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All encompassing Rick Smith thread

TheKDog said:
Seems like a backhanded compliment too.

The way he insisted his leave wasn't a judgment on his tenure and that he WILL be back sounds to me like his influence will still be there.

We need a new owner
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If that were true I wonder why BOB wouldn’t want to move on now to somewhere he can build out his own long-term setup? Why stick here knowing regardless of an extension you can’t afford another poor season and the threat of a RS return looms.
 
houstonhurricane said:
If that were true I wonder why BOB wouldn’t want to move on now to somewhere he can build out his own long-term setup? Why stick here knowing regardless of an extension you can’t afford another poor season and the threat of a RS return looms.
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I don't think it's true that another team would offer him a head coaching job. Too much of a mess here, even with what bill was in control of (the offense, clock management, relationships, etc).

He may end up back in New England like Josh McDaniels after his disastrous tenure in Denver.
 
It's dysfunctional.

What if OBrien and the new GM need to go to the owner to sign off on something?

Do they have to go through Rick?

I'm asking this for when Rick comes back.
 
TheKDog said:
It's dysfunctional.

What if OBrien and the new GM need to go to the owner to sign off on something?

Do they have to go through Rick?

I'm asking this for when Rick comes back.
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This position is rare as a standalone. Bill Parcells had it. John Elway. Now Tom Coughlin. But as a general matter yes. It's another football guy to be a big picture person over the whole operation and insulate the owner.

houstonhurricane said:
If he told McNair he didn’t want to coach under his existing contract (no extension) or under the management structure they settled on, they would let him go.
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Says you. Not sure why. It's certainly possible, but totally McNair's option. McNair could decide he isn't going to compete in the HC market without a 1st & 2nd and tell OB to finish his contract. What's OB going to do? - give poor effort and damage his own career.
 
infantrycak said:
This position is rare as a standalone. Bill Parcells had it. John Elway. Now Tom Coughlin. But as a general matter yes. It's another football guy to be a big picture person over the whole operation and insulate the owner.



Says you. Not sure why. It's certainly possible, but totally McNair's option. McNair could decide he isn't going to compete in the HC market without a 1st & 2nd and tell OB to finish his contract. What's OB going to do? - give poor effort and damage his own career.
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Maybe. My guess is that they would let him walk but anything seems possible with this franchise.
 
Mr. White said:
OB is going to get a chance to pick his own GM like Kubiak did and if he fails, OB and the new GM are out.
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This sounds good... but. What constitutes not failing? If the team squeaks into the playoffs, then gets blown out their first playoff game... again, you know what we're gonna hear... How can you fire a head coach who's made the playoffs 3 years out of 5. Of course I would never expect this organization to have well defined expectations, I mean how can you make excuses and shift blame if everyone knows what is expected.
 
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ColeThornton said:
This sounds good... but. What constitutes not failing? If the team squeaks into the playoffs at 8-8 and hasn't beaten a good team all year, then gets blown out their first playoff game, you know what we're gonna hear... How can you fire a head coach who's made the playoffs 3 years out of 5. Of course I would never expect this organization to have well defined expectations, I mean how can you make excuses and shift blame if everyone knows what is expected.
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This isn't a widget factory where you can say 100/hr is success.
 
infantrycak said:
One more time for the learning impaired - teams could protect 37 players. So sure bottom of the roster guys moved a little.

Classic examples of the new free agency with difference makers.

Charles Haley going from winning SBs in San Fran to winning them in Dallas in 1992.

Ken Norton going the other way in 1994.

Deion Sanders going Niners to Cowboys 1994.

I'm done. You're looking ridiculous on this.
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Haley was traded. Free agency was called plan b first, then in 93 free agency started as we know it.
 
infantrycak said:
This isn't a widget factory where you can say 100/hr is success.
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But as I've pointed out, there have been over 20 new coaches do it in 4 years or less just during the Texans history. Over 10 in their first or second year. So how about 43,825/hr for success. Is that asking too much?
 
infantrycak said:
Meaningless stat for a one year turnaround standard. And 10 out of how many?
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I've never expected a one year turnaround. I've consistently said 4 years is not unreasonable considering a majority of teams have done it during the Texans history. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect our team to do what so many other teams have done. But as we've discussed so many times... The Texans and many of their fans expectations are not very high. It's been 16 seasons now, we've never won in the division round, and so many are still making excuses. It's time to quit making excuses and expect more.

