Phillips Takes Medical Leave, Wants A HC Job [Archive]

HPF Bob

12-14-2011, 09:58 AM

Per the Chron and elsewhere, Wade Phillips is taking a medical leave immediately but will return before the regular season is over. Reggie Herring will call the defense in his absence. He'll have a press conference after practice today.

In another story, Phillips says he loves coaching the Texans but he thinks their success is reason for him to get another head coaching gig. If he's available. my bet is San Diego, where he has previously coached and where Norv Turner is expected to be fired after the season. The Chargers have a history of hiring head coaches with previous head coaching experience and they have the talent to make a quick turnaround.

popanot

12-14-2011, 11:31 AM

My goodness! I hope he's OK, but can't we just have some peace and enjoy this great season we're having?

WMH

12-14-2011, 01:26 PM

Its a kidney issue.
Should be back in 10-14 days.

NBT

12-14-2011, 01:40 PM

Man this really sucks. I hope nothing else befalls us. Enough is enough.

I am completely selfish here. I hope Wade's efforts at landing a HC position does not bear fruit and he just stays with the Texans, with a hefty raise, perhaps.

Kubs & Phillips make a helluva team. One that will get us to the SB if we can keep it in place.

Fonz the Boss

12-14-2011, 06:14 PM

barrett

12-14-2011, 06:57 PM

I don't think it hurts our psyche at all. I think if anything the defensive guys play with more passion in a win one for the gipper setting.

But while the psyche should be fine, I think it is fair to worry about the actual Xs and Os. Herring may know Wade's defense as well as Wade does (it is not complicated), but calling the defense on Sunday is totally different than coaching it during the week.

We are not currently constructed to play in a shootout, we face a very unique defensive challenge this week, and we are without the head of our defense. It is definitely concerning, but chalking it up as a loss is crazy. It is still a 10-3 team at home against a 4-9 team. These teams have been learning to win and lose all season. Our guys think they are supposed to win at this point. We will not likely be shaken by a rough turn of events. Carolina on the other hand has blown leads all season long and found a way to consistently lose.

barrett

12-14-2011, 07:29 PM

And I would have to think that his current health concerns will greatly damage his chances of landing a head gig next year. Teams were not lining up for 65 year old head coaches already, and the idea that they could lose their head coach at any point in the season will scare many away.

HPF Bob

12-14-2011, 11:36 PM

Before he signs anywhere else, he will probably have to pass an insurance physical and he'll also need to be totally transparent about whatever health issues he has but I don't think it will keep him from getting an HC job if he is given a clean bill of health. I'd probably worry about his weight problem if I were an owner.

WMH

12-15-2011, 07:55 PM

From the Chronic:
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2011/12/texans-defensive-coordinator-phillips-stable-after-surgery/

The Texans released a statement on defensive coordinator Wade Phillips this afternoon.

It said:

Wade Phillips has completed the surgery on his kidney and gallbladder. He is in stable condition. In order to respect his privacy, the family has requested there be no further information given at this time.”

Phillips will miss the Carolina and Indianapolis games. He’s expected to return for the Tennessee game on Jan. 1 if he progresses as the doctors have told him.

Keith

12-16-2011, 12:10 AM

That he's gone for such a short time isn't such a bad thing. I think it may help the defense from getting complacent against (1) a Panthers team with a dynamic QB and (2) a Colts team that they could easily overlook to the Titans game.

And it isn't like the Texans will miss Wade's overall strategizing pre-game. I'm sure Herring knows exactly what Wade is thinking for these next two games.

So no need to sound the alarm here.

chuck

12-16-2011, 12:53 AM

nunusguy

12-16-2011, 06:52 AM

We know Herring has the X&Os expertise on the 1-gap version of Wades 3-4 alignment schemes, and Sundays game will provide an opportunity for Texans top brass to determine if Herring can successfully call defensive signals during a game ? After all they are gonna need to fill a soon to be vacated DC position.

cadams

12-16-2011, 08:39 AM

I'm not worried about the game or games that he's going to miss because of this weirdly secretive surgical procedure. What does annoy me is his publicly angling for a head coaching job while he is employed by the Texans as a coordinator. I don't mind that he wants to be a head coach. In fact, I'd be disappointed if he didn't. But to be talking to the media about wanting to be a head coach again in the middle of a season is only a step removed from the bullshit Jim Fassel pulled as OC for the Ravens.

