Work Begins now for Frank Bush with Texans
[Megan Manfull, Chron.com]
It's clear the Texans' new defensive coordinator has a head start with the Texans. He knows the personnel. He knows what has somewhat worked, and he knows what hasn't worked. Now, it's his job to make the changes.
Initial Thoughts on the Frank Bush hiring as defensive coordinator.
[Stephanie Stradley, Texans Chick @ Chron.com]
Sigh. I'm not sure if there were going to be any ideal fits for defensive coordinator for the Texans this offseason, but can someone give me a convincing case why Texan fans should be excited about the Frank Bush hire?
According to the Chronicle story, Bush was the only person interviewed for the job. The only one.
The "Chron article" mentioned in Stephanie's lede can be found here.
[John McClain, Chron.com]
Bush's promotion wasn't a surprise. He was the leading candidate and the only one interviewed for the defensive coordinator position that became available when Richard Smith was fired after the season.
(Note: The Texans didn't have "Rooney Rule" issues due to the fact that Bush is a minority candidate)**{As Kevin points out in the comments, this isn't a "Rooney Rule" position. I thought I had heard that they expanded the rule to include coordinators, but a quick Google search proves I was wrong. Been making a lot of errors of late, not sure why. I apologize to my readers}
So, here we are Texans fans, fresh off the hiring of oft-criticized Rick Smith, who had no previous coordinator experience before assuming the role with the Texans, the Texans hire Frank Bush; a man with no previous coordinator experience. For those of you in the 'glass half full' camp at least Bush has been saying the right things in interviews: He wan't to play an 'aggressive' 4-3 defense He thinks the Texans have the talent to compete and make the playoffs, etc. You know, the same stuff we've been hearing from the Kubiak and crew since they took over. The question now is whether lack of success on the field is still the result of Charlie Casserley's poor personnel decisions.
It should be noted that Frank Bush is one of Kubiak's "Denver connection" coaches whose task, it would seem, is to make over the Texans into a "Denver south" version of team (formerly Shanahan). The the model on which the Texans have been designed just crashed ingloriously is obviously of no consequence, that many NFL experts are questioning the quality of the Denver system should also be ignored, at least, it should be ignored if you rely on local media for all things Texan. They haven't so much as questioned the system.
It's too early to catagorize the Frank Bush hiring as either genius or disaster, only after next season will we know for sure. How the Texans do in the upcoming draft will speak volumes as well. This is a team that depserately needs help at line-backer, defensive backfield and on the d-line opposite of Mario Williams. As much as it pains me to say it, they also need defensive help in the interior line. Now, as before the season, the Texans only have three 'plus' players on their defense: Mario Williams, Dunta Robinson and DeMeco Ryans.
The question that will be answered next year is whether the problem was with the coordinator, or with the Denver defensive system that couldn't stop a stiff Jr. High Marching band at Mile High? If its the latter then the Texans are in for a long, rough year, and could be looking at a third head coach. Let's hope, for Houston football fans, that the problems lie with the former choice.
