With the home destruction of the Texans by the Ravens last Sunday, and only three wins to their name this year, head coach Gary Kubiak has been catching some heat in the Houston media. The players don't want to hear it and can't be any stronger in their support of Kubiak.Texans defensive coordinator, Richard Smith isn't getting similar support. Texans DB Dunta Robinson couldn't say enough positive things about Kubiak but when asked about the heat that Smith was getting he shrugged his shoulders and responded:
It is what it is. As players, we're going to go back and we're going to go out and work hard and practice hard and get the job done.The Texans are usually very good about keeping their dirty laundry in-house, but when Robinson isn't supporting you publicly, that's usually the beginning of the end for a coach. Though he did also say that the players aren't going to be throwing the coaches under the bus.
And Richard Smith does deserve to be gone. His defensive coaching has been awful in the past, and it continues to be awful. And he motivates players with pictures of rocks, which really shouldn't be a key to firing him, but I add it because it would be completely hilarious if it weren't also so stupid and sad.
The Texans certainly need some changes, but it may be that keeping what is working and fixing what isn't, is likely the best direction that the Texans could take at this point. If you are interested in reading what those changes may entail, I invite you to read my more in-depth discussion of this on my Houston Chronicle blog.
By the way, I took the above picture in training camp because I knew that I'd be writing plenty about Richard Smith this season, and not likely in a good way.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2008 @ 4:59PM
giant fan since 57 said...
Your posts have been pretty darn good this year. Are you sure your boyfriend isn't writing them? LOL....only a joke....keep up the good work.
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11-13-2008 @ 2:53PM
Gere said...
Stephanie: In the spirit and memory of the long departed Dale Robertson, ( ask McClain who he was), I nominate you and Chronicle beat writer Megan as co defensive coordinators for the rest of the season, as you both seem to have all the answers and have both publically criticized Mr. Smiths ability to coach, You never seem to find fault with defensive backs who can't seem to cover or have troubles each week with their assignments. The fact is that this team is a lot better than their record suggests, but still does not have a decent enough secondary for the division it currently competes in. Now it seems your miffed at how he (Smith) tries to motivate his players as well. Some of my old HS coaches used oak trees as a motivating element for us young lineman, but hey, I believe you think you know better anyway. At least you know something about the merits of tailgating fashion sense and that should help you go a long way.
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11-13-2008 @ 3:03PM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Hey Gere!
Dale Robertson isn't dead. In fact, he has written some of the better articles about the Texans this season.
If the DBs continuously miss their assignments, you don't think that has anything to do with the coaching? Or that the defense doesn't seem to play together like a unit? Or that some of the play calls on defense are completely inexplicable? That the Texans are 32nd in the league against RB catches doesn't reflect on the DBs.
So back in the day you were motivated by oak trees. Do you really think pictures of rocks in lockers are terribly motivating for the modern player? Richard Smith back in the Oiler days ran around the sidelines with a hardhat on. He may not be as much of an obvious goofball now as he was then, but clearly he has lost his players and his defense has performed near the bottom of the league.
Really, you must be the only person in the world to be a Richard Smith fan. Are you related to him or something? What in Richard Smith's coaching is so impressive to you? That he can coach a defense that has been ranked near the bottom of the league in all major categories and has had little improvement at all over a three year period? Yup, pretty impressive he can keep a job doing that.
Thanks all for reading and commenting,
Steph
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11-15-2008 @ 10:31AM
James Martin said...
I like Kubiak, but Richard Smith must go. The horrible, horrific, horrifying defensive play has my young son cussing again. He has not cussed this hard since Mittens was in town.
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11-16-2008 @ 4:13PM
Chris F. said...
The coaching isn't too great, but the Texans certainly need better players on defense too.
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1-30-2009 @ 8:50PM
person said...
Gere is not the only Richard Smith fan out there. I am a big fan of Smith, and no I am not related to him. I have followed Smiths coaching career since he was special teams for the Broncos and have always appreciated what he has done for the teams he has been a part of. He is a motivating coach and a great person.
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