December 21, 2005
I'm in Charge Here
by Bob Hulsey
HoustonProFootball.com
Get ready for a major shakeup in Texanland. Jimmy Johnson had been offered/not offered a position. Dan Reeves has been brought on board as a "consultant". Charley Casserly's house is on the market. Dom Capers appears to have two games left in his coaching tenure.
So who's running this team anyway? Heck, I'll step into the vacuum. I'm pulling an Alexander Haig here. I'm taking over.
I've got the makings of a staff right here. I've got aj_ and Keith around as capologists. Roy Pickett is here as my top draft scout. Vinny can be my advance scout as well as quarterbacks coach. Warren has many talents that can be put to use.
So, first of all, we need to clear out the deadwood. Capers was a nice choice to start a franchise but apparently not a good one to sustain a franchise. Casserly could probably see the handwriting on the wall when owner Bob McNair started asking questions about why he traded two high draft picks for Phillip Buchanon. Both are gone under my new regime.
As for Reeves, he can stay around as a consultant for McNair. I don't feel threatened by that. He's been around a long time and his input should be valuable. But he shouldn't think about becoming head coach. Seriously, does anyone think it is smart for somebody with a heart condition to be coaching this team after the way they bungled three straight games in the closing seconds? Coach Zocor should be writing his acceptance speech to Canton instead. After all, they put in Marv Levy, didn't they? So the Hall is open now for four-time Super Bowl losers.
My choice for head coach is Reeves' old draft choice - Gary Kubiak, the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. He was a hot commodity after the Broncos won two Super Bowls but chose to stay under Mike Shanahan. He has shown interest in head coaching before but only for the right opportunity. I think this is that opportunity. If he still has the desire to be the top man, this is the right environment. There's no coaching legend to be compared to here.
Kubiak has had long exposure to the zone blocking scheme that makes the Broncos one of the top rushing acts in the league. His rollout passing game should bring out the talents of many an athletic college quarterback. If anyone can take our offensive parts and make them click, I think he has the best chance.
But the former Aggie quarterback has never had to work with the defensive side of the ball. My choice for defensive coordinator is present University of Texas defensive coordinator Gene Chizik. While others have more coaching experience, this fast riser has coached undefeated seasons at Auburn (2004) and Texas (2005) with top defensive rankings. He hasn't lost a game since Novermber 2003. This won't be the first time the NFL has come calling either. Chizik interviewed with the Jaguars last year before taking the Texas job.
Both coaches are young and aggressive and could make their mark in Houston for a long time.
"Vinny can be my advance scout as well as quarterbacks coach."
