I'm actually not. Those on the outside often have uninformed opinions on coaches, but especially those that come out of left field. There's plenty of reasons to be skeptical, but any informed opinion is months away from development.Interested in Texans fan opinions on new coach
Texans hired Ravens passing game coordinator David Culley to be their head coach.
Houston Chronicle's John McClain had it first. Culley's hiring comes out of nowhere. The 65-year-old assistant has been in the NFL since 1994, yet has never called plays. His tenure as a positional coach includes being the WR coach for a Chiefs offense that scored zero WR touchdowns, being the QB coach for Josh Allen's 10/12 TD/INT rookie season, and being the passing-game coordinator of the Ravens most recently. That plays into why Culley has never interviewed for a head coaching job outside of this one time in Houston. The attention immediately turns to how Deshaun Watson views Culley, who becomes the second minority coach to be hired this cycle. Watson wanted Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy to be considered, but he never seemed to be a serious candidate to Jack Easterby, GM Nick Caserio, and Cal McNair. Houston remains the epicenter of NFL drama heading into the offseason. Culley will have his hands full right away with the media, with his franchise quarterback, and with filling out a coaching staff. He's a respected leader within NFL circles, so perhaps he has success in a CEO-like role. Not every head coach needs to be the next offensive genius after all, and he may be able to relate to Watson.
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Baltimore Ravens
SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Jan 27, 2021, 9:36 PM ET
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports the Texans are "targeting" Josh McCown and Lovie Smith as assistants.
The Texans were shredded for giving McCown a head-coaching interview over more qualified candidates, but all signs point to the former quarterback as being a future NFL coach. Being hired as a QBs coach or passing-game coordinator would be a reasonable start. Smith would bring a lot of experience to first-time head coach David Culley, and he's available after being fired by Illinois last December. The Texans have their offensive coordinator in Tim Kelly.
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Lovie Smith
, Houston Texans
SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter
Jan 27, 2021, 10:38 PM ET
Brian Flores was not the guy on the top of everyone's list either so I hear you on Culley. I still think that was not a great hire for them right now.I am an Arkansas Razorback alumni and I admit being a bit down a year ago when my school hired Sam Pittman to be Head Coach. At 58, he was very experienced as an OL coach and was known for his passion and love for coaching. I am not comparing him to any NFL hire as they are light years apart, but that off the radar hire has had positive impact on a downtrodden program.
I know that Houston has a great legacy and a lot of passionate fans here in the Pool and I am pulling for Culley to turn out well. He definitely has a tough road ahead and it is way more than just the Watson road block, which we have no idea how will turn out.
Dallas did similar when they groomed Ginger for a while behind Wade Phillips and then went on to a decade of success under Jason Garrett.I'm just at a loss for what to say. If this is a move that Deshaun was on board with and part of rebuilding trust and goodwill with him I guess it makes sense. I'm not over failing to get Robert Saleh, especially as it sounds like he was someone Deshaun would have liked, and that I think could go on to be a great coach for many years to come.
I kind of wonder if this is getting someone they can use as a placeholder while they groom McCown who they seem to have really fallen in love with.
As a Texans fan though it's like every new development just leaves me more stunned at what they are doing. I... struggle to find words. :(
A lot of people keep bringing up the fact he signed his contract after the Hopkins trade and two things I'd say to that:The thing that is the most strange about this is that he signed his new contract after the Hopkins trade debacle.
You are going to face Trevor Lawrence twice a year for the rest of your adult lives.
Watt and Watson traded seems inevitable now. This feels like a “safe” figurehead type move for Caserio and Easterby as someone else said where we’ll be right back where we started again in 3-5 years when Cal McNair maybe finally wises up to how he flushed this team down the toilet.I'm just at a loss for what to say. If this is a move that Deshaun was on board with and part of rebuilding trust and goodwill with him I guess it makes sense. I'm not over failing to get Robert Saleh, especially as it sounds like he was someone Deshaun would have liked, and that I think could go on to be a great coach for many years to come.
I kind of wonder if this is getting someone they can use as a placeholder while they groom McCown who they seem to have really fallen in love with.
