The Unsung Heroes of the Houston Texans

In professional sports, the players receive all the fame and glory.

When a child looks at a NFL game, most will turn to their parent and say “I want to grow up and be just like Peyton Manning”. 

The words “I want to grow up to be like Jon Gruden” aren’t usually uttered from any child.

Nevertheless, while there may be a lack of fanfare given towards those who assist in making these athletes their millions of dollars in contracts and endorsement deals, they remain vital members for the development of these athletes.

For the Houston Texans, while the limelight is given towards Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, and DeMeco Ryans—to name a few—ask them what makes them so successful, and they’ll quickly attribute those who yell and meticulously poke and prod their technique as one of the key reasons they are known from coast to coast.

So for once, rather than admire and praise the performance of an athlete, it’s time to take a gander at the career of some of the key members of the Texans staff who may lack the exposure, but are as equally important to the franchise’s success.

The Eternal Aggie

When Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak took over as the franchise’s second head coach, it was a bit of a homecoming.

A former ball boy for the Houston Oilers, Kubiak became a fixture in the Houston area as a quarterback at both St. Pious X High School and Texas A&M University.

His success at A&M eventually secured a roster spot with the Denver Broncos.

Unfortunately, for Kubiak, he was drafted the same year as John Elway, and was never quite as good as the future hall-of-famer. Thus, Kubiak remained Elway’s backup throughout his time in the NFL. 

While the future Texans head coach never played much with the Broncos, he remained a student of the game, and because of his football acumen, by the time he had retired he had a coaching position back at his Alma matter.

Spending a mere two seasons at A&M before landing his first job in the NFL, Kubiak began work in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

A lone year by the bay, Kubiak has the distinction of working as the quarterbacks coach the year Steve Young won his second MVP award. But more importantly, helped the Young-led team claim their first Super Bowl in the post-Montana era.

Following their Super Bowl win, Mike Shanahan—the offensive coordinator for the 49ers during the 1994 season—took over the reigns of the Denver Broncos and brought along with him the former Broncos quarterback

Back where he began his professional playing career, Kubiak was now coaching a player (Elway) he could never surpass on the depth chart.

But what was thought to be some sort of odd working relationship was anything but, as the Broncos went on to claim two Super Bowl titles during the Shanahan-Kubiak years.

And with a coach who was never quite as good as he, Elway finally “got over the hump” and achieved the greatness he faltered in achieving many times prior.  

During his tenure with the Broncos, Kubiak’s offense continued to churn out 1000 runners, remained year in and year out a high-powered offense, and even transformed a talented, yet turnover-prone quarterback (Jake Plummer) to amongst the league's best.

Considering all the success Kubiak had throughout his time as a coach in the NFL, it's no surprise owner Bob McNair called on a Texan to solve the Texans' woes after their previous head coach, Dom Capers, was fired after a disastrous 2-14 season.

Since his arrival in 2006, Kubiak has led the team to a pair of 8-8 records, and has been the most successful coach in the team’s short history.

A tough, but likable coach, Kubiak’s fiery on-field persona goes in contrast with his “Aww shucks” mentality when speaking away from the sidelines. 

One of the more aggressive play callers in the NFL, Kubiak was never hesitant to put pressure on opposing defenses by never hesitating to go for it on fourth down during his tenure as the team’s primary play caller.

Always a fan-favorite decision, the aggressiveness apparent in Kubiak’s play calling would pay dividends, and remained a staple of his offensive game plan throughout his tenure as play caller.

Repaying the Opportunity

As Mike Shanahan helped give Gary Kubiak his first chance in the NFL, it was Kubiak who gave the young Kyle Shanahan his first major coaching position in the NFL.

On his inaugural coaching staff, Kubiak gave Kyle the opportunity to be the team’s wide receivers coach.

Like Kubiak, Kyle Shanahan went to college in Texas. However, in direct contrast with his eventual coach, the young Shanahan played at the University of Texas.

Nevertheless, any apparent sense of favoritism in Kyle’s hiring was quickly negated with Kyle’s fast ascension up Kubiak’s coaching staff.

A son of a legendary coach, turned out to be a quite formidable one in his own right.

From one year to the next, Kyle moved from wide receivers coach to coaching the quarterbacks. And before last season, was named as the team’s new offensive coordinator following the departure of Mike Sherman to become the head coach Kubiak's Alma matter.

In Shanahan’s first season as the team’s offensive coordinator, the Texans’ offense was amongst the best in the league. In the 2008 season, the offense set a team record for passing yards, allowing wide receiver Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels to have productive enough seasons to be invited to Hawaii.

However, while Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the 2008 season, it was head coach Kubiak who assumed the play calling duties...until week 17.

Before the game Shanahan was given the figurative “keys to the car,” and assumed play calling duties for the first time in his professional career.

The result? A 31-24 victory over the Chicago Bears.

In the aforementioned game, Matt Schaub threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns (both to Andre Johnson), and the offense accumulated over 450 yards of total offense.

From that game, one notable difference occurred between the plays Kubiak called, and what Shanahan did: the fade to the corner of the end zone.

A red zone play widely used throughout the NFL, Shanahan called it to a successful outcome as the Texans took a 14-10 lead on it, and obtained a lead they would never relinquish.

