Super
Jan 7, 2008 2006 Draft, Awards, Awesomeness, Pro Bowl 2008, Reggie Bush, Super Mario, Vinsanity
So, I’ve been a little lax in my posting of Texans news. Apologies and whatnot.
Lest I be seen as a total slacker, however, allow me to point out that not only was Mario Williams named Defensive Lineman of the Year (up yours, Haynesworth), he also received a vote for Defensive Player of the Year and will likely receive the same number of Offensive Player of the Year votes as Reggie Bush and Vince Young combined.
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Did Big Gay Al sponsor this post?
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
No. Because then that would have been “thuper!”
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Defensive Lineman of the Year. Fuckin’ bust.
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Damn, told ya that Reggie Bush would’ve been a better pick. *snickers*
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
@grungedave
No! But Thankth for athking!
(click arrow to reply)
January 7th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Since you have a self-professed hatred of all the OSU, I am sure that tonight made your night!
(click arrow to reply)
January 8th, 2008 at 7:30 am
@ Triple347: Oh, you bet your sweet ass. LSU trounces the necrophiliacs from Ohio, Michigan destroys Tebow AND gets rid of Lloyd Carr, and Arkansas gets the shit kicked out of them by Mizzou. Honestly, given the way the regular season went for me, this bowl season could not have turned out better.
(click arrow to reply)
January 8th, 2008 at 9:45 am
“Honestly, given the way the regular season went for me, this bowl season could not have turned out better.”
–
Ditto that.
(click arrow to reply)
January 8th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
SMU hires a real coach!!! Yeah the bowl/off-season has been good to me so far.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:46 am
So Gary Kubiak came into my restaurant tonight and ate with Rick Smith and Alex Gibbs. Kubiak and I talked for a few minutes while he was waiting on his car. The dude was smiling so wide he looked like he was on drugs. He thanked us for impressing Coach Gibbs so much and sounded pretty much positive that Gibbs was coming to Houston as an assistant head coach.
As excited as I am that we could get someone of Gibbs’ caliber, I have to admit I’m a little conflicted about this. On the one hand, it’s great to see Kubiak continue to go after top assistants, and hopefully to learn from them. On the other, what’s with his reliance on an assistant head coach all the time? From Elway’s backup to Shanihan’s offensive mind, Kubiak seems a little uncomfortable in the spotlight I guess. So why’s he want to be the head coach at all?
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Wow, Dan, nice scoop!
-
Gibbs did an awesome job as a o-line coach for the Broncs. If he still has any of that magic left, that can only mean good things for us.
-
As far as the spotlight - eh, after living through the Jerry Glanville (and to a lesser extent, Jack Pardee) error (sic), I don’t mind having a coach who eschews the spotlight.
-
BTW, Dan you forgot to plug the restaurant. Seriously! I’ll be heading down to Houston a couple of times this year. {Though, it sounds like a fancy place, between the valet parking and the underwear-necessary requirements and all.}
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 am
True, Dan. If you tell me the name of the restaurant, I’ll put up a link making it the official restaurant of DGDB&D. Not that such an award is worth anything, but still.
–
Also…did he happen to mention the blog? No? Damn.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:20 am
He didn’t mention the blog directly, but he was wearing a “Chicks love Black Salaami” t-shirt. At least that’s what I like to think happened.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:21 am
It’s black…that could be considered formalwear.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Guys, as much as I’d like to know what restaurant, too, unless Dan actually owns the joint, he could get in hot water for disclosing the name. I’ve worked in restaurants that were frequented by local celebs, and they came there because they knew people weren’t going to bug them. If Dan’s restaurant becomes known as “the place to go to see the Texans”, they’ll lose the Texans’ business pretty quickly.
