So basically, for all the success they've had Kubiak gets no credit... How does that work out exactly? So if it's the players then we should make Rick Smith coach then.
I honestly believe that the successes have been in part because the team has overcome an offense that is so predictable that it is every defense coordinators dream. Play calling that is so uncreative and conservative that when it works it is the extraordinary ability of extremely talented players. The leadership is so dull, unimaginative, and uninspiring only incredible effort overcomes it. Yes, I believe that Kubiak and Schaub hold back success, that success has happened in spite of them, not because of them and the team, the organization, the Texans, would do better without them. Yes, i really believe that. Unfortunately, I also believe that we are stuck with them until the team finally collapses and has a losing season, or losing seasons, and maybe even after that. Just keeping it real.
I think winning breeds stability. Stability in itself is not proven to be a casual factor for winning. I mean, Mike Sherman was 57-39, went to 4 playoffs in his 6 years and won the division 3 times. He had one bad year where he lost 3 pro bowlers to IR in the beggining of the season and got fired after that 6th year. It's just about higher standards with some organizations. SB winning organizations can their coaches from as little as 3 years to 7 years before going to the next guy (and the next guy wins the SB w/in 5 years). The former guys win divisions, make playoffs, and have even made SB appearances. If the Texans fire Kubiak at the end of this season, it does not mean they're unstable. It does not mean they are in disarray...and while it could be unfair, it's not like he's been faultless, and it could very well fall into the same model as every SB winning organization in the last 20 years. They've already strayed from that model in giving Kubiak 5 bad seasons, as tough as the conditions were for him.
I think you and Kim are kind of arguing something that's too extreme, and that the Texans problem is more fundamental than firing coaches/GMs. But rather an unwillingness to make changes. Basically with the Texans, what you see is what you get. As someone who watched a ton of Broncos during the post-Oilers era, I can say our team today looks almost exactly like the Broncos during Shannahan's era. And just as with the Broncos, when they no longer had the personnel(Elway/Davis) the system fell apart. There was never a thought where they would change the system to fit the personnel. It was one system, and when the players aren't good enough, then it fails. And this is so apparent with the Texans. With the right players it's great. But when there's injuries and there are always injuries in the NFL, things break apart. No other successful team unravel as fast as the Texans when injuries hit. Heck, JJo got hurt last year and suddenly the Chad Henne looked like Peyton against us. You can make changes without firing coaches. Bellichek's system changes every year to incorporate more wrinkles and new ideas. Last season Harbaugh fired his OC mid-season when things sucked. Atlanta changed both OC and DC last season. 49ers had a successful QB in Smith and still switched to Kaparnick and changed to a read-option offense. Joe Marciano? Still has a job.
I think it's entirely too easy to just put all the blame on the HC and QB after every week. It's very unoriginal because every fan thinks their HC or QB needs to be replaced after every single game. Wade is the same as Kubiak. He will bang his head playing man while QBs like Tom Brady eat his defense alive. How about the two tackles who are trash right now? Well it depends on what they do. If they do the exact same thing as last year (make it to the 2nd round and lose.) then it would still be pretty unusual. Most teams coaches are fired after losing seasons, not winning ones. That's not the model those teams have taken, they have not fired a coach that has made the playoffs or even had a 8-8 season. (The packers did once it seems) Fans would have fired him last year for not winning the superbowl, people wanted him fired because the Texans limped into the playoffs pretty much. That's the panicky behavior that those winning franchises like the Giants and Steelers do not have. If the Texans win 7 games or below and he gets fired then the Texans will have at least said that they knew it wasn't going to work out here with some certainty. Yeah he's not faultless but there aren't many coaches who are.
I can't really disagree with this. Belichick is so successful because he's not stubborn and he will change his defense/offense whatever and whenever. He'll change a 3-4 to a 4-3 to a tampa 2 to wahtever. He'll spread it out with two TEs or run it down your throat. His team is a chameleon that will take advantage of their personnel every year. I agree with Kubiak, his teams are a 'We do what we do' team and that will never change. Doesn't mean it can't work, it's just dependent on them finding the right talent every year to fit what they want to do. I think he's done that for the most part. This season remains to be seen. That first playoff appearance though, no team could have dealt with the injuries the Texans had to that year, that was just silly. Just like Houston sports for them to assemble such a great team and to have it wrecked by injuries. But my point is though that the franchises that do win superbowls don't always have their finger on the 'Fire' button. Because a lot of the Houston fans wanted nothing more than to fire Kubiak it seems like for the past 4 years now for not winning the superbowl. I think these teams put more emphasis on winning division titles than fans would like to think. In the nfl a wild card team has a legit shot at winning it all.
No one is getting fired, but the Texans aren't winning a Super Bowl Kubiak as their head coach and Matt Slob as their QB.
No one's getting fired but I have zero faith that this team is anything more than fodder for the real winners in this league. I have zero faith in Rick Smith's drafting, his hit rate outside of the first round, where most people sitting home on their couches would hit is atrocious. I have zero faith in Gary Kubiak and his ultra conservative play calls, call a play with ruotes beyond 12 tds from the line of scrimmage please. On third and six for god's sake run a play designed to get more then 4 yds. I have zero faith in Schaub to step up and play like a champion when the team on the other side is not the Chargers or the Titans or when the situation is anything more than the run of the mill regionally covered game against the Jags. I have zero faith in the offensive line to open holes consistently or not get beat by their man on third and long. I have zero faith in any of our pass rushers not names JJ to get pressure on a QB. I have zero faith in Arian Foster regaining his pre pay day form. And lastly, I have zero faith in Bob Mcnair to hold anyone accountable.
This just isn't true. People want to get rid of Kubiak because they see him as having a lot of limitations (like the inabiility to adapt) and don't believe he gives the team the best chance to win a Superbowl.
The same thing applies to Schaub for many, though obviously replacing a QB is a more complicated process due to salary caps and player availability.