Just STFU about your own future and tell the gathering crowd that you're thinking only about the Panthers or your gall bladder or your adorable Pomeranian or whatever. Don't go mouthing off about wanting to be a head coach again. Don't cause any more distractions for a team that has had more than its share this year.

he was responding to a question he was asked on that specific subject. i don't think that is "angling" for a new job. it is just him honestly answering a question asked of him. he isn't going to be leaving in the middle of the season. teams can't interview him during the regular season, and unless the texans have a bye week they can't interview him until after the texans post season is over. this is not like college, and it isn't going to be a distraction so chill out.

Joshua

12-16-2011, 10:07 AM

he was responding to a question he was asked on that specific subject. i don't think that is "angling" for a new job. it is just him honestly answering a question asked of him. he isn't going to be leaving in the middle of the season. teams can't interview him during the regular season, and unless the texans have a bye week they can't interview him until after the texans post season is over. this is not like college, and it isn't going to be a distraction so chill out.

I get what you're saying, but since when do coaches honestly answer questions (particularly ones they shouldn't)? I don't think this is a big deal either way, but he should have blown off the question and given the standard "I'm not thinking about that right now, I'm just concentrating on next week's game" answer.

And considering that virtually every coach knows to give this type of pat answer, I think him going against the grain could be viewed as him trying to get the word out that he wants a head coaching job. Whether that's "angling," I don't know. Again, not that big a deal either way, but was a softball question I would have liked to have seen him answer better.

chuck

12-16-2011, 12:26 PM

Again, not that big a deal either way, but was a softball question I would have liked to have seen him answer better.

Exactly. The correct answer is, 'I haven't thought about next year at all; I'm worried about next week.'

It wouldn't bother me at all if he went straight from the press conference to his office and got his agent on the phone and demanded that he line him up for one of the many head coaching vacancies that are appearing. Like I said, I expect him to want a HC job. I know I would if I were in his spot.

But all in all I would much rather be bickering over subtleties regarding the inevitability of our coordinators taking head coaching jobs than arguing over how many of them should be fired like we've done every other December around here.

HPF Bob

12-16-2011, 12:44 PM

1) What concerns me about Phillips' absence is whether the right adjustments will be made on defense after they see the Panthers' plans to attack them. Maybe they switch assignments or coverages. Will Herring know what to tweak?

2) I agree that Wade should have given a stock coaching answer instead of the truth but Wade and Bum are both genuinely honest people inclined to say what they think rather than hide behind coachspeak. Wade is in his 60s and his window on being considered for another job is closing quickly. Perhaps some GMs might assume he's too old to be considered for a new HC job (after all, most want to find a coach who will fill the job for the next decade or more) unless he says he wants consideration.

I don't think he's as much in danger of leaving as we might think. What I worry about is having him get promoted in Houston the next time Kubiak makes a dunderhead decision.

NBT

12-16-2011, 04:14 PM

Wade said he had installed the gameplan for Carolina before he left. All Reggie Herring has to do is know when to call the blitzes in the game.

painekiller

12-17-2011, 02:51 PM

Fonz the Boss

12-18-2011, 02:54 PM

We can overcome the loss of Andre, Mario, Schaub, Leinart, etc but this is something else. Even Kubiak himself said that the defense is the catalyst and it all starts with Wade. To make matters worse this happens on a week when we face one of the most explosive offenses in the league. His absence will have a negative impact on their psyche .. put one in the L column

I hate being right but I knew this would happen. Wade is our catalyst. We had a chance in the 4th to make it a game despite TJ Yates' ineptitude but our #1 ranked defense didn't have the usual fire.

barrett

12-18-2011, 04:09 PM

I hate being right but I knew this would happen. Wade is our catalyst. We had a chance in the 4th to make it a game despite TJ Yates' ineptitude but our #1 ranked defense didn't have the usual fire.

That loss wasn't about psyche or defense. Bad execution on the offensive side of the ball all day did us in. 14 of the points came off of turnovers. And our offense put no pressure on a team that has made a habit of crumbling all season. Wade wouldn't fix Arian fumbling, Yates throwing ints or all the drive killing penalties.

chuck

12-18-2011, 04:32 PM

That loss wasn't about psyche or defense. Bad execution on the offensive side of the ball all day did us in. 14 of the points came off of turnovers. And our offense put no pressure on a team that has made a habit of crumbling all season. Wade wouldn't fix Arian fumbling, Yates throwing ints or all the drive killing penalties.

Or Rackers missing a very makeable FG and giving the Panthers good field position from which they scored another first half TD.

NBT

12-19-2011, 04:58 PM

What the hell now? Kubiak really pissed me off big time this game. this team was not prepared properly. Carolina got the momentum early with the Arian fumble recovery, and just kept on pushing. Kubiak could have been proactive, but instead he chose to be reactive all day. Against that background, this team never had a chance. The seven game winning momentum is now gone. It is much easier to maintain momentum than to try to reclaim it after a stupid loss in your own playpen.