As a Texans fan though it's like every new development just leaves me more stunned at what they are doing. I... struggle to find words. :(
The Owner is the problem with his willingness to cede so much power to a former chaplain turned executive with no clear definition of his responsibilitiesI want to like the Texans, I have lived in houston for 8 years now and I feel sorry for kids now since I will raise them as Texans fans.
The owner needs to fire all the management and start over.
That, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with this franchise. There is no direction whatsoever and even we fans can see exactly what you're seeing - these feel like moves akin to appeasing Deshaun and yet if you believe Shefter he asked out no matter what two weeks ago. If that's the case, I have no idea why Kelley is even being considered as retained?I don't understand this move. On the face, this seems like they are sort of trying to keep Deshaun by hiring a coach who he has a good relationship with, and reportedly keeping Tim Kelley as OC, who he performed well under last season after O'Brien got fired. Also, odds are good they bring in McCown as a QB coach, who would work well with Deshaun. Yet, reportedly Casserio has not talked to Deshaun yet. If you want to keep him, then go all in and make him feel wanted. If Deshaun does get traded, Culley/Kelley are not who I would be starting a rebuilding franchise with. So again, are these moves to keep Deshaun or not? I really don't know.
I was going to correct you and say era, but I think you got it right the way you spelled it lolI feel like we're back in the Casserly/Capers error. :(
How did that work out? Honestly...Buckna said:We had Peyton Manning twice a year for the first decade. We were supposed to have Luck twice a year for the next decade but that didn’t quite work out. Only potential silver lining is Lawrence going to JAX, they are one of the handful of organizations that could totally ruin Lawrence. If I was him I’d be trying my hardest to pull an Eli.
Edit: no point in being argumentative. I simply meant we’re used to having once a generation QB’s in our division seemingly every generation. No need to kick us while we’re down.How did that work out? Honestly...
You won't find a softer shoulder to cry on than mine, it disgusts me what is happening thru ownership and front office, there's no way to hide it. FTR, I think Miami has one of the bottom 5 franchise-owners in the league and at some point he will prove me right again and again like he has already.Edit: no point in being argumentative. I simply meant we’re used to having once a generation QB’s in our division seemingly every generation. No need to kick us while we’re down.
At least y’all finally got Brady out of there, and with our extra picks hopefully sets you up for some nice success. Unfortunately the Bills are back being good too though. If Watson ends up in NY, that will be a very tough division with ironically the Patriots at the bottom!You won't find a softer shoulder to cry on than mine, it disgusts me what is happening thru ownership and front office, there's no way to hide it. FTR, I think Miami has one of the bottom 5 franchise-owners in the league and at some point he will prove me right again and again like he has already.
You've been a long time supporter of most things the Ministry writes, please not kicking you when you're down, promise.
Again FTR, MoP is only interested in Watson because I truly feel he would put Miami into the Top 4 I would say in the AFC, Kansas City is untouchable, the Bills look amazing in general, after that it's open season...sure the Titans, Steelers, Ravens but a strong QB and offense would even the playing field is all I am saying.At least y’all finally got Brady out of there, and with our extra picks hopefully sets you up for some nice success. Unfortunately the Bills are back being good too though. If Watson ends up in NY, that will be a very tough division with ironically the Patriots at the bottom!
Power and control would be my answer to your question.dhockster said:The only thing that gives me pause about that theory is Casserio. He has just worked with Bill Belichick and knows what being part of a winning organization is about. Why we he want to be working with (or for) Cal McNair and Jack Easterby who look like they are a couple of buffoons. Baffling.
Interesting take. Two things I would question though: Most GM's have the power over who the head coach is. I have a hard time believing that Casserio wanted to pick a coach who looks like a placeholder and has no power over selecting his coaching staff. Culley sounds like Easterby's selection for head coach, which to me indicates Casserio doesn't have that much power and control. Plus, I can't see any reasonable GM thinking that trading away your young, top 5 franchise QB is a good way to start building your team. This coaching selection seems to be pushing Casserio to have to do that.Power and control would be my answer to your question.