Not trying be a dick, just trying to explain why Dan’s not a dick if he doesn’t tell us where he works.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Maybe Kubes knows his limitations/deficiencies and is brining in guys that can help him learn, and help the Texans win. Kubiak seems like he’s pretty secure and doesn’t mind admitting he’s not all knowing and infallible. I like an ego-less coach.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Oof, good point, Rob.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Good point, Rob. I don’t want Dan to get in trouble.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
@Dan: I think Kubes just uses the “assistant head coach” title to get people in the mix, without giving them the burden of being the “coordinators.”
Make no bones about it… Kubes is ALWAYS the O-coordinator, but I imagine he likes reliable people around to bounce the ideas off of, or to stop him from travelling a path to the dark side. Also, if they decide to bail at some point, it’s not a huge hiccup to what the team is doing.
Now… If we can just get someone like this for Richard Smith!
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:49 am
@ beef: Amen on the DC request.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Good leaders always surround themselves with experienced people. At least Kubiak doesn’t think he knows everything and is willing to bring in experienced coaches. I look at Kubiaks willingness to work with other coaches as a strength not a weakness. Alex Gibbs will be our best hire to date. I really hope this happens.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Back to Dan’s restaurant thing–can I just say how cool I feel having some sort of inside source on these matters? That fucking rules.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Dammit, all this restaurant talk is making me hungry!!
(And Kubiak would score a major coup to get Gibbs - that way Kubiak would never have to worry about coaching the o-line and he could focus on giving the ball to someone *other* than Ron Dayne on 3rd and short.)
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Regarding where the Texans eat: Anywhere in Sugarland, Pearland, Uptown or Montrose area. There, secret is out
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
You & your emoticons…
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Apparently McLame is saying it’s pretty much a done deal that we’re getting Alex Gibbs as asst. head coach.
This is cool.
That’s all I have… just wanted this topic to get to 50 comments like the famous topic of Radio/Lendale = Man-on-man-69-action.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Yeah its official now at the chron. Also little shannahan is the o coordinator. How do you think Kyle will do?
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
The Chronic’s got it, with quotes from Kubes: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5440572.html
I like that he’s a o-line specialist; somewhere, Zoolander is saying “if only” and then proceeds to collapse into a heap when his wife’s cat brushes his leg.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
@ Elliot. I like the idea of Kyle as OC. With Kubiak having the veto, Kyle will get to learn and develop, but will never face the full wrath of the media because everyone knows Kubes is the ultimate arbiter.
–
@ Rob. My one concern is that Gibbs is a zone blocking guy and we don’t have zone blocking people, but this is a step in the right overall direction.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Apparently Gibbs is a hard ass when it comes to weight requirements. This may be the end of Sta-Puft Spencer, but I like that we got Greg Eslinger a week or two back, and some other decent, versatile linemen to be able to pull off the zone transformation.
I also like the Shanny Jr. move for the same reason Matt stated. He’s obviously well liked, and has a great pedigree for what we’re doing.
Now again… back to that damned DEFENSE… What are the odds Richard Smith retains his current role? Does Frank Bush get more of a say in play calling? Inquiring minds need to poop.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
30 posts and not one from TMAN…..See what you guys did? You hurt his feelings so much that he stayed home from work today and has been watching Beaches and Steel Magnolias over and over again. Poor thing is curled up in the fetal position on his chartreuse loveseat.
-
All jabs aside, I think we have allot to look forward to this season. The million dollar question is who are we going to pickup with the 18th pick? Jamaal Charles of TEXAS has declared himself eligible for the draft. It could happen.
s.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
RE: Jamal Charles
Good god no. I don’t think it’s likely that Kubes would take a RB whose major knock is his propensity for fumbling in the first round; the Texans led the league in turnovers after all. I also think it’s a godawful idea for the same reason.
I think we go OL to give Gibbs a new toy to mold. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if every first day pick is OL in fact, though they may take a secondary player if one is available.
And I work for Fleming’s in River Oaks. It’s no secret, though we are hardly “the” Texans restaurant. We see several players once a month or so, depending on who lives in the area and is in town. During the season, several players bring their families in after home games for dinner (PLUG ALERT– We offer a prime rib dinner for $30.00 that includes salad, side and dessert on Sundays, and we typically run around $75-$100 per person).
