Week 14

[Pigeon]

Texans open with loss to Jacksonville on Thursday.

Coach Kubiak fired by owner. NFL coaching spot now open.

[Royal]

John Elway.

[Pigeon]

Jon Gruden

Wouldn't it be odd that after Kubiak was the backup to Elway in Denver that Elway comes to Houston to replace Kubiak and then makes the Texans into a superbowl team.

They mentioned Lovey, the SD offensive coach and some college coachs.

[Royal]

Holy shit, I didn't know Kubiak was a QB or his history in general.

I could of easily said Ross Perot...

[Pigeon]

He didn't play that much, as you can imagine. He was from Houston and played at St. Pius HS and Texas A&M.

Texas material.

Kubiak has participated in six Super Bowls, losing three as a player with the Denver Broncos and winning three as an assistant coach with Denver and the San Francisco 49ers.

[Pigeon]

This is rare...



Houston Chronicle Link

[Pigeon]

Not only did the Texans fire coach Gary Kubiak today, but they also fired special teams coordinator Joe Marciano, who had been with the organization since its inception in 2002.

Marciano was hired by original coach Dom Capers. Kubiak retained him when he was hired in 2006.

To replace Marciano, the Texans promoted his assistant, Bob Ligashesky, who’s in his first season with the team.

The Texans’ special teams have been horrendous this season. Only punter Shane Lechler has performed consistently.

[Royal]

Bob Ligashesky History:

Ligashesky has coached for the NFL's St. Louis Rams (2005–2006) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2004). Ligashesky was hired on January 29, 2007 as the Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coach after Kevin Spencer left to coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He was hired when Mike Tomlin became head coach after Bill Cowher resigned early in 2007. He was released by the Steelers on January 7, 2010.

Marciano firing is questionable.

Marciano directed three first-year Texans to franchise records on special teams in 2012. Rookie wide receiver Keshawn Martin ranked fifth in the NFL with a franchise-record 12.14 average on punt returns and was one of 12 players to produce more than 1,000 return yards on special teams in 2012. Martin totaled 267 yards on 22 punt returns and 741 yards on 31 kickoff returns for 1,008 combined return yards. Punter Donnie Jones set club marks with a 47.2 punting average and a 40.5 net punting average. Kicker Shayne Graham ranked fifth among NFL kickers with a franchise-record 138 points.

[Pigeon]

Misleading - 'franchise' records

Here is Graham - Houston one year. So good he plays for every team.

New Orleans Saints (2000)*
Seattle Seahawks (2001)*
Buffalo Bills (2001)
Seattle Seahawks (2002)*
Carolina Panthers (2002)
Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2009)
Baltimore Ravens (2010*, 2011)
New York Giants (2010)
New England Patriots (2010)
Washington Redskins (2011)*
Dallas Cowboys (2011)*
Miami Dolphins (2011)
Houston Texans (2012)
Cleveland Browns (2013)*
Pittsburgh Steelers (2013)

That punter 1 year also. The current Texans punter is very good.

[Pigeon]

The Texans will not try to hire ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and they won’t be pursuing Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, even if he does get fired.

Owner Bob McNair said during and after last week’s news conference announcing Kubiak’s firing that he prefers candidates with head-coaching experience. He also wants the candidates to have NFL experience.

Among the candidates I know the Texans are interested in are former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, Stanford coach David Shaw and San Diego offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

There will be many others they evaluate, including some who’ll be interviewed.