Nconroe

12-19-2011, 06:47 PM

Well, the good thing we are now 10-4 , in the playoffs , and sice Baltimore, Jets, Bengals, Titans, Denver, and Oakland lost, as well as Green Bay and Giants we might still get first round bye and very likely home for first plaoff game.

And many of mistakes in execution made can be corrected.

And like Andre, Brizelle, and Wade will be back in a few weeks.

Not time to panic.

Team had good practices last Thurs and Fri so not sure why we lost turnovee battle . Seemed guys were playing hard.

So, I'm wondering does Wade really have that much positive influence when present on the sideline?

Fonz the Boss

12-22-2011, 10:40 PM

the future HOFer Dan Orlovsky and company beat us in total offense and time of possession... not to mention he led a hall of fame comeback victory over our supposed top 5 defense.... get well Wade because this defense is clearly not the same without you. I hate that I'm right again but it's pretty clear now how important Wade is when we lose to the Colts.... oh man what a joke. Things are starting to go downhill fast.

barrett

12-22-2011, 10:59 PM

This team is broken on offense. We gave up 19 points which is a great effort. Not to mention they gift wrapped the only td our offense scored.

Our offense let us down again...in the redone again. Wade coming back won't fix how bad we've been offensively since schaub went down.

Keith

01-02-2012, 11:52 PM

How about this lil' nugget from Bum?

...According to Bum in remarks at the Gridiron Legends reception, Wade had “a tumor the size of a volleyball that encompassed his kidney and his gall bladder, so he had them all taken out. He’s got a scar about this long.” At that point, Bum held his hands about a foot apart. Bum also said the tumor was not malignant. ...

http://panews.com/sports/x1477837466/Little-Joe-Bum-officially-Gridiron-Legends

edo783

01-04-2012, 08:03 PM

So, Wade lost the kidney? News made it sound like they cut the growth off, but it didn't sound like the kidney went. Dang, Wade isn't a teenager anymore. That type of surgery is tough to get over even when you're not 68. Pretty impressive that he is back this quick.

WMH

01-05-2012, 02:13 PM

@NickScurfield: Phillips said he thinks he should be considered for HC jobs, but "this is the best job I've had. I'm not looking to go anywhere."

WMH

01-08-2012, 01:56 PM

@espn_afcsouth: Per @johnclayton: Wade Phillips will interview with Tampa Bay on Friday. #texans

chuck

01-08-2012, 03:54 PM

@espn_afcsouth: Per @johnclayton: Wade Phillips will interview with Tampa Bay on Friday. #texans

Why the hell would they want to hire a seventy year old guy with one kidney?

Keith

01-08-2012, 04:55 PM

Why the hell would they want to hire a seventy year old guy with one kidney?
...on a team 3 years away from seriously competing, especially amongst the Saints, Falcons, and now...Cam Newton's Panthers?

barrett

01-08-2012, 04:58 PM

Not to mention you have a young QB in desperate need of a great offensive mind. If I am running TB my number one priority is getting Josh Freeman right. Wade cannot help at all with that.

Nconroe

01-08-2012, 05:00 PM

Seems to me any interviews should wait till after playoffs.

Poor timing could become a distraction.

WMH

01-08-2012, 06:11 PM

With all due respect to Wades skills, he's not a top candidate for a reason.
If you look at the openings left (assuming the reports of Fisher to the Rams are true), that leaves the Hags, Bucs, and Fins.
Fins - Wade's not flashy enough.
Bucs - As Barrett pointed out, they need some serious help on O.
Jags - Unfortunately, I see this as his best opportunity. Knows the division, a key component of the Texans staff, and he will likely be a cheaper option, but has experience.

But even with the Hags, they might lean towards an O to try to save Gabbert, if that's possible. But with the talent influx on D, he could be justified there fairly well.

I hope he stays, and as bad as this will sound, I think his age, coupled with this health scare, may just keep him here.

edo783

01-08-2012, 09:24 PM

IMO, I don't think Wade really wants to leave, but Dallas left a bad taste in his mouth and the crap that happened in the media and everyone wants to prove they can when others say they can't. I think he wants to be ASKED to the dance, but would rather stay put, not to mention his health. We need to make him Asst. Head Coach and back up the Brink's truck and call it a day.

WMH

01-08-2012, 10:23 PM

We need to make him Asst. Head Coach and back up the Brink's truck and call it a day.

