, and I've always enjoyed his stories and radio presence (even when disagreeing).

But now he's just over the top, and seems to have lost his journalistic objectiveness.

I find the article encouraging too and think that gives credence to letting him be more involved with the draft to find guys he thinks he can mold into the players he wants.

As far as McClain, when I went to copy the article, there were three areas in the Chronicle with his face with blurbs about. "we aren't taking Bush" or "We are taking VY." lol

I particularly like this portion of his article:

"Here's something for Texans fans to keep in mind when arguing about quarterback Vince Young and running back Reggie Bush: Kubiak will install the same system the Broncos have used, and the Broncos don't use No. 1 picks on running backs. "

Very true that the Broncos do not select RBs in the 1st round, but they also don't select QBs there either, here is a look at QBs and RBs taken in the draft by Denver under Shanahan/Kubiak:

QBs
1996 4th round: Jeff Lewis, Northern Arizona
1998 3rd round: Brian Griese (had some good seasons before leaving team after 2002 season and being replaced by Plummer)
(granted Denver had Elway thru 1998 season and not much reason to draft a QB before then, but knowing Elway was going to retire they take a QB in the 3rd round after taking a WR [Marcus Nash] and SS [Eric Brown] in the first two rounds)
2000 7th round: Jarrious Jackson, Notre Dame
2004 7th round: Bradlee Van Pelt

RBs
1995 6th round: Terrell Davis, Georgia (produced several great seasons for Broncos)
1996 7th round: L.T. Levine, Kansas
1998 4th round: Curtis Alexander, Alabama
1998 5th round: Chris Howard, Michigan
1999 4th round: Olandis Gary, Georgia (produced one 1500 yard season after Davis got injured)
2002 2nd round: Clinton Portis, Miami
2003 4th round: Quentin Griffin, Oklahoma
2003 7th round: Ahmaad Galloway, Alabama
2004 2nd round: Tatum Bell, Oklahoma State
2004 7th round: Brandon Miree, Pittsburgh
2005 3rd round: Maurice Clarett, Ohio State

The point? Denver's highest pick used on a QB was a 3rd rounder on Brian Griese, and that was to replace the legendary John Elway. After getting Griese, who was a fairly solid QB, they never spent anything but a 7th rounder on a QB (and they only did that twice). On the other hand, the Broncos never used a 1st rounder on a RB, but they used two 2nd rounders (Portis and Bell), three 4th rounders, a 5th, 6th, and three 7th rounders on RBs, so they have a much higher propensity to select RBs with later round picks to search for the next gem that they can churn out. During their tenure, here are the Broncos 1st and 2nd round picks:
1995: No picks until 4th round
1996: John Mobley, LB (1st), Tory James, CB (2nd)
1997: Trevor Pryce, DE (1st), no 2nds (Dan Neil in 3rd)
1998: Marcus Nash, WR (1st), Eric Brown S (2nd)
1999: Al Wilson, LB (1st), Montae Reagor, DT (2nd), Lennie Friedman, C (2nd)
2000: Deltha O'Neal, CB (1st), Ian Gold, LB (2nd), Kenoy Kennedy, S (2nd)
2001: Willie Middlebrooks, CB (1st), Paul Toviessi, DE (2nd)
2002: Ashley Lelie, WR (1st), Clinton Portis, RB (2nd)
2003: George Foster, OT (1st), Terry Pierce, LB (2nd)
2004: D.J. Williams, LB (1st), Tatum Bell, RB (2nd), Darius Watts, WR (2nd)
2005: no 1st round picks, Darrent Williams, CB, (2nd)

I see a much higher priority to defense than anything else, and WRs next on the list, but there aren't many good WRs available this year so, if anything, I think the Denver tradition would lead us to fix up our OLine and defense above all else, but we'll see what Kubiak's assessment of our current players and therefore our needy positions are.

Appreciate the research Mork. Good stuff.

Kaiser Toro said:

Appreciate the research Mork. Good stuff.

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Really good. Thanks. They have also used lower picks on O-lineman and just have the one guy who is a 1st rounder. Recently they have used their picks on DBs and defense.

HoustonFrog said:

Really good. Thanks. They have also used lower picks on O-lineman and just have the one guy who is a 1st rounder. Recently they have used their picks on DBs and defense.

