Phillips Takes Medical Leave, Wants A HC Job

[HPF Bob]

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]

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

[WMH]

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

[NBT]

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]

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

[barrett]

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]

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.

[Fonz the Boss]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

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]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

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.