I think he already is the HC - Def. And, I might be wrong on this, but I think he is the highest DC in the league. IMO, Wade's desire to be a HC doesn't have a whole lot to do with money. He's been in the league for 25+ years. He's probably OK with his finances.

barrett

01-09-2012, 08:10 AM

If I had a team with Defensive issues, but a largely veteran offense, and I wanted to win now (like playoffs win), then I would consider Wade as an option. His returns are highest in the first years everywhere he goes. After a while he tends to lose a little control/discipline with the players.

Honestly, he would not have been a bad HC hire to replace Kubs if they had fired him last offseason. Wade gets his teams above .500 and to the playoffs. But I would not touch him for a rebuilding job (he is not long term), I would not trust him to get me over the top to a title (he never has in 25 years), and I would not hire him if I needed offensive help.

If Andy Reid or Tom Coughlin had been fired for their defensive issues I think he could have stepped in and had immediate 11-12 win results out of either team without touching the offenses. But none of the current jobs really suit him.

WMH

01-09-2012, 08:17 AM

From SI's Peter King in the MMQB:
"
The other openings ... I said Saturday the Bucs want an authority figure to clean up Raheem Morris' mess, and they like former Packer and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman ... As Adam Schefter reported, Kansas City is likely to keep Romeo Crennel as the permanent coach after he went 2-1 as the interim man. I expect that to happen as early as this week ... Jacksonville's quiet, but I expect Dallas special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis and Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to be in it at the end ... Hue Jackson (Oakland) and Jim Caldwell (Indianapolis) are in limbo until, respectively, a new GM in Oakland (Reggie McKenzie) learns the ropes and considers his options, and owner Jim Irsay picks a GM in Indianapolis.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/01/08/wild.card.round/index.html#ixzz1iyEXfYO6

An authority figure in Tampa seems like a really good idea with that mess, and that is certainly not Wade.

Also, people seem to fail to realize that an interview DOES NOT consitute a job offer. Just cause thier chatting, doesn't mean he's bolting.

nunusguy

01-09-2012, 12:17 PM

Seems to me any interviews should wait till after playoffs.

Poor timing could become a distraction.

I'd go so far as to say it's really classless of Phillips. Of course maybe I'm just a bit naive here, thinking Wade was some nice ole guy who wanted only the best for the city of Houston and would do nothing which might cause his team to lose its focus for the weekends upcoming game in Baltimore. Turns out ole Wade is just another opportunistic, self-serving coach looking for the next deal that's better than his current gig. In other words, your average NFL coach.

Keith

01-09-2012, 03:50 PM

Sadly, that may be so. Wade wants one last hurrah. Tough to blame him.

I doubt seriously Wade is offered the job though. Mike Sherman seems to be a favorite, and myself, one of these days I keep thinking Jerry Gray will be a NFL head coach.

WMH

01-09-2012, 04:42 PM

It has been reported that Tampa wants to pull the trigger next week. Wade interviewing this week is likely a function of that. If he wants his name in the circle, he has to be available when he's needed to be available.

IMO, much ado about nothing. Jabba indicated it would be done on Friday evening. Game plan done. Week of practice done. Why should we care who he has dinner with?

I think he is the longest of long shots for this particular gig (ok, maybe Marty S is the longest, but Wade's running a close 2nd.....).

Warren

01-09-2012, 05:52 PM

The Bucs needed the Texans’ permission to interview Wade, and the Texans could approve the time and place of the interview. A coach whose team played in the wild card round may only be interviewed after the wild card games and before the divisional games, so it could only be this week. Only one interview is allowed as long as the Texans are still in the playoffs, unless they make it to the Super Bowl in which case the Bucs can (again, with the Texans’ permission) talk to him a second time in the open week no later than the Sunday before the Super Bowl (the day of the Pro Bowl). They can’t have any other contact with him or his agent, and they can’t sign him to a contract, get him to promise to sign a contract, or announce that he’s the next coach.

I’m pretty sure that before that last rule was put in place there were several assistants who coached on Super Bowl winners after they’d been named as head coaches elsewhere. I want to say that Norv Turner and Dave Wannstedt coached in the Super Bowl for the Cowboys after agreeing to take the jobs in Chicago and Washington and Bill Belichick was named as the Browns’ head coach before winning a ring as the Giants’ DC.

I don’t have a problem with Wade wanting another shot as a head coach and I don’t think it’ll be a distraction. He’ll have an uphill battle in getting the job, not only because of his age and health concerns but also because of the way it ended for him in Dallas and all of the stories that came out about how loose a ship he ran there.

painekiller

01-09-2012, 07:01 PM

This is the way the NFL works. Get off of it. The coaches that teams want to hire are usually off a play off team, and they only have a small window do so, as was explained so well by Warren.

