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Kubiak presser: reading between the lines
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The best wide receiver in the NFL scores one of his two TDs against the Cardinals (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Texans head coach Gary Kubiak met with the local media Monday afternoon for his weekly presser. You can read a transcript of selected comments at this link provided by houstontexans.com.
For some reason, the questions asked by Barry Warner about how Kubiak felt about a) fans calling for his head and b) why Kevin Walter didn't run a 'double move' on the Rodgers-Cromartie pick six didn't make the transcript.
This was on the heels of Warner's 'don't you wish you would have signed Ced Benson' question to Kubiak a few weeks ago (me paraphrasing).
Listening to these things live, you can tell that answering Warner's questions is the highlight of Kubiak's week.
I'm being serious here and this is no disrespect to Warner, but where is he working? I listen to a couple of local talk radio stations and he's not on the frequencies that I frequent. If anyone knows, please fill me in.
And yes, I'd rather have Benson on the roster than Chris Brown, but that's not the point.
The most concerning comment by Kubiak today is the health status of left guard Mike Brisiel. Kubiak said this about the injury which Brisiel sustained on the final drive: "He's got an injured foot. He finished the game with it. I'll let you know probably more tomorrow, but it doesn't look good right now."
We won't know about the extent of Brisiel's injury until tomorrow but when I heard it live, Kubiak sounded despondent about the situation (as he usually does on Monday's) but in later comments he made it seem as if it wouldn't be season ending.
"Obviously, we've had some changes, losing Chester (Pitts)," said Kubiak. "Now, we could possibly be playing with another young player with Mike missing some time here."
Tuesday morning update: John McClain of the Houston Chronicle is now characterizing Brisiel's injury as season ending but offers no more specifics. Brisiel is the second Texans starting offensive lineman that's been lost for the year (Chester Pitts being the other). If Brisiel is indeed headed for IR, expect the Texans to elevate Andrew Crummey from the practice squad today. These changes worry me more from the pass blocking perspective since the Texans haven't been able to run the ball anyway.
The young player Kubiak is referring to in the above quote is Antoine Caldwell, the Texans 3rd round pick out of Alabama. Caldwell worked at center and guard in training camp and has been working primarily at guard recently.
Caldwell's progress has been slower than hoped and there have been indications that he isn't quite ready to step in just yet, especially at center, but the Texans have no choice now - other than Chris White. It may be time to throw the rook in the pool to see if he can swim.
Studdard will likely remain at left guard based on Kubiak's comments.
What is interesting was Kubiak's comments about Studdard's play in the Arizona game. "He made some great progress in this game and played pretty darn well," said Kubiak.
If that's the case, why was he on the bench watching Chris White early in the game? Maybe Kubiak was alternating guards like we used to do in high school. Remember 'shuttle guards?' Does anyone even do that any more? I guess I need to re-watch the DVR tonight to see just what Studdard did that was 'pretty darn well.'
Last but not least, when Kubiak was asked if he's giving up on his goal for a balanced run-pass attack given the Texans running game woes, he said "you've got to run the ball in this league. You're going to have a hard time changing me on that, but I've also got to look at what's going on with my team right now and what's happening. We're throwing the ball very, very well and we're not running it very well. We're going to do what we have to do to win, but we're not going to give up on the run."
That's about as close as you'll ever get to a Kubiak commitment to pass first, run second.
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