HOUSTON – Before all the trade talks, reports about his future and the appointment of coach David Culley, Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked what he would look for in his next head coach.
“I mean, we just need a whole culture shift,” Watson said earlier this month. “We just need new energy. We need discipline, we need structure, we need a leader so we can follow the leader as players. That’s what we need. We need to love not just the football game. to have, 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] it’s who we follow and that’s how it goes … and we’re going to do it this way to win. ‘
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who appointed Culley as assistant head coach in 2019, said he was respected “as a teacher, a game planner and a motivator.” Culley is the first black head coach to be appointed by the Texans and the first in the NFL appointment cycle.
By hiring Culley, the Texans hope they have found the person to build the foundation Watson asked for. But will Culley get the chance to coach Watson? The star quarterback formally asked Thursday.
To most Texans fans, Culley’s name is unknown. So who is he and why did Calans CEO Cal McNair and general manager Nick Caserio choose him to be the next franchise coach?
Who’s David Culley?
Culley, 65, has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore as the Ravens’ assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receiving coach. He has just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach after 16 seasons in various coaching roles at the university. He will be the oldest coach in NFL history during his debut as head coach.
Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level, but he was an assistant head coach before his tournament in Baltimore, for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens were a first attack in 2020, as they led the NFL in rushing yards and were last in passing yards.
What does this mean for Deshaun Watson?
This is perhaps the most important question and by requesting a trade, Watson put the ball in Texans court.
While the Texans could agree to trade terms with another team on March 17 before the start of the new league year, a trade can only be executed until then. The most important time frame to note is before the NFL draft in April, because if the Texans trade with Watson, they want to make sure they get 2021 draft capital, once the constituency slots are locked.
Watson has a trade clause in his contract. This means Watson has an important role to play in his destiny, as he can choose not to waive the clause.
Any trade in Watson would cost the Texans $ 5.6 million in dead money. Due to the way his contract is structured (he is technically in the last year of his new contract, before his four-year contract extension begins), the capital cost for 2021 is only $ 15.94 million. By comparison, the number jumps to $ 40.4 million in 2022.
What is he bringing to Houston?
The Texans are serious about solving the organization’s culture and believe that Culley is the person who should do it.
After conducting a second interview with the Texans – this time in person – the team was impressed by Culley’s energy and believes he has the NFL experience to deliver the cultural shift within the building, even though he was still not a coordinator.
“The thing I would emphasize more than anything about Coach Culley is what an amazing teacher and communicator he is,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in 2019. ‘He’s probably the best – I would say he’s the best upright teacher, communicator that I’ve seen how I coach football one – on – one, not just because he coaches it so well, but because he’s so relentless and the coach important things. ‘
“You can be relentless, but if you coach things that do not matter, then it’s just hot air. He coaches the things that matter, and you see the guys get better every day in his position group.”
McNair knew he wanted his general manager to take the lead in the coaching search. It is Caserio who said that the trait he sought most in a head coach was the ability to ‘lead people’.
“Because in the end, football is a sport, but it’s about people, right?” Caserio said. “You have to make an investment in people. You have to be able to lead people … These are some of the things that will be important in terms of whether they are a good player on their side of the ball or not… whoever it is will be able in a certain area. ‘
What’s next in Houston?
Watson achieved the best figures in his young career in 2020, and the team won only four games. Houston’s defense struggles and finishes 30th in the DVOA of Football Outsiders. Of course, there are still many holes in a defense that young differentialists are missing, and whoever Culley appoints as defense coordinator will have a big job to do.
Regardless of whether the Texans trade Watson, the holes on the grid will remain. The Texans’ first choice in this draft is number 67, so they will not be able to add impact talent at a team-friendly price, and they are currently $ 18 million more than the projected salary limit of 2021 (although less than the cash they have already connected them, which gives them a bit of flexibility).
If Houston trades with Watson, he can plug pieces into the defense and upgrade that side of the ball significantly, but then the questions will remain at quarterback.