[ad_1]
HOUSTON – Before all the business talks, reports about his future and hiring new 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. “
Of course, Watson might not be with the Texans to play for Culley, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on Sunday that the quarterback should always want to leave Houston, regardless of the team’s name. Watson wasn’t the only one who believed a culture change was needed.
By hiring Culley, the Texans hope they have found that person to build the foundation that Watson asked for.
But, for most Texas fans, Culley’s name is unfamiliar. So who is he and why have Texans CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio picked him to be the franchise’s next head coach?
Who is David Culley?
Culley, 65, has spent the past three 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 he bring to Houston?
Texans were serious about fixing the culture within the organization, and they believe Culley is that person.
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 has not been a coordinator before.
“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 the person he hired as GM to take the lead in finding coaches. It was Caserio, who said the characteristic he most looked for in a head coach was 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. “
“… I would say that in our situation, with respect to Deshaun, trying to put in place something that is sustainable for him that can allow him, as well as the rest of the team and the organization, to go out there and perform at peak capacity week after week. That’s the goal. “
What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?
This is perhaps the most important question that only Watson can answer. If Watson still wants to come out regardless of who the Texans hired, as Mortensen reported, then hiring Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wouldn’t have made a difference.
Now that the Texans have hired their new coach, the question is whether Watson will be there to see the culture change he asked for in Houston. The quarterback hasn’t requested a swap, but he may decide to do so once the hiring is officially announced.
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.
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 has struggled all season, finishing 30th in Football Outsiders’ weighted DVOA. Of course, there are still a lot of holes in a defense that has struggled mainly because it lacked young difference-makers, so whoever hires Culley as a 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 choice in this draft is No.67, so they won’t be able to add impact talent at a price favorable to the team, and they’re currently $ 18 million above that. the salary cap planned for 2021 (although this matters less than the cash they have already committed, which gives them some flexibility)
If Houston trades Watson, they can plug parts into the defense and improve that side of the ball significantly, but questions will remain with the quarterback.
[ad_2]
Source link