OT: Texans hire Wade Phillips, will switch to the 3-4

[Deus Irae]

The Texans have hired Wade Phillips as their defensive coordinator, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.

Phillips, 63, spent much of the day at Reliant Stadium interviewing with coach Gary Kubiak and meeting with others in the organization, including owner Bob McNair and general manager Rick Smith.

Texans hire Phillips as defensive coordinator | Houston Texans Football | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

The Texans will switch to a 3-4. Phillips will use Mario Williams like he used Bruce Smith, who had 65 sacks in 6 seasons under him.

Twitter / John McClain: The Texans will switch to ...

 

[Froob]

I wonder if the texans will make phillips their interm head coach if they have a bad enough start to the season.

 

[Jared]

I think Mario can play in a Wade's 3-4. He wouldn't fit nearly as well in ours.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

How many 3-4 teams does that make, 14? A couple more teams would make it half of the NFL.

 

[Rob0729]

Well, there are potentially four to five 3-4 teams that could be switched to another defense. The Cowboys, Browns, Broncos, 49ers, and Dolphins could or definitely are having regime changes. Cowher is very likely to take one head coaching job so either one of them will stay 3-4 or one of the other coaching openings will switch. The Bills shifted to a 4-3 during the year and may not switch back. The number of teams running the 3-4 could still go down even with Phillips going to Houston to run it.

 

[Rob0729]

How many 3-4 teams does that make, 14? A couple more teams would make it half of the NFL.

As I said in my last post, there could still be less teams running the 3-4 in 2011 than 2010 depending who fills the vacant positions.

 

[ausbacker]

They'll still finish 7-9.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Well, there are potentially four to five 3-4 teams that could be switched to another defense. The Cowboys, Browns, Broncos, 49ers, and Dolphins could or definitely are having regime changes. Cowher is very likely to take one head coaching job so either one of them will stay 3-4 or one of the other coaching openings will switch. The Bills shifted to a 4-3 during the year and may not switch back. The number of teams running the 3-4 could still go down even with Phillips going to Houston to run it.

True. I suppose the number of 3-4 defenses could rise also

 

[DaBruinz]

Personally, I think it's foolishness for them to switch to the 3-4. They don't have the ILB depth needed to run it.

Williams will be a 3-4 DE for them.. Okoye their NT???

They'll definitely have plenty of depth for their D-line.

The question will be the OLB position and the ILB position. Beyond Ryans, who will play ILB for them successfully?

At OLB, they will have Barwin and Mark Anderson moving to new positions. Do they move Cushing inside next to Ryans or leave him at OLB?

This move tells me that Kubiak will be given through 2012 to do something.

 

[Sciz]

Connor Barwin!

 

[convertedpatsfan]

They'll still finish 7-9.

Pretty much.

There was an earlier comment about how the Texans play like a back-up QB, very well with no pressure on them but awful when they're in the spotlight, and no surprise since Kubiak was a back-up QB.

With Wade around, at least Kubiak can honestly say he's no longer the worst coach on the team.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

LMAO how did this guy get another HC gig. Some teams are just screwed for life.

Thank God I'm a Pats fan

 

[jah]

LMAO how did this guy get another HC gig. Some teams are just screwed for life.

Thank God I'm a Pats fan

Do you mean Kubiak not getting fired? Because Phillips is the DC.

 

[WhiZa]

I think they have the personnel to be able to pull it off. Williams is good enough to still play DE, Okoye can be their DT. Cushing and Barwin on the outside would look really good.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Another Phillips from the family tree coaching on a team in Houston for the second time?

WHAT A "BUM"MER!

 

[pheenix11]

3-4? With the way Houston defends the pass they better make that a 1-10

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Connor Barwin!

So, in two years, the Texans will still suck, but Barwin will have the 3-4 experience he needs to come to Foxboro and release his inner Vrabel.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think they have the personnel to be able to pull it off. Williams is good enough to still play DE, Okoye can be their DT. Cushing and Barwin on the outside would look really good.

I don't believe that they have another player to be an effective ILB unless they move Cushing there..

 

[mcsully]

Well, there are potentially four to five 3-4 teams that could be switched to another defense. The Cowboys, Browns, Broncos, 49ers, and Dolphins could or definitely are having regime changes. Cowher is very likely to take one head coaching job so either one of them will stay 3-4 or one of the other coaching openings will switch. The Bills shifted to a 4-3 during the year and may not switch back. The number of teams running the 3-4 could still go down even with Phillips going to Houston to run it.

I'm going to disagree.. With the chance of the CBA not being done in time (limiting the time with player), and the 49'ers, Dolphins, Cowboy and Brown's GM all staying the same, I'm not seeing it happen this year..

 

[WaterfallJumper]

So, in two years, the Texans will still suck, but Barwin will have the 3-4 experience he needs to come to Foxboro and release his inner Vrabel.

Exactly!