Although I did get a kick out of the "widget" excuse. At least it's one I hadn't heard before.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Certainly, first of all, my prayers have gone out to Tiffany and Smith and their whole family, ever since the news of her cancer was released. When I heard "extended leave of absence," the first thing I thought of is that Smith's wife was not dealing with a run of the mill breast cancer. I've performed hundreds of mastectomies for breast cancer, and many more breast reconstructions for breast cancer. These do not typically see or require a spouse taking an extended leave. Smith's wife's cancer was diagnosed in Sept, almost 4 months ago. The concern I would have with this extended leave announcement is that she is dealing with metastatic breast cancer (one that has spread to other structures besides the breast).

Cowher had good reason for his "extended leave of absence," based on the status of his wife's cancer. I hope that this is not the case for Smith's wife. Cowher's wife was diagnosed in 2007 with malignant melanoma which had already spread. She went through extensive treatments which slowed the cancer and for a short period of time placed it into omission. But in 2009, she had a recurrence with metastasis to her spine. She finally succumbed to her disease in 2010.
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I didn't want to say it in the post you quoted but I share your fears. If things have gotten so dire that Rick Smith is walking away from his job, then I'm not sure he'll ever be back.
 
ColeThornton said:
I've never expected a one year turnaround. I've consistently said 4 years is not unreasonable considering a majority of teams have done it during the Texans history. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect our team to do what so many other teams have done. But as we've discussed so many times... The Texans and many of their fans expectations are not very high. It's been 16 seasons now, we've never won in the division round, and so many are still making excuses. It's time to quit making excuses and expect more.

Although I did get a kick out of the "widget" excuse. At least it's one I hadn't heard before.
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What is expecting more gonna get you? I think we all want more, but the answer isn't in our hands
 
JB said:
What is expecting more gonna get you? I think we all want more, but the answer isn't in our hands
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Aint this the truth.

I've learned to LOL at the Texans org instead of caring about how they do. Now that Ricky's on leave I probably will start caring again because I will start thinking they've got a chance to become good enough to bring a championship to this city.
 
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ColeThornton said:
We'll mine too JB, but it's a message board, do you have something against discussing fans expectations?
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no, just like to verify expectations... as long as we all know that our ramblings make not one whit of difference then we're all kosher
 
JB said:
no, just like to verify expectations... as long as we all know that our ramblings make not one whit of difference then we're all kosher
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Well of course they don't JB, but maybe you can tell us what discussion on this board has gotten anyone, since you're the one asking for it on my post.
 
ColeThornton said:
JB, is it against the rules to ask you what you thought about the OU GA game?
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Not at all, but that belongs in the appropriate forum... I was working and didn't get to see it, from what I've read it was a terrific game
 
Well looks like the expectations thingy will continue to be low around here because Rick will still have his hand printed on the draft.

The excuse will be how can the GM unfluck what Ricky McNair did.

Or it will take 3 or so years to fix this and that.
 
JB said:
Not at all, but that belongs in the appropriate forum... I was working and didn't get to see it, from what I've read it was a terrific game
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Ok I buried the evidence. Man it was a classic, double overtime. Sorry you missed it. What kind of work do you have to do on New Year's day?
 
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ColeThornton said:
I've never expected a one year turnaround. I've consistently said 4 years is not unreasonable considering a majority of teams have done it during the Texans history. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect our team to do what so many other teams have done.
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Not starting anew. OB came close to losing his job this year. So talking about what needs to be done next season for him to keep it.


Although I did get a kick out of the "widget" excuse. At least it's one I hadn't heard before.
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Not an excuse. 9, 10 or 11 wins is an objective standard within the control of the team. The ramifications of that number of wins are not. The Patriots went 11-5 and didn't make the playoffs.

steelbtexan said:
Well then, that's where we disagree 9-7 isn't good enough for me. Top 10 offense or not.
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No way you're calling for OB to be fired if they do that next season but ok what's your higher bar?

ColeThornton said:
What do you mean? If they don't have a top 10 offense 7-9 is ok? please explain.
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Anything less than both is a fail. 8-8 with the #8 O, fail. 9-7 with the #15 O, fail. It's time for offensive minded OB to produce a top 10 O or be gone and the team needs to be a winner.
 
You're right with this talent deficient team.

