Needa Pass Rush
01-29-2006, 10:38 AM
Will this make Kubiak interested in any piece of his former team that he can pry loose?
Jan. 29, 2006, 12:05AM
Kubiak will model team after Broncos
Consistency marked 20 years in Mile High City
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Although the transformation will not happen overnight, Houston fans can look at the Denver Broncos if they want to see what kind of team new coach Gary Kubiak wants the Texans to become.
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Kubiak will never say the Broncos' way is the best way. And it's not the only way he knows. But starting in 1983, when Denver drafted him out of Texas A&M, he spent 20 years in an organization that has been consistently successful.
Kubiak knows the formula for success. Under Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan, Kubiak participated in five Super Bowls, winning two. In 1994, his only season as an assistant coach at San Francisco, he won his first Super Bowl ring.
In 23 years as a player and assistant coach, including two years (1992-93) at Texas A&M under R.C. Slocum, Kubiak has been on only two losing teams.
"I learned from Mike that you want to be involved with everything," Kubiak said.
Calling the shots
Shanahan learned how to delegate. For the last six years, he let Kubiak call plays.
With the Texans, Kubiak will coach quarterbacks and call plays. He'll work closely with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Troy Calhoun.
"We'll bring our system from Denver, although we might change the color of the playbook a little bit, maybe to a little darker blue," Kubiak said with a smile. "But we're going to have the Texans' offense, the Texans' defense and the Texans' special teams.
"And we'll be committed in all three areas, and I can promise you that we'll be aggressive."
Which is music to the earns of everyone from owner Bob McNair to the fans.
"One thing about our scheme is that you teach a system," Kubiak said. "You don't necessarily teach everything that you're going to do. You teach a system, and you've got to be able to branch off from that system."
Pieces in right place
Denver's players say one of Kubiak's specialties is putting players in position to take advantage of their strengths and keeping them out of situations that will magnify their weaknesses.
"One of the great things I've learned is that we have to do what our players do best," Kubiak said. "You can't be stubborn and say, 'This is the way we did it.' We're going to do what's best for the Texans."
After he hires his first staff, Kubiak wants to meet with his new players. He'll spend more time with quarterback David Carr than any player on the roster. Before he makes his recommendation to McNair about the top pick, Kubiak has to know what makes Carr tick.
"There's tremendous upside to David Carr," he said. "That position is about success. David has to understand that this guy right here is going to be with him every day. I'll have both of these (hands) on him. That's what I know — working with the quarterback, understanding what he's going through."
In Kubiak's last season with the Broncos, they finished 13-3 in the regular season and lost the AFC Championship Game to Pittsburgh.
Now Kubiak is coaching a team that finished with the NFL's worst record.
From almost first to worst.
"I understand that we've got a long way to go, but it can be done," he said.
john.mcclain@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/3620084
Jan. 29, 2006, 12:05AM
Kubiak will model team after Broncos
Consistency marked 20 years in Mile High City
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Although the transformation will not happen overnight, Houston fans can look at the Denver Broncos if they want to see what kind of team new coach Gary Kubiak wants the Texans to become.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kubiak will never say the Broncos' way is the best way. And it's not the only way he knows. But starting in 1983, when Denver drafted him out of Texas A&M, he spent 20 years in an organization that has been consistently successful.
Kubiak knows the formula for success. Under Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan, Kubiak participated in five Super Bowls, winning two. In 1994, his only season as an assistant coach at San Francisco, he won his first Super Bowl ring.
In 23 years as a player and assistant coach, including two years (1992-93) at Texas A&M under R.C. Slocum, Kubiak has been on only two losing teams.
"I learned from Mike that you want to be involved with everything," Kubiak said.
Calling the shots
Shanahan learned how to delegate. For the last six years, he let Kubiak call plays.
With the Texans, Kubiak will coach quarterbacks and call plays. He'll work closely with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Troy Calhoun.
"We'll bring our system from Denver, although we might change the color of the playbook a little bit, maybe to a little darker blue," Kubiak said with a smile. "But we're going to have the Texans' offense, the Texans' defense and the Texans' special teams.
"And we'll be committed in all three areas, and I can promise you that we'll be aggressive."
Which is music to the earns of everyone from owner Bob McNair to the fans.
"One thing about our scheme is that you teach a system," Kubiak said. "You don't necessarily teach everything that you're going to do. You teach a system, and you've got to be able to branch off from that system."
Pieces in right place
Denver's players say one of Kubiak's specialties is putting players in position to take advantage of their strengths and keeping them out of situations that will magnify their weaknesses.
"One of the great things I've learned is that we have to do what our players do best," Kubiak said. "You can't be stubborn and say, 'This is the way we did it.' We're going to do what's best for the Texans."
After he hires his first staff, Kubiak wants to meet with his new players. He'll spend more time with quarterback David Carr than any player on the roster. Before he makes his recommendation to McNair about the top pick, Kubiak has to know what makes Carr tick.
"There's tremendous upside to David Carr," he said. "That position is about success. David has to understand that this guy right here is going to be with him every day. I'll have both of these (hands) on him. That's what I know — working with the quarterback, understanding what he's going through."
In Kubiak's last season with the Broncos, they finished 13-3 in the regular season and lost the AFC Championship Game to Pittsburgh.
Now Kubiak is coaching a team that finished with the NFL's worst record.
From almost first to worst.
"I understand that we've got a long way to go, but it can be done," he said.
john.mcclain@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/3620084