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HOUSTON – Before all the business talks, reports about his future and hiring coach David Culley, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked what he is looking for in his next head coach.
“I mean, we just need a complete culture change,” Watson said earlier this month. “We just need new energy. We need discipline, we need structure, we need a leader to be able to follow that leader as players. That’s what we need. have to have love not only for football, because that’s what we do, but love for the people and the people of this organization. “
“We need someone who stands up and [says] that’s who we follow and that’s how it goes … and we’re going to do it that way to win. “
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who hired Culley in 2019 as an assistant head coach, said he was respected “as a teacher, game planner and motivator.” Culley is the first black head coach hired by the Texans and the first in the NFL recruiting cycle.
By hiring Culley, the Texans hope they have found that person to build the foundation that Watson calls for. But will Culley have the chance to train Watson? The star quarterback officially requested a trade on Thursday.
For most Texas fans, Culley’s name is unfamiliar. So who is he and why did Texans CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio pick him to be the franchise’s next coach?
Who is David Culley?
Culley, 65, has spent the last two seasons in Baltimore as the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing play coordinator and receivers coach. He just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach after 16 seasons in various college coaching roles. He will be the longest-serving coach in NFL history when he makes his head coach debut.
Culley was never an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, but he was an assistant head coach before his time in Baltimore, for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens were a first offense in 2020 as they led the NFL in rushing yards and placed last in passing yards.
What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?
This is perhaps the most important question and by asking for a trade, Watson put the ball in the court of the Texans.
While the Texans may agree to trade terms with another team before the start of the league’s new year on March 17, a trade cannot be executed until then. The key timeframe to consider is before the NFL draft in April, because if the Texans were to trade Watson they would want to make sure they get the 2021 capital draft, when the selection slots are locked down.
Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract. This means that Watson has a say in where he goes, as he could choose not to waive the clause.
Any exchange from Watson will result in a charge of $ 5.6 million in dead money for the Texans. Due to the way his contract is structured (he’s technically in the last year of his rookie contract, before his four-year contract extension begins), his cap for 2021 is only 15.94 million. of dollars. By comparison, that number climbs to $ 40.4 million in 2022.
What does he bring to Houston?
Texans are serious about resolving the culture of the organization and believe Culley is the one to do it.
After doing a second interview with the Texans – this time in person – the team were impressed with Culley’s energy and believe he has the NFL experience to bring this cultural change to the building, even s ‘he was not a coordinator.
“What I would like to highlight about Coach Culley, more than anything, is how amazing he is a teacher and communicator,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in 2019. “He probably is the best – I’d say he’s the best direct teacher, communicator I’ve seen coaching football one-on-one, not only because he trains him so well, but because he’s so relentless and that he brings about the important things. “
“You can be relentless, but if you train things that don’t matter, then it’s just a lot of hot air. He trains the things that matter, and you see guys getting better every day at the within its position group. “
McNair knew he wanted his GM to take the lead in the search for coaches. It was Caserio, who said that the characteristic he looks for most in a head coach is their ability to “lead people”.
“Because at the end of the day football is a sport, but it’s about people, right?” Said Caserio. “You have to invest in people. You have to be able to lead people. … These are some of the things that will be important to whether or not they are a good player on their respective side of the ball. But who? either will have some jurisdiction in certain areas. “
What’s next in Houston?
Watson recorded the best numbers of his young career in 2020, and the team won just four games. The Houston defense struggled, finishing 30th in Football Outsiders’ weighted DVOA. Of course, there are still plenty of holes in a defense that lacked young difference-makers, so whoever Culley hires as defensive coordinator will have a heavy job to do.
Regardless of whether the Texans trade Watson or not, those holes on the roster will remain. The Texans’ first pick in this draft is No.67, so they won’t be able to add impact talent at a price favorable to the team, and are currently $ 18 million above the salary cap planned for 2021 (although that matters less than money. they have already committed, which gives them some flexibility).
If Houston trades Watson, he’ll be able to plug parts into the defense and significantly improve that side of the ball, but questions will remain with the quarterback.
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