Filed under: Texans, AFC South
In
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair's view, Gary Kubiak never lost control.
And that's one reason he's still the
Texans' coach.
McNair on Monday officially opted to retain Kubiak, and on Tuesday he spoke publicly for the first time since the decision, saying that he not only very much believes Kubiak remains the best coach for the job despite five seasons without a playoff appearance, but that Kubiak will improve as a head coach next season.
"One of Gary's strengths, and one of the things that influenced me is that, in spite of the tough period we went through, Gary was able to hold the team together,"
McNair told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
"That's the sign of a good coach, because it's very difficult to do that."
While the team retained Kubiak Monday, four defensive assistants were fired, including coordinator Frank Bush. The Texans, after a 4-2 start, lost eight of their final 10 games, finishing the season ranked 30th in the
NFL in total defense and 32nd against the pass.
Kubiak's contract runs through 2012.
"The team's got to go out and show that we made the right decision," McNair said. "We won't know whether I've made the right decisions until we go out and play this next year and see how we do. Hopefully, it'll be the right decision. If it isn't, well, we'll have to go from there.
"I've got more on the line with this team than anyone. I'm committed to bringing a champion to Houston."
Wade Phillips has been reported to be the likely replacement for Bush, but McNair said Tuesday while Phillips is a candidate, he is not the only one. Ideally, McNair said a coordinator will be hired within two weeks. McNair specified that the coordinator would be experienced and proven.
"When you look at our team and ask the question, 'What is the problem here?' it's pretty clear -- our offense is the third-ranked offense in the league," McNair told HoustonTexans.com Tuesday. "The problem that we've had is we haven't been able to stop the other team. ...
"We weren't getting the job on defense. We just had to make the change."
Many fans and media had pushed for Kubiak to be fired, but in the interview with the AP, McNair noted that fans "are no more frustrated than me."
The Texans this season not only played the first four games without suspended linebacker
Brian Cushing, they also finished the season with linebacker
DeMeco Ryans and defensive end
Mario Williams on injured reserve. Pro Bowl wide receiver
Andre Johnson played all but Week 1 with a high-ankle sprain.
McNair also noted the Texans' 9-7 record in 2009 as a reason for keeping Kubiak.
"I don't think anybody was calling for his head after that season," McNair said. "This year, he has gone through some very difficult times and I think he's a better coach now than he was then because of those experiences. I don't think he went from being a good coach in one year to being a bad coach.
"I was in the locker room, I was on the practice field, I saw how we played. He had everything under control the whole time."
McNair told the AP a major overhaul of the staff would have been risky considering the NFL's labor issues.
"Continuity makes it easier to be ready, as opposed to if you completely changed your systems, and the players weren't around to be taught the new system," McNair said. "And then you come back to play and you're trying to start out with a new system, and the players aren't properly prepared. That could be a very difficult situation, and we certainly don't want to find ourselves in that boat."
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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/04/gary-kubiak-never-lost-control-of-2010-texans-according-to-owne/
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