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Yes, they have mainly used picks on defense and then WRs recently. Like I said, there aren't really many WRs in this draft so I don't think we'll really look there with any of our high picks, and I think it shows the priority that Denver placed on certain areas of the team. They didn't spend many picks on OLinemen but at the same time they had a pretty solid OLine most of the time (Dan Neil and Tom Nalen were perennial Pro-Bowlers among others). Our team's OLine is not anywhere near that good, so Kubiak will have to decide if he thinks he can improve our current guys into a line similar to Denver's or if they will have to address that issue in the draft and free agency, and I have to believe they'll at least look for a couple in this offseason, and eveyone knows this draft is loaded with them, so they could look for a lot of OLinemen and solidify that position. They also have looked for defensive players a lot, and I think it's pretty evident that many of our guys are just not that good, but once again they will have to figure out what defensive system they want to run and then evaluate how well our guys fit into that system and what positions they will need to look at. This draft has a couple great DL (Mario and Mathias, I don't see us going after Ngata or any other DTs) a lot of good LBs (Hawk, Carpenter, Brooks, plenty of others, although none are as athletic as many of the ones Denver has drafted high in the past, D.J. Williams, Ian Gold, Al Wilson, all of them were exceptionally fast) and we have some contract issues with Greenwood and Wong that keep them here at least for a year or two, so LBs may not logistically be at the top of the list this year, although it is still a need. There are definitely a good crop of DBs this year, so I expect we may draft several of them since that has been a need (definitely need another CB, and probably a coverage S). I wouldn't be surprised at all if they end up trading down and looking to fill many of these big holes (that's been my preference all along anyways), but again it all depends on us first bringing Kubiak in and then him evaluating our current players.

Kaiser Toro said:

Appreciate the research Mork. Good stuff.

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Ditto. Great work Mork! This is the basis for McClain's assertion that the Texans will not take Prez with the first pick. He fails to mention that the Broncos do not take QBs high in the draft either. I think you have pointed out the tendencies that Kubiak is likely to follow pending his evaluation of our talent.

I really think we will trade down if we can get the right offer. I know that sounds obvious, but not everyone thinks we should deal the pick. I think San Diego has made the right choices the last two times they had the number 1 pick. I think it is the smart thing to do, no matter how much I would love to see Prez in a Texans uniform!

HoustonFrog said:

Good article. Of course McClain threw in his VY support again. But I am excited about Kubiak coming here, if that is the case.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/mcclain/3584479.html

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I do have to say that these are the type of words I want to hear from players about a coach.

"And I can say without a shred of doubt that I wouldn't have had anywhere near the career I've had without Kubes on my side," said Smith, the Broncos' 35-year-old team leader.

I swear this thread is like a turkey dinner to a starving man to me. Tons of content and not much mention really of "the debate" (and I was probably the closest to going to the dark territory).

I'm giving each and every one of you guys positive rep!

Great post MorK. One thing I keep in mind with Denver is that it's been a long, long time since they've picked at the very top of the draft and that's a good thing. They've been successful for a long time and hopefully we get that same "problem" and have to learn to draft well at the bottom of rounds too.

I think Kubiak may just be able to work with carr and make him a better qb. A world of pressure will be on carr, but no more than on Plummer when he replaced elway. Kubiak seems to have Plummer on track. We very well may trade down and we could use the additional pics. It would be great to have vince young come here and lead us to the promised land, but it will take more than one person. Vince was on a team that dominated at practically every position and that will not be the case with the Texans. I think if Kubiak is hired we will trade down and address out most pressing needs. QB and RB are not our most pressing needs.

I am also encouraged to see, that if Kubiak does become our coach, what he's going to be able to do with AJ and Mathis.

bigTEXan8 said:

I am also encouraged to see, that if Kubiak does become our coach, what he's going to be able to do with AJ and Mathis.

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Reading what Rod Smith said gives me hope that our receiving corps can be improved without a lot of personnel changes. Who knows, maybe he can do something with Bradford...Okay, maybe that's too much wishful thinking!

Zephyr said:

Reading what Rod Smith said gives me hope that our receiving corps can be improved without a lot of personnel changes. Who knows, maybe he can do something with Bradford...Okay, maybe that's too much wishful thinking!