Anyone is welcome to come in anytime — both Kubiak and Richard Smith come in infrequently just to grab a beer or martini after work, and I’ve seen both chat up the guy or couple next to them at the bar. It’s very simple though — be an adult and don’t bother our guests. If you do you will be asked to sit and dine with your own guests or to leave. We had to escort a guest last week to the door for snapping a picture of Jordan Sparks (some American Idol contestant) as she dined.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I too, am down on Charles. Not because he’s from Texas either… but because he’s not a good fit for the zone system, IMO. He likes to dance around in the backfield to find a crease, which is not a zone system back. He did it well, and he’s super fast, but just not a good fit. There’s that, and the fumbling thing too. And of course, that’s he’s probably gay like Radio. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, that’s all I’ve got on him.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
And no, Matt, the blog sadly did not enter the discussion (would it piss you off even more if I told you I’ve met DeMeco, and it didn’t come up then either? How about if I were to add that this was before I knew of DGDB&DM’s existence?) To be honest, I think Kubiak was a little surprised I knew Gibbs’ reputation. He started off generically by talking about “this coach he worked with in Denver” to replace Sherman. I asked who the coach was and mentioned the zone scheme when he responded with the name Alex Gibbs. We did mention Dan Neil (a big fan of mine as a UT grad), and the conversation ended. Probably less than two minutes all told.
Useful info on Kubiak if you do see him in a bar: Buy him a Bud Light, not a microbrew.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
So, Dan, what you are saying is, if I would send you a stack of DGDB&D t-shirts, you would be happy to pass them out to various members of the Texans organization? I mean, am I hearing you correctly?
–
Bud Light, eh? I would have bet my kidneys he was a Fat Tire guy.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
@Dan: Dan Neil is a big fan of YOU? Is it because you share a first name? Is this another Austin thing I wouldn’t understand? Keep austin freaky indeed.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Matt;
Ever heard of the Heisenberg Principle? If Kubiak knew I were talking to a blog, who is to say what effect it might have on what he says to me? And on the off chance he or another player is already reading this, rest assured your secrets are safe with me — I speak of a married former coach who comes in with a different niece specifically.
I think I may work better as an undercover agent, so to speak.
Then again, I may be able to convince em to deck out the cheerleaders in your Tee’s, so I gotta say I could go both ways on this.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I got ya. wink, wink; nudge, nudge. That sorta thing.
–
By the way, I would literally pay $5000 to have all the cheerleaders rock blog t-shirts for one game. It would be the highlight of my life.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
did someone just cite the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in this blog? Wow… my education finally gets some use.
uhhhh… Fleming’s ya say? I live near River Oaks. I may have to stop in some time.
(and dammit, Lee, “Sugar Land” is two words. Two!!)
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
@ Dan, grungedave: If this place goes all learned and highbrow, it will be the most shocking development in the history of mankind.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
-
Oh shit! Better do something.
-
I will pay $5000 to the cheerleaders to….yeah, better stop there or we’ll have this site WAY up on more than just the filipino tranny ranking.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
so…with regard to the jamaal charles comments….he would be poor choice for our zone blocking scheme but definitely possesses the speed to get around the corners. i think he has allot to learn but could definitely develop into an excellent back. i honestly don’t feel that he’s been coached very well over the past couple of seasons. but that’s a story for another blog.
-
i also agree that the OL needs some attention but that still isn’t going to help our running game. i honestly don’t feel that we can continue to put our faith in ron “just one more pie” dayne and darius walker. in order for schaub to succeed, we need a very solid RB1. that, in my opinion, is the difference between an 8 win season and a 10 or 11 win season.
s.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
And as far as Charles’ fumbling, it really *is* something you can teach. He doesn’t tuck the ball well, and he let’s it get away from his body. Truly, that’s his only knock, and it’s fixable.
