In this case let's hope Kubiak's comments don't truly reflect his beliefs

November 21, 5:27 PMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Houston Texans Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

I can't help but react to Dale Robertson's commentary today in the Houston Chronicle about the Texans "porous" defense.  Another columnist doing his job.  Congrats to Dale.

In the column, Robertson suggested that the Texans 35-6 win over the Bengals may have (then) signaled that the defense had found some footing.

To that I invoke the theory of the blind squirrel and the nut.  And in that case the nut was rotten.

The Texans defense has been consistently bad for as long as we can remember - which  includes the three seasons Richard Smith has been at the helm.  But certain rules of statistics would probably support the theory that once in a blue moon, any given Sunday, or when playing at home against a winless team (take your pick),  things might fall into place for one or more of the big three: offense, defense, and special teams, such that it may appear that you "turned a corner."

But those same statisticians would tell you that you need to take a bigger sample, we need to look at the full body of work, one game does not make a trend, yadda ya...

And the bigger sample is quite conclusive that the defense is terrible.  And we already know that.  So why are we sitting here acting as if we don't know what's wrong?

The first thing I felt compelled to react to was Robertson's comment "The most shrill Texans fans are screaming for defensive coordinator Smith’s head,"

If I was Dale's editor, I would re-write that as follows: The most insightful Texans fans are clamoring for defensive coordinator Smith’s head,"  Shrill and screaming has such a negative connotation - as if it's ill-advised or something.

The next thing that deserves follow-up is where Robertson pulled the Kubiak quote about his resolve to not make major changes in his staff or personnel before the offseason.

The specific quote by Kubiak was“we have the right people doing it [and] we just have to keep battling and do it better.”

First, I'd like to direct all of you again to the Texans website where the Communications staff does a fabulous job providing transcriptions to each and every press conference and media interview session.  That quote, and a million more, can be found there and should be considered required reading for every serious Texans fan.  Bookmark it.  It's updated daily.

Next, in terms of the "not making changes during the season" aspect of the quote.  Okay, fine.  I can deal with that.  I can wait until after this already lost season to make the necessary change at Defensive Coordinator.

Last, I wisk Gary would stop using the term 'keep battling' so much.  It sounds so futille.  Oh wait, it is.

In your search for answers, you need to look no further than Dunta Robinson's comments which follow (from the Thursday quotes).  In those comments I see something about as close to a Jamie Sharper-like source of "on-the-record discord" as you can get in this administration, especially when you consider Robinson's past comments about looking at "those around Kubiak," and DeMeco's past comments about "not playing for the coaches."

"(on [whether Dunta sees] hope for this franchise when many people are losing faith) “I definitely see hope. Like I said, there are certain things we have to take care of that will probably be taken care of, but as far as that goes, this is where I want to be."

"(on [whether Dunta] can identify what needs to be taken care of) “That’s a whole other story."

there are certain things we have to take care of that will probably be taken care of - Dunta Robinson

Back to the point about Kubiak saying he has the right people around him, I hope like heck he's just saying that because he has to (because they've already made the decision to wait until after the season to make the move) instead of because he really believes it. 

If he believes Smith is the right guy, then Gary will probably lose me too, and that would be a shame because I like the guy and what he's done with the offense.  I think this is a playoff team with a defense that plays a more aggressive in-your-face style - and with a QB that can stay on the field.

Which brings me to the final point, which is Robertson's comment "the coaches are thought to believe the Texans lack the manpower — especially in the secondary — to play closer to the edge."   That prompts me to say that Gary, Richard Smith and Jon Hoke have been here three seasons and have had three drafts and three periods of free agency.  If now they're saying it's personnel, who's fault is that?  You can't have it both ways guys.  

Either the organization can't evaluate talent - or you have a poorly designed defense that's proven ineffective and one that the players aren't buying into  Take your pick.  I think it's more because of the latter.