The season you speak of had one of the easiest schedules I've seen. Check it out, even easier than some of BOB'S 9-7 seasons.
 
infantrycak said:
Not an excuse. 9, 10 or 1 wins is an objective standard within the control of the team. The ramifications of that number of wins is not. The Patriots went 11-5 and didn't make the playoffs.
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And that's why I finally want a win in the division round, I don't care how many regular season wins there are. If they go 10 and 6 and lose to a wild card team in the first round... they choked. One top 4 in 16 seasons should be a realistic expectation.
infantrycak said:
Anything less than both is a fail. 8-8 with the #8 O, fail. 9-7 with the #15 O, fail. It's time for offensive minded OB to produce a top 10 O or be gone and the team needs to be a winner.
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OK i get it now, thanks for the explanation, but I'm afraid whoever said statistics are for losers was on to something. I could care less where this or that is ranked if it doesn't finally translate into going a little deeper in the playoffs.
 
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I'm want to discuss this very delicate RS subject, b/c after his press conference(s), I hope I'm not the only one feeling this way.

I'm beginning to feel that RS's temporary departure has lot to do with his wife (of course) and the Texans future. When RS announced he was going to take a leave of absence b/c of his wife's diagnosis of breast cancer...I fully understood. I may be wrong but it appears his wife was diagnosed in September, so why not take the leave of absence effective immediately. This would be the normal timeframe that most patients would be at their most vulnerable and so unsure of what the future may hold. This is when they need the support of their family. After his announcement, he's fairly certain that his absence will be completed in one season....is his wife and doctors on the same script? When my Mom was brave enough to sit down with doctors, by their estimates, she was too late and given 6-8 months to live...b/c she was a fighter, she managed to pull through for another 3 years before succumbing to the disease. So, I have no idea how RS can be so sure that one season will do the trick.

Unfortunately, the cynical side of me is looking at the timelines and the required time he wishes to be away and it's so very unfortunate that it correlates with the team coming off a 4-12 campaign, having multiple holes to fill throughout the roster, and an unenviable draft position in 2018 (RD3-RD7 / No RD5) which falls into his cryptonite rounds in regards to success. After a horrible showing in 2017 and the prospects of 2018 pending on a lot of players getting healthy and remaining that way for an entire season...not to mention nailing down some productive FA's and somehow having a successful draft...makes me believe that his timing to be with his wife couldn't have been more strategically picked. How could the organization justify keeping him this late into his tenure if 2018 doesn't pan out?

As for the timing of his return to the Texans...they'll have a full compliment of picks (+1) for the 2019 NFL Draft and possibly much less work to be done than what the organization faces this off-season. I hope I'm wrong but....
 
I, like all others, want a winning team. But looking at all the missing/.deficient pieces we have been left with this season and the Draft hole we have been left with, I am also realistic about what this next season should be about. Too many here are convinced that many of our main pieces, who had been IR'ed or had been dealing with significant injuries this past season, will be back and as stronger than ever. This is simply not realistic, and is not going to happen. I'm not going to assign numbers to success or failure...........first and most importantly,I want to see solid improvement in the talent that gets placed on the field........players that can EXECUTE. We aren't going to be able to replace the many goobers with great players in just 1 season. It isn't going to happen. Next I want to see signs of solid coaching, something that in general could not have been properly evaluated last season due to all the absent major injured, the sorry Oline, sorry secondary, and pathetic STs, not to mention the patched front 7. Finally, I want to see the the coaching solidify, and this is very likely to occur as the player talent pool from which to coach is built up. Factors such as injuries and strength of schedule are not factors that can be controlled, but none-the-less important. Bottom line, I may be alone, but I will not be solely playing the numbers game in properly evaluating the team next season...........I have eyes and a brain to give me all the answers I need to determine if this team is building towards success or failure.
 
infantrycak said:
So they didn't tell you about their personal matters until after the season so it must be nefarious. Some of y'all need to get a fu@king life.
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It has nothing to do with RS and everything to do with his timing. You should learn to get over yourself at some point in life. Ease up and realize it's just a discussion...you might want to try a colonic to help you loosen up.
 
Yeah the timing of when he told you. When that happened made zero difference to his wife's treatment. The decision makers, the McNairs, have known. It's just butthurt you as if you are entitled to know.

If he'd said something 2 mos ago, you and/or others would have been beotching about distractions and sympathy cards.

This has nothing to do with RS. I hate when fans ascribe evil intentions to players/coaches/owners.
 
infantrycak said:
Yeah the timing of when he told you. When that happened made zero difference to his wife's treatment. The decision makers, the McNairs, have known. It's just butthurt you as if you are entitled to know.

