Black Monday for Texans, Texans Veteran on the Outs? Oh Alyssa!

The Texans should have a defensive coordinator within the next seven days.  We know at least ONE of these candidates is former Broncos, Bills, and Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips.  Gary Kubiak mentioned that experience was paramount when naming his new DC.  One would hope that Marvin Lewis, Eric Mangini, and Rob Ryan would also be considered. 

One guy with NFL DC experience, a couple of Super Bowl Rings, and a Denver connection is current Michigan DC Greg Robinson.  I think Robinson would be the worst hire in the history of man kind, and I can't imagine GK would be that foolish with such an important hire.  I just want to point out the relationship between Robinson and Kubiak ahead of time before people hear that he got an interview.

Frank Bush deserved a better fate than being saddled with a defense which let its two best CB's walk before the season started.  His schemes were nothing special, but you can argue that he was the DC of the best Texans defense. (if that's what you call the 2009 version).

Johnny Holland is a good coach IMHO.  He turned down the DC job at Texas A&M a couple of seasons ago to remain as Texans LB coach.  I guess Holland's biggest mistake was Demeco Ryans got hurt and Brian Cushing quit "overtraining".  I don't know that you can blame him for Xavier Adibi, Kevin Bentley, and Zac Diles who often are seen as JAG. (just another guy).

Robert Saleh was a defensive assistant.  From what I can recall, his biggest responsibility at practices was preparing the scout team defense.

David Gibbs was the Texans defensive backs coach.  He was hired partly because his dad was Alex Gibbs and the Texans wanted to keep his dad on staff as the OL coach.  I don't think he distinguished himself one way or another, and much like DC Bush, was saddled with poor and inexperienced talent at his position.

Black Monday came and went at Reliant Stadium.  When the smoke cleared 4 Texans defensive coaches had met the chopping block.  Defensive Coordinator Frank Bush and defensive backs coach David Gibbs (who deserved the axe), Johnny Holland LB's Coach (the victim of circumstance), and Robert Saleh an assistant LB coach who really did not do much.

Beyond the casualties on the defensive coaching staff, you can probably stick a fork in the Texans career of Bernard Pollard.   Pollard was a late scratch Sunday afternoon with what he called shoulder soreness.  Pollard had practiced all week without mentioning the injury.  When Pollard told coaches he could not go, he was offered treatment for the injury so that he would be able to play.  Pollard declined treatment.

 Keep in mind that guys taking injections before games is a fairly common practice and not something that is considered taboo or putting your body through the wringer.  It kind of makes sense why Kubiak would not answer my question when I asked him if he wanted Pollard back next season.  If I'm the head coach and my butt is on the line, and I feel like one of my starters bails on me, I can't say I'd be bending over backward to bring the guy back.  Gary Kubiak has gone out of his way to protect his players (see Owen Daniels, Mario Williams, Andre Johnson).  He clearly would never put Bernard Pollard at risk if he thought the guy was at risk to severely exacerbate a standing condition.

I don't think it was a given that Bernard Pollard would be brought back before his week 17 no-show. In a way it makes the Texans off season a little bit easier.  Pollard's free agency has the potential to get pretty expensive.  Now you can let him walk and use the transition/franchise tag on Owen Daniels if need be.  You probably need a better "cover" option at safety anyway.  The Texans could look to save face  by making a low ball offer and when Pollard moves on, they can say we made him an offer but didn't want to get into a bidding war.  Then again, I don't think Texans fans will be crying if the team moves in a different direction.  I do not see this as a similar situation to Dunta Robinson leaving.  Cover corners do not grow on trees.  Hard hitting safeties with limited cover skills can be found on the 3rd day of the draft.

So if you are keeping track of the Texans' personnel needs on defense.  They need a NT, an OLB, 2 CB's, and 2 safeties.  They had better be prepared to spend some $$$ in free agency.  On Wednesday, I will take a look at the free agents that could be available at each position. 


I polled 7 different Texans fans for their thoughts on Bob McNair retaining Gary Kubiak and Rick Smith for the 2011 season.  They all had a similar response.















With the Orange Bowl being played Monday Night I thought I would pay tribute to former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino who led the Jayhawks to the Orange Bowl 3 short years ago.

Alyssa Milano is 38....allegedly.  The woman in this picture doesn't look 38 to me.  She looks....spankable...

Here's a great story to begin your new year.  A man walks into his carport to find a threesome underway.  Did I mention that the two chicks in the threesome were sisters?  You may now heave into the closest facility.
http://www.seattlecrime.com/2010/12/31/the-morning-blotter-naked-chicks-and-scooters