Tuesday, December 14, 2010

GM RicK Smith - Earn Your Keep

It's official...the 2010 Houston Texans season is dead.

Like the Oilers of yore, the Texans find new and interesting ways to lose.

The team reached the pinnacle in game one versus the Colts. After that it's been down hill.

The team is at a cross roads and choices, hard ones, must be made.

The main choice rests with owner Bob McNair. Does he want to keep the Smithiak Regime? Or does he clean house? Or does he issue a mandate to GM Rick Smith to straighten out the product on the field by any means necessary?

Time for Smith to Play GM
Rick Smith is one of the rare GMs in the NFL that was hired basically by his coach. Charlie Casserly, though on his way out, worked through the transition bringing in Gary Kubiak and helping with the 2006 draft. Smith was hired on the suggestion of his buddy Kubiak. They worked together in Denver.

Now is the time for Smith to sit down with McNair and start evaluating options, the team and coaches. Smith and Kubiak might be best friends but it's time for Smith to put that aside.

My guess is, barring an order from McNair, Smith won't fire Kubiak.

The first order of business for Smith then is to shake up the defensive coaching staff and remove Kubiak from any input on the defensive coaching hires. Just remove Kubiak from the equation and look for the best candidate to for the job. No Denver connections or familiarity. Kubiak brought in the last two coordinators Richard Smith and Frank Bush. Time to let someone else make the choice.

Right now Smith doesn't have free hand in personnel or coaching decisions. Most hires and signings must run through Kubiak first. That must also change.

I'm all for a coach and GM working together. In fact I'd prefer it. I think Kubiak and Smith will continue to work together in making decisions. However the current dynamic isn't working.

I'll have more thoughts on the changes and critical juncture that this franchise faces in the days ahead. My thoughts are still to scattered from last night's game and beer to focus.

No comments:

Post a Comment