HOUSTON – Ahead of all the trade talks, reports on his future and the hiring of coach David Culley, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked what he was looking for in his next head coach.
“I mean, we just need a whole culture change,” Watson said earlier this month. We just need new energy. We need discipline, we need structure, we need a leader so that we can follow that leader as players. That’s what we need. We need to love not just the game of football, because that’s what we do, but the love for people and the people in this organization. “
“… We need someone who stands tall and [says] this is who we follow and this is the way it goes … and we’re going to do it this way to win. “
When the Ravens hired Culley in 2019, Harbaugh said the coach was highly respected “as a teacher, game planner and motivator.” Culley is the first black head coach hired by the Texans and the first in the NFL rental cycle.
Of course, Watson may not be with the Texans to play for Culley, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on Sunday that the quarterback is expected to leave Houston regardless of who hires the team. Watson is not the only one who believes that a culture change is needed.
By hiring Culley, the Texans hope they found that person to build the foundation Watson asked for.
But Culley’s name is not known to most Texan fans. So who is he and why did Texans CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio choose him as the franchise’s next coach?
Who is David Culley?
Culley, 65, has spent the past three seasons in Baltimore as the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach. He has just finished his 27th season as an NFL coach after 16 seasons in various college coaching roles. He will be the oldest coach in NFL history at the time of his debut as a head coach.
Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, but he was an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs before his time in Baltimore. The Ravens were a run-first attack in 2020, as they led the NFL in rushing yards and ranked last in passing yards.
What is he bringing to Houston?
The Texans were serious about improving the culture within the organization, and they believe Culley is that person.
After a second interview with the Texans – in person this time – the team was impressed with Culley’s energy and believes he has the NFL experience to bring about that cultural shift within the building, even if he wasn’t previously a coordinator.
“What I would especially like to emphasize about Coach Culley is what a great teacher and communicator he is,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in 2019. “He’s probably the best – I’d say he’s the best real teacher. communicator that I’ve seen soccer one-on-one coaching, not just because he coaches it so well, but because he’s so ruthless and he coaches the important stuff. ”
“You can be ruthless, but if you coach things that don’t matter, that’s just a lot of hot air. He coaches the things that matter, and you see the guys getting better every day within his job group.”
McNair knew he wanted his general manager to take the lead in the search for coaching. That’s Caserio, who said the attribute he most sought after in a head coach is the ability to “ lead people. ”
“Because football is ultimately a sport, but it’s about people, right?” Caserio said. “You have to invest in people. You have to be able to lead people. … Those are some of the things that are going to be important, depending on whether they are a good player on their respective side of the ball. But whoever it is, whoever it is is. will have some competence in a certain area. ‘
“… I would say that in our situation vis-a-vis Deshaun, try to set up something that is sustainable for him, which will allow him and the rest of the team and organization to go out and perform at their best in one of the weeks. until week. That’s the goal. “
What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?
This is perhaps the most important question that only Watson can answer. If Watson still wants to, regardless of who the Texans hired, as Mortensen reported, hiring Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy wouldn’t have made a difference.
Now that the Texans have hired their new coach, the question is whether Watson will be here to see the culture change he asked for in Houston. The quarterback has not requested a trade, but he could decide to do so once the appointment is officially announced.
Although the Texans were able to agree on trade terms with another team before the start of the new league year on March 17, a trade cannot be executed until then. The main time frame to watch out for is before the April NFL draw, because if the Texans were to trade Watson, they’d want to make sure they get 2021 design capital, when the pick slots are locked.
What’s the future in Houston?
Watson put in the best marks of his young career in 2020 and the team won just four games. Houston’s defense struggled, finishing 30th in Football Outsiders’ weighted DVOA. Of course, there are still a lot of holes in a defense that struggled mainly because there were no young difference makers, so whoever hires Culley as defensive coordinator has a big task ahead of them.
Regardless of whether the Texans trade Watson, those holes on the roster will remain. The Texans’ top pick in this design is No. 67, so they won’t be able to add impact talent at a team-friendly price, and they’re currently $ 18 million higher than the expected 2021 salary cap (though that’s less than the cash that have already committed them, which gives them some flexibility).
If Houston trades Watson, it will be able to plug in pieces on the defense and significantly upgrade that side of the ball, but then questions remain with the quarterback.