As for the upcoming season, and as for what to expect from Shanahan? If he’s anything like his father, then it will be a game plan of a lot of runs, coupled with play-action calls in early down situations.

So not necessarily too different than what Kubiak did, but maybe with a few new wrinkles.

The Wise Sage

What’s there to say about Alex Gibbs that hasn’t already been written a thousand times before?

He’s one of the better offensive-line coaches in the league history, as his zone-blocking scheme helped continue to churn out 1000 yard running backs in Denver, Atlanta and now, Houston.

He has a wealth of experience (25 years in the NFL), and with a pair of Super Bowl rings, he has the hardware to prove that his fiery attitude is one that may come off as gruff, but nonetheless effective. 

No longer labeled as an offensive line coach, one that he garnered during the Shanahan-Kubiak days of Denver, Gibbs now is now an assistant head coach. But make no mistake: he still coaches the offensive line.

Going into his second year with the Texans, during his first season he was instrumental in the development of a Texans' offensive line that for years were often the laughing stock of the league.

He was able to transform a group often considered futile, to a group that produced a 1200 yard rusher.  

Even at 67 years of age, he remains passionate about the game as evident by his persistence in profanity laced tirades at any lineman for a missed assignment.

Now with his son David the new defensive backs coach, the Gibbs presence is becoming larger within the Texan's organization.

The Oiler Turned Texan

Bruce Matthews.  A name that's synonymous with Oilers/Titans history.

Now he's a Texan.

The Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman, who played all positions across the line throughout his career, has recently assumed the role of an offensive assistant for Kubiak's staff.

What will he bring? That remains to be seen.

He has no previous history as a coach, but considering his history as a player, he's likely to offer assistance to the offensive line and Alex Gibbs.

The Savior of the Team's Ills

The Texans defense was…well, it wasn’t good in 2008. 

Ranking 27th in points allowed per game (24.6) and 22nd in yards allowed per game (336.6) —there were plenty of problems with the defense.

Now with the departure of former defensive coordinator Richard Smith, and the promotion of Frank Bush from senior defensive assistant to defensive coordinator, Bush hopes to fix a defense that seemed to keep the Texans away from a winning record.  

For Bush, as he now ascends to the leader of the defense of Houston’s new football franchise, it was the city’s former franchise where he began his professional coaching career.

As both a scout and linebackers coach for the Oilers in the late '80s and early '90s, by the time Mike Shanahan was formulating his new staff in Denver, the former linebacker turned linebacker coach was ask to be part of Shanahan’s inaugural defensive staff.

Like both Kubiak and Shanahan, Bush accumulated a pair of Super Bowl rings during his time in Denver.

Working as the Broncos linebacker, secondary and special teams coach, before departing to the Arizona Cardinals, Bush became familiar working with an array of positions that should work well as the new leader of the Texans’ defense.

When Denny Green was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, Kubiak seized the opportunity to acquire his friend as part of his defensive staff. 

Working diligently under Smith for the past two seasons, when Smith was let go this past offseason, Bush was the front runner for the job, and was quickly promoted.

While there is some speculation as to what type of game plan Bush will utilize, he has hinted he plans on being more aggressive, which seems to indicate an increase in blitzes. 

A lack of blitzes was a constant criticism of his processor by fans and media members alike.

With former defensive coordinator and head coach, Ray Rhodes, as one of his senior assistants, Rhodes experience can prove to be useful for the rookie coordinator.

Not to mention with the arrival of new defensive line coach Bill Kollar from the Buffalo Bills, if the new blitzing/aggressive scheme Bush says he wants to implement is indeed accurate, it would be wise as Kollar’s preference is a group of quick and agile defensive lineman. And for the most part, that’s what both Kollar and Bush have at their disposal.

The Coach Who Won’t Go Away

Trivia time: Which coordinator has been with the Texans since the very beginning?

Answer: Special Teams Coordinator, Joe Marciano. 

Hired as the Dom Capers’ special teams coordinator for the inaugural staff, when Capers was fired, Marciano retained the position for Kubiak’s staff.

He’s the Robert Gates of the NFL.

During his seven years with the Texans, Marciano has coached Jerome Mathis (All-Pro in 2005), as well as developed Jacoby Jones and Andre Davis to become productive kick and punt returners.

As well as his success in developing returners, he has helped mold Kris Brown into one of the league’s better kickers.  Last year, Brown hit 29-of-33 field goal attempts (87.9%, a career-high).

If there’s anything to be known about a Marciano-led special teams group, it’s that they will be effective a returning group.  As well as being amongst the league leaders in being staunch in allowing as few yards as possible on kickoffs.

The Big Strong Guys

The individual in charge of maintain Mario's chiseled physique, Andre's endurance, and Matt's conditioning is none other than first-time strength and conditioning coach, Ray Wright. 

Formerly the assistant strength and conditioning coach since the franchise’s inception, with the departure of Dan Riley, Wright was promoted this offseason.

The man now in charge to keep Matt on the field, and away from the medical offices, the new strength and conditioning coach will work alongside Matt Schiotz who has spent the last few years with both the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers.

The Unsung Heroes

Just remember later this season when you see Andre, Mario, DeMeco, Matt or whomever discuss their on-field success, it was these coaches (as well as others) who helped develop them into the player you see every Sunday.