Here is my thing on Easterby. I don't know the guy and for all I know some of the terrible stories coming out about him are absolutely unwarranted hit pieces. But even if the stories are fabrication, even if I can brush aside his curious rise to seemingly being McNair's right hand man what seems obvious is he's got McNair's loyalty. True of not perception is reality sometimes and the easy thing to do, what I think most owners would do, is cut ties with someone who is not exactly indispensable. Especially when his role might possibly be a big part of what led to a bad relationship with the franchise QB.
Instead after the SI story and others ran all we've seen Cal do is double down on Easterby. Publicly saying his job was safe and hiring the GM that Easterby always wanted.
Easterby is in like flynn and I believe Cal is about as hands off as any owner going right now on day to day football operations.
It's my strong opinion that we have a situation here were Easterby truly has a TON of power and sway. He has positioned himself as Cal's best friend, spiritual advisor, right hand man and main advisor on major team decisions that go beyond player personnel decisions. That part was left for Casserio.
Again I got no proof on any of this but I just think Easterby let Casserio know he had the power, he had the owners ear, knew he could work well with Casserio and what he was able to promise and convery to him was that if he took over Texans GM job he could have free reign to make moves without worrying very much about meddlesome owners. In many ways I believe the Easterby/Casserio duo will be running the Texans like they own them.
I'd just add this Easterby fellow is kind of amazing and I mean that. I feel like this guy could do just about anything he wanted, just turns out running a pro football team is what he wants.
With all due respect I see things almost 180 from you on most of these items.Interesting take. Two things I would question though: Most GM's have the power over who the head coach is. I have a hard time believing that Casserio wanted to pick a coach who looks like a placeholder and has no power over selecting his coaching staff. Culley sounds like Easterby's selection for head coach, which to me indicates Casserio doesn't have that much power and control. Plus, I can't see any reasonable GM thinking that trading away your young, top 5 franchise QB is a good way to start building your team. This coaching selection seems to be pushing Casserio to have to do that.
The other thing I question is your take that Easterby is amazing. I think he is definitely charismatic, but I have listened to him answer questions in a press conference, and he answers them like a politician. He answers the question he wants to answer and not the question he was asked. I find that very unauthentic, especially from a man who represents himself as a very Christian man. Unfortunately, I think Cal McNair is totally enamored (brainwashed?) by him, and basically is following his gameplan. From what I have seen so far, that is not a winning gameplan.
Will just have to disagree on Casserio.With all due respect I see things almost 180 from you on most of these items.
I think what any GM wants first and foremost is control over the personnel of the franchise. McNair is not very hands on with football decisions, which we just saw with BOB doing whatever he wanted. Some GM's are more GM in name only, it's the head coach who either makes the move or is supplying the grocery list. Lynch, Mayock come to mind. Culley does not remotely wield that kind of power of a Shanahan or Gruden.
I'm not sure what you mean about power over selecting his coaching staff? I think most GM's would actually prefer to be able to do that and I've not heard anything suggesting Casserio or Easterby won't be involved in helping him fill out the staff.
As for being a placeholder. I don't think anyone feels like this team is ready to compete anytime soon and for sure if Watson is traded it's a tear down. What matters right now is building a positive culture on a team most reports indicate sorely lacks this right now. In Culley they got a head coach known to relate to players and I think he is viewed by Casserrio as someone who can help build a positive culture. I think he's Casserio and Easterby's choice, or at least best choice who would accept the job.
As for Casserrio wanting to trade away his top QB who said he wanted to? I think most GM's love picks and Watson will bring a bounty of picks like never before seen so he can probably adjust on his plans but I've heard nothing to suggest he wants to trade Watson as much as Watson is trying to force his way out.
Finally whoever they hired as head coach had no bearing on Watson wanting a trade. This has been reported by Shefter multiple times. And when did it become public that Watson was not happy in Houston? When Casserrio got hired is when. That's because DeShaun knew who had the power and ear of the owner because Casserrio has been Easterby's guy he wanted going all the way back to last year when the Texan got tampering charges filed against them.
I think you are not getting what I'm saying about Easterby being amazing. He's not for me and I don't disagree with anything you are saying here, none of it, I feel like I know his type and it's so not for me. But I don't have have to like or agree with someone to recognize what they accomplished.
