Should Gary Kubiak Be Fired?

Let me start with a series of questions (and I want them answered immediately).

First, what do Brian Billick, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Shanahan, Bill Parcells, and Jimmy Johnson have in common with Gary Kubiak? 

Answer: nothing.

These coaches, who are not currently coaching NFL teams, have all won Super Bowls, while Kubiak has yet to post a winning record.  Hmm, food for thought.  Let's come back to this question.

Second, what do Dom Capers (sorry to bring that one up), Norv Turner, Dick Le Beau, Dick Jauron, Scott Linehan, Gregg Williams, Romeo Crennel, Cam Cameron and Mike Nolan have in common with Gary Kubiak? 

Answer: all are good to great coordinators and below average head coaches.  Let's come back to this statement as well.

Third, what does George W. Bush have in common with Kyle Shanahan?  OK, I'll leave that one to your imagination, but you see what I'm saying.

You don't have to be 10,000 miles away to see that the Texans are an up-and-down team and that they lack identity. 

The Texans are a excellent passing team.  This is clear.  Quarterback Matt Schaub has so far stayed healthy and put up great numbers.  Superstar Andre Johnson leads a talented and versatile receiving corps.

Yet, twice, with the game on the line against Jacksonville and Arizona, the Texans attempted to run the ball for tying touchdowns.

Now, we don't need to go into all the specifics again, but Chris Brown fumbled once and failed to score the second time.  What's worse, Johnson was not even on the field on the last play against Arizona.

It's also clear the Texans are not a power running team.  See above for explanation.  For some reason, Kubiak has tried to force the Texans into running the ball into the end zone. 

Against the hapless Raiders, Kubiak spent almost the entire second half forcing the run.  The word "stubborn" comes to mind.

When I first sat down to write this article, I was going to open with a joke.  How many Aggies does it take to coach the Texans to a winning record?  I couldn't come up with a better punchline than: "not this one Aggie, Kubiak" or something along those lines.

But this only muddies my point.  Kubiak being an Aggie is not a joke, but his coaching has become a punch line. (Before any of you Aggies get upset, I'm only kidding.  Some of my best friends are Aggies.)

Let's go back to my second point from above.  There have been a long line of successful coordinators who have, for whatever reason, not developed into good head coaches in the NFL.  There is no shame in not becoming a head coach. 

The head coach position has become less and less about X's and O's and more about personality management and leadership.  There is something of an "it" factor. 

It's somewhat similar to quarterbacks.  If a guy can throw the ball a country mile, but his teammates don't believe in him or if he doesn't show confidence, what do you end up with? Jeff George? David Carr? (Sorry about this one too) JaMarcus Russell?

Kubiak was a very successful offensive coordinator in Denver under Mike Shanahan.  Sure, he had John Elway at quarterback, but Elway won exactly ZERO Super Bowls without Kubiak. 

Kubiak has a good system, but the NFL is not about systems, and it's not about X's and O's.  The NFL is about adapting and, more importantly, winning.

It seems more and more obvious that Kubiak is trying to force a square peg into a round hole.  It seems as though he's thinking, my system worked so well before, why can't it work again here?  This shows a lack of flexibility and imagination.  This looks like a my way or the highway scenario.

Take the second half against Oakland as an example.  Even the Raiders were able to stop the running game.  They brought eight men into the box, and still Kubiak did not resort to throwing the ball. 

Remind me again how the Texans scored in the second half?  How did the Texans score against Arizona?  It was not as a power running team.  Identity crisis.  Why try to pound the ball when you're built for the passing game?

Further, that "it" factor seems to be missing with Kubiak in Houston.  There are no more cries that the team is not talented anymore. 

Sure, there are still some missing pieces, namely the interior of the line and the defensive secondary, but there is no longer a talent gap between the Texans and the rest of the league. 

The Texans are no longer an expansion team.  This team is talented enough to be a winning team.

In three-plus seasons as the head coach, Kubiak has yet to post a winning record.  It is an X's and O's problem?  Or is it an intangible, lack of identity, not a leader type of problem?  I maintain it is the former.

The rumors are swirling around a few of the other good coordinators who have failed to live up to the mark as head men.  Wade Phillips has been on the hot seat for two seasons. 

Dick Jauron recently lost, at home, to a Cleveland that completed two passes.  The writing is on the wall.  It's time to pull the plug on the Gary Kubiak experiment in Houston.

Look at what these failed coaches have done in their return to the coordinator rank.  Dom Capers has coached good defenses in Miami, New England and Green Bay since being fired by the Texans. 

Gregg Williams built ferocious defenses in Washington and New Orleans after his disastrous run in Buffalo. 

Mike Nolan couldn't coach the 49ers out of a paper bag, but his defense in Denver is one of the big surprises of 2009.  Dick LeBeau has made the Steelers defense what it is, but he was a terrible head coach in Cincinnati.  The list goes on and on.

There is nothing wrong with being a good coordinator.  In fact, most good teams have one if not two good coordinators.  Focus on the X's and O's and help a team win.

LeBeau has Super Bowl rings from his reign as Pittsburgh's defensive boss.  Romeo Crennel led New England's defense to three Super Bowls. 

Norv Turner was one of the best offensive coordinators in Dallas and won Super Bowls.  He's been good as a coordinator in other places too.  He was terrible in Washington and has underachieved in San Diego. 

The league is littered with guys who have been great coordinators and lousy head coaches.  Sure, some coordinators become great head coaches, but it takes time.  Even the Great Hooded One was fired after leading a disastrous team in Cleveland.

Let's return to my first question.  Look at the available coaches.  Sure, Jimmy Johnson, Tony Dungy and Bill Parcells are unlikely to return to the sideline, but Billick, Gruden, Shanahan, Holmgren, and Cowher are very likely to return.  And soon.

Shanahan is unlikely to come to Houston in the wake of his protege.  Holmgren is rumored to he heading to the East Coast.  Cowher going to Carolina rumors have been swirling since Cowher bought a home in North Carolina. 

Let's say all of these play out in this way.  Billick, who was a masterful offensive coordinator in Minnesota before assuming the throne in Baltimore, changed his style to win with his dominant and intimidating defense. 

Gruden went to Tampa Bay and beat his old team in the Super Bowl his first year with the Bucs.

Let's get more specific with these questions.  What do Billick and Gruden have in common with Kubiak?  Not much.  Billick and Gruden were able to adapt and change their systems and both won Super Bowls. 

Wouldn't one of these guys look great in Battle Red or Liberty White or Deep Steel Blue?  I personally hope Gruden comes to town.  Let him tinker with an offense featuring Schaub, Johnson, Steve Slaton, and Owen Daniels.  Let's see what Chuckie can do in Houston. 

We've seen what Kubiak can do in Houston.  And it's not win games.  Not enough games, at least.  Owner Bob McNair paid a lot of money to bring pro football back to Houston. 

Kubiak has shown he's not the man for the job.  He has a good system, but that's about all he brings to the table.  Let's see McNai open the vault for Coach Gruden.  Gruden will bring not only a good offensive system, but experience, attitude and an identity to the Texans.  That's change we believe in.