The Houston Texans fired coach David Culley on Thursday. Houston also parted ways with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.
Perhaps it was time for Culley to go. The Texans went on an eight-game losing streak and posted a 4-13 record with veteran players getting disciplined along the way. Houston also had questionable in-game adjustments and decisions that contributed to the Texans’ double-digit losses, the second consecutive season this has been the case since 2005-06.
Maybe it was time for Kelly to go. He was kind of the odd duck as he was a holdover from the Bill O’Brien era, and not just in the way Bobby King was as a former inside linebackers coach. Kelly was one of O’Brien’s former lieutenants and had connections with O’Brien going back to the 2012 Penn State Nittany Lions.
With the Texans getting rid of Culley, what does it mean for the future of defensive coordinator Lovie Smith?
On Smith’s own merits, he deserves to stay. The Texans, after posting nine takeaways through 16 games in 2020, finished in the top-10 in turnovers with 25. The Texans finished as the only team with a losing record in the top-10, and one of four teams in the top-10 to have not qualified for the playoffs. Smith preached turnovers, and the defense repented.
If the Texans go with an offensive-minded coach, then Smith is more than likely safe. If it isn’t malfunctioning, why commence with extraneous upgrades?
However, if the Texans decide to go with a defensive-minded coach, as could be the case if Houston brings in former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores or gives New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo a chance, they may not have the same philosophy as Smith, whose doctrine has been nothing but the Tampa 2.
As the Texans go forward, they will need to consider Smith met his objectives with minimal talent and is deserving staying in Houston. The new coach may not agree, and that could be the 2022 team’s first conflict they must manage to successful complete the rebuild.