I think we underestimate just how much the players respect and love Kubiak. They play hard for HIM. Not because he's an offensive guru. Not because he instituted the ZBS here. They play hard for him because he's a good man who genuinely cares about them. I don't think you can disregard the human element from this.
They've never quit on the guy. I know late-season runs are mostly meaningless - but those are generally golden opportunities for teams to run their HC out of town, and they've never done it here. Ever. They were 3-5 in '07, finished 3-2; disappointingly 4-7 in '08, finished 4-1; 5-6 in '09, 4-1. He's 17-10 overall in December and posted his only losing record last year. And even that included the heartbreaking MNF loss to the Ravens; the meltdown against Denver and the win on the final week of the season; they weren't good - but they didn't quit.
I have no idea. Sorry. Hard to be much better, I guess. There's nothing ironic about it; I argued much of last year that most of his shortcomings as an OC were absolutely the fault of the defense. I think he outsmarted himself too often; but he had one hand tied behind his back last year.
But there is irony in it as Gary tied his own hand behind his back in a way. He was the one who promoted Frank Bush to D-coordinator without even interviewing another candidate. Someone can try to pull Rick Smith into the blame but Frank was Gary's choice.
If you're judging how Wade would do based on his last year in dallas, he was pretty much outcoached in every game last year. Well, except for the Texans game.... I think the question is moot because, like I said earlier, the team would pretty much operate the same way it is now. Kubiak over the offense, Wade over the defense. As far as challenges, etc. that would depend on who has the ball. If it's a defensive challenge, Wade would make the call. If it's an offensive challenge, Kubiak would make the call. I think they are already pretty much working autonomously from each other. While at the same time working together. If that makes sense.
Rex isn't young, but this is his first HC gig, which is what I thought we were talking about. I don't really understand what your point on the Harbaughs is. Fair point on Tomlin, but he inherited the team from Cowher. Guess what Cowher's first HC job was? Steelers. I don't like Schwartz either. He's a terrible coach, but the fact is that as of this week, his team is in the playoffs despite being in a decent division. The Texans are tied for the 2nd best record in the league despite significant injuries to multiple impact players. He hasn't lost a game in 2 months. He's beaten two quality opponents in a row with a 5th round rookie QB. If he was fired right now, he'd have a HC job within the hour. Anyways, I'm just trying to point out that: 1. Front offices don't value past HC experience nearly as much as fans do. 2. There's a good amount of evidence that supports their reasoning.
Was it Frank Bush who let Dunta walk without any plan to replace him, drafted Kareem Jackson, suspended Cushing, injured Demeco Ryans and connor barwin the first week?
He was. But a strong, independent GM should have raised objections; if not outright put his foot down. Hiring a neophyte DC had already failed and the team was close enough that it should have been looking for someone that knew what they were doing. McNair shares blame, too.
Letting Dunta walk was a $$ decision. Drafting Kareem was a mistake, although he's playing a little better this year....under a different DC.... Cushing only missed 4 games and played well when he came back. Bush made him play out of position once Demeco got hurt and the defense was still historically bad while he was in there. Cushing is now playing the best football of his career.....under a different DC... Demeco didn't get hurt until Week 6 and the defense was historically bad all the while he was in there. Conner Barwin was a situational pass rusher last year. Not even a full time starter. He is also playing the best football of his career.....under a different DC...
Texans should have drafted Dez Bryant with the Kareem pick. Franchised Dunta that year and then let him walk the next. Everything is easier in hindsight.
I don't get your point because neither of these calls had anything to do with Frank Bush. He didn't go ask Smith for the worst DBs in the NFL Best of career is debatable, but his rookie year was.............under Frank Bush. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Connor Barwin GOT HURT THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FIRST GAME! Yeah I guess he wasn't a "full time player" since he missed the entire season. Did you watch last year? Frank Bush had talent his first year and did a decent job. He had nothing his second year and delivered garbage. Wade Phillips is obviously better but Bush had NOTHING to work with.
I think Wade's health issue may help in this decision. He is getting up there in age, so his family may not want him taking on the extra pressure of a head coaching job in a struggling city... at least that is what I'm hoping for anyway.
It was probably Frank Bush's stamp of approval to stick with the young guys in their secondary. But there were OBVIOUS mistakes in the play decisions that revealed Bush was an incompetent coach. The jets game last year for instance, is enough evidence that Bush can't even put these guys in the right position before the ball is snapped. And somebody besides Smith had to have made the decision on Kareem. Smith isn't autonomous, a 1st round pick is a group effort, with some incompetent people (Kubiak as a defensive evaluator, Bush, that POS Gibbs) pushing the button.