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We can do the same thing with Bradford that we did last year. Cut him, but please don't resign him after every other team passes on him.

My favorite part of the article --

"He's great evaluator of talent," Smith said. "He understands players. He doesn't ask us to do something we're not capable of doing. He knows how to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses."

Smith explained that if a receiver is better at running slant routes than out routes, Kubiak will make sure he runs the slants.

"He doesn't make the square pegs fit into the round holes," Smith said.

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Music to my ears.

Zephyr said:

Ditto. Great work Mork! This is the basis for McClain's assertion that the Texans will not take Prez with the first pick. He fails to mention that the Broncos do not take QBs high in the draft either. I think you have pointed out the tendencies that Kubiak is likely to follow pending his evaluation of our talent.

I really think we will trade down if we can get the right offer. I know that sounds obvious, but not everyone thinks we should deal the pick. I think San Diego has made the right choices the last two times they had the number 1 pick. I think it is the smart thing to do, no matter how much I would love to see Prez in a Texans uniform!

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Not trying to be obvious myself but again I guess the trade down depends on who may fall to those spots and how far. SD knew they needed skill guys but instead of getting Vick they still got LT and later Brees. I think once we get closer to the draft we can see who might be available at 33 because they dropped, etc. Even though I'm all for using #1 I find it
intriguing with 4 of the first 66.

This is also good "Kubes is a strong family man who has a lot of family in Houston, but coaches work so many hours that they know how to juggle the job and family," Smith said. "Being in his hometown will probably mean the expectations might be a little higher, but, honestly, I believe he's going to reach those expectations if he's given the proper time and is allowed to get his kind of guys." Hopefully that will mean he will have his hands on who we draft and not others I won't name..lol

I am pretty phsyced up about Kubiak, I hope the reports are correct and he does come to Houston. Talk about a breath of fresh air. Rod Smith is quite a classy guy, and to get that kind of endorsment from your players and co-workers really tells us alot about the caliber of coach we will be getting.

Hardcore Texan said:

I am pretty phsyced up about Kubiak, I hope the reports are correct and he does come to Houston. Talk about a breath of fresh air. Rod Smith is quite a classy guy, and to get that kind of endorsment from your players and co-workers really tells us alot about the caliber of coach we will be getting.

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Totally agree. I'm just excited to see what kind of new plan he implements and to see his evaluations of guys.

What I like about Denver's offense, none of it seems complicated to the point where anybody on the offense is throwing their hands up in the air with a really confused look on their face. It seems pretty much, straight forward. The team executes bloody good. The more I hear about Kubiak, the more I want the guy.

Oh...side note: I was playing Madden, finished my second year, got rid of Capers, and guess who as available...Kubiak. It was sweet.

bigTEXan8 said:

What I like about Denver's offense, none of it seems complicated to the point where anybody on the offense is throwing their hands up in the air with a really confused look on their face. It seems pretty much, straight forward. The team executes bloody good. The more I hear about Kubiak, the more I want the guy.

Oh...side note: I was playing Madden, finished my second year, got rid of Capers, and guess who as available...Kubiak. It was sweet.

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And no matter how you look at the system...the RBs make the system or the system makes the RBs, it is all good because it shows that he can be an evaluator on who fits and can coach it to players.

I like the way it says he makes adjustments based on players input and that he is not afraid to make changes. I think we will find this refreshing from the dictatorship led by Capers and Co.

Rod Smith WR of the Broncos can't say enough good things about Kubiack but this quote I though particularly interesting:

"He's great evaluator of talent," Smith said. "He understands players. He doesn't ask us to do something we're not capable of doing. He knows how to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses."

WHAT a concept....adapt to what the players do best.....WHO would have ever thunk that that might be a good thing to do. No one on the previouse Texans staff, that's for sure.

Here is the artical with lots more good stuff about him:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/mcclain/3584479.html

HoustonFrog said:

And no matter how you look at the system...the RBs make the system or the system makes the RBs, it is all good because it shows that he can be an evaluator on who fits and can coach it to players.

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You know, at first I was dead-set against Bush. I didn't think it was going to be a good move. But when I think about the possiblity of getting Kubiak, and what he can do with just about anyone, the idea of getting Bush seems more appealing. Kubiak could be the second coming of Bellichick. JMO.