So read that last line or two above you just wrote. This guy started as youth pastor, wanted to work in the NFL and now by your own words he's got the owner of the team enamored or brainwashed by him and following his gameplan and who you would agree holds considerable power. Easterby had a goal and he seems to have pulled off the impossible considering his lack of credentials. To me that's amazing and he can rise up this high in a profession he has no real reason or skills I tend to think if he put his mind to it he could do this in a whole lot of other ventures.
Sounds like an Eric Mangini situation from the con job angle.Will just have to disagree on Casserio.
As for the second point, yes, the fact that Easterby has gotten as high as he has on very little accomplishments or resume is unbelievable, as most con jobs are. I can't use the word amazing, because to me, it has a positive connotation, and I don't see what Easterby has done as a positive thing. But I think you and I are basically agreeing, just using different words.
JACK EASTERBY, HOUSTON TEXANS
The Bench 97.5's Lance Zierlein reports Texans executive Jack Easterby is "still making calls to agents on behalf of the team and is very much involved in the football side."
In other words, chaplain, character coach, etc. Easterby is still behaving like a football guy/general manager. Easterby and the Texans had claimed this would not be the case after Nick Caserio was hired to lead the front office. Every Texans fire over the past 18 months has originated from Easterby's office, and he seems intent on starting more. Letting a character coach essentially run the organization into the ground is one of the more baffling, surreal front office developments we have seen in North American sports this century. The Texans need to get this fixed if they are to have even a one percent chance of keeping Deshaun Watson.
Jalen Ramsey. Same agent.3. With the new CBA, Deshaun Watson faces a very stiff penalty if he holds out. He may still be willing to do that, but it is going to cost him if he does. So he really doesn't have a whole lot of leverage, other than public sentiment, and the Texans haven't shown they care too much about that.
Excellent!I do think there is a good chance that the Texans are actually going to try to keep Deshaun Watson based on the following:
1. It makes more sense to keep the top 5 QB you have than gamble on a potential franchise QB that may bust. I know common sense has not been one of the strengths of the Texans recently, but I am going to give Casserio the benefit of the doubt until he proves me otherwise.
2. Casserio has just worked with Bill Belichick for 20 years in an organization that was known for playing hardball with their players, and most of the time it worked as evidenced by their amazing success over those 20 years. I have a hard time seeing Casserio give into a player on the first go around since this will set the tone for the rest of the roster.
3. With the new CBA, Deshaun Watson faces a very stiff penalty if he holds out. He may still be willing to do that, but it is going to cost him if he does. So he really doesn't have a whole lot of leverage, other than public sentiment, and the Texans haven't shown they care too much about that.
4. The Texans are $17 million over the projected cap right now. If they trade Deshaun it will actually add about $6 to their cap number for 2021, putting themselves $23 million over the cap.
5. The coaching hires: bringing in David Culley and keeping Tim Kelly make a lot more sense if they are keeping Deshaun Watson than if they are trading him.
While I think there is a good chance they try to keep Deshaun, at this point, I would not be shocked with whatever the Texans do. They seem like they have gotten themselves stuck in a quagmire of ineptitude.
Howard has been excellent almost from day 1. But he has had multiple procedures on his knees. And that domestic incident. Something else to consider. Also, it's not easy to evaluate CBs in the draft. Howard was the #6 CB selected in the 2016 draft, while Miami's first round CB selection in 2020 hasn't been active in most games.Rumor Mill in Miami is hot this morning and here is what is being pushed around...
Xavien Howard wants a significant pay raise a couple seasons after signing a $75M deal and he was the highest paid at the time, he's still the 5th Highest...love the guy a lot but 10 Interceptions is a career year, hate to lose him but also don't want a malcontent and he saw how Minkah found his way out of here.
Howard, Tua, the 1.18, and Miami's 2022 1st Round pick...some folks might actually think that is way too much but I'll trade a DB for a QB any day, and if Tua were worth anything we wouldn't be discussing this as much so I'm not even sure what his value is but its more than Josh Rosen going into his 2nd year before they took Murray, he was a complete disaster.