If he'd said something 2 mos ago, you and/or others would have been beotching about distractions and sympathy cards.
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Man, I've never seen someone so full of themselves...you must take a crap and wipe your mouth afterwards. All joking aside, you need to lay off the personal attacks and either participate in a conversation or sit quietly until you find one worth discussing.
 
I find it interesting given that Smith says he's taking a year off that he didn't appoint a stand-in/interim to keep his seat warm. The reports say that the McNairs are searching for a GM replacement. That tells me Smith won't be back as GM ...ever.

I can see a John Elway/Tom Coughlin type "overseer" job when (if) this year long leave of absence is over. I do wonder if Smith will be given power to hire and fire GMs or anyone on the coaching staff in this new overseer job.

Speculation Alert: As far as the timing, none of us know exactly when Smith made his wife's condition known to the coaches. The McNairs likely knew early on. And I find it hard to believe that O'Brien, Crennel and the other main coaches who need to meet with the GM on a regular basis didn't notice Smith not being around off and on all year and didn't ask "where's Rick?". That just doesn't make sense. So I think by mid-season, they knew.
I figure O'Brien knew and maybe Crennel knew, at some point during the season, but also knew it wasn't their place to make Tiffany's condition known to the public. Did the locker room know? Probably not.


 
infantrycak said:
Yeah the timing of when he told you. When that happened made zero difference to his wife's treatment. The decision makers, the McNairs, have known. It's just butthurt you as if you are entitled to know.

If he'd said something 2 mos ago, you and/or others would have been beotching about distractions and sympathy cards.

This has nothing to do with RS. I hate when fans ascribe evil intentions to players/coaches/owners.
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Meh, you ascribed the "sources" as having their stories wrong on a potential BoB/Smith showdown.
The other logical explanation is that this is Smith's "out" to avoid said showdown.

We'll likely never know which is true.
 
infantrycak said:
There is zero reason why they would have said anything until the season was over.
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I'm 100% on board with this. I'm just saying, if my wife came home and confided in me that she had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I would probably go straight to the McNair's and let them know that I'm going to take a medical leave of absence to be with my wife during this ordeal. That's just me.
 
disaacks3 said:
Meh, you ascribed the "sources" as having their stories wrong on a potential BoB/Smith showdown.
The other logical explanation is that this is Smith's "out" to avoid said showdown.

We'll likely never know which is true.
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There's nothing "logical" about your other explanation.
Who would use his wife's cancer as an excuse?? That's just flat out sick.
 
disaacks3 said:
Meh, you ascribed the "sources" as having their stories wrong on a potential BoB/Smith showdown.
The other logical explanation is that this is Smith's "out" to avoid said showdown.

We'll likely never know which is true.
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There is no ill intent implied in saying someone was wrong. They may very well have had low level insiders guessing and then they passed it along. Clearly none of the sources were high enough placed to know about Tiffany.

Waiting to the end of the season is perfectly logical with or without a showdown. Illogical is a showdown against a man whose wife has cancer.

It's the difference between saying RS sucks at the draft and saying RS sucks at the draft so that he can get OB fired. There's no reason to add ill intent.
 
Extended Rick Smith presser about the cancer, his relationship with O'Brien, whether he's coming back. The football stuff starts about minute 9.

LINK

From the presser, Smith told the coaches, McNairs, and the scouting dept. sometime late in September.
 
infantrycak said:
There is no ill intent implied in saying someone was wrong. They may very well have had low level insiders guessing and then they passed it along. Clearly none of the sources were high enough placed to know about Tiffany.

Waiting to the end of the season is perfectly logical with or without a showdown. Illogical is a showdown against a man whose wife has cancer.

It's the difference between saying RS sucks at the draft and saying RS sucks at the draft so that he can get OB fired. There's no reason to add ill intent.
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There is if you're naturally paranoid. LOL
 
OptimisticTexan said:
I'm 100% on board with this. I'm just saying, if my wife came home and confided in me that she had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I would probably go straight to the McNair's and let them know that I'm going to take a medical leave of absence to be with my wife during this ordeal. That's just me.
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He may not have taken a leave right away but it sure looks like he quit his GM duties right away. (and I don't fault him for that.)

All those scrubs we kept signing were not typical Smith. I suspect Raye had a hand in picking them. Lumps of coal in our stockings.

Smith could sift through and usually find 'capable' FA's.

If you believe in prayers say one for the Smith family. I have.

:coffee:
 
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