The return of Gary Kubiak
Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak on the sidelines during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Baltimore beat Dallas 37-30. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans will face off against the Houston Texans Offense of the last 8 years on Sunday. In a way, that’s not entirely untrue. Former head coach Gary Kubiak returns to Houston. After he was let go due to the Texans abysmal 2013 and his inability to see the faults of quarterback Matt Schaub he quickly settled in as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. Kubiak snatched up long time Texans tight end Owen Daniels after the new regime of Bill O’Brien and company released him. Daniels is the Ravens number two most targeted receiver and still well liked by Texans fans. His departure was abrupt and he’s looking to show the Texans the mistake they made.
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Kubiak of course isn’t calling the shots as the head coach, but his offensive influence from the zone schemes to the play action boot legs are back. While there have been complaints from Ravens fans about predictability, something any Texans fan can attest too the Ravens have been playing very well under his system. The Ravens are looking to lock up their play off berth in Houston while the Texans are hoping somehow to keep to keep their most slim of play off hopes alive for another week.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has had some success this season, taking a 2-14 team to a 7-7 record. But much like Kubiak he has a glaring hole under center. With season start Ryan Fitzpatrick out, Ryan Mallett out, Tom Savage out the Texans were forced to sign last years back up and 8 game start Case Keenum. Unlike Daniels, Keenum isn’t penned to start Sunday. In fact, the Texans are being quite coy about who is starting. But the drama, the feel good story of letting Keenum start, to finally get a win and do it against the coach who showed no faith in him last season and prove O’Brien was wrong to let him go this season is too much. If Keenum doesn’t start I’ll be shocked.
There is a lot emotionally about this game, and for Bill O’Brien, he has to prove he can be the man he replaced. Kubiak’s last season might have been contentious, the fans might have been happy to see him go but in the NFL he’s a 100% class act. The players liked him, the fans remember him more for the good times then the bad. His team needs this win. Then again, so do the Texans.
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