(SportsRadio 610) - After two seasons with the Texans, including the last one as their head coach, Lovie Smith was fired on Sunday night, a few hours after he led his team to a 32-31 victory at Indianapolis.
Smith’s exit was no surprise considering the Texans finished 3-13-1. It had been rumored since their nine-game losing streak. The victory over the Colts cost them the first overall pick in the draft that belongs to Chicago. The Texans will have the second pick behind the Bears.
Since Smith’s firing, chairman and CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio have moved on. They have to follow strict NFL mandates about interviewing minority candidates and a time frame for interviewing coaches with playoff teams before they hire Smith’s replacement.
Here are the weekly observations about where the Texans stand early in the hiring process and what it might mean have the second pick in the draft.
IMPRESSIVE LIST OF EARLY CANDIDATES
Cal McNair and Nick Caserio have put together a list of early candidates that shows what kind of coach they prefer to hire. After hiring David Culley at 66 and Lovie Smith at 63 – and firing both after one season – it’s apparent they want to go younger.
Of the candidates who’ve been identified, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is the oldest at 42. Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is the youngest at 35. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is 36, Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen 37, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans 38 and Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon 40.
Interestingly, a lot of experience as a coordinator isn’t essential. Steichen, who calls plays for the Eagles, is in his third season as a coordinator, including one season with the Chargers. Gannon, a finalist last year who interviewed twice, is in his second season as a coordinator. Ryans is in his second season. Kafka and Johnson are in their first seasons. All are in demand.
TEXANS CAN OFFER AN ATTRACTIVE JOB
Despite hiring their fourth coach in four years and five if you count interim coach Romeo Crennel, the Texans have a lot to offer candidates, starting with a five-year contract. The new coach will have 11 draft choices, including the second and 12th picks in the first round, as well as five in the first three rounds. They also own the Browns’ third-round pick. Nick Caserio got running back Dameon Pierce with Cleveland’s fourth-round pick from the Deshaun Watson trade.
As it stands today, they’ll have 10 picks, including two more first-rounders, in the 2024 draft. The new coach also will have a lot of cap space for Caserio to use on veterans. He took over a bad cap situation, cleaned it up and will put it in position to sign a couple of expensive veterans to fill need positions.
CASERIO ACCEPTS BLAME FOR POOR PERFORMANCE
Nick Caserio was hired two years ago. He faced a lot of obstacles, including no picks in the first two rounds, the Deshaun Watson controversy, a terrible salary cap situation and an edict to tear it down and start over. But the Texans are 8-25-1 under Caserio, and his choices to become head coaches – David Culley and Lovie Smith – were fired.
Not many general managers have a chance to hire three head coaches, especially in their first three seasons. Caserio signed a six-year contract worth $30 million, and he’s got four years left. He knows if the new hire doesn’t work out, it’ll cost him his job.
“I'm probably disappointed in myself more than anybody, but I'm also excited about the opportunity we have,” Caserio said at the team’s news conference this week. “We didn't get the results on the field we all hoped for (and) expected (but) I think we've done a decent job of putting the organization in a good position.
“We started the process of identifying candidates to be the next head coach. We have a lot of work in front of us, but I don't think anybody is discouraged. I think we're all disappointed about where we are. I'm certainly disappointed in where we are. I take as much responsibility (for) where we are, and I'm accountable to everybody in this building.”
Caserio isn’t going anywhere, despite national reports he could be fired. He’s not quitting to let the new coach have control over personnel, which he has in his contract. The McNair family believes Caserio deserves another season to continue with a rebuild that’ll be in its third season.
“In the end, it's about making the right decisions,” Caserio said. “That's my commitment to ownership. I'm appreciative of their support and the resources they're willing to provide. The only way to get better is to look at all facets of your process and operation, and we're doing that.”
THE WAY THE TEXANS DO BUSINESS
Cal McNair has been part of the interview process for hiring head coaches since his late father, Bob McNair, founded the team. Bob McNair always wanted his son to participate in the interviews when he hired Dom Capers, Gary Kubiak and Bill O’Brien. Since his father died in November of 2018, Cal McNair has overseen the hiring of coaches and general managers and the promotion of O’Brien to general manager.
The way the Texans do business is after they complete the interviews, including those who are brought back a second or third time, Nick Caserio will make his recommendation to the McNair family – Janice Hannah and Cal. It’s the McNair way to sign off on the hire unless they feel strongly about it. For instance, if Caserio said, “Cal, I want to bring back Bill O’Brien as head coach so he can coach Bryce Young.” Cal McNair would respond, “Uh, no way, Nick!”
NEW COACH WILL HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS
When it comes to personnel, the new coach will be much better off than David Culley and Lovie Smith were in their one season as coach. As the defensive coach, Smith helped develop such rookies as safety Jalen Pitre, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and linebacker Christian Harris – all drafted in the first three rounds. All should be better next season.
Whether it’s in the draft or free agency, defensively, the Texans need another pass rusher and a run stopper at tackle who can also push the pocket on the pass rush. They also could use another linebacker and safety.
The new coach’s biggest needs will be on offense, beginning with a quarterback. Caserio will never disclose his plans, of course, but what if he were to sign veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and use his first pick on defensive tackle Jalen Carter or edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.? Fans would go ballistic. They want a franchise quarterback, and they’ll have a chance to get either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.
Caserio also has needs at wide receiver, center, tight end and backup running back. With 11 draft choices, including two in the first round, as well as room under the cap, Caserio should be able to fill some serious needs for the new coach.
“We’re constantly evaluating where we are as an organization, looking for ways to improve,” Cal McNair said. “We know the last two seasons haven’t been what we had hoped for, but we're committed to building a program that's successful long-term. We've dealt with unprecedented circumstances over the last several years, but we're excited about where we're headed.
“We’re committed to getting this one (head coach) right. I have full confidence in Nick. He has led our operations through a difficult stretch. We talk constantly and have a plan for this process we'll execute together.”
When it comes to hiring the next head coach, Caserio better hope the third time will be the charm because he won’t get a fourth chance.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday and Thursday on Texans Radio. He write three times a week and does three Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.