I track the Niners pretty closely. DeMeco seems like a good possible hire and everyone thinks he'll get a HC gig and good for him. I don't want to throw any shade, and I'm a proven terrible NFL analyst... *but*: * He stepped into a very good defensive system and we don't have that much data with him as a coordinator. * He has (seems to me) several pro-bowl defensive anchors, including a couple of outstanding linebackers and of course one of the best and deepest D lines in the league. * The Niners D always have some head-scratching secondary coverage issues, giving up a couple of huge plays per game. Maybe that's not on DeMeco, but they've never ironed that out this season, and it could bite them hard in the next week or two.
Anyone not willing to trade pick #12 for Sean Payton is crazy. As several others have mentioned, the value an outstanding HC and FO can have on a fledgling franchise is exponentially more impactful than any draft pick could ever have, save for maybe... maybe... a franchise QB. And even then that's iffy. This franchise needs credibility. Stability. COMPETENCE. Nothing else matters. A collection of great player routinely flounder under poor leadership and coaching. Marginal talent often over performs w the opposite. This team needs a total reset. There are definitely other candidates that may be able to have a similar impact. But a committed Sean Payton and staff could be transformational for this inept franchise.
Let alone the impact that a good staff can have in talented, but still developing young players. Don't underestimate that, either. Seems like Albright doesn't think Payton is actually interested. I don't see it happening, either.
I really doubt he's interested either. I think he wants to win quickly. The Texans job is not contender next year type gig. He could do a really good job as a HC and still not make the playoffs the next two years.
People probably said the same about Andy Reid when he went to KC. "Can't win the big one", etc. There are not many coaches that have the extended success than Payton has had.
Another way to look at this is that every franchise has multiple holes to fill. The more you can fill with non-question-marks, the more effort you can put everywhere else. When the Texans got Watson, before all the chaos, when the Texans lost, you didn't have worry about "do I need a new QB?" because that hole was plugged. The same would be true with Payton. Would they win with him? Who knows. But if they don't, you're probably not wondering every year if they need a new coach. The Texans have uncertainty literally everywhere in the organization, from GM, to HC, to QB, and on. If they hire a Gannon or DeMeco and are still losing in 2 years, the coach might or might not be the problem. If they are in the same position with Payton, no one's probably debating whether he needs to be fired, narrowing the number of areas to focus on.
Does this translate to seeing Nicky C's days as Texan's GM eventually over with if Payton becomes HC (knowing full well NC is part of the search)?
I wonder how many teams are really willing to give up a first rounder for Payton? It can’t be all that many.
Don't disagree with any of this, I just think that this franchise is at a place in it's history when more than anything else it needs a shot in the arm. Fan apathy has never been higher (and that's saying something....). Just walk around town and mention the Texans to anybody and you will most likely be met with a head shake and rolling eyes. I just don't think a defensive specialist is going to do that, especially if we draft a possible franchise QB. All those guys you mention have had great success but none are in the playoffs right now. Right now the NFL cycle is pointing towards offense. Nothing charges up a fanbase like a new and exciting coach and QB. But again, I'll be happy with any of the guys being considered right now. Even Payton with the draft pick. I just don't want someone out of left field, like the Texans have a habit of doing with high draft picks and coaches (Mario, Clowney, Cully, Lovie).
Clowney was hardly a surprise pick. He was said to be best player in that draft and was expected Texans would pick him.
Eh - they talked to Gannon, Flores, and other popular candidates last year too. In fact, we had almost the same tweet this year as last year: Feb 2022:
I definitely understand what you are saying, and how the perception looks. I also agree the Texans FO is more dumb than racist but still need to understand social perceptions which they don’t. What bothers me is that if they just hired Hackett instead of Lovie and everything played out the exact same way, then this wouldn’t even be a conversation.. so with that being the case, along with media types calling for black coaches to boycott Texan interviews so they can’t meet the Rooney Rule, all lends itself to the safest bet being stay away from black coaches. Which I feel defeats the whole purpose and counterproductive.. but hey, can’t be a racist owner treating a black coach badly if you don’t hire one in the first place…