-
Somebody like Charles would be perfect for a zone-blocking scheme. When on, he’s a 1-cut runner. he danced this year because the line sucked.
-
Man, I am totally a homer. Yet, he might be my favorite Horn RB ever.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
@ BFD: Nice self control. Those audio tapes are really working for ya.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
@bfd: he’s probably one of the fastest rb’s to ever come out of ut but definitely not my favorite. those honors are reserverd for earl campbell and ricky williams. although an embarassment at the pro level, he’s one of the most gifted runners i’ve ever seen. i know that’s way off the point. do you have any idea where jamaal might fall on draft day?
s.
and yes, i have an aversion to capital letters.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
yeah, I’ve got a little ee cummings in me, too. ummmm….
-
Unlike all the other young whipper-snappers around these parts, I only have flashes of Earl’s college career, though I do have sharp memories of when he was a rookie with the Oilers. I limit my “favorite” status to those I have seen. And while I love Ricky - I mean, I could so get stoned to bejeezus with him - I think Jamaal could be absolutely elite.
-
That said, I would take him in the mid-to-late 2nd round and work with him. He has elite speed, is not afraid of contact, and is allegedly a hard worker. To be honest, I would take him over a Reggie Bush easily. But, I am a homer, and I loved the way he could move the rock. You can’t teach speed, and that’s why I think Jamaal could be an elite NFL RB with the right guidance. As to where he will go? I think right around our pick in the third.
(click arrow to reply)
January 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
There is some inadvertant humor in retrospect in this old post of mine at the FanBlog Texans (I wrote it but my name ain’t up top). It was about me going to a coaching clinic and seeing break out sessions with various assistant coaches.
http://blogs.chron.com/fanblogtexans/2006/06/mario_williams_is_big_and_slig_1.html
In part:
“• My biggest surprise of the day was how impressed I was with Kyle Shanahan, the Texans wide receivers coach. (For thems that don’t know, yes, he is the son of Bronco’s coach, Mike Shanahan).
The Texans this season will be basically running a version of the Bronco’s offense. In the breakout session, Shanahan showed a lot of tape and explained what that really means and what they are trying to teach the Texans.”
Usually it takes a bit for someone speaking in public to be impressive to me. I chose to go into the Kyle Shanahan session because I was wondering what a try-hard white guy wide receiver from UT would have to offer growned up mens as far as coaching. And he walked into the room, and couldn’t have looked any younger without wearing a high school letter jacket or something.
But then when he started talking and showing film, I understood what Kubiak was going to try to do with the offense. And in retrospect, why Carr was so particularly awful with it–it requires smart quarterbacking and reading your progressions correctly. He showed a bunch of film of different Denver plays–what worked right, what didn’t work right and why. He talked about line blocking techniques that Denver used that he tried to get Gruden to do when he was at Tampa Bay.
The biggest negative to him being OC would have been his youth making him open to criticism if the offense struggled. With Gibbs on board, it makes Shanahan less of a target and gives him a bit of a experience cushion.
I say hurray, and please I hope they are quietly doing things to acquire a defensive coaching staff with an actual positive track record.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Damn right, Steph.
Hurray for SCHOOL… Hurray for ME!!
@bfd: Jamaal Effin Charles? Seriously? (I should know better) I know you tried to atone with your Earl afterthoughts but Cheese’n'Rice! I’ve never been that impressed with him at all. He’s fast and a little slippery and fast, but that’s all I see in him. Hell, I liked Selvin Young more than Charles. Granted, you all know I hate the horns like nobody’s business, but I think y’all are actually better off now that Charles is gone.
Unless he ends up in Denver too (or now the mighty RB-friendly TEXANS) I don’t see him amounting to much in the pros. Just my $0.02 though.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 10:07 am
@myself: Scratch that… I’ve already said Charles is not a zone blocking back. He has no chance.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am
@beef - Seriously? Selvin Young more than Jamal Charles? Really? On what planet?? Selvin actually fumbled more and looked like a Datsun to Jamal’s Porsche on the field. I have no idea why anyone would say that.