We had to talk to Kubiak in a similar fashion, though I believe Denver had a bye and McNair did the interview during the bye week. But when the Texans kept not announcing a new HC, everyone assumed that Kubiak was their choice. Had Denver gone to the Super Bowl that year would McNair had continued to wait for Kubiak to be available.

We can screw the Bucs by continuing to win, so they can not get started on a new staff until after the final week of the season. I doubt they will wait that long.

cadams

01-10-2012, 08:36 AM

I'd go so far as to say it's really classless of Phillips. Of course maybe I'm just a bit naive here, thinking Wade was some nice ole guy who wanted only the best for the city of Houston and would do nothing which might cause his team to lose its focus for the weekends upcoming game in Baltimore. Turns out ole Wade is just another opportunistic, self-serving coach looking for the next deal that's better than his current gig. In other words, your average NFL coach.

that's a bit over the top. it is unfair to hold coaches/players to a different standard than you would hold yourself or others. if someone wanted to interview you for a job that would be more prestige, a way to vindicate yourself and over double your income, but the only catch was they wanted to make a decision within a couple of weeks AND they are going to interview other people for the job as well, i am pretty sure you would make your schedule work for the interview. if you want to be mad about the situation, then be mad at the nfl rules. if wade didn't interview this week then he couldn't interview until after the texans are out of the playoffs. it would be unfair to him to say because you have done so well we are not going to let you interview for a better job.

i hope he stays, and honestly, if i was a team looking at a multi-year building process i probably wouldn't go with a 65 year old man coming off major surgery, so i think there is a decent chance he is back. but all the bs coming down on wade for doing something everyone else would do as well is terrible.

WMH

01-10-2012, 09:04 PM

Whew! This was one I was worried about:
@taniaganguli: The #Jaguars are hiring Mike Mularkey, according to a source. Mularkey interviewed today.

NBT

01-11-2012, 12:21 PM

From my point of view, Wade is the real reason we are in the playoffs. It would be hard to imagine him doing any better with the defense than he has.

So saying that, it would behoove us to make sure he is onboard for next year and for as many more years as he wants to coach. Then it follows that he wants more money, not necessarily the head job. I would do this: offer him the assistant head coach/defense, with a nice raise to go with it.

Although they have known each other for 30 years or so, I think there is an underlying current of competition for who is the best man between Kubiak and Phillips. JMHO

WMH

01-12-2012, 07:26 PM

@AdamSchefter: Texans DC Wade Phillips, who was scheduled to interview for the Buccaneers HC job Friday, told Tampa Bayt hat he was pulling out of process

chuck

01-12-2012, 07:35 PM

@AdamSchefter: Texans DC Wade Phillips, who was scheduled to interview for the Buccaneers HC job Friday, told Tampa Bay that he was pulling out of process

Good. Pulling out usually works.

Keith

01-12-2012, 07:44 PM

Good. Pulling out usually works.
Yep, 96% of the time, it works every time.

nunusguy

01-12-2012, 09:10 PM

“I want to be here,” Phillips said. “I love being with the Texans. I didn’t want to be a distraction.”
http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2012/01/wade-phillips-wont-interview-for-tampa-bay-coaching-job/
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
That's the right move Wade. If TB is really interested in you, they will wait until the Texans' Playoff appearances have concluded.

popanot

01-13-2012, 05:40 AM

Sounds like Uncle Bob kicked in some extra incentive pay.

WMH

01-13-2012, 08:15 AM

Sounds like Uncle Bob kicked in some extra incentive pay.

I would agree with this.
I don't really believe that he pulled out because he didn't want to be a distraction. That ship had already sailed, and he was 24 hours away from an a couple hour conversation. IMO, he likely got a pay bump (or the promise of a pay bump), + he heard rumblings that he had low odds.

Either way, I'm very happy that this adventure is likely over. 3 spots still out there, Fischer will take 1, sounds like Oakland has their sights set on a GB guy, so we're not out of the woods yet, but I would think Wade would be a very long shot at a Miami or St. Louis job. Capers is also rumored to be a candidate for Oakland.

chuck

01-13-2012, 09:24 AM

Capers is also rumored to be a candidate for Oakland.

That is about the weirdest pairing I can imagine.

Keith

01-13-2012, 10:39 AM

+ he heard rumblings that he had low odds. It's a small world. Maybe Mike Sherman knew something, told Kubiak, who then clued in Wade. Just speculating of course.

As for Capers and Oakland, I wonder how much that franchise has changed and will continue to change now that Al Davis is gone. I imagine quite a bit.