My problem with drafting Jamal earlier than the third round is that he really is not that big. He’s listed at 6′+ but is probably more like 5′10.5. Nothing too wrong with that, but there is too much question to use a first round pick on him. His combine numbers will be legendary though and he’ll go late 1 or early 2.
And I still say Jonathan Stewart should be the pick at 18.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Matt-
Back to back 50+ posts. YTMND. All inspite of Tom’s attempts to sully your rep. Damn bro, I don’t know how you do it.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I think he has a crush on me. Given his spelling, I also think he’s probably related to Anna-Megan.
–
I have no idea why these two posts got to 50+. I’m going to chalk it up to my dashing good looks.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I think the reason they have hit 50+ is that we’re all coming down from getting our Texans football fix, we got some great news in a new hire, and we’re looking for your great in-depth analysis of what a ZBS line entails.
Keep up the great work, Matt!
(from ANOTHER Texans fan in New Jersey)
Norm
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
NORM!!! (I’ve always wanted to do that ‘Cheers’ thing.)
–
I am in the process of revising my last ZBS post, correcting a few flaws that I overlooked, and figuring out some roster spots. It should be up today or tomorrow.
–
Glad to have you aboard.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
@uofTee: Never said Selvin was BETTER, just that I liked him more. Granted, he was a horrible fumbler, but I just preferred the way he ran the ball. Of course, with my hatred of all things Horn, I preferred Pete Gardere to VY too.
I’m still livin’ la vida loca, maybe.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Norm, were you the one at the Giants game last year with the David Carr jersey? I can’t believe there is more than 2 of us here. (well, 3 if you count Little Jersey Bill).
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Little Jersey Bill? I call mine Pedro.
(click arrow to reply)
January 10th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I don’t think we will go RB or Oline with the 18th pick now with Gibbs. I think we will go RB in the third and oline falls after that. Now with the first I think it will be a CB, but I think there is a strong chance we address that in the offseason. So with the 1st pick I think we go either Linebacker or possibly, sigh, another dlineman.
(click arrow to reply)
January 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
@beef - I give you credit for not switching the U and T around. Selvin was fine, but honestly one of my least favorite backs in my Texas watching time (since 86 or so). I actually liked Hodges Mitchell and Victor Ike more. He always had plenty of potential in college, but I never felt like he got the most out of it.
The more I think about it, the more I think Charles will do “well” at the next level. And by that I mean he could have an 85% of Warrick Dunn’s career, and that would be pretty damn good in my eyes.
I want Stewart, but he won’t be there at 18. I think we end up going LB or CB, with an outside chance at LT if someone falls to us
(click arrow to reply)
January 11th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
@uoft: C’mon… I may be a prick, but I’m not a douchebag! I guess I liked the early Selvin better than what he ended up to be. Pretty invisible his last two years, but that’s when the blue-chippers started pouring in.
As to the draft, I still think we’ll hope one of the top LTs fall to us at 18, and if not, we take the top rated defender or trade down to try to get back in the 2nd rd. RB likely won’t be addressed (if at all) until the 4th or later. Luckily, there are some badasses that could fall that far (looking at you Stevie Slaton) and I think Kubes and Co. have earned our trust enough to think we’ll get someone worth keeping an eye on (”Fuck you Lundy’s” aside).
Matt, if we can recoup a 2nd AND get rid of Travis “I suck” Johnson in the same, swift move, dare I say you will shed a tear of joy?
Also, *off topic* someone else brought it up (grunge, I think) earlier, but we NEED an update on how your new office pal has been acting with all the recent Cowboys hullaballoo.
Let us feel the hate.
(click arrow to reply)
February 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Bar Code Labels Provide Greater Customer Service…
Bar code labels provide greater customer service for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is that these labels can save you so much time in processing orders and